The Brut, or The chronicles of England. Edited from Ms. Raw. B171, Bodleian Library, &c., by Friedrich W. D. Brie, with introduction, notes, and glossary ...

[D]

CONTINUATION OF THE BRUT CONTAINING JOHN PAGE'S POEM ON THE SIEGE OF ROUEN. FROM THE SIEGE OF ROUEN [1418] TO A.D. 1430.

[Galba E. VIII.]

[Galba E. VIII 137a] How kynge henry the v. leide sege to the Cite of Rone, and how he gate the Cite with strengthe and manhode well and worthily.

And in the vi. yere of Kynge Henryis Regne the v; the Kynge sent his vncle Sir Thomas Beauford, Duke of Exeter, with othir lordis and knyghtis, men of armys and archeries, to the Cite of Rone, and there displayid her baneris opynly byfore the cite of Rone, and sent herodis to hem that were withynne the Cite, and bade hem yolde vp the cite in alle haste, that was the kyngis righte, or ellis thei shuld deie an harde and sharpe dethe,and withoute eny mercy or grace.

And there he be-hild the g[r]ounde aboute the Cite, how thei myght beste sette her sege to gete that Cite.

¶ And ansuere wold thei none yeue, but meuyd with her hondis ouyr the wallis, as who seyth 'voydith the grounte and the place that ye ben on'; and shotte tho many gunnys to hem. And thanne there Issewid out of the Cite many men of armys, of Frensshe men on hors bakke, and countrid with oure Engelisshe men, and ffaughten manlyche. And there were sleyne and take of the Frensshe men a grete hepe; and the remanent fledden ayen into the Cite.

¶ And thanne the Duke of Exetir turnyd ayen with his pepull, and come to Pountlarge; and there he met the Kynge, and told hym alle how he had spede and don in his message.

¶ And now for to telle how thei that weren withynne the cite of Rone, had deuowrid and distroyid alle the subarbis rounde aboute the Cite, into the bare grounde, for the Kynge shuld no refute haue, ne non refressynge haue there at his comynge; and how thei had strongly newe dichid, with many othir dispiteffull and cruell ordynauncis that thei coude deuyse and ordeyne, with alle the

ymaginacionys, congettis and sleythis, rounde aboute the cite, ayens the Kyngis hoste, yn-so-moche thei bite and keste adoun the perisshe-chirchis, abbeyis, and alle maner of housyngis more and lesse, in-so-moche that thei hewe adoune alle maner of treis that weren stondynge, in Gardeynys or yn eny othir placis, neighe the cite, and hewe a doune alle the [Galba E. VIII 137b] Busshis that weren stondynge, and made all playne vnto the harde erthe.

And thanne oure Kynge remouyd him from Pountlerge with alle his pepull, and come before the cite of Rone the Friday beforn Lammesse day. And he made ordynaunce, and leide and set a sege rounde aboute the cite, with moche strengthe and grete ordynauncis, so that the Frensshe-men myght no where in no parties ascape away but if thei weren dede and take. And furste the Kynge loggid hym-self in a Geste howse that is callid an hous of charite, with many lordis and strengthe of pepull aboute hym; and that was in the Este partye of that cite. And thanne the Duke of Clarence, his brothir, loggid hym wyth his pepull at an abbey withoute the cite, in the weste ende by the port Kaux. And thanne was the Duke of Exetur loggid with alle his pepull at Port Denyse in the northe syde of that cite. ¶ And thanne, betwix the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Exetur, was the Erle Marchall loggid, with alle his retenewe and strengthe, bi the castell gate. And thanne was the Erle of Vrmonde and the Lord Aringdon and the Lord Talbot, with alle her retenewe and ordynauncis, next hym. ¶ And thanne Sir John Cornewale, and many othir knyghtis of name, with alle her retenewe and ordynauncis, lay with the Duke of Clarence in his strengthe. And ffrom the Duke of Exetur toward the Kynge, were loggid the Lord Roos, the Lord Wilby, and the Lorde Fytz-Hugh and Sir William Portere, knyght, with alle her retenewe, and loggid hem before the Porte Seint Hillari. And thanne was the Erle of Mortayne loggid, with alle his retenewe and ordynauncis, in the abbey of Seint Katerynys. ¶ And thanne the Erle of Salusbury, with alle his retenewe and ordynauncis, was loggid on that othir syde of this abbey. ¶ And thanne Sir John Gray, knyght, with all his retenewe and ordynauncis, was loggid at the abbey that is callid Mount Seint Mychell. And thanne Sir Philip Leche, knyghte, the Kyngis tresorer, with alle his retenewe and ordynauncis, was loggid

betwene the watir of Sayne and the abbey, & kepte that ward vndir the hille. ¶ And thanne the Baron of Carewe, with alle his retenewe and ordynauncis, was loggid with his compeny alone by the watir-side, to kepe the passage there. And Ienyco the Squyere lay there nexte hym, with his retenewe and ordynauncis, and helpe to kepe the watir syde of Sayne: and manly and worthili he werrid and faught with his enemyes at alle tymes. ¶ And on that othir side of the watir of Sayne, lay the Erle of Huntyngdon, and the Lorde Neuyle (the Erlis sone of Westmerlond), Sir Gilbert Omffreuyle, Sir Richard of Arundell, and the lord Ferreris, with alle hir retenewe and ordynauncis, at Port de Pount.

¶ And thanne the Kynge lete ordeyne and make at the Pountlarge, ouyr the watir of Sayne, a stronge and a myghti cheyne of Iron, and put it thorough piles faste pite in the grounde, ouyr the ryuer of Sayne, that no vessell myght rowe that wei in no kynde. And thanne, aboue that chayne, the Kynge lete make a brygge ouyr the watir, that man and hors and all othir cariage myght passe to and fro at alle tyme whanne nede were.

¶ And tho come the Erle of Warwike, and had goten Domfferauncte, and come doun there the Kynge lay at the sege of Rone; and the Kynge comaundid hym with his pepull to gon to Cawde-becke and besege hit. ¶ And whanne he come before the toune, the gouernouris of the toune come oute, and tretid with the Erle of Warwike, and seid that thei wolde don and be gouernyd aftur the Cite of Rone; and so thei grauntid in composicion, and asselid it vp, in full condicion that thei shuld suffre and lette passe alle oure flete of Shippis by hem, with-oute eny lette or disturburaunce. And so oure Shippis passid alle yn, and come be hem, and comen before the Cite of Rone, and there keste ankre as thikke as thei myght stonde; and so they segid the Cite of Rone bothe watir [Galba E. VIII 138a] and by londe.

¶ And whanne the Erle of Warwike had thus endid and don with the toune of Cawdebecke, and alle the Engelysshe shippis were come vp in the watir of Sayne, and set before the cite of Rone, ¶ Thanne the Erle of Warwike turnyd hym ayen with alle his pepull, and come to the Kynge, and loggid hym with alle his pepull betwyxt Seint Katerynys and the Kynge, tille that an abbey

that was in trete there, was yolden to the Kynge; and thanne anon aftur he went thens and loggid hym, with alle his pepull and ordynauncis at Porte Morteuyle, to kepe that porte of the Cite.

¶ and thanne was the Erle of Salusbury comaundid by the Kynge to make hym redy to ryde. And tho hasty tithyngis come, and returnynge hym ayen, and did hym byde; and there he bode be sidis the Erle of Huntyngdon, tille that the sege was endid, and wonne vp in-to the Kyngis hondis.

¶ And thanne come sir Vmfrey, Duke of Gloucestre, the Kyngis brothir, from the sege of Cherborugh, wiche he had wonne and gotyn be sawte and good fete of werre, and aftur lete hit stuffe with Engelisshe pepull, and with vitaile, and with othir stronge ordynauncis, as longid to werre and to worship and prophite to the Kynge of Engelond. ¶ And whanne he was come doune to fore the Cite of Rone, he loggid hym with his pepull and ordynauncis at the Porte Seint Hillare, more nere his enemyes to the toune thanne eny othir man by xl. rodis of lengthe, with-ynne shotte of Gounne and quarell. And with hym lay the Erle of Suffolke and the Lord Begeyne, with alle her retenewe and alle her ordynauncis; and manfully euyry day they ffaughten with her enemyes whanne they issewed oute of the Cite.

¶ And thanne come the Pryore of Kylmayne, oute of Irlond, ouyr the see, with a feyre compeny of men of armys on her Guyse, the summe of xv. c., good bodyes and manfull men to werre, and come with-ynne Sayne Mouth, and aryuyd and landid at Hareflete, and spede hem in alle haste to the Kynge, and come vnto the sege of Rone: and the Kynge tho welcomyd the pryore of Kilmayne and alle his pepull.

¶ And thanne come tydyngis to the Kynge that the Frensshe kynge, with an huge powere of pepull of dyuerse nacionys, and the Duke of Burgoyne with hym, with an huge compeny of Burgoynys, of Flemmyngis, and of othir Duche tungis, wold come doun to breke the sege, and keste hem to entre on the northe syde of oure hoste, because that there was lefte entre and moste pleyne grounde.

¶ And thanne of Kynge assyngnyd the Pryoure of Kylmayne,

with alle his pepull, to logge hem on the northe side, for to stoppe and kepe the weyis and passagis by the foreste of Lyonys, that none enemyes might come doune that weyis to the sege, with-oute that thei countrid with hem in fight: and of that ordynaunce thei weren fayn and glad; and thei yeden forthe in haste, and kepten the grounde and the place that the Kynge and his counseile had asingnyd hem to; and as good warriouris and as prowde men of armys they shewid hem at alle tymes vpon her enemyes, wherefore the Kynge had hem in heighe cherite for her grete manhode.

¶ Now wolle y telle you who weren the cheeff capteynys and gouernouris of the cite Rone. Furste, Moune-seighnour Guy de Botelere, cheef Capteyne, bothe of the cite and of the Castell; Moune-seighnoure Ternagon, and he was Capteyne of the Porte Cauxs; Moune-seighnoure le Roche was capteyne of Porte Denysine; Moune-seighnoure Antony, he was leue-tenaunte to Moune-seighnoure Sir Guy the Botelere, Henry Chamfewe was capteyne of Porte de Pount; Iohn Matreuas was captayne of Port de la Castell; Moune-seighnoure Peneuxe was tho captayne of Port Seint Hillari; the Bastard of Teyne was tho captayne of Port Marteuyle. ¶ And Graunde Iakis, a worthi warrioure, was capteyne of alle the ordynauncis of oute-warde on hors backe, and on ffote of men of armis, and Issewid oute of the Cite at alle the portis, to don there ffetes yn the poyntis of werre ayens her enemyes; and euyry [Galba E. VIII 138b] of these Captaynys led v. M^li. men of armys and moo.

