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.

¶ Of the order of the frenchemen before the batayle of Poy∣cters. Cap. C .lx. (Book 160)

ON the sonday in y^• mornyn∣ge the frenche kynge / who hadde great desyre to fight with the englysshmen herd his masse in his pauilyon / and was houseled and his foure sōnes with hym after masse ther came to hym the duke of Orleaunce / the duke of Burbon / therle of Pontheu / the lorde Jaques of Burbone / the duke of Athenes constable of France the erle of Tankernyll the erle of Salebruce / the erle of Dāmartyne / the erle of Uantador / and dyuers other great barownes of France / and of other neyghbours holdynge of Fraunce: as the lorde Cleremont / the lorde Arnolde Dandrehen mar¦shall of France / the lorde of saynt Uenont / the lorde John̄ of Landas / the lorde Eustace Riba¦mont / the lorde Fyennes / the lorde Geffray of Chargny / y^• lord Chatellon / the lorde of Suly / the lorde of Neell sir Robert Duras / & dyuers other: all these with the kyng went to counsell. Than finally hit was ordayned that all maner of men shulde drawe into the felde / & euery lorde to display his baner and to set forth in the name of god and saynt Denice / than trumpets blewe vp through the hoost / and euery man mounted on horsebacke and wēt into the felde / wher they sawe the kynges baner waue with the wynde. There myght a been sene great nobles of fayre harnesse and riche armory of baners and penōs for there was all the floure of France / ther was none durst abyde at home without he wolde be shamed for euer / than it was ordayned by y^• ad∣uyce of the constable and marshals to be made thre batayls: and in ech warde .xvi. M. men of armes / all mustred and past for men of armes. The first batayle the duke of Orleaunce to go∣uern with .xxxvi. baners / and twyse as many pe¦nons. The seconde the duke of Normandy and his two bretherne / the lorde Loys and the lorde John̄. The thirde y^• kyng hymselfe: and whyle that these batayls were settyng in aray / y^• kyng called to hym the lorde Eustace Rybamont / the lorde John̄ of Landas / and the lorde Richarde of Beawyeu and sayd to them: sirs ryde on be∣fore to se the dealyng of thenglysshmen / and ad∣uyse well what nombre they be / and by what me¦anes we may fight with theym / other a fote or a horsebacke. These thre knyghtes rode forth and the kynge was on a wyght courser / and sayde a high to his men: sirs among you whan ye be at Parys / at Chartres / at Roan / or at Orleaunce: than ye do thret thenglysshmen ▪ and desyre to be

in armes out agaynst theym. Nowe ye become therto / I shall nowe shewe you thē: nowe shewe forthe your yuell wyll that ye bere them / and re∣ueng your dyspleasurs and damages that they haue done you / for without dout we shall fyght with them. Suche as herde him: sayd sir a god desname so be it / that wolde we se gladly. Ther with the thre knightes retourned agayne to the kyng / who demaunded of them tidynges / than sir Eustace of Rybamont answered for all (and sayde) sir we haue sene the englysshmen by esty¦macion they be two thousande men of armes / & four thousand archers / and a fyftene hūdred of other / howebeit they be in a stronge place. And as farre as we can Imagyne they ar in one ba∣tayle: howbeit they be wysely ordred and a lon∣ge the way they haue fortifyed strongly the hed¦ges and busshes: one part of their archers are a long by the hedge / so that none can go nor ryde that way / but must past by them. And that way must ye go and ye purpose to fyght with them / in this hedge there is but one entre and one ys∣sue by likelyhode that four horsemen may ryde a front / at thende of this hedge where as no mā can go nor ryde / there be men of armes a fote & archers afore them in maner of a herse / so that they woll nat be lightely disconfyted. Well sayd the kyng what woll ye than counsayle vs to do: sir Eustace sayde / sir lette vs all be a lote except thre hundred men of armes well horsed of y^• best in your hoost and moost hardyest / to the entent they somwhat to breke and to opyn the archers. and thane your batayls to folowe on quickely a fote / & so to fight with their men of armes hand to hande. This is the best aduyce that I canne gyue you: if any other thynke any other waye better let hym speke. The kyng sayd thus shall it be done: than the two marshalles rode fro ba¦tayle to batayle and chose out a thre. C. knygh∣tes and squyers of the moost expert men of ar∣mes of all the hoost / euery man well armed and horsed. Also it was ordayned that the bataylles of alwayns shulde abyde styll on horsebacke to confort the marshalles if nede were: wherof the erle of Salesbruce / the erle of Neydo and the erle of Nosco were capitayns: kynge Johan of France was there armed and .xx. other in his a∣payrell / and he dyd put the gyding of his eldest sonne to the lorde of saynt Uenant / the lorde of Landas / and the lorde Thybault of Bodenay: and the lorde Reynolde of Quenoll called the archepreest was armed in the armoure of the yongerle of Alanson.