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 these robbors & pyllers that kept these fortresses in Fraunce began to declyne by myra∣cle. Cap. CC. (Book 200)

AFter this dyscomfetture of Nogent on y^e riuer of Seyn the lordes and men of armes of Fraunce went to Troye with their boty and cōquest / but they brought theder non̄ of theyr prisoners. They sēt them to other frenche garysons: for the comōs of Troye wolde haue slayne them. Whan suche as Were styll in the garyson of Pouns vnder∣stode howe that theyr capitayne the lorde Eu∣stace was taken / and all his company slayne & taken / they trussed all that they had as shortly as they myght and departed / bicause they wer but a fewe. In lyke wyse so dyd they of Torey of Esponay / of Arcy / of Mary / of Pleusy / and of all other fortresses that were vnder the obey∣saunce of the lorde Eustace Dambreticourt. And they left them voyde / for doubte they had of the bisshop of Troye / And of the lorde Bro∣quarte of Fenestrages. but syr Peter Aubeley lefte nat his garyson of Beauforte. Nor John̄ of Segure Nogente. Nor Albret the garyson of Gey / on the ryuer of Seyne. In the same

season dyed strangely in the castell of Herreell a .iii. leages from Amiense the lorde Johan of Piquygny (as it was said) he was strāgled by his chamberlayn. And in lyke maner dyed syr Lucz of Bekusey / who was of his counsaile.

In the same season on a day / certayne of the cō∣pany of syr Peter Audeleys rode forth / and en∣tred into a towne called Ronay / and robbed it clene: and as the curate was at masse there en∣tred into the churche an englisshe squier and to¦ke the Chalays fro the aulter / wherin the prest shulde haue consecrated / and dyd caste out the wyne / and bycause the preest spake to hym / he strake hym with his gauntlet / that the bludde felle vpon the aulter. Than they departed and went into the feldes: and this squier had with hym the patent and corporal / and sodaynly his horse beganne to tourne and so to take on that none durste approche nere hym / and horse and man fell to the erthe / and eche of them strangled other / and sodaynly were tourned into pouder Than the other companions made a vowe ne∣uer aft{er} to violate any churche. In the same sea∣son they of the garison of Mauconsell wanted prouysion / and so solde theyr fortresse to them of Noyon / and to them of the countrey there a∣bout / for .xii. M. motons of golde / and so to de∣parte with all theyr goodes. And so they went into other fortresses / as to Craell / Cleremount Hereell / Uelly / Pierpount / Roussey / and to Sissome. The whiche fortresses had ben long in the handes of Naueroys / and after the peace bitwene the duke of Normandy / and the kyng of Nauer / they were englysse. And whan they of Noyon had Maucōsel / they rasshed it to the erthe. Also John̄ Segure solde the fortresse of Nogent to the bysshop of Troyes for a cer∣tayne some of florens / wherof he had wrytynge vnder the bysshops seale / and so he came into y^e cite of Troye / and alyghted at the bysshop lod∣gynge who sayd to hym / {ser} John̄ ye shall abyde here with me a thre or foure dayes / and than ye shall haue your money. and he / who was come thether vnder the assuraunce of the bysshop / a∣greed therto. Than the comons of the cite be∣ganne to saye / Howe dothe our bysshop tryfle and mocke vs / sythe he kepeth aboute hym the greattest brybour and robber in all Fraunce / and wolde that we shulde gyue hym oure mo∣ney. Than there rose a great nōbre of the same opynyon / and sente to kepe theyr gates / that he shulde nat skape theym / and there came in har∣neys a syxe thousande of one sorte to slee hym in the bysshops lodgynge. Whan the bysshop sawe that / he sayde to them / Fayre frendes he is come hyther vnder my saue conducte and ye knowe the treatye and bargayne betwene hym and me by your accorde / hit were great shame and vntrueth (vnder this assurance) to do hym any villanye. But what so euer he sayd they en∣tred into his halle by force / and so into his chā∣bre / and sought so naro welye that at laste they founde hym / and there slewe hym / and hewed hym all to peces.