¶ And whanne alle the comenmalte weren with-ynn the Cite, men myght sen many a M^li; for the heraudis nombrid hem that weren with-ynne the Cite at the bygynnynge of the sege, of men, women and childeren, iij C. M^li. and x. M^li. bodyes, yonge and olde. And amonge hem weren many manfull pepull and hardy, for often tymes they Issewid oute of the Cite, pepull welle yarmyd, on hors backe and eke on ffote, oute of euyry yate an ij or iij M^li. men of armys, welle arayed, and manfully countrid and foughten with oure Engelissh pepull yn dyuerse parties of the sege. And tho that myght ascape, turnyd into the cite home ayen; and thus thei endurid longe tyme; and moche werre come fro the Cite wallis, as shott of Gounnys and quarell, for thei shot euyry day from the wallis and touris of the cite, with-ynne the space of an houre, an

C of Gonne-stonys and moo, and quarellis with-oute nombre; and so thei sloughe and hurte moche Engelisshe pepull.

¶ And oure Kynge lete make an diche all withoute, Rounde a-boute the cite, and strongly stakid it, and heggid it, for these prykeris oute on hors backe, and comaundid Syr Robert Babthorp, knyght and Countroller, to ouyr-se that this werke were don; and he did it make in alle haste. ¶ And thanne they issewid oute on ffote, and fought manly as good werriouris; and tho myche pepull weren slayn on bothe sidis. And they at the wallis and at the touris of the Cite shotten euer Gounnys, quarellis, Trepgettis, Spryngollis; and alwey on the Duke of Gloucestreis side thei diden moche harme, for thei weren loggid nexte of alle pepull to the Cite. And euyr ther come tydyngis newe that the Burgoynys wold come and reskewe the Cite; and for ioye thereof they ronge alle the bellis in the Cite; and fro the ffirste tyme of shittynge of the yatis of the cite they ronge neuyr bellis but for tho tydyngis tille the cite was goten and yolden to the Kynge of Engelond.

¶ And tho the Kynge wende the Frensshe hoste had byn come, and with good wordis comfortid his pepull, and bad hem ben of good chere. And anon tydyngis come ayen that thei were turnyd to Paris-ward ayen. ¶ And thanne with-ynne ffewe dayes thei were come to Pounteyse, the nombre of iiij. M^li good ffightynge men, and welle arayed. ¶ And thanne the Kynge made a kry, and comaundid that euyry mane shuld ligge yn his herneys, and byn at alle tymes redy whanne her enemyes come. And tho the Kynge lete make a lerge duche, alle withoute his hoste, and pight it full of stakes ymade sharpe, that wold perisshe, and with turnepykes, and leid there-by Gounnys redy bent in euyry partye rounde aboute this diche. And the kynge tho comaundid his countroller Sir Robert Babthorp, knyght, to spede in alle haste this were don by his ouyr sight; and so anon this werke was endid.

¶ And anon come tydynges to the Kynge, there as he lay at seege; and this was on the Thorisday, that the ffrensshe hoste lay but xx. myle from hym, and wold byn there on the morough on the Fryday; and the same tydynge come to hem that were with-ynne the Cite. ¶ Of these tydynge oure Kynge made moche ioye and myrthe, and artely thankyd God. And so on

the Fryday oure Kynge rode to the Erle of Huntyngdon, and told to hym a wile and a good ffete of werre, and made hym ordeyne ij. Bateillis of men of armys. ¶ And the ffirste bataill thei and he redenn, and her backes toward the Cite; and that othir bataill come oute of the wode, with standerdis and baneris of the Duke of Burgoynys armys. And these ij hostis metten, as thei had countrid, and foughten to-gederis; but non did othir harme. And this was ordeynyd and don by the kyngis deuyse and conseile, for thei that weren with-ynne the Cite shuld haue vtturly hopid and trustid that reskewis had ben come, and that thei that weren with-ynne the Cite of men of armys shuld boldely haue issewid oute, and ffoughten vtturly with the pepull of the sege; but thei dorste not come oute of that Cite at that tyme, for thei doutid and drad, and supposid to hem but trayne, and wold not issewe oute for drede of dethe, as for that [Galba E. VIII 139a] tyme, but abodyn and lokid aftur helpe, socoure, and reskewis of these Burgoynes, but ther come no comforte to hem. but yet tho afturward the men of armys issewid oute ayen of the Cite as thei did beforn, and ffoughten manfully with oure Engelisshe-men, and myche pepull weren slayne on bothe sydis at dyuerse tymes.

¶ And tho it drewe nere Cristemesse; and by that tyme her vitailis scarsid sore with-ynne the Cite, for they hade nothir bred, ale, nor wyne, but watir and vynegur, that was her drynke. And flesshe nor fisshe they had non, but eten hors, doggis, Mis, Rattis and Cattis; for an quarter of an horse, were he lene or fatte, was tho sold in the Cite amonge the pepull for an C.s. good payment, and an hors hede for xx. s., and a Ratte for xl. d.; and for xiij. s. iiij. d. thei sold a Catte, and a mows for xx. d.; and these wormys weren bought and eten so faste that vnnethe thei fonde eny for to selle for no money. ¶ And tho was a ferthynge lof boght in the Cite for a ffranke. And thanne hem failid bothe whete, and mele, and alle othir graynys that thei myght make of eny brede; but branne and broken wo[r]tis, and nepe-rotis, and lekis, was to hem mete of grete valewe; for a leke was sold for

xij. d., and an Egge for ix d., and an appull for x d.: siche merchaundyse was there with-ynne the Cite a gret while; and ther was many a carefulle creature, for her vitailis were alle wastid and spent, and þey myght come to no new by no maner wey; for the sege that lay withoute, rounde aboute the Cite, wold suffre no vitaile come in, to hem, neythir by watir neythir be londe.

¶ And thanne be-ganne the pepull with-ynne the Cite to deie faste, bothe smale and grete, for the passynge hungur and enfamen that was amonge hem, by C.C. personys and moo day by day; and there as was firste ioy and pryde, and grete boste, tho was there amonge hem weylynge, sorow and care, and wepynge, and wryngynge with hondis. ¶ And though a child shuld deie, the modir wold yeue it no brede ne nought ellis of othir fode, ne wold not departe no morselle though she myght saue the lif of her child of hir body borne, but wold saue her selfe while she myght; for loue and hertly kyndenesse was tho from hem passid. Nor the child wold not profir the modir; for eche of hem caste hymself to leue; for alle kyndenesse and loue tho was sette beside; for euyr the childe wold hide his mete and his drynke fro his modir and from alle his othir ffryndis, for his mete thei shuld not see, for thei ete hit alle in pryuete. ¶ And we may preue by that pepull there, that houngir passithe kyndenesse and eke loue, that made her vnrightwesnesse and her cursid leuynge and pryde that regnyd amongis hem in tho dayes, wherefore God sent hem a yerd of chastisement. But yet thei that kept the wallis and touris of the Cite rounde aboute, be-cause the pepull withoute shuld not knowe nor wete of her grete nede and myschef that thei weren ynne, euyr to hold her courte and contynaunce of opyn werre, bothe with shot of Gounnys and quarellis.

¶ But amonge ther issewid summe pepull of the Cite oute; and they come forthe, and weren take of the wacchemen withoute at the sege Cite. ¶ And they affraynyd hem how it stode with the pepull that weren lefte with-ynne the Cite. ¶ And they ansuerid and told to the Engelisshe pepull of the grete nede,

scarste, hungir and dethe, that was euyry day amongis hem. But our folke wold not beleue nor truste hem, be cause that the pepull with-ynne hilde alle tymes contynaunce like in werre, day be day, as thei did beforne vpon the sege withoute; wherefore thei had hem in no truste in no degre.

And thanne with-ynne a litull while aftur, the worthi men that weren with-ynne the Cite, gederid alle the pore pepull that tho weren with-ynne the Cite, man, woman, and child, and brought hem to the yatis, and put hem oute at euyry porte by an C personys on a rowte, and bad hem helpe hem-self in her beste maner that thei myght, for there thei shold no lenger abyde yn no wyse with hem. ¶ And thanne thei come forthe toward the Engelisshe seege, knelynge on her kneis, and wepynge sore, bothe man, and woman with yonge sowkynge children [Galba E. VIII 139b] in her armys, and olde febull men knelynge besyde hem, makynge there a dilfull crye; for alle they cryed there atonys "haue mercy on vs, ye good and Cristen and worthy men." ¶ And thanne oure Kynge had rewthe on hem and pite, and yaf hem brede and drynke, and made hem turne ayen to the Cite; and there thei kepte hem in the diche, that thei shold not knowe nor here the ordynaunce nor counseile of the seege, ne of her wacche in no wyse, for trayne and treson that myght falle.

¶ And whanne these pore pepull shuld turne ayen, thei made high sorough and grete murmuracion amonge hem-self, and seyden they had leuyr byn sleyn there thanne go ayen into the Cite, and dilfully, with high voycis bannynge and cursynge her owne nacion, for thei that weren with-ynne the Cite wold not suffre hem come in ayen; wherfore y trowe thei diden grete synne and myschieff to hem-self; for meny of him deiden there for colde, that, and thei had byn with-ynne, her lifis might haue byn sauyd and kepte.

¶ And tho was come the tyme of Cristmesse, in whiche oure Kynge did tho grete mercy and relef to his enemyes, at the reuerence of that Glorious feste of the brythe of oure Lorde Ihesu Criste and of his blessid modir, oure Lady Seynt Marye, that

gracious and mercifull virgyne. For, of high pite, mercy and grace, and at the reuerence of that tyme of the holy feste, the Kynge, of high compascion that he had in hert, and of his worthi and excellente manhode, sent oute his heraudis in good araye, bothe to hem that weren wyth-ynne the Cite as welle as with-oute the Cite, on the Cristemesse day self, to hem that lackid vitaile, that thei shold come and haue mete and drynke ynow, in worship of the Feste, and sauf-condite to come and to goo. And thei seiden alle 'gramersis' lightly, as thei had no nede there-to, and set no pryce by his sonde. And vnnethe thei wold graunte space vnto the pepull of her owne nacion to ben releuyd that layn in the diche vndir the Cite wallis, that thei had drouen and put oute of grete myschieff. But two preestis and iiij seruauntis for to brynge hem vitailles, mete and drynke; and if ther come eny moo personys, thei wold shete to hem and sle hem to dethe. ¶ And thanne weren alle these pore pepull set arowe; and these two preestis with her iiij. seruauntis broughten hem plente of mete and drynke, of the Kyngis gracious almys; and so thei weren at that tyme made welle at eese; and replete of mete and drynke. And as thei sete her mete to fonge, this talkynge thei had amongis hem. ¶ "A, almyghty God," thanne thei seide, "the Engelisshe-men by of good and treue herte! Lo, how here this excellent Prynce and Kynge that we thought neuyr to obey vnto, ne neuyr profre ne don hym homage, now hathe he on vs more pite and compassion by a M^ll thanne hathe oure owne nacion; therefore, oure Lord God, that art full of myght, graunte hym grace to wynne and gete his trewe right!" Thus the pore pepull for the Kynge prayde; that God kepe and mayntene hym in alle his nedis. ¶ Whanne thei had thus seruyd alle the pore pepull with mete and drynke, and were welle reffresshid, oure folke turnyd ayen to the Kynge, for the trewse lastid no lengur but that same day.

