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 commyssyoners that were ordeyned on bothe parties to auoyde the garisōs in the realme of France: & of the companions that assembled to¦gether in the realme: and of the great euils that they dyd. Cap. C C .xiiii. (Book 214)

THe frenche kynge taried nat longe at Boloyn / but depar∣ted after the feest of all saint{is} and went to Montrell / and to Hedyn / and so to the good cite of Amiens / and there ta∣ryed tyll it was nere Christ∣mas: than he departed and went to Parys and there he was solemnly and reuerently receyued of all the clergye of Parys / and so conueyed to his palys / and there he alyghted and his so〈…〉〈…〉 Philip / and al other lordes that were ther with hym / and there was for them a noble dyner ap∣parelled.

I can neuer shewe or deuise howe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the frenche kynge wass receyued at his retourne into his realme of all maner of people For his presence was greatly desyred amonge them: and they gaue hym many fayre and riche gyftes / and to visite hym thither came prelates and baroness of all his realme / and they felted / and made great chere to hym / asshit wass theyr duite to do / and the kynge receyued them right swetely.

ANone ofter that kyng John̄ wass retur∣ned into Fraunce / ther passed the see su∣che persones as were commytted by the kynge of Englande to take possessyon of the landes countreys / counties / ba••••wykes / cites to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ca••telles and forteressess / that shulde be delyue∣red by reason of the teeatie & peace before made howe be it y^e was nat so soone done / for diuerse lordes in Languedor wolde nat at the ••yr••••e o∣beye to yelde them selfe to holde of the kynge of Englande / for all that the frenche kynge hadde quyted them of theyr faith & homage that they shulde haue done to hym / for it semed right cōn trarte to them to obey to the engl••••hemen / and specially they of farre macches / as ••he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Marche / the erle of Piergourt / the erle of Go∣megines the vicount of Chaltellon / the 〈…〉〈…〉ount of Carmaing / the lorde of Pyncorne•• / and dy∣uerse other / and they maruailed greatly of the resort and alligeance that the frenche kyng had quyted them of / & wold haue them to do it to the englisshe¦men: And so••••e of them sayd that the kyng ought nat so to acquite them / nor by right myght so do: for they sayd ther were ī Gascoy•• olde auncient charters and priuileges graun∣ted by great Charlemayne / who was kynge of Fraunce / that he myght nat put their resort & a∣liegeaunce into any other court / but allonely in his. And therfore these lordes at the first ••••lde nat obey to that pointmēt / but the frenche kyng who wolde hold and accomply ••••he that he had sworne and sealed vnto / sent thither to them the lorde James of Bourbon his dere ••osyn / Who apeased the moost parte of the sayd lordes and so they became liege menne to the kynge of En∣gland / as the erle of Arminacke the lorde Dal∣bret / and many other / Who at the desyre of the frenche kynge / and of the lorde of Bourbon hiss cosyn obeyed to the Englysshemen full sore a∣gaynste theyr Wylless. And also on the see syde in Poictou and Rochelss / and in ••aynton / thyss composicion was right displea〈…〉〈…〉 to the lor∣des and knyght{is} / and good towness of that con̄∣trey / Whan they sawe that it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 theym to become englisshe / and specially they of y^• towne of Rochell / wolde nat agree therto / and so excu∣sed them selfe often tymes / and so contynued a hole yere / that they wolde nat suffre the englis∣shemen to entre into the towne. And it is mer∣uaile to reherse the amiable and swete word•••• that they wrote to the frenche kynge / In desy∣rynge hym for goddess sake / that he wolde nat acquyte them of the faith that they owe to hym / nor to put them out of his demayne into the ha∣des of straungers / sayeng how they had rather to be taxed yerely to the halfe of theyr substanc•• than to be vnder the handes of the englisshmen The frenche kynge / Who sawe well their good wyls and trouth that they bare to hym by theyr often excusacionss / had of them great p••e / ••ow•• be it he sent and wrote affectuously to theym to the entent that they shulde fulfyll his desire she∣wynge them / that elles the peace shulde be bro∣ken ī their defaute: the whiche shulde be a great preiudice to the realme of France. so that wha•• they of Rochell sawe no other remedye / and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sydered the distresse that they were in and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 theyr 〈…〉〈…〉usacionss nor desire coude nat be accep¦ted. Than they obeyed full sore agains•••• theyr wylles. And the honest men of the towne sayde We shall obeye the Englysshemen from hense forth but our hartes shall nat remoue from the frenche parte. Thus the kyng of England had the possession and ses••nynge of the duchie of A∣quitayne / & of the countie of Ponthieu / of Guy∣nes / and of all the landes that he ought to hau•• on that syde of the see / that is to say in the real∣me of Fraunce / gyuen hym by the ordinance of the sayd treatye. And so the same yere {ser} John̄ Chandos passed the see as reget and lieutenāt to the kynge of Englande / and toke possession of all the sayd lades with y^e faithess & homagess of all the Erles / vicountess / baroness / knyghtess / and squyers towness and forteresses / and ••et 〈◊〉〈◊〉 euery place constabless / capitayness / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and officers by hiss ordinaunce / and laye hym selfe at Nyort / and there he helde a great estate and noble for he had well wherwith / for y^e kyng of Englande / Who entierly loued hym Wolde that he shulde so do for he was well worthy for he was a good knyght curtesse and benynge a∣myable / liberall / preu•• / sage / and trewe in all causes / and valiauntly had mayntayned hym selfe among all lordes / ladies / and dammusel∣less / Nor there was neuer knyght in his tyme better beloued nor praysed of euery creature.

