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 by the polesy and counsell of sir Bertram of Clesquy the nau••••oi∣se dyscēded downe fro the moūtayne to fight with the frēchmen and how the captall was taken. Cap. CC .xxi.

THus as ye haue herbe the na∣ueroyse & englysshmen were aren∣ged on y^• moūtayne whyle the frē∣chmen ordred their batayls / wher of they made thre and a rere gar∣de. The first had sir Bertram of Clesquy with all his bretons / and he was ordeyned to re••co•• the captals batayle. The seconde had therle of Aucerr / and with hym there was the vycount Beamond / and the lorde Baudwy•• ••enekyn maister of the cros bowes / & with thē were frē∣chmen / pycard{is} / and normayns. as sir Edwar¦de of Rency / sir Ingram of He••yn / sir Loys of ••enekerques / and dyuers other good kynght•• and squyers. The thirde batayle had the arch∣preest and the burgonyons / and with hym the lorde of Chalons / the lorde Beau••e•• the lorde John̄ of Uyen and dyuers other: and this ba∣tayle was assigned to assemble agaynst the b••¦scle of Marnell and his rout. And the batayl•• whiche was the reregarde were all gascoyns / wherof sir Aymon of Pomyers / the lorde Sul dyche of••e strade / the lorde perducas Dalbreth and the lorde Peteton of Curton were soueray g••e capitayns. Than these gascoyne knightes aduysed well the behauynge of the captall and howe his standarde was set on a busshe & kept with a certayne nombre: than they sayd y^t it be¦houed them whā their batayls were assembled togyder / that they shulde endeuoure thēselfe to cōquere the captals standerde. sayeng howe it they might get it their enemyes shulde be sone discōfyted. also these gascons auysed thē on a∣nother ordynaunce / the which was to thē that day right {pro}fitable. The lordes of Fraūce wer along space togyder in coūsell howe they shul∣de mayn••tene themselfe / for they sawe well that their enemyes had a great auauntage. Than the gascons spake a worde the which was well herde: they said sirs we knowe well that the ca¦ptall is as worthy a knight as can be founde in any lande / for as long as he is able to fight / he shall do vs great domage. let vs ordayne .xxx. a horsbacke of the best men of armes that be in our company / and let the .xxx. take hede to no∣thyng but to addresse themselfe to the captall / whyle we e••tend to cōquere his standerd: & by y^• might of their horses let them breke y^• prea•• so that they may come to the captall / and than take hym & cary hym out of the felde / for with / out that be done we shal haue no ende of our ba¦tayle / for if he may be taken by this meanes the iourney shalbe ours / his people wyll be so sore abasshed of his takyng. Than the knightes of Fraunce and of Bretayne acorded lyghtly to y^• ••euyce and sayd it was good counsell & so they wolde do. Than among thē they chose out. xxx of the best men of armes among them / & moun¦ted on .xxx. of the best horses in all the cōpany / and they drewe them a syde in the felde well de¦termyned of that they shulde do: and all the re∣sydue taryed in the felde a fote in good array. ¶ Whan they of Fraūce had well ordred their batayls & that euery man knewe what he shuld do: than ther was a comonyng amōg thē what shulde be their crye y^• day / and to what ban•••• they shulde drawe to. And so they were deter∣myned to cry our lady of Aucerr / and to mak••