¶ And whanne the nyght be-ganne to apere and shewe, thanne thei on the wallis beganne newe werre ayen vpon the seege, and wacchidden a ward that full streyte bothe day and nyght with hungir smerte, for that tyme her vitaill weren alle wastid and spente. And meny a worthy body for defaute of lyuelod of mete

and drynke was spent and ded,for euyr grete houngir brekithe herd stonen wall yn hir grete nede; for euyr the lif is dere and suete.

¶ Thanne alle the Capteynys of that Cite, bothe Baillis, Burgeses and communnalte, toke her the counseill with-ynne hem self to trete with the Kynge; and with the pepull the cause pryncipall for the high myschieff that tho was amongis hem of enfamenynge for hungir; for thei knewe welle thei myght note longe endure so; and for the sodeyne and [Galba E. VIII 140a] multitude dethe that was euyry day amonges hem for lakke of ffode, vpon the New Yeris Euyn at nyght, the pepull with-ynne come to the wallis at euyry porte to the seege, and clepedyn a knyght to speke with hem; and there was non man that tyme that hem herd tille thei come to the Porte de Pounte of Sayne. ¶ And that was on that side as the Erle of Huntyngdon kepte the ward. And there thei weren herd, and answerid tho ayen, and askid what thei wold: and thei ansuerid and seid, and prayed at the reuerence of Allmyghty God, if ther were eny gentill knynght that wold here her complaynte, and bere her erende vnto the Kynge. ¶: And thanne oon ansuerid and seid, he was a knyght; and thei preyd hym to telle hys name. And he seid, "my name ys Vmfreuyle;" and thei thankid God and oure Lady that thei had mette with hym, for he was of the old blode of that contre of Normandye; "and we praye you to helpe vs haue an ende betwene youre Kynge and vs." And he seid, "what is youre wille?" and thei seid at fewe wordis: "we haue byn at euyry porte of the City there these Pryncis loggyn before, and haue callid aftur speche of hem; but we coude haue non ansuere: ffirste at the Duke of Clarence, the excellente prynce; and from thens to the Duke of Gloucestre, his worthi brothir; and ofte we clepid, and longe there stode; and so we come doune to the Duke of Exeture, and there we gate non ansuere.

"And at Warwike, that Erle so fre, We callid ofte: it wold not be; And at the Erle Marchall we were. ther was no wight that wold us ansuere. And we haue clepid at all these so moche, But non ansuere we coude gete truliche;

therefore we pray these princis, for Mari sake, And for that Lordis loue that did vs make, As thei ben dukis of high dyngnyte, And cheeftaynys of cheualrye, Vnto the Kynge to prey for vs, And we may fynde hym so gracious; And we wolle gon with you also Vnto the Kynge, and speke hym to, And beseche hym, for loue of that Kynge That made heuen, erthe, and alle thynge, With his witte and his good auyse,— Aboue alle pryncis he is pryse,— And for his owne high pryncehode, and also for his owne worthy manhode, And as he is kynge moste excellent, and to God, but to non othir, obedyent, That regnythe here in erthe by ryght, But only to oure Ihesu full of myght, And with-ynne hym selff Emperoure, and also Almyghti kynge and conqueroure, That he hym-self wold graunte vs space, and sauf-condite, and alle his grace, Nought-withstondynge oure offence, That we myght come to his presence, xij. men of vs by on assent, That lordly Kynge to telle fully oure entent. May we come hym onys to se, With the myght of God so fre, We shull hym shewe, withoute distaunce, that shall hym turne to grete plesaunce."

Quod Vmfray: "this y [as]sent;" and toke his leue, and forth he went, And come to the Duke of Clarence there, and told hym this mater all in ffeere. he thankid God and his modir eke, that oure enemyes were be-come so meke, and that he wold, with good wille, Speke for hem oure Kynge vntille.

lo, so sone this good lord hem vndirtoke, and her mekenesse he nought forsoke. he is a prynce forto comende; but all to fewe of siche ben founde; he is manfull, whanne werre dothe laste, and mercifull whanne hit is paste; Manhode, mekenesse, witte and grace, Is conteynyd with hym in a litull space; he wantith nothynge a prynce shold haue; Almyghti God mote hym saue!

Thanne Vmfrey toke his leue, and his message he went to meue. To Gloucestre thanne did he goo, To Exetur the Duke also, and told hem the tydyngis how it was. thei thonkyd God of his high grace, that her enemyes, ayens her wille, ffor nede of socoure wold yold him tille; and seid thei wold, for Goddis sake, helpe for hem a good ende to make. loo these pryncis of high mekenesse,— [Galba E. VIII 140b] God kepe hem yn hele and from sikenesse!— Though thei haue suffrid peynys smerte, yet haue thei mercy and pite in herte.

Thanne Vmfreuyle, his leue he tace, and passid forthe in his space To erlis and to lordis be name; and thei hym seid all the same. Lo! these cheefenteynys of cheualrie, how thei weren come in cherite! therfore God, of his grete grace, yef hem good spede in euyry place.

thanne on Newe Yeris Day in the morny[n]g, Sir Gilbert Vmfreuyle come to the Kyng, and all this mater to hym he seid: And there of the cite mekely hym prayed.

oure Kynge seid thanne, be good auyse, and also at this owne deuyse,

to graunte that cite all her wille: "let xij of hem come me tille." of all his lordis euyry-chone. ayens it was neuyr oone. lo! that high prynce and kynge so felle, of all erthely creaturis he is welle; lo! how he hathe prouyd hym self manfull, and as a prynce right mercifull; thei that had hym so ofte meuyd, and also hym had gretely greuyd, and also put hym yn grete coste, and of his pepull full meny loste, And withstonde hym of his right,— And now thei byn falle in his myght, and at his wille hem to greue, yf he wol put hem to myscheue; and thanne hym-self to light so lowe, of her wille to wete and knowe, and also to graunte hem to trete: that was heigh mercy and cherite. Sithe that thei had hym so agilte, and lithe in hym to don hem ben spilte; he grauntid hem grace and merciful mekenes: ffor-sothe, a child of God, y wot he is; of goodnesse and uertu he wantith no thyng; that his preisynge for a kynge. therefore Criste, for his passion, kepe hym in right compassion! whanne the kynge had grauntid, as y haue told, to Vmfreuyle, the knyght so bolde The Kynge seid, "sir, whanne shalle this be? If thei wille to-morrowe, let see."

Thanne Vmfreuyle of the kynge leue hent. And to that cite anon he went. and whanne he kome at that gate,

the statis of the cite he fonde the[r]ate. he seid: "y haue be with oure Kynge, and he hathe grauntid youre askynge. to-morowe, be-tymes loke ye be yare, ffor xij of yow shull to hym fare: and syn ye shull gon hym to, My counseill y rede that ye do. to-morow y wote that ye shulle se The rialliste prynce of Cristiante; To syche a prynce neuer ye spake, ne so loue a worde can take. Theynke with hert byforn youre tonge, leste youre tongis byn to longe: speke but fewe, and welle hem sette To that prynce whanne ye byn mette; ffor a word wronge oute of ward Might make you to fare fnll herd, Therefore, of wordis loke ye ben wise, and sei no thynge withoute good avise."

thanne thankked thei hym full curtesly, and of his god lore seid, "gramercy; that ye wold vs so moche good teche, or that we come to that worthi princis speche." he seid "adieu!" and went his wey, the seturday aftur neweyeris day.

and at that houre of day be pryme, Sir Gilbert Vmfreyuyle come that tyme; of the Kyngis squyeris weren sent, that tyme wyth hym verayment, and yomen of the crowne also, with hym assyngny were to goo, thei went to Sein Hillariis Gate: anon the xij men come oute there-ate: iiij knyghtis and iiij clerkes, and iiij burgeys, wise of werkes: alle thei were clothid in blacke,

comly of chere, and feire thei spake. whanne thei were come to the hous of charite, thenne oure Kynge, at messe was he; with-ynne the chirche thei did lend the[r]tille that the messe was at the end.

tho come forthe the Kynge withoute let, there as he had knelid in his closet, with chere so cheuetayneliche, with so lith light a loke, and lordliche, and so right solent senblaunt, and sad: to se that lord men mygh[t] be glad.

as sone as the Frensshe-men hym did see, [Galba E. VIII 141a] To-forn hym thei fille on kne. he blenchid on hem with stately chere; he ne wiste what thei were: thei enclinyd hem with meke speche, And a bille to hym thei did reche. he taught a lord to take her bille, and sumwhat he turnyd hem tille: what it ment, y hard say; tretise thei wold, be eny way; Thei be-sought hym, for Goddis sake,— that heuen and erthe and alle did make, Bothe este, weste, northe and southe,— 'that ye wolld here oure speche be mouthe.' the Kynge bad hem speke and sey her wille; and thei were fayn, and knelid stille. The seid, "we you beseche and prey, ffor His loue that deid on good Friday, And for his Modiris loue so fre, considre now on vs now, for charite! the pore pepull that byn withoute, In our dichis rounde aboute, Thei lien there for faute of breed; and for defaute many byn dede. haue ye pite hem vppon,

and yeue hem leue thens to gon." ffull still the Kynge stode all that while, and nouthir did laugh nor smyle; but with a countynaunce so clere, and also with a cheuetaynly chere, nothir to myld nothir to straunge, But ay in oon withoute chaunge, his countenaunce did not abate, but alwey stode in oon astate.

And tho hym luste to yeue ansuere, he seide: "y put hem not there, into the diche of that cite; I put hem not there; and that wote ye. Thei were not put there at myn ordynaunce, ne non shull passe at my suffraunce; Thei abode there while thei mought;"— and so he seide to hem full ryght;— "and as to you, ye knoue welle this: ye haue offendid me with mys, and from me kepte my cite, the whiche that is heritage fre, and shuld be my liege men."

They ansuerid and seid thanne: "Off this cite that we here kepte, we haue a charge, and that a depe. hit vs bitak oure souyrayn liege. For to deffend hit from saught or sege; and we ben his liege men born, and also holesy to hym we ben sworn. and also of the Duke of Burgoyne so fre, A grete charge of hym had we; but wold ye now, of youre highe grace, Graunte vs alle lif and space, that summe of vs myght to hem goo, and warne hem botho of oure woo, and of oure ferthe vs to excuse;

ffor many of vs woll them refuse, and to you yelden oure cite, and alle youre owne liege men be."