ANd in the meane season that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the kynge of Englande were takynge of the possessions of the forsaid landes accordyng to the treatye and peace. There were certayne other deputies stablysshed by the kynge of En¦glande in the bondes and limitations of Frāce With certayne persones commytted by the frē∣che kynge to cause all maner of men of warre to auoyde and departe oute of the holdes and 〈…〉〈…〉so••s that they helde by the cōmaundement o•• the kyng of Englande / and they were strait∣ly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on peyne of theyr lyues and good∣des and to be reputed as ennemies to the kyng of Englande that they shulde leaue and dely∣uer vp all suche forteresses as they helde / that shulde perteyue to the frenche kynge. So there were some knyghtes and squ••ers / suche as o∣wed a〈…〉〈…〉geaunce to the kynge of Englande / o∣b••••ed the kynges commaundement / and ren∣d••ed ••rcaused to be rendred) the fortresses that they helde. But there were some that wolde nat obeye / sayeng howe they made warre in the tit∣le of the kynge of Nauarre. Also there were ma¦ny strangers / that were great capitaynes / and great pyllers / that Wolde nat departe / as Al∣mayns / Brabances / Flemmynges / ••aynows / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / manso••s / frāco••s / who were but pore by reason of the warres / wherfore they thought to recouer them selfe / with makynge of Warre in the realme of Fraunce. The whiche people perseuered styll in theyr euyll doynge: and so they dyd after moche euyll in the Realme / a∣gaynste all them that they were in displeasure with. And Whan the capitaynes were thus de¦parted in courtesse maner out of these fortresses that they helde / and that they were in the felde / than they gaue leaue to theyr men of warre to departe / Who had lerned so to pylle and robbe / that they thought to retourne into theyr owne countreys was nat to them profitable: and per¦auenture they durste nat / bicause of suche vyl∣layne dedes / that they were accused of there. So that they gathered them selfe to guyther / and made amonge them sel••e newe capitaynes and toke by election the worste and moost vn∣happy personne of theym all: and so rode forthe one fro an other / and mette to guether agayne fyrste in Champaygne / and in Bourgoyn / and there assembled by great companyes the Whi∣che were called the late commers / bicause they hadde as than but lyttell pylled in the Realme of France. And sodainly they went and toke by strengthe the forteresse of Genuille / and great gooddes therin the whiche were brought thy∣ther by theym of the countrey / on truste of the stronge place. And whan these cōpanions had thus found in this place suche great riches / the whiche was estymed to be to the value of a hū∣dred thousande frankes. They deuyded hit a∣monge them as longe as it wolde laste: and so kepte styll the castell a certayne space of tyme / & ouer ranne and wasted the countrey of Cham∣paigne / and the busshopryches of Uerdun / and of Langers. And whan they had well pylled that countrey than they passed further / but first they solde the castell of Genuill to theym of the countrey for .xx. M. frankes. And than they en∣tred into Bourgoyne / and there rested and re∣fresshed them / and taried for mo of theyr com∣pany: and there dyd moche euill / and many vil¦layne dedes: for they had of theyr accorde cer∣tayne knyghtes and squyers of the same coun∣trey / who ladde and guyded them to theyr euyl doynges. And there they taryed a longe space aboute Besancon / Digon / and Beaulne / and robbed all that countrey / For there were none that reencoūtred them. And they toke the good towne of Guiercy in Beauuoys / and robbed and pylled it. And they taried a season aboute Uuergi / bicause the coūtrey was plentyfull / and alwayes theyr nombre encreased / for all suche as departed oute of the forteresses / and had ly∣cence of theyr capitaynes to go whither they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they drewe all to that parte: so they were that lent to guether a .xvi. thousand fyghtyngmen. And whan they sawe them selfe to be of so great a nombre: than they stablysshed amonge them certayne capitaynes / to whom they shuld obey in all thynges. I shall shewe you the names of some of the greattest maisters amonge theym. Fyrste a knyght of Gascoyne called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Segu••n of Battefoill he had in his company two thou∣sande fyghtyng men: also there was Callebert Callabaton / Guy of Pinespiote / the litel Me∣chin / Batailler / Hānequin francois / y^• Bourge of Espace / Nandon de Baquerant / the Bourg of Bourc / the Bretuel / the Nucharge / y^• Scot / Arbretoury / the almayne Bourdonnell / Ber∣narde of the Salle / Robert Briquet / Carnelle Aymemon of Drtige / Garsiotte of the Castell / Gironnet of Paux / Lortingo of the Salle and dyuerse other. And so aboute the myddes of lente these companyons aduysed them selfe to drawe to warde Auignon / and to go se the pope and the cardynals. and so they passed through the countrey of Mascon / and addressed theym¦selfe to go into the countie of Forestes that plē∣tyfulle countrey / and towarde Lyon on the ri∣uer of Rosne.

