Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum 24.

IN the yere of kyng Harry xxvij., beynge trewes bytwene Fraunce and Englond, a knyght of the Englysshe partye named Sir Fraunceys Aragonys toke a towne of Normandy named Fogyers, ageynst the trewes, of whiche takynge byganne moche sorowe and losse. For this was the occasion by whiche the Frensshe men gate all Normandy. This yere a squyer of Englond named Chalons dyde armes with a knyght of Fraunce named Syre Lowys de Buyel to fore the Frensshe kynge, and ranne the Frensshe knyght thurgh with a spere, and slewe hym in the felde.

In the yere xxviij. was a parlement holden at Westmynstre, and from thennes adiourned to the black Frerys at London, and after Crystemasse to Westmynstre ageyne. And this same yere Robert of Cane, a man of the west contre, with a fewe ships toke an hole flote of shippes comynge oute of the baye laden with salt, whiche shippes were of Pruys, Flaundrys, Holand, and Zeland, and brought hem to Hampton. Wherfor the mar|chauntis of Englond beynge in Flaundres were arestyd in Brugys, Ipre, and other places, and myght not be delyvered ner theyr dettys dyscharged till they had made apoyntement for to paye for the amendes and hurtes of tho shippes, which was payd by the marchauntes of the staple every peny. And in lyke wyse

the marchauntes and godes beyng in Danske were also arestyd and made grete amendes. This same yere the Frensshmen in a mornynge toke by a trayne the toune of Pountal arche, and therynne the lord Fawconbrydge was taken prysonner. And after that in Decembre Roan was taken and lost, beyng therynne the duc of Somersete, Edmund therle of Shrewsbury, whiche by appoyntement left pledgys, and lost all Normandye, and cam home. And duryng the sayd parlement the duck of Suffolk was arestyd and sente in to the Tour, and ther was a monethe, and after the kyng dyd doo fetche hym oute. For whiche cause alle the comyns of Englond were in a grete rumour, what for the delyveraunce of Angeo and Mayn, and after for losynge of al Normandye, and in especial for the deth of the good duke of Gloucetre, in soo moche that in somme places men gadred to geders and made hem capytaynes, as Bleweberd and other, whiche were resysted and taken, and had iustyce and deyd. And thenne the sayd parlement was adiourned to Leycetre. And thider the kyng brought with hym the duke of Suffolke. And whanne the comon hows vnderstode that he was oute of the Tour and comen theder, they desyred to have execucion on them that were cause of the delyveraunce of Normandy, and had ben cause of the deth of the duc of Gloucetre, and had solde Gascoyne and Guyan; of whiche they named to be gylty the duc of Suffolk as chyef, the lord Saye, the Bisshop of Saslebury, Danyel, and many moo. And for to pease the comons, the duck of Suffolke was exyled oute of Englond fyve yere. And soo durynge the parlement he wente into Norfolke, and there toke shippyng for to goo oute of the royame in to Fraunce. And this yere as he sayled on the see a shippe of warre callyd the Nycholas of Towr mette with his ship, and fonde hym therin; whome they toke oute and brought hym into theyr shippe to fore the mayster and capytayns. And ther he was examyned, and atte last iuged to the deth. And so they putte hym in a cabon, and his chappellayne for to shryve hym. And that done they brought hym in to Dover roode, and there sette hym in to the boot, and there smote of his heede, and brought the bodye a londe vpon the sondes, and sette the heede therby. And this was done the fyrst day of Maye. Loo what avayleth hym now this delyveraunce of Normandye. And here ye may see how he was rewarded for the deth of the duck of Gloucetre. Thus beganne sorowe vppon sorowe, and deth for deth.