The Kynge seid, "y do you oute of doute, My cite y wolle not gon withoute. and as touchynge to youre Frensshe liege, ye wote welle that y hold this sege; and the Duke of Burgoyne also, alle thei wete welle, bothe two; ffor alle the while that y here haue byn, Messageris haue go betwene; and yf thei like to neigh me nere, thei weten welle to ffynde me here; ffor y wolle not hens goo withoute my right, for frynde nor ffoo, sith thei so longe beforn it knewe. and nowe to sende hem message newe, it were to hem no newelte, and to us but superfluite. Siche message wol y non sende; it is no nede, so God me amende!"

And whanne the Kynge had yeue that ansuere, of the mater spake thei no more; þay seiden, "feire it is to wynne Rone, with the men that ben ther-ynne."

The Kynge seid: "it is myn owne londe; I woll it wynne though ye it with-stonde, and ye mowe there-ynne so deserue, ye shull be reward aftur as ye serue!" with that word thei weren aflayid.

thanne spake a clerke, and thus he seid: "souyrayne lord, if ye woll take hede In stori that ye may rede, how ij sheuetaynys a day had set, and with ther hostis thei weren met, bothe arayid in a felde,

and weren redi batalle to yelde: The weyker party of the men thanne brought the biger parti brede and wyn, In tokenyng that thei shold be [Galba E. VIII 141b] Grace, mercy, and eke pite: and nowe we brynge you bred and wyn, and Rone that cite feire and fyne." "Rone," he said, "is my herytage, I wille haue it withoute fage. And fro this tyme y rede ye do, that mercy and grace may come you to. And at the reuerence of god allmyght and of Mary his modir, that maiden so bright, Of trety y graunte you space; And if ye wille ye may haue grace." thanne seid thei, "sir, pur charite, how wille ye to youre pore pepull be, that in diches suffryn pyne, and for defaute deie as suyne?" The Kynge ansuerid hem with wit full wise: "Thereof woll y take myn a-vise, as God put hert, mynde, and wille, So will y do that pepull vntille: as he me redithe, y wille hem rewe." with that he went and seid "adieue!"

The ffrensshe men, that same while, fforthe thei went with Vmfreuyle; And toward the cite as thei yode, thei spoken of oure Kynge so goode: Thei seiden, "he is, to oure advise, of alle erthely kyngis moste vise, takynge reward to his chere and to his contynaunce in fere, To his person and propurte, to his ffeturis and beaute, And to his depe discrecion that is in his possession, and to his passynge pryncehode,

and to his discrete and worþy manhode; ffor he is mercyfull in sight, and askithe nothynge but his right: These vertuis byn a passynge thynge, That byn with-rynne siche a kynge. how shuld he do but wynne honour? how shuld he be but a conquerour? welle he dothe withoute dene; God hym loue, and that is sene."

Thus the Frensshe men, of the Kynge talkithe, Toward the cite as thei walkithe. her leue at Vmfreuyle thei toke, Into the Cite, and hym forsoke.

On that othir day nexte, erliche, the Kynge made two tentis to picche,— On for the Englisshe, and on for the Frensshe; And bothe thei stode in Gloucestre trenche,— Though the stormys were neuyr so grete, drie-hedid that thei myght trete.

whanne bothe pauylownys weren pight, thei went to trete with all her myght. Warwike, that erle so wise,— ffor in our partye he bare the pryce;— Salusburi, that erle so treue, and also the Lord Fithe-hughe, and the Kyngis steward, Hungurford, By name y can no moo record; and from that cite come hym to mete, xii. of the Frensshe that weren discrete. hit was a sight of solempnite ffor to behold bothe parte; To see the riche in her araye; and on the wallis the pepull that laye; and on oure pepull that weren withoute, how thike that thei walkid aboute; and the herowdis, semely to sene, how that thei went ay betwene;

the Kyngis horoudis and pursiuauntis In cotis of armys amyunauntis; The Englisshe a beste, the Frensshe a floure, of Portyngale bothe caste and toure, and othir cotis of dyuersite, as lordis beren in her degre. Good-liche with gold thei were be-gon, Right as the sonne on hem shon.

this sight was to hem a sory chere; of sorow and pyne thei weren full nere; of that pore pepull that weren put oute; thei had[den] vnnethe a cloute; The clothis that weren on her backe, kept hem there from reine and racke; The wethur was to hem a peyne, ffor alle that tyme it stode be neyne.

There men myght se a grete pite, a child of two yere or thre Goo aboute and begge his brede, ffor ffadir and modir bothe lay dede. and vndir hem the watir stode; and yet thei lay cryynge aftur foode. Summe storuen to þe dethe, and summe stoppid bothe yen and brethe; And summe crokid in the kneys, and as lene as eny treis; and women holdynge in her arme a dede child, and nothynge warme; And childeren soukynge on the pappe [Galba E. VIII 142a] Withynne a dede womanys lappe; There men myght ffynde ffull ryue, x. or xij. deie, ayens on alyue. and thei knewe not of dethe, So preuely thei yolden vpe the brethe, withoute noyse or eny cry; as thei had slept, so did thei dey.

These were sightis of differaunce, that on of ioye, that othir of penaunce,

as heuen and erthe had partid on twoo, that on to wele, that othir to woo. ther was neuyr kynge so straunge, To see that sight, but his hert wold chaunge, and wold considre to that syght, he shuld be pensiff, and moche light.

there men myght lerne in her lif, what it is, ayens right to strif; ffor while it lay in her lotte, thei were ffulll cruell (God it wotte), and mercy they wold non haue tille nede come that thei moste craue; and yet for alle her wikkid wille, Mercy thei were take vntill. Now of that pepull let we be, and of oure tretis speke we.

we hem chalengithe and accusithe, and thei ansuerithe and excusithe. we askid mykill, and thei proferid small, that is yuyll to accord with all; tho thei tretid an xiiij nyght, and yet accordid thei ne myght.

thanne the tretise thei broken in haste, and bethe tentis adoun were caste. thanne the Frensshe men hem be-thought, her owne bale that thei had wrought. whanne thei shuld her leue take, thei preyed oure lordis, and this thei spake: "For the loue of God Almyght, contenew this tretise to mydnyght; And yf we clepyn, that ye wille speke with-ynn that tyme, we you be-seke. that we mowe haue eudyence fforto here oure euydence."

Quod the Englisshe lordis, "that, we assent." thei toke her leue, and forthe thei went. to the Kyng our lordis passid, and tolde hym all these materis faste,

how thei lefte, and in what issewis, and how thei contynuyd the trewis. yet the Kynge was mercyfull in mode: That thei had grauntid, he not withstode. Thei passid forte with simpull chere, Into that cite alle in fere.

Sone in the toun it was yspoke that the trewis was tho broke. the pore pepull alle aboute, on the riche thei made a showte, and seiden, "ye fals cherlis! and also ye murtherreris and manquelleris! will ye take no reward to vs tha[t] suffren here so herd, and deiden here euyry day? welle we thanne telle may; and also rennyth vpon oure coste, and in youre defaute we ben loste. we pray to God that ye mote ansuere, be-fore that iuged that suffrid sore on Caluery, vpon the rode, and bought vs with His blessid blode, that ye ben gilty in this case. we you apele byfore His face! wold ye obeye you to youre liege, thanne wold he come lere his sege; but for youre goodis ye abide, and for youre pompe and for youre pryde ye nyll enclyne to oure Kynge, but rathur lese vs for hungerynge. but ye accord with oure wille, right here anon we shull you kyll; and he shall come into his right. and yf ye it wihtstonde, we shall fight, leuyr thanne thus to lye here, and be enfamenyd alle in ffere." they seide they dede it for a skylle. alle that we do ys for a wile,

to excuse vs to that fode, that we pay hym but litull goode.

thei semblid thanne all that cite; and euyry man seid in his degre: "no nede is to counseill goo; ther is no moo but of two: ffor to dellyuyre vp this clos, or to be dede here: this is to chos."

to the Porte of Seynt Hillary thei went, and clepid oute by on assent. tho ansuerid hem a knyght anon, that was clepid Robesard, Sir Iohn: "sirrys," he seid, "what is youre wille?" thei ansuerid and seid hym tille: "we you be-seche, pur charite, [Galba E. VIII 142b] And for the honoure of cheualrye, that ye for vs woll speke youre speche to the Duke of Gloucestre, and hym beseche So for us to the Kynge to prayne, That we nounght mowe trete ayayne. we wolle submitt to his wille, and alle that longith hym vntille, oure prosonys and oure possessionys, alle to dispose at his discrescionys."

whanne that Robesard the Duke had told, ffor hem to speke in haste he wold: he meuyd his vnto oure Kynge, and he hym grauntid newe tretynge Of Caunturbury the Erchebisshop fre: at Seynt Katerynys thanne lay he. whanne he was knowynge of that care, at his herte he toke it sare; to the kynge sone he wente, and hym be-sought with good entente, that he myght wende to that cite, and speke with her spryrytuate, and to be meue of that trete;

and help a fynall pees to be.

the Kynge hym grauntid anon right. two pauylonys anon were pight, with-ynne the trenche that thei had ben. the erchebisshop pight his owne betwene; So was that state of spiritualte there for to make an vnity. They tretid day, they tretid nyght, with candill and torchis bryght; thei tretid iiij dayes in that place, and tho made an ende, thorough Godis grace. whanne they knewe a clousion, the Frensshe men made a peticion; her worship for to saue, But viij dayes forto haue, That thei myght send to tho Frensshe Kynge and to the Burgoynys, this tydynge, In what degre they stode, and howe, willynge hem to haue reskowe.

it was a poynte of cheualre; The kynge hem grauntid with hert fre, that thei myght bothe knowe and kenne how that it shuld be, and whanne.