ANd Whan the frenche kyng herd of these tidynges / howe these com∣panions daily multiplied / wasted & exyled his realme: he was ther∣with ryght sore displeased: for it was shewed hym by aduyse of counsayle / that these companions myght so sore encrease and multiply that they myght do more euyll and vi¦layn dedes in the realme of Fraunce / than euer was done (while the warre endured) by the en¦glisshemen. Therfore the kynge was counsay∣led / that he shuld send an army of men of warr to fyght with them. Than the kyng wrote spe∣cially to his cosyn the lorde James of Bourb•• who as than was in the towne of Montpellier and had put newely sir John̄ Chādos in pos∣session for the kynge of Englande / of dyuerse landes cities / townes / castels / and ••••rtressesly∣teynynge to the duchie of Acquita〈…〉〈…〉 is be∣fore sayde. So the kynge by his sayd wrytyng desired his cosyn of Bourbon to be chief•• capt∣tayne to encountre / and to fyght with these com¦panions / and to take men of warre with hym / in suche nōbre that he myght be strōge ynough to fyght with them. And as soone as the lorde of Bourbon herde these tidynges / incontinent he went to the citie of Agenoise without any re¦stynge by the way / and sent out letrers and mes¦sangers into euery parte / desirynge and com∣maūdyng in the frenche kynges name all kny∣ghtes and squiers to come to hym / apparelled for the warre and euery man obeyed his com∣maundement. And whan they were assembled they drewe toward Lyōs on the riuer of Rosne willynge to fyght with these euill people. This lorde James of Bourbon / was well beloued through all the realme of Fraunce / and euery man gladly obeyed hym so that knyghtes and squiers of all parties / as of Auuergne / of ••y∣mosyn / of Prouēce / of Sauoy / and of the Dol∣phynne of Uien / and of other parties folowed hym: and also diuers knyghtes and squiers of the duchie of Bourgoyn. The whiche the yong duke of Bourgoyn sent thither: and so al these men of armes drewe on forwarde / and passed Lyons / and the countie of Mascon / and came into the coūtie of Forestes / where the lord Ja∣mes of Bourbons syster was lady by the right of her children: for the erle of Forestes (her hus∣bande) was newely deed. Therfore she gouer∣ned the countrey / and so sir Reynalt of Forest{is} / brother to the sayd erle / receyued the lorde Ja∣mes of Bourbon and his company ryght ioy∣ously / and fealted them as well as he myghty▪ also there were his two nephewes who presen∣ted them selfe to ryde with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in armes / to be∣sende their countrey / for the companions were drawyng to that parte: they were as thā about Chaslon / and about Thourain. And whā they vnderstode that the frēche men gadered to ge∣ther to fyght with them: Than the capitaynes drewe to guether to take counsayle / howe they shulde maynteyne themselfe. Than they nom∣bred theyr company / and found how they were a .xvi. M. fyghtyng men of one and other / and sayd amonge them selfe / let vs go agaynst these frenche men / who desyre to fynde vs / and let vs fyght with them at our aduauntage if we may orels nat / & if that fortune be with vs we shall be all riche for a great season / as well by the rea¦son of good prisoners as other goodes, and al∣so we shalbe so redoubted whereso euer we go / that none shalbe so hardy to encountre vs / and if we lese / we shall lese but our Wages. And to this pourpose they agreed all. Than they dis∣lodged and went vp the mountaynes / to entre into the countie of Forestes / and to come to the riuer of Loyre / and so they founde in their way a good towne called Charlien / in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Mascon: and they made a f••erse assa〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to / the wiche endured a hole day / but they coude wynne no thynge there / it was so well defended by gentylmen of the countrey suche as were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in / orels it had ben taken. And than they depar¦ted thense and spred abrode in the countrey per¦teynyng to the lorde of Beauteu / and ther 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great dammage: and than they entred into the bysshopriche of Lyons. And as they went euer they toke small hold{is} by y^• way & lodged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them & euer they dyd moche trouble whe•• they came and on a daye they toke a castell & the lo••••e and y^• lady within it / the whiche castell was called Brunay a thre leages from Lyons / and ther•• they lodged and rested them / and there had per¦fect knowlege howe the frenche men were dra∣wen into the feldes / & apparelled them to fyght with them.