their capitayne y^t day cherle of Aucerr / but the erle wolde in no wyse agree therto to take that charge on hym: but excused himselfe right gra¦ciously saying lord{is} I thanke you of y^e honour that ye wolde put me to. but surely as for me I wyll nat therof for I am ouer yong to haue su∣che a charge or honor: for this is y^e first iorney y^t euer I was at therfore ye shall take another. here be many good knight{is} / as sir Bertram of Clesquy tharchprest / the maister of y^e crosbose the lorde Loys of Chalon / the lorde Aymon of pomyers & sir Edwarde of Rēcy. These haue ben in many great iorneys & they knowe howe to order suche a mater better than I can / ther∣fore I pray you holde me excused. Than y^e kny¦ghtes regarded eche other & sayd to hym / a no∣ble erle of Aucer ye ar y^e gretest among vs both of lande & lynage / therfore of right ye ought to be our heed. Certenly sirs {quod} he ye say as it ple¦seth you / but this day I shalbe as one of your copanyons & shall lyue & dye & byde myne auē∣ture with you / but as for y^e soueraynte surely I wyll none therof. than they beheld eche other & aduysed whom they might make chefe capiten Than they were auysed y^t the best knight in all their cōpany & he that had ben best proued was sit Bertrā of Clesquy: thā it was ordeyned by their comon acorde y^t their cry shulde be y^t day our lady Clesquy / & that they shulde all obey y^• day to sir Bertrā: all thing{is} ordeyned & stablys¦shed & euery lorde & knight vnder his owne stā¦derd or penon. Than they regarded their ene∣myes / who were a hye on y^e hyll & wolde nat de¦parte fro ther strength / for they thought it nat / the which gretly anoyed the frēchmen bycause it was yuell moūtyng of y^t hyll / & also the son̄e was very hote / the biggest of thē were faynt for they were fastyng / & they had nother wyne nor vitayle with thē that dyde thē any good / w^tout it were certayne lordes y^t had lytell flagons of wyne the which were anon empty / nor they ma¦de y^e mornyng no prouision for vitayle / for they had thought to haue fought with their enemys the same mornynge but they dyde nat / but they escryed as nere as they myght the naueroyse & englysshmen: & so y^e day was ferr gone or they coude be assembled togyder. And whan the lor¦des of Fraūce sawe the behauyng of the naue∣royse than they drue thē toguyder in maner of counsell to de••myne whyder they shuld go and fight with their enemyes or nat / so they were of dyuers opinyons. some wold go fight w^t them sayng it shulde be gret blame to thē to do other¦wyse. Some y^t were sadde & well a••ysed argu¦ed y^e cōtrary / and sayd if we go & fyght with thē wher as they be in the auaūtage it shalbe to our gret {per}ell / for of .v. of vs they wyll haue .iii. so finally they wolde nat agre to go to them for dangers y^t myght fall. And y^e naueroyse aduy∣sed well their maner & sayd among thēselfe / be∣holde yonder our enemyes they wyll cōe anon to fight with vs / besemyng they make thē redy therto. Ther were certayne knight{is} & squyers normayns prisoners with y^e naueroyse / & they were let go on their faythes: & they went priue∣ly into the frēche host & sayd to the lordes ther. sirs auyse you well for & ye let this day passe w^t out batell yo^r enemyes wyll be to morowe gret¦ly recōforted / for it is sayd among thē y^t the lor∣de Loys of Nauer shulde cōe to thē with a .iiii. C. speres. so these word{is} enclyned thē gretly to fight with their enemyes how soeuer they dyd / and so made thē redy to haue set forwarde & at that poynt they were a thre or four tymes / but euer y^e wysemen helde thē backe & sayd / sirs let vs abyde a lytell space & se what they wyll do / for their hert{is} arso great & presūptuous y^t they wolde as gladly fight with vs as we with thē. ther were many ouercome with hete of y^e son̄e / for it was thā about noon & they had fasted all the day & were armed & sore chafed / and sayd a¦mong thē if we go vp this hyll to fight with thē we ar all lykely to be lost / therfore let vs drawe as for this day to our logyng / & to morowe let vs take other coūsell: thus they were in dyuers opinyons. whan the lordes & knight of fraūce sawe y^e gouernyng of thēglysshmen & of the na¦ueroyse / & howe y^t they wolde nat de{per}te out of the holde y^t they were in & that it was hye noon of the day / & also had herde y^e wordes y^t the pri∣soners y^• came fro thē had sayd. and also saw y^e most {per}te of their peple sore traueyled with the hete of y^e sonne the which was to thē right dis∣plesant. Than