Now to my tale will ye tende, and y shall you tell her poyntemente: In viij dayes, as y you tolde, yf no reskowis come to that hold, They shuld dellyuere that cite, And alle the burgaysis, Englisshe to be, and to oure Kynge, of money sounde, to pay oure Kynge .l. M^li, li.; and more, they shuld vndirtake, a castell for oure Kynge to make, withynne in half yeris, withoute let; and vpon Sayne it shuld be set. and thei to haue her ffraunchisis fre, as it was wonte in olde tyme to be. And no man withynne her cite selle,

But citezenys that ther-ynne duelle, And he that was a Normaunt borne, And an Englisshe man sworne; prysoner and othir, as hit was skille, oure Kynge to raunsom at his wille; and alle the sowdyouris that there were, her goodis to lese, and goo bare In her dowbelettis oute of the toune; and yet oure Kynge yaf euyry man a goune. This was the compasicion, and made be good discrecion.

thanne Graunde Iakis anon present, aftur reskewe he was sent; and of that message he was full fayne. to Rone he come nought ageyne; but a messagere thedur he did sende, and bad hym haue do, and make an ende, and did hem to wete (y telle you trewe,) Ther was no reskewe that he knewe.

the viij day (the trowthe to telle), in the feste of Seint Wolston, that day befell, and this was vpon a Thorysday. oure Kynge thanne, in good aray, ffull rialliche in his astate, as a conquerowe, there he sate, with-ynne a hous of cherite, to resseyue the keyis of that cite.

mou sir Guy the botelere, and burgeisis of that cite in fere, to the Kynge the keyis they brought, and of legaunce hym besought.

to Exeter, oure Kynge souerayne, comaund the keyis, and to be capteyne; and the Duke tho charchid he to resseyue that cite, and entre in his name that nyght, and assygnyd to hym many a knyght.

thanne the Duk of Exeter, withoute bode,

toke his hors and forthe he rode to Benysyn that porte so stronge, [Galba E. VIII 143a] That he had lay before so longe. To that yate sone he cam, and with hym many a worthi man; There was neyinge of many a stede, And shynynge of many a gay wede; There was many a geton gay, with mychill and grete aray.

and whanne the yate was opynnyd there, thei weren redy, in to fare: Trompis blewe her bemys of bras, pipis and clarionys, for-sothe ther was; and as thei entrid, thei yaf a showte with her voyce: thei were full stowte. "Seint Gregori! Seint Gregori!" thei cride on hight, and seide "welcome oure kyngis right!"

the Frensshe pepull of that cite were gederid be thousandis hem to se: thei criden alle "welcome" in fere; "in siche tyme mote ye entre here, plesynge to God that it may be, and to vs, pees and vnyte."

and of that pepull, to tell the trewthe, yt was a sight of ffull grete rewthe: mykill of that folke ther-ynne, thei weren but very bonys and skyn, with ey-on holow, and nose sharpe, vnnethe thei myght brethe or carpe; ffor her colour was wan as lede, not like to lyf, but sone byn dede; disfigurid patrouys and quantite, and as a dede Kynge thei weren paynte.

there men myght se an exampleyre how foode makithe the pepull feyre: In euyry strete, summe lay dede, and hundris cryinge aftur brede; and aftur longe, meny a day,

thei died as faste as thei myght be laid away. In-to that wey, God hem wisse, that thei may come to his blisse! Amen!

Now wille y more telle spelle, and of the Duke of Excestre to telle.

to that castell firste he rode, and sithen the cite alle abrode, lengthe and brede he it mette, and riche baneris he upsette, vppon the Porte Seint Hillary, a banere of the Trynyte; and at the Porte Baux he set euyn a banere of the Quene of Heuen; and at Porte Martuyle he vp pight Of Seint George a baner bright. he set vpon the castell to stonde, The armys of Fraunce and of Engelonde.

And on the Fryday, in the mornynge, Into that cite come oure Kynge, And alle the bisshopis in her aray, and vij abbotis with crucchis gay: xlij crossis there were of religion, and seculer; and alle thei went in prosession ayens that Prynce withe-oute the toune; and euyry cros, as thei stode, he blessid hem with mylde mode; and holy watir, with her honde, They yaf the Prynce of oure lande. and at the Porte Cauke so wide, he passid yn withoute pryde; withoute pype or bomys blaste; oure Kynge, worthili he paste, and as a conqueoure yn his right, thankynge euyr God Almyght. and alle the pepull in that cite, "welcome oure lord! thei seid so fre, "welcome into thyn owne right,

as it is the wille of God Almyght!" with that, thei cryed alle 'nowelle' as high as thei myght yelle. he rode vpon a browne stede; of blake damaske was his wede; a peitrell of gold full bright aboute his necke hynge doun right. and a pendaunt be-hynde hym did honge vnto the erthe, it was so longe. and thei that neuyr byforn hym did se, thei knewe by chere whiche was he.

To the mynstur did he fare, and of his hors he light thare. his chapell mette hym at the dore there, and went before hym alle in fere, and songe a responde full glorious, 'Quis est magnus dominus.' Messe he hard, and offryd þoo, and thanne to the castell did he goo, that is a place of rialte, and a paleis of grete beaute. there he hym loggid in the toune with riall and grete renoune.

and the cite faste did encrese, of bredde and wyn, fisshe and flesshe; and thus oure gracious liege Made an ende of his sege.

[Galba E. VIII 143b] and alle that haue herd this redynge, To his blisse, Criste you brynge, That for vs deied vpon a tree! Amen! sey we alle pur charite.

And in this yere was quene Iohna, that was Kynge Henryis wiff the iiij.^e, arestid be John, Duke of Bedfford, thanne Lewtenaunt of Engelond, and sent to the castell of Ledis in kent, to abide the wille and grace of the Kynge.

¶ And in the same tyme maystur Randolf, the gray ffrere, was taken in the yle of Gernesey, and was brought to the castell of

Chirbourne in Normandye, for treson that she wrought ayens the Kynge.

¶ And at Wittesontyde the Kynge lay at Maunt with alle his lordis; and there he hild his rialte and feste at that tyme amonge alle his pepull. and tho was maystir Randulf the Grey ffrere, and his beaupere, brought fro the castell of Cherborugh to Maunte there the kynge lay; and from thens the ffrere Randulf was brought to London, and put in-to the Toure in prison, by comaundement of the Kynge. And so by processe longe aftur the persone of the Toure and this ffrere Randulf fillen in debate and stryffe withynne the Toure ward; and there this persone smote this ffrere Randulf, and sloue hym; and thus he made his ende of the world.

¶ And at this same feste of Wittesontide, the Kynge made two newe lordis in Normandye: that on was the Capdowe of Burdeux, and he was made Erle of Langle; and Sir John Grey, Erle of Tankyruyle.

¶ And in the same tyme come the Embassitorys of Fraunce into Maunte, there the Kynge of Engelond lay, to haue a day of trete to the whiche trete the Kynge of Fraunce shuld come hym self and hys Quene, and Dame Katerene his doughtir, and the Duke of Burgoyne, with the othir counseile of Fraunce. And there the day and place was assignyd and take for bothe pertyes besyde this toune of Melange. And there was the feld rially apparaylid of tentis and pauylownys on bothe sidis, bothe for Engelisshe and Frensshe; and this fild was listid and palid alle rounde aboute in bothe sidis. ¶ And in the Frensshe side stode a pale dichid, for mistruste that they had of the Engelisshe pepull, and on bothe sidis serteyne men of armys weren assyngnyd for to kepe the fild, and in the myddis of this felde stode a pauylowne rialle, with a large Egull gilte, for Kynge Henry of Engelond. ¶ And a tente stode aforn ayens it, for the Frensshe kynge. And in this pauylown and tente, by ordynaunce made, shuld no pepull come but tho that werne sworen on bothe sidis to the Counseille, vp peyne of dethe.

¶ And on the Engelisshe partye was ffirste, Henry the King of Engelond, and Thomas his brothir, the Duke of Clarence, and Sir Vmfray, his othir brothir, Duke of Gloucestre, and Sir Thomas Beauford, Duke of Exetir, and the nobull Erle of the Marche, and

the Bisshop of Wynchestir, Sir Henry Beauford, the Kynges vncle, and othir Bisshoppis, and erlis, barony and lordis, and othir clergye, knyghtis and squyeris, that weren assyngnyd to the nombre of this trete.

¶ And on the Frensshe partye ther shuld be the Frensshe Kynge; but he come not, for his infirmyte was come on hym, that he myght not come there at that tyme. ¶ But the Quene come, and Dame Kateryne hir doughtir, and the Duke of Burgoyne, and xxvj ladyes in good aray, with othir lordis of the counseill of Fraunce. And vij dayes they tretid and they myght not accorde; and tho weren the pauylonys and the tentis taken vp and born awey, and the ffeld broken vp, and euyry man went his wey.

¶ And tho the Kynge of Engelond, with alle his lordis and all his pepull, turnyd ayen and come to Maunte. ¶ And thanne this Erle of Gascoigne toke his retenewe with othir Engelisshe men, and come be nyght, and stale the toune of Pounteyse of the Frensshe men, and drof hem oute; and so thei fled; and so the toune was wonne; and there-ynne was myche rychesse. ¶ And whanne the Kynge [Galba E. VIII 144a] herd this, he sent his brothir Thomas, the Duke of Clarence, with his pepull thidur to Pountese, and made hym captayne there-of. And thanne he toke his pepull and issewid oute, and come to-fore the Cite of paris with x. M^li. men of armis; and there they lay two dayes and two nyghtis, and no pepull proferid oute to hem; and tho they turnyd and went ayen to Pounteyse.

¶ And thanne the Duke of Burgoyne, seynge that they myght not accorde with the Engelisshe party; tho the duke of Burgoyne and his counseile come to the Dolfyn, there he lay, to trete with hym, to se and knowe how they myght beste voyde the Kynge of Engelond with alle his pepull oute of the Rewme of Fraunce by theyre good counceill. ¶ And thanne the Dolfyn and his counseill tho answerid and seide, "like as he had brought, he shuld brynge hem oute:" and so they fille in altercacion and strif with-ynne hem self; and there they sloue the Duke of Burgoyne and othir lordis that come with hym, in her counseill chambre.

¶ And whanne tydynges come to the Frensshe kynge and to his counseill, and to alle the Burgeysis of Paris, that the Duke of

Burgoyne was thus slayne and dede, and his othir ffelawship, thanne were they sory and yvell payde, and weren tho redles, and wiste not what to don. ¶ And thanne the Frensshe kyngis counseill, and the grete and worthiest Burgeysis of Parys token her counseill with all the countre aboute Parys, and come and tretid with the Kynge of Englonde and his lordis and grauntid hem her askynge, that Henry the Kynge of Engelond shuld haue dame Kateryne the Frensshe Kynges doughtir to wif, with all his othir askyngis, and the Kynge of Engelond toke his lordis and othir of his men, and made grete puruyaunce and ordynaunce that he wold haue for his maryage.

¶ And so the Kynge wente into Troys in Champeyne there they shold byn weddid; and thedur was Dame Kateryne brought with grete rialte; and there they were worthiliche welcomed and resseyued of all the pepull there. ¶ And there the Erchebisshop of Caunturburi, Sir Henry Chichele, and othir Engelisshe Bisshoppis and Frensshe Bisshoppis diden this solempne seruyce there, and weddid hem togederis there by ordynaunce of God and holy chirche, with honoure and grete ioye. And there he made a rialle and a passynge worthi solempne feste to alle the pepull that come, the Monday nexte aftur the Trynyte day in the yere of his regne the vij^e.

¶ And aftur this rialle and solempne weddynge, the Kynge and the Quene, with her pepull, come doune to Rone, and there they dullid a longe tyme, and in the contre aboute Roone, till he sawe his tyme to come in-to Engelond with Dame Kateryne the Quene, his wif; and ordeynyd, or he come oute of Normandye, Thomas his brother, the Duke of Clarence, to be his leef-tenaunte of Normandye, and of alle othir londis that he had in that contre of Fraunce, and lefte hym pepull and stuffe ynow to maynteyne and kepe his right that he had goten, vnto his ayencomynge, and byraught hym to God.

