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 that syr Hewe Spencer pur¦chased / that the quene Isabell was banysshed out of Fraunce. Cap. .viii. (Book 8)

NOwe let vs speke some∣what of sir Hewe Spencer. whan he sawe that he hadde drawen the kyng of Inglād so moche to his wyll / that he coud desire nothyng of hym but it was graunted / he cau¦sed many noble men and other to be put to deth without iustice or lawe / bicause he held them su¦spect to be ageynst hym. and by his pride he dyd so many marueylles / that the barous that were left alyue in the land coude nat beare nor su〈…〉〈…〉e it any lenger / but they besought and requyred eche other among them selfe to be of a peasable accorde. And caused it secretly to be knowen to the quene theyr lady. Who hadde ben as then at Parys the space of .iii. yere / Certifiyng her by wryttyng / that if she coulde fynd the meanes to haue any companye of men of armes / if it were but to the nombre of a .M. and to bryng her son and heyre with her into Inglande. That than they wolde all drawe to her and abeye her and her sonne Edward / as they were bounde to do of duety. These letters thus sent secretly to her out of Ingland she shewed them to kyng Char¦les her brother / Who answered her / and sayde Fayre suster god be your ayde / your besyuesse shall auayle moche the better. Take of my men and subiectis to the nombre / that your frendes haue wrytten you for / and I consent wel to this voyage. I shall cause to be delyuered vnto you golde and syluer as moche as shall susfyce you. And in this mater the quene had done so moche What with her prayer / gyftes / and promysses / that many great lordis and yong knyght / were of her accorde / as to bryng her With great stren¦gth agayne into Inglande. Than the quene as secretly as she coulde / she ordeyned for her voy∣age / and made her puruey aunce. But she coude nat do it so secretly / but sir Hewe Spencer had knowledge therof. Than he thought to wynne and withdrawe the kyng of Fraunce fro her by great gyftes. and so sent secret messangers into Fraunce with great plentye of golde and syluer and ryche Jewelles / and specially to the kyng. and his priue counsell / and dyd so moche that in shorte space / the kyng of Fraūce and all his pry∣ue counselle were as colde to helpe the quene in her voyage / as they had before great desyre / to dohit. And the kynge brake all that voyage / and defended euery parsone in his Realme / on payne of banysshyng the same / that none shuld be so hardy to go with the quene to brynge her agayne into Ingland. And yet the sayd {ser} Hew Spencer aduysed hym of more malyce and be∣thought hym howe he myght gette agayne the quene into Inglande / to be vnder the kyngis daunger and his. Than he caused the kyng to wrytte to the holy father the pope effectuously / desyryng hym / that he wolde sende and wrytte to the kyng of Fraunce / that he shulde sende the quene his wyfe agayne into Inglande / For he Wyll acquyte hymselfe to god and the Worlde / and that it was nat his faute / that she departed fro hym / for he Wolde nothyng to her but all lo∣ue and good faith suche as he ought to holde in mariage. Also ther Were lyke letters wrytten to the cardynals dyuysed by many subtile way∣es / the whiche all maye nat be wrytten here.

Also he sent golde and syluer great plenty to dy¦uerse cardynalles and prelates / suche as Were moost nereste and secrettest with the pope / and ryght sage and able ambassadours were sente on this message / and they ladde the pope in su∣che wyse by theyr gyftes / and subtyle Wayes / that he wrote to the kynge of Fraunce / that on peyne of cursyng / he shulde sende his suster Isa¦bell into Ingland to the kyng her housbande. These letters were brought to the kyng of Frā∣ce by the busshopp of ••ainctes / whom the pope sent in that legation. And whan the kyng had redde the letters / he caused them to be shewed to the quene his suster / Whom he had nat seen of long space before commaundyng her hastely to auoyde his realme / orels he wolde cause her to auoyde with shame.