Here begynneth the first volum of sir Iohan Froyssart of the cronycles of Englande, Fraunce, Spayne, Portyngale, Scotlande, Bretayne, Flau[n]ders: and other places adioynynge. Tra[n]slated out of frenche into our maternall englysshe tonge, by Iohan Bourchier knight lorde Berners: at the co[m]maundement of oure moost highe redouted souerayne lorde kyng Henry the. viii. kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, [and] highe defender of the christen faythe. [et]c.

¶ Howe the kyng of Englande dely∣uerd out of prison sir Henry of Leon. Cap. C. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. (Book 101)

WHyle the kynge made this preparacion at wyndsore for this sayd feest / tidynges came to hym howe y^e lorde Clysson and dyuers other lordes had lost their heedes in Fraūce / wher with the kyng was sore dysple∣ased. In so moch that he was in purpose to haue serued sir Henry of Leon in lyke case whom he had in prisonne but his cosyn the erle of Derby shewed to hym before his counsayle suche rea∣sons to asswage his yre and to refrayne his cou rage. Sayeng sir though that kyng Philyppe in his hast hath done so foule a dede as to put to dethe such valyant knyghtes▪ yet sir for all that blemysshe nat your noblenesse / and sir to say the trouth your prisoner ought to bere no blame for his dede / but sir put hym to a resouable raunsōe Than the kynge sent for the knyght prisoner to come to his presence / and than sayd to hym a sir Henry: sir Henry / myne aduersary Philyppe of Ualoyes hath shewed his feleny right cruell / to put to dethe suche knyghtes / wherwith I am sore dyspleased / and it is thought to vs that he hath done it in dyspite of vs. And if I wolde re∣garde his malyce I shulde serue you in lyke ma¦ner / for ye haue done me more dyspleasure / and to myne in Bretayne than any other person: but I woll suffre it and let hym do his worst / for to my power I woll kepe myne honour / and I am content ye shall come to a lyght ransome for the loue of my cosyn of Derby / who hathe desyred me for you / so that ye woll do that I shall shewe you. The knyght answered and sayd / sir I shal do all that ye shall cōmaunde me: than sayd the kyng I knowe well ye be one of the richest kny∣ghtes in Bretaygne / and yf I wolde sore cease you ye shulde pay me .xxx. or .xl. M. ••••utes / but ye shall go to myne aduersary Philypp̄ of Ua∣loyes: and shewe hym on my behalfe / that syth he hath so shamefully putte to dethe so valyant knyghtes in the dispyte of me / I say and woll make it good he hath broken the truse / taken by twene me and hym: wherfore also I renownce it on my parte and defye hym fro this day fore∣warde. And so that ye woll do this message yo•• raunsome shalbe but .x. M. scutes / the which ye shall pay and sende to Bruges within .xv. day∣es

after ye he past the see / and moreouer ye shall say to all knyghtes and squyers of those partes that for all this they leaue nat to cōe to our feest at wyndsore / for we wolde gladly se theym and they shall haue sure and saue cōduct to retourne ••v. dayes after the feest. Sir sayd the knyght to the beste of my power I shall accomplysshe your message / and god rewarde your grace for the courtessy ye shewe me / and also I humbly thanke my lorde of Derby of his goodwyll. And so sir Henry of Leon departed fro y^e kyng and went to Hampton / and ther toke the see / to thyntent to arryue at Har••••ewe: but a storme toke hym on the see which endured systene day∣es / and lost his horse whiche were caste into the see: and sir Henry of Leon was so sore troubled that he had neuer helth after / howe be it at laste he toke lande at Crotoy. And so he and all his cōpany went a fote to Abuyle and ther they get horses / but sir Henry was so sicke that he was fayne to go in a lytter: and so came to Parys to kynge Philypp̄ and dyd his message fro poynt to poynt / and he lyued nat long after / but dyed as he went into his countrey: in the cytie of An∣gyers god assoyle his soule.