¶ And tho aftur the Kynge and the Quene come to Caleys, and so ouyr the see into Engelond, and Dame Katerine his Quene with hym. And they landid at Douyre in Kente; and there come a grete multitude of men of the contre aboute, and in goode aray on horsbacke, and welcomyd hem with alle honoure and reuerence that thei myght, and so brought hem to the cite of Caunturbury; and there were thei worthily welcomyd of alle the pepull of alle the contre of Kent, and yoven vnto hir grete yeftis, and so come

ridynge with hem thorough Kente, and brought the Kynge and the Quene to his maner of Eltham, and there restid hem awhile tylle they wold come to London.

¶ And the meyre and aldremen, with alle the commnalte of the Cite of London, lete ordeyne and make many diuerse shewyngis and sightis thorugh the high stretis in the Cite, with many othir presentis and yeftis, bothe [Galba E. VIII 144b] to Kynge and Quene at the comynge into the Cite. ¶ And that day that the Kynge and the Quene remeuyd from the maner of Eltham, the Meyre and aldremen, and the communis of London, in good araye of white garmentis and rede hodis or rede kappis,—and euyry crafte, a dyuersite on her garnement to knowe euyry crafte be hym-self,—and all on hors backe, with clarionys and all maner of lowde mynstrelsie, in honoure and comforte of the Kynge and of the Quene, and to the glorious and riall sight of straungeris that come with hem ouyr from the see, and for the grete worship of the worthi Cite of London, the Meyre and his aldremen, with the worthi pepull of the cite, the nombre of xxx M^li men and moo, abyden and houyd on her hors on the Blake-Hethe in Kente, abydynge the Kynge and the Quenys comynge. ¶ And tho, whanne they were come, they weren reseyuyd reuerently and worthyli, with alle hymylite and obeysaunce of alle pepull and men, with alle the melodye that they had, and so brought hem into the cite, and so to the Toure of London; and there the Kynge and the Quene restid hem.

And on the morow, aftur Quene Kateryne come fro the Toure to her coronacion to Westminster, and tho the Meyre and the aldremen and alle the Commnes of the cite, that is for to seye, euyry crafte in her beste clothynge, with alle her melodye and mynstralsie, went alle on ffote tho, and brought the Quene thorugh the Cite. And there was don and shewid to hir alle the rialte of sightis that myght be don to her comforte and plesaunce, and euyry strete hongid rychely with riche clothis of gold and silke, and of velewettis and clothis of araas, the beste that myght be gotyn; and so the pepull brought hir thorugh the cite to Westminster, to the Kyngis paleys.

¶ And thanne the nexte day sewynge the Sonday aftur the feeste of Seynt Mathy apostill in lente, Dame Kateryne the Quene

was crounyd in the Abbey of Westeminster, with alle the grete and worthi Bisshoppis of this londe, with alle the solempnite and rialte that myght be don and ordeynyd; and the ffeste holden in the paleis opyn to alle pepull, straungeris and othir that wold come, of alle maner rialteis of metis and drynkys.

¶ And on the efter-euyne nexte sewynge, Thomas, the Duke of Clarence, tho issewid oute from the place there he lay, with a lytull meyne, to knowe and se the place and grounde where the Dolfynnys pepull, Armynackis and Scottis, had ordeynyd to mete and to fight with the Engelisshe men, and to yeue bataill. ¶ And as the Duke of Clarence come with his folke by the watir of Leyre vpon this eftur euyn aforn seide, the Erle of Armynacke with the dolfynys meyne and his and a grete nombre of Scottis mette with the Duke of Clarence and his meyne by this watir of Leyre; and there they foughten to-gederis; and at the laste there was the Duke of Clarence slayne, and othir moo with hym; and there was take prisoner the Erle of Huntyngdon and the Erle of Somersette and his brothir, and the Fytz-Watir, and othir moo. ¶ And aftur, the Bastard of Clarence come and gate his ffaderis body, and did so brynge it into Engelond, and so to the abbey of Criste-chirche of Caunturbury, and was there enterid and buryed besides Kynge [Henry] the iiij^e. his ffadir, on whos soule oure Lord God haue mercy! Amen!

¶ And also in the same yere, betwene Cristemesse and Candilmasse, the toune of Milon was yolden to the Kynge; and all the cheueteynys, with the soudiourys, were taken, and led to the Cite of Paris in the croke of the mone, they myght sey; for of hem ther scapid thens but a fewe on lyue. And sone aftur, Kynge Henry the vj. was born in the castell of Wyndesore, the day of seynt Nicholas the Bisshop, the yere of oure Lord Ihesu Criste. M^li. cccc.xxj., whos godfaderis and godmodris at the fontstone weren these: sir Henry Beauford, Bisshop of Wynchestir, and Iohn, Duke of Bedford; and the Duchesse of Holond was his godmodir; and at his confirmacion the Erchebisshop of Caunterbury was his god ffadir.//

How whanne Kynge Henry herd of his brotheris dethe, Thomas, the Duke [Galba E. VIII 145a] of Clarence, ordeynyd a newe retenewe, and wente ouyr the see in grete haste, & leid sege to Mewis in Bry, with his pepull. //

And in the vj. yere of Kynge Henryes regne the v ÷, come tydyngis in-to Engelond how that Thomas his brothir, the Duke of Clarence, was sleyne by the watir of Leyre, wherefore the Kynge was heuy and wrothe; and in all the haste that he myght, he ordeynyd hym a newe retenewe of men of armys and archeris, with alle maner of othir stuffis that bylongid therto at all maner nedis, and went ouyr the se with his pepull, and come into Fraunce, and bysegid Mewis in Bry, a grete toune and a stronge, with a Castelle. And that Towne and the Castelle weren welle vitailid and eke mannyd; and grete strenghte they had with-ynne hem, and manly they deffendid hem, and kep[t]e Towne and Castell longe tyme. ¶ And in this tyme, while the Kynge hild his sege of Mewis yn Bry, ther come goode tydyngis oute of Engelond to the Kynge, how that Dame Kateryne his wif, the Quene, was dellyuyryd of a feyre sone, a lord and prynce, to the Rewme ese, profite and worship, and gladnesse in hert, whiche with high and grete worthynesse was brought forthe, and cristenyd in his colage withynne his Castelle of Wyndesore. And of this worthi tydyngis the Kynge was glad, and thankyd God, and so diden alle his pepull whanne they herd there-of: and that day of this worthi pryncis birthe was on Seynt Nycholas day in the yere of oure Lord God .M^li. CCCC. xxj. and the Regne of the Kynge the ix^e. ¶ And aftur these good tydyngis, the Kynge, with alle his pepull, busied sore to gete this towne and Castell, bothe by watir and by londe and leid therto his grete Gounnys, Trepgettis and Engenys, and bete adowne the wallis in dyuers placis; and so at the laste they entrid yn with strengthe, and gate the Towne; and there was moche pepull slayne and dede; and tho was the toune wonne and the castell eke. // ¶ And there the Kynge toke many riche men prysoneris, and sent hem afturward into Engelond.

¶ And thanne the Kynge sent aftur the Quene, and aftur Iohn his brothir, the Duke of Bedford, and that they shuld brynge with hem more stuffe of pepull in all haste. And anon as these tydyngis come to, the Quene Kateryne went to Hampton, and the Duke of Bedford also, with a feyre meyne, and wente to Shippe, and come ouyr the se, and landid at Hareflete in Normandye the vij. day of

May in saufte, and alle her pepull,—thankyd be God!—and in alle haste reden forthe vp in the londe tille thei come there as the Kynge was. // ¶ And sir Vmfrey, the Duke of Gloucestre, his othir brothir, was tho made the Kyngis Lefetenaunte of Engelond in his absence, to kepe and gouerne the Rewme in alle degreis, in saufynge of the pepull and of the lond, that God maynten and kepe in good pees and reste, with good loue and charite to endure! Amen! //

¶ And in the lettur ende of the monythe of Apriell, in the .x. yere of Kynge Henry the V. is regne, was the toune and castell of Mewis in Biri gotyn and wonne by grete strengthe, by the Kynge and his pepull, oute of the Frensshe mennys hondis. ¶ And in the firste day of Iuyll the same yere, the Kynge sent ouyr the see his prisoneris that he had take at Mewis in Bry, the ffull nombre of xxviij. personys; and they weren brought in-to Engelond, and londid at Hampton; and all his prisoneris weren caryed in cartis to London, and so brought into the toure of London, to kepe hem there-ynne saufly. //

¶ And tho anon the Kynge remouyd from Mewis in Bry, and come ayen to Parys. And with ynne awhile aftur, the Kynge beganne to waxe sore sike, and tho remouyd hym to haue the betir Eyre and hele of body; and his sykenesse come to hym so sore þat he myght not welle endure it. ¶ And so he sent aftur his lordis that weren there, and his counsaill, and deuysid his wille, and made his testament full, and sette his executoris, and deuysid his tresoure and his Iewellis to ben solde, and to pay his dettis, as well to his sowdyouris as to othir dettouris. // [Galba E. VIII 145b] ¶ And he ordeynyd Iohn, the Duke of Beedford, his brothir, to byn there Regent Gouernoure of Fraunce and of Normandie, vnto good gouernaunce and profite vnto Henry his sone, and good kepynge in reste and pees of his pepull there, vnto the tyme the good Counseill of Engelond myght dresse it and amende it, to set it in pessabull poynte and reste. // ¶ And he comyttid thanne the kepynge of Henry, his yonge sone, to Syr Henry Beauford his vncle, the Bisshop of Wynchestire, and to Sir Thomas Beauford, his othir vncle, Duke of Exetre, and charged hem bothe to his good gouernaunce and

kepyng in his tendir age, for alle the louys that euyr were betwene hem, that no preiudise nor wronge were do to hym thorough noo fals couetous counseill nor nede. // ¶ And tho the Kynge disposid hym to Godwardis, and toke all his rightis of holy chirche, and toke his leue of all his ffre[n]dis, and comendid his soule to God, and deid, the xxix of Auguste in the x. yere of his regne: on whos soule God haue mercy! amen! //

¶ And thanne was his body enbawmyd and dight with riche Spicerie and oynementis, and closid in shire clothe, and closid faste in a cheste; and he was cariid doune to Rone, and there he had his dirige and his messes don for hym, with all the moste solempnite that myght byn ordeynyd and doon in holy chirche; and from thens he was brought doune by londe to Caleis. And with the Erchebisshop of Caunturbury come the Quene of Engelond his wif, Dame Kateryne, and many othir grete lordis, and knyghtis and Squyeris, and brought the body ouyr the see into Engelond, and come vp at Douir, and so to Caunturbury, and so thoroughe Kente to London. //

¶ And thanne the Meyre and aldremen, with all the Craftis of London, weren clothid in blacke, abydynge the body of the kynge on the Blacke-Hethe in Kente; and so come doun to seint Thomas Waterynge, withoute Sougthwarke, and there met all the religious pepull with þe body, prystis and othir, and brought the cors to London, and so thorough the Cite to Seint Poulis. And there was Dirige don ouyr euyn, and messe of Requyem on the morowe, and whanne the seruyce was doun at aftur mete, bothe the lordis and knyghtis and othir, with all the Commnes of the Cite of London, brought hym from Seint Poulis to Westminster, and there was his Dirige don ouyr euyn, and messe on the moroughe of Requyem, with all the Bisshoppis; and there was he burye[d] by Seint Edwardis Shryne, the .vije. day of the monythe of Nouembre, in the yere of oure Lorde Ihesu criste, M^li. CCCC. xxij. //

¶ And yn that same yere it byfell so that thoroughoute all Engelond was a grete yere of ffrute. And in that same yere deiden the moste partye of alle the lory treis thorugh all Engelond.

