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 certayne burgesses of Amy∣ens wolde a delyuerd the cytie to the naueroyse / and of the great famyne that was than in Fraunce. Cap. C .lxxxx. (Book 190)

SO it was that the lorde Johanne of Piquegny / who was on the kynge of Nauers parte / and chiefe of his coun∣sayle: and by whose ayde he was delyuered out of prisone. This knyght lay and kept the garyson of Hereell thre leages fro Amyense / he dyde somoche by his subtyltie / wytte / and fayre language: with certayne burgesses of Amyens of the greattest of the cyte / that they shulde haue sufferedde the naueroyse to entre into the cytie. And these burgesses traytours to the cytie: had secretely in their chambers and loftes / certayne naueroyse that shulde haue ayeded to haue dy∣stroyed the cytie. And in an euenynge the lorde Johanne of Piquegny / the lorde Wyllyam of Granuyll / the lorde Fryquette of Fryquaunt / the lorde Lynne of Belastoy / and the lorde Fon¦degray: and with theym a seuyn hundred fygh∣tynge men came to the gate of Amyense to war∣des Hereell / on trust of their frendes within the cytie / and they founde the gate opynne as hit was promysed. Thanne suche as were hydde within the cyte / in chambers and cellers yssued oute and cryed Nauerr: than̄e they of the cytie awooke and rose and cryed treason / and drewe to the gate where the busynesse was / bytwene the boro we and the cytie. And suche as cāe first kepte the gate: so that ther were dyuers slayne and sore hurte on bothe parties / and yf the na∣ueroyse hadde made great haste to haue entred assoone as they came / they had wonne the cytie: but they taryed at the borowe and dyd ther feat cowardely. The same night god enspyredd the lorde Morell Fyennes constable of Fraunce / and the erle of saynt Poule / who were at Cor∣by with a great nombre of menne of warr: they yssued out and rode in so great haste / that they came to the cyte by that tyme the naueroyse had wonne the borowe and dyd their payne to wyn the cytie: whiche they hadde done / and the com∣mynge of these two sayde lordes had nat been. Who assoone as they were entred into the cytie by another gate: drue streyght to the gate wher as the medlyng was / & displayed their baners: and ordred theymselfe in the strete / and yssued natte out of the gate / for they sawe well the bo∣rowe was but loste without recouery. These so¦coures encouraged greatly theym of the cytie / and lyghted vppe many torchesse and other fy∣ers. Whan the lorde of Piquegny and his com∣pany vnderstode that these other lordes were come to the socour of the cytie: thanne they tho∣ught they might lese more thanne wynne: ther∣fore he recreated all his menne as soberly as he might. And so all the naueroyse reculed backe and so wnedde the retreat / but they ouer ranne all the borowe and brende it: wherin their were well thre thousande houses and good lodgyn∣ges / and parysshe churches and other: and all were brende nothynge sauyd. Thus the naue∣royse retourned with great rychesse / that they gatte in the borowe of Amyense and many gode prisoners / and so went to their garysōs. Whan they were all gone: the constable of France and the erle of saynt Poule / sende their companyes to all the gates of the cytie / commaundynge the kepars on payne of dethe / to suffre no manne to yssue out of the towne: and so they dydde. In the mornyng be tymes these sayd to lordes with certayne of the burgesses / who knewe well all the maner of the cytie / went to certayne burges∣ses houses / suche as they hadde in suspect of tre∣asonne. And so tooke a seuyntene: who were in∣contynent beheeded openly in the market place / and specially the abbotte of Gars / who had con¦sented to this treason: and hadde lodgedde the moost parte of the naueroyse within his house. In lyke case anone after there was putte to deth in the good cytie of Laone / sixe of the greattest burgesses of that cytie: and if the bysshopp̄ ther hadde bene taken he hadde dyed / for he was ac∣cused of treasonne. And he coude neuer after excuse hymselfe: and so secretely departed / for he had frendes that hadde shewedd hym all the mater. And streyght he wente to the kynge of Nauerre to Melyne on they ryuer of Sayne / who receyued hym ioyfully. Suche fortunesse fyll in those dayes within the realme of France / wherfore euery lorde / and knyght / and kepars of townes and castelles kept euer good watche. And in dede the kynge of Nauerre hadde ma∣ny frendes abrode in the realme: and yf that he hadde nat bene parceyued be tymes / he hadde done many yuell and myscheuous dedes in the realme: and yet he dyd ynough. All this season

the ou••e of Normandy and his bretherne lay at Parys. There were no marchantes that durste yssue oute to ryde on their busynesse / yf there dyd / anone they were ouerthorwen which way soeuer they toke / for the realme was so full of na¦ueroyse / that they were maisters of the playne countrey and of the ryuers: and of dyuers cyti∣es and good townes / wherby their fyll so dere a season in Fraunce / that a barell of heryng was solde for .xxx. crownes of golde: & all other thyn¦ges after the rate. The poore peple dyed for hū∣ger: and this season dured more than four yere ▪ and specially in y^• good townes of France: there was no salte to get but at the handes of the duke of Normandyes offycers: and they solde it atte their pleasure / to gather therby money to pay y^• soudyours wages.