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 batayle of Constances by∣twene the lorde Godfray of Har¦court / and the lorde Loyes of Rauenall. Cap. C .lxxii. (Book 172)

WHan the lord Godfray of Harco^•t / who was a right harby knyght a〈…〉〈…〉 a couragi¦ous: knewe that the frenche men were come to the cyte of Constāces. He assembled to¦gyder as many men of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as he coude gette / archers and other (and sayd) howe he wolde ryde and loke o•• the frenchmen. And so departed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saynt Sauyour le 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he had about a seuyn hūdred men on•• and other the same day the frenchmen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forth, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before them their curr〈…〉〈…〉 / who brought them worde agayne that they had sene the naue¦royse. Also sir Godfray had sende 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 who had also well a viewed the frenchmen / and sawe their baners and penons and what nom∣bre they were. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it to sir Godfray (who sayd) syth we s•• ou〈…〉〈…〉 we woll fight with theym. Than he sette his ar∣chers before / and sette his company in good or∣der. And whan sir Loys of Rauenalt•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th〈…〉〈…〉 demeanour: he caused his company in a lyght a fote / and to ••aues them with their targes aga∣ynst the archers: and commaunded that none shulde go forwarde without he commaunded. The archers began to aproch and those feersly the frēchmen who were well armed and pauys∣shed suffred their shotte / it dyd theym no great hurt. So the frenchemen stode styll / tyll the ar∣chers had spent all their arowes: than they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 away their bowes / and resorted backe to their men of armes / who were a ranged a longe by a hedg••: and sir Godfray with his ba••er before them. Than the frenche archers began to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and gathered vp the arrowes that had ben sho•• at them before: and also their men of armes be∣gan feersly to aproche / there was a fo••e fyght. Whan they mette hande to hande: and sir God∣frayes fotemen kept none aray / but were soone discōfyteo. Than sir Godfray sagely with••rue hymselfe downe into a wyng closed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whan the frēchmen sawe that: they all a lyghted a fote / and deuysed which way they might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they went all about to fynde away: and sir God¦fray was redy euer to defende. They were ma∣ny hurt and slayne of the frenchmen or they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de entre at their pleasure: finally they entred / & than there was a sore fyght and many a man o∣uerthrowen. And sir Godfrayes men kepte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good aray / nor dyd nat as they had promysed: moost part of theym ••••e••de: whan sir Godfray sawe that he sayd to himself howe he had rathe•• there 〈…〉〈…〉than to he ••aken by the frēchmen than he toke his are in his handes and set 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^• one legge before thother to stande the more sure¦ly / for his one legge was a lytell croked: but he was strong in the armes. Ther he fought valy∣antly and long: non burst well abyde his stro〈…〉〈…〉 than two frenchmen mounted on their horses 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ranne bothe with their speares a tones at hym / and so bare hym to the yerth: than other y^• were a fote ••ame with their sw••rdes and strake hym into the body vnder his harneys. So that ther ••e was slayne: and all suche as were with hya•• were nygh all slayne and taken / and such as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ped retourned to saynt Sauyour the Uycount. This was about the feest of saynt Martyne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wynter: the yere of our lorde. M. CCC .lvi.