How aftur the dethe of Kynge Henry the v^e, Regnyd his sone Kynge Henry the vj^e, and was borne at the Castell of Wyndesore. //

ANd aftur the dethe of Kynge Henry the v÷, Regnyd Henry his sone, that was borne in Wyndesore, that men callid Kynge Henry the vj^e. And for his tendir and yonge age, Henry his ffadir comyttid hym to the kepynge of Sir Henry Beauford, Bisshop of Wynchestre, and to Sir Thomas Beauford, Duke of Exetre, bothe his bele vnclys; and the kepynge of Fraunce and Normandie to Iohn the Duke of Bedford, to ben regent and gouernoure of bothe there, tille that Henry, his yonge sone, by his good counseile wold set it in bettur gouernaunce. // ¶ And the kepinge of Engelond to sir Vmfray, the Duke of Gloucestre, to ben Proptectour and deffendour of the Rewme tille that Henry his yonge sone, by alle the good counseile of Engelond, wold set and put it into bettur gouernaunce, and to moste profite of the Kynge and of the Rewme.

¶ And in the seconde yere of Kynge Henry the vj ÷ Sir Iohn Mortymere, knyght, brake pryson oute of the Toure of London, and was take ayen vpon the Toure-wharf; and there he was foule woundid and bete, and brought on the morow to Westeminster byforn the Kyngis Iusticis; and there for his treson Iuggid to byn brought ayen to the Toure of London, and there leide vpon an hurdull, and so drawe thoroughe the Cite to Tibourne, and there [Galba E. VIII 146a] hongid, and his hed smeton of, and sette on London Brigge; and thus endid he his lif: on whos soule God haue merci! //

¶ And in the iij^e yere of Kynge Henryis Regne, Sir Edmonde Mortymere, Erle of the Marche, wente oute of Engelond into Wallis, and so ouyr into Irlond, to se his londis and lordshippis there, And anon withynne a litull processe of tyme there, he deid in Irlond.

And also in the same yere Vmfrey, the Duke of Gloucestre, the Kyngis vncle, and the Duches of Holond, his wif, went ouer the see oute of Engelond into Henaud, for to take there possession of his wifis heritage of lordshippis and londis. ¶ Wherefore thei were worshipfully welcomyd and resseyuyd for chief lorde

and lady of the lond. But not longe aftur, hit happid so that he was fayne to retourne ayen into Engelond, and lefte his lady byhynd hym, with all the tresoure that he brought oute of Engelond with hym, in a toune that me callid Mouns in Heuland, the whiche was sworen to hym to be goode and trewe, and to kepe this lady in sauf ward tille he come ayen to here. But at the laste thei weren fals, for thei delyuyryd the lady to the Duke of Burgoyne; and he sent hir to the cite of Gaunte yn Flaunderis, to be kepte there. // ¶ But, as God wold, in a shorte tyme aftur she ascaped thens in mannys clothynge, and come to a toune of her owne in Selande, that is callid Seryse, and fro thens she went to a toune of her owne in Holand, that is callid Tragowe, where, with help of her ffryndis that there were, she withstode the Duke of Burgoyne and alle his malice. //

¶ And in the iiij^e yere of Kynge Henryis regne the vje, there aros a grete debate betwene Sir Vmfrey, the Duke of Gloucestre, and Sir Henry Beauford, Bisshop of Wynchestir; and this Henry bare tho heuy herte ayens the pepull of the Cite of London; And þis debate bygan on þe day of þe Meyris tidynge of London, whanne thei come to Westminster paleis; and the Meyre of London that tyme me callid Iohn Couentre, mercer. And on the nexte morow folowynge, the Bisshop of Wynchestre hadde gaderyd a grete pepull in Soughthewerke, of men of armys and archeris; and they of the Cite kept tho strongly London Brygge-gate with men of armys [&] archeris, that no man myght in, nothir oute, for to kepe the pees in bothe partyes. ¶ And anon, vpon viij. of the clokke in the mornynge, alle the Cite was vp with her wepyn, and shette in her howsis, and drewe hem dounward to Temyseside, and wold haue apassid ouyr the watir, forto haue taken the Bisshop. ¶ But the Erchebisshop of Caunturbury, Sir Henry Chichele, and the Bisshop of Bathe, Sir Iohn of Stafford, and the Prynce of Portyngale—that in the same tyme were in the Cite of London—went betwene hem and the Cite, that all was cessid and set in reste by none; blessid be God! //

¶ And in the same yere, the .x. day next aftur that Iohn the Duke of Bedford, and his lady, his wiff, that was the Dukis

sustur of Burgoyne, come out of Fraunce ouyr the see into Engelond, to here and to se the welfare of oure Kynge, and to se also the gouernaunce of this Rewme. and whanne he come nygh London, the Meyre and Aldremen, and many crafty men of the Cite, riden ayens the Duke and the Duchesse, and welcomyd hem, and brought hem into the Cite. ¶ And at the Bisshoppis place of Dereham, there thei were herborowid; and with hem tho come the Bisshop of Wynchestre ridynge thorough London, to right grete greuance of the pepull saue for the displesaunce and presence of the Duke.

¶ And in the .v. yere of Kynge Henry the vj^e., anon aftur the Feste of Seint Hillary, the Kynge held his parlement at the toune of Leycestre. And at that parlement Sir Vmfray, the Duke of Gloucestre, and Sir Henry Beauford, Bisshop of Wynchestire, weren made at on, and accordid, by the Kynge and the Duke of Bedford, and othir lordis that weren there presente. // ¶ And in that same parlement the kynge made two Dukis: my Lord Sir Richardis sone of Caumbrigge, Duke of Yorke, and Sir Iohn [Galba E. VIII 146b] of Mombray, Erle Marchall, Duke of Northeffolke, and there the kynge made also many knyghtis of the Bathe.

¶ And in this same yere deid Sir Thomas Beauford, Duke of Exetur, the kyngis bell vncle, in a place there he lay in the toune of Grenewiche, iiij. myle oute of London; and thanne he was brought into London to Seint Poulis, and there he had Dirige and messe; and from thens thei caried hym to Seint Edmondisbury; and there he was worthili enterid and buryid in Cristemesse woke in the yere of oure Lord Ihesu criste, M^li. CCCC. xxvj: on whos soule God haue mercy! amen! //

¶ And in the same yere, aboute Shroftide, Iohn, the Duke of Bedford, and his lady the Duchesse, passid ouyr the [see] to Caleis. And a litull byforne [they] passid ouyr the see to Caleis, Henry the Bisshop of Winchestre, and vpon oure lady day the Anunciacion, the yere of Grace M^li. CCCC. xxvij, the Bisshop of Wynchestre was made Cardynall in Seint Marye Chirche in Caleis full solempnely; where weren the same tyme the Duke of Bedford, Regent of Fraunce, and his duchesse. // ¶ And byforne the messe was bygonne, whiche the Bisshop of Wynchestre shold do, tho the Popis cosyn brought the cardynallis hatte, and with

grete reuerence he set it vpon the high auter, and there it stode all the messe tyme. // ¶ And whanne the Bisshop had don his messe and wa[s] onreuersid, thanne was don on the Bisshop an abbite in maner of a ffreris Cope of fyne Scarlet furrid with purid werke; and whanne he was thus arayid, he knelid there vpon his kneys beforn the high auter; and there the Popis bullis weren radde to hym. // ¶ And the firste bull was his charge of his dyngnyte of Cardynalship; and the seconde bull was that he shuld haue the reioysynge of alle the Benefisis Spirituall and Temperall that he hathe in Engelond. And whanne this was don, the Duke of Bedford, Regent of Fraunce, went vp to the high auter, and toke the high Cardinallis hatte, and set it vpon the Bisshoppis hed of Wynchestre; and he bowid and obeyid the Bisshop, and toke hym byfore hym.

¶ And in the vj. yere of Kynge Henryis Regne the vj.e, went the Erle of Salusbury, with a grete retenewe of men of armys and archeris, by comaundement of the Kynge and of alle the Counseile of Engelond, & made hym the Leftenaunt or alle the partyes of Fraunce and of Normandye, forto distroye the Kynges enemyes, and to chastice the rebbellis in the pertyes by his strengthe, myght and power. // ¶ And so he depertid, and toke his leue oute of London, with all his pepull and ordynauncis, the morow aftur Mydsomyr Day, in the yere aboue seid, and come ouyr the see with alle his pepull in saufte; thankid be God in all his yeftis! and anon as he was come into Fraunce, he set sore on the Frensshe men that weren the kyngis Enemyes, and slowe and destroyid many of hem, and toke vilagis, Tounys and castelles, and made hem be suoren to the Kynge of Engelond. And afturward he leid sege to the toune of Orlyaunce; and that sege endurid longe tyme, for the toune of Orliaunce was so stronge, and well ymannyd and vitailid, that it myght not be goten for no crafte of werre that was don therto; where[of] he was wond[er] heuy and wroth, for he myght note spede of his purpos. // ¶ And tho at the laste, as he was busi to sete and loke vpon his ordynauncis, forto gete it yf he myght, a fals thef, a traitour withynne the toune, shotte a Gonne, and the stone smot this good Erle of Salusbury, that he was dede thorough the stroke; wherefore was made grete doole and sorow for his dethe longe tyme afturward, for the grete doughtynesse

and manhode that was founde in hym, and in his gouernaunce at all tymes. And thanne was his body brought ouyr the see into Engelond, and his body was caryid and leid amonge his aunseteris there as thei byn buryid of holde tyme: on whos soule oure God haue mercy! Amen!

¶ And also in this same yere fro the begynnynge of the monythe of Appryell into the feste of All-Haloue, was so grete haboundance of Reyne, where-thorough not only heigh was distroyid, but also all maner of cornys, for it reynyd almoste euyry othir day, more [Galba E. VIII 147a] or lesse, durynge the tyme aforeseid.

¶ And forthirmore, durynge the sege of Orliaunce, at the begynnynge of Lenton nexte ffolowynge, vij. M^li. of Frensshe men and moo, with many othir Scottis, fill vpon oure men as they went toward the Toune with vitaill that is callid 'yamuyle,' where Sir John Steward of Scotlond and his brothir, with moo thanne vij. c. Scottis and they weren gouernouris they lighten on ffoote, and they weren, euyry modir sone, slayne by Sir John Folstalff and Sir Thomas Rampston, and othir Capitaynys of oure side, the whiche had not passynge .v. c. of ffightynge men with hem at all, with Carteris and all othir. // ¶ But Charlis of Burgoyne and the Bastard of Orliaunce, with all the Frensshe men sittynge on hors backe and seynge this Gouernaunce, trussid hir packe and went her wey. Also a litull beforne Witsontide nexte folowynge, was the foreseide sege of Orliaunce broken vp by the Duke of Launsom and his power; and alle othir lordis and Capitaynys of the same sege weren disparkelid, that is so seye, the Erle of Suffolke and his brothir, and the Lord Talbot and the Lord Skalis, with many moo of Engelisshe pepull, the whiche sone afture weren taken euyrychone, at grete myschief, prysoneres.

¶ And in the vij. yere of Kynge Henry the vje the viij day of Nouembre, the Duke of Norfolke, with many gentill men of knyghtis and Squyeris and yemen, token a barge at Seint Mari Ouereyis Brygge, bitwene iiij. and .v. of the clokke ayens nyght; and they purposid tho to passe thorough London Brigge, where the foreseide barge, thorough mysgouernaunce of sterage, fill vpon the pilis thorough mysgouernaunce, and ouyrwelfid, the whiche was cause of distruccion of moche pepull thereynne, that was the more rowthe. // ¶ But as God wold, the Duke hym-self, and .ij.

or .iij. othir gentill men, tho seyynge that myschief, lept vpon the pilis, and so thei weren sauyd thorough help of hem that weren aboute the brygge, wyth castynge doune of ropis, blessid be God!

¶ And in this same yere, the firste day of the monith of Septembre, Sir Henry Beauford, Bisshop of Wynchestre and bellvncle to the Kynge, come to London fro the Pope of Rome. Cardynalles, and alle the prestis and religious of London, and neyȝ London, went ayens hym yn prosession withoute the Cite, and there they met with hym, and did hym all the honour and reuerence as longith for siche estate to ben don. // ¶ And the Meyre and Aldremen, with many worthi craftis of London, met with hym on the Blake-Hethe in Kent; and there thei welcomyd hym, and did hym reuerence and worship, and brought hym þorugh þe Cite, and so to Charinge Crosse and there the Meyre and the men of London toke her leue of hym, and he rode forthe to the castell of Wyndesore to the Kynge.

¶ And in the same yere, at the ffeste of Mydsomyr, Sir Henry Beauford, Cardynall, and Bisshop of Wynchestir, went ouyr the see into Fraunce for the Kyngis nedis; and Sir John Radclif, knyght, went ouyr the se that same tyme, with a grete compeny of men of armis and archeris, to helpe and to strengthe John, the Duke of Bedford and Regent of Fraunce and of Normandie, and the Engelisshe pepull that weren lefte there in the right of the Kynge of Engelond.

¶ And in the same yere was Henry Barton, Meyre of London. And tho was, thoroughoute Engelond, grete scarste of corne and of othir vitaill, for oxen and shipe, deiden stronglyche, and a busshell whete was at xx d^o. longe tyme: blessid be God in alle his yeftis of amendement!

¶ And in the viij yere of Kynge Henryis regne the vje; was hold a grete parlement at Westeminster; and that beganne the morow aftur Michelmesse-Day, and it endurid tille Shroftid. And on Seint Lethenardis day byforn Cristemesse, and that was on the Sonday (and Sonday went by lettur A. that yere,) the Kynge was crownyd at Westeminster, with honoure, of Henry Chichele, Erchebisshop of Caunturbury, and with moo othir Bisshoppis, with alle the solempnite that myght be made and doon. ¶ And in the

same day, come fro byyonde the see to his coronacion and feste, Sir Henry Beauford, Cardynall, and Bisshop of Winchestre, [Galba E. VIII 147b] and the Prynce of Portyngale with a feyre meyne of pepull, in reuerence and worship of the Kynge; and byforne that weren come and abedyn at London a bisshop of Fraunce, and serteyn knyghtis and squyeris with her meyne, to se that rialte, and the Coronacions of the kynge. And the even bifore þe coronacion, þe kyng lete make xxxvj. Knyghtis of the Bathe, withynne the Toure of London. ¶ And in the same [time] in Cristemesse wike, bi ordynaunce and comaundement of the Kynge and of his Counsell, the Bastard of Clarence and Sir Iohn Kyzelei, knyght, and moo oþer knyghtis and squyeris þat were made peti capteynes, with men of armes ande archeris, the nombre of a a M^li personys and moo, shippiden at dyuerse portes in Kente and in Southesex, and seilid ouyr into Normandie forto helpe and strengthe the Duke of Bedford, Regent of Fraunce and of Normandie, and in releuynge and comfortynge of all the Kynges pepull that haue eny kepynge of Ceteis, townys, Castelles, or eny holdis tha[t] bilongen to the Kynge in the parties of Fraunce and of Normandie: the whiche, Criste maynteyne and kepe, for his high mercy!

¶ And in this same yere was a bataill doon in Smythffeld, at London, the Tewisday the xxiiij. day of Januare, betwene two men of the toune of Feuyrisham in Kente: that on me callid maistir John Vpton, notarye, that was the appellaunte; and that othir, John of Downe, Jentillman, the deffandaunte. And thei two ffoughten togederis, armyd at all poyntis, to the vtterist; but the Kynge, of his riall power and grete grace, kryid 'pees,' and toke it vp in his hand, and yaf hem bothe fre grace: and this was the cause of her bataill, for this Maistur John Vpton put-of on John of Downe, that he and othir moo of his compeny ymagenid and purposid the Kyngis dethe at the day and tyme of his coronacion: whom God kept and saue from all mysauenturis. Amen!

¶ And in the same yere, the xxvij. day of Januare, Sir Henry Beauford, Cardinall, and Bisshop of Wynchestre, went ouyr the see to Caleis, and so to Bryggis in Flaundris, in embassitrie for Henry, Kynge of Engelond and of Fraunce, vnto the Duke of Burgoyne, and also to se the mariage betwene the Duke of

Burgoyne and the Kynge of Portyngalis doughtir, that is cosyn to the Kynge of Engelond.

¶ And in the same yere and day, Thomas of Borough, and Gray, two esquyeris, by ordynaunce and comaundement of the Kynge and of his Counseill, had a grete retenewe of pepull, of men of armys and archeris, that weren sent ouyr the see into Fraunce, to the Duke of Bedford, Regent and Gouernoure of the parties of Fraunce and Normundie, in releuynge and helpynge and strengthing of the Kyngis pepull in oure liege lordis right, Kynge of Engelond and of Fraunce.

¶ How that Kynge Henry the vje went ouyr the see into Fraunce, the viij yere of his regne; and of the whiche [of] Fraunce that was callid the 'Pushell': how she was take prysonere.

And in the viij. yere of Kynge [Henry the sixt] his Regne, on Seint Mathi day the Apostull, and that was on the Fryday, the xxiiij. day of Feuyrere in the yere aboue seid, Kynge Henry the vje, aftur his coronacion at Westeminster, and ende of his parlement holden the same tyme at Westeminster, that the Kynge, by counseill and ordynaunce of all the lordis and commu[n]es of Engelond, that the Kynge shuld wende ouyr the see into Fraunce, to resseyue his heritage, and bere the Crowne as rightfull lord and kynge of the londe.// ¶ And the Kynge, by his good and wise counseill, ordeynyd and made his vncle Sir Vmfrey, the Duke of Gloucestre, Leftenaunte of Engelond aftur his passage ouyr the see, for to gouerne and kepe the londe ayen his enemyes of all partyis, and to se that right and lawe be mayntenyd in alle degreis, in sauacion of his pepull and good kepynge of his Rewme.

¶ And on Seint Mathi day the Appostill, as is aforne seide, the Kynge come fro Westeminster to London, with his lordis and his pepull, and come to Seint Poulis, and there offrid, [Galba E. VIII 148a] and toke his hors, and rode thorugh the Cite, and toke his leue of all the Commualte of London; and so he rode to his maner of Eltham in Kente, and there he duellid alle the Lenton till it was ayens Palme Sonday, and thanne he rode to Caunturbury, and abode there tille estur was passid, till his retenewe was made and ordeynyd, that shuld gon and passe ouyr the see with hym into Fraunce.

¶ And thann the Kynge come to Douyre, and on Seint Georges euyn, withynne nyght, the wethur and wynde was feyre and menabull, and the Kynge was brought to ship withoute Douyre in the roode.// ¶ And whanne tyde of passage come, thei toke the see, and passid ouyr, and come to Caleis, and landid there in the mornynge at vij. of the clocke in Seint Georgis Day; and that was on the Sonday; and the domynycall lettur went by. A.// ¶ And whanne he was landid, the Kynge went to the Castell of Caleis; and there he abode tille all his retenewe and ordynaunce were come ouyr the see. And withynn iij. wikis aftur Estur aforne seid, all his pepull, with alle his ordynauncis, weren come ouyr to the Kynge.// ¶ And the Kynge anon aftur, bi his Counseill, sent dyuerse lordis, knyghtis and capitainys, with her men of armys and archeris and ordynauncis, to dyuers tounnys, Castelles and Garnysonys of his in Fraunce and in Normandie, for kepynge and strengthynge of his liege pepull, and kepynge of his titull and right.

¶ And in the same yere, the xv. day of May, ther was made a Journey in Fraunce bisidis the toune of Compyne; and at that Journey were slayn of the Frensshe men, Armynakkis and Scottis the nombre of .viij. c. of good mennys bodyes; and there were take also of the Frensshe and of her compeny, many Cote armuris. And at that same Journey was take the wicche of Fraunce that was callid th[e] 'Pusshell'; and she was take alle armyd as a man of armys; and by her crafte of sorserie alle the Frensshe men and her compeny trystid for to haue ouyrcome alle the Engelisshe pepull. But God was lord and maistir of that victorie and scomfiture, and so she was take, and brought and kept in hold bi the Kynge and his counseill all tymes at his comaundement and wille.

¶ And at that Journey, of Englisshe men weren Capitaynys, Sir John Monuntegomere and Sir John Steward, knyghtis of the Kyngis houshold, with her retenewe. ¶ And there was Sir John Mountegomere smyte his arme vn two; and Sir John Steward was shotte unto the thye with a quarell, and yet God sent hem good hele and welfare, and Scomfiture of all her enemyes: blessid be God!