by thaduyce of sir Bertram of Clesquy they toke other coūsell / for he said sirs we se well y^t our enemyes desyreth sore to fight with vs / howbeit they wyll nat discende out of their holde w^tout it be by the meanes y^t I shall shewe you. Let vs make semblant to w^torawe backe & nat to fight as this day / & also our peo¦ple ar sore traueyled with hete / and let vs sende our varlettes / our caryage / and our spare hor∣ses ouer the bridge and water: and let vs with∣drawe backe to our lodgyng. & in our goynge backe lette vs be redy to tourne agayne if nede be / & let vs se what they wyll do if they be wyl∣lyng to fight with vs they wyll dyscend downe the hyll to chase vs: and if we se that they do so /

than let vs be redy to tourne agayne on theym / and than we shall deale with them the more ea∣sely. This counsell was accepted of all the com¦pany / than euery lorde drewe hym vnder his owne standerd / and than they caused their trū∣pettes to sowne the retrayt. and commaunded all knightes / squyers / and varlets to passe the bridge & to cary ouer all their caryages. So thus they passed ouer / and some men of armes passed after fayntly. whan {ser} John̄ Jonell who was an expert knyght / and had great desyre to fyght with the frēchmen sawe the maner of thē howe they drue backe: than he sayd to the cap∣tall sir let vs go quickely after them / se you nat howe they do flye away / a said the captall trust nat therto / they do it but for an yuell entēt and to begyle vs. Than sir John̄ Jonell auaūced hymselfe for he had great desyre to fight w^t his enemyes sayng to his company saynt George / who soeuer loueth me let thē folowe for I wyll go & fight with our enemyes. And so toke his speare in his hande and wente forthe before all the batayls and dyscended downe the hyll and some of his company / or the captall knewe ther¦of. But whan he sawe y^t sir John̄ Jonell was gone to fyght without hym he toke it of great presūpcyon and sayd to thē about hym / sirs let vs go downe the hyll quickely for sir John̄ Jo¦nell shall nat fight without me. Than the Cap¦tall and his cōpany auaunced them downe the hyll / and whan the frenchmen sawe thē discend fro y^e hyll and came into the playne feldes / they were ryght ioyouse & sayd: lo nowe we may se that we haue desyred all this day. And so sodē∣ly torned and cryed our lady Clesquy and dres∣sed their baners agaynst y^e naueroyse / & so assē¦bled togyder all a fote. and {ser} John̄ Jonell who coragiously assēbled his baners agaynst y^e ba∣tayle of the bretons of whome {ser} Bertram was chefe capitayne dyde many a feat of armes / for he was a hardy knight. Thus the knight{is} and squiers sparcled abrode in the playne & fought togyder with suche wepyns as they had / and eche of them entred into others batayle and so fought with great corage & wyll: the englyssh∣men & naueroyse cryed saynt George / & the frē¦chemen our lady Clesquy. There were many good knight{is} on the frenche parte / as sir Ber∣tram of Clesquy / y^e yong erle of Aucer / the vy∣coūt Beamont / {ser} Baudwen Denekyn / {ser} Loys of Chalon / y^e yong lorde of Beauieu / & sir An∣tony who y^t day rered his baner / sir Antony of Daneskerly / {ser} Edward of Rēcy / {ser} Ingram of Hedyn. & also of gascoyns / first {ser} Aymon of po¦myers / {ser} Perducas dalbreth / {ser} Suldych de le strade / {ser} Peteton of Corton and dyuers other of that sorte. And the gascoyns dressed them a∣gaynst the captall and his company and they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agaynst thē / they had great desyre to mete eche with other / there was a sore batayle and many a noble feate of armes done and acheued / a mā ought nat to ly willyngly. It might be deman̄¦ded wher was tharchpreest all this season who was a great capitayne / and had a great com∣pany vnder his rule / bycause I make no men∣cyon of hym. I shall shewe you the trouthe / as soone as the archpreest sawe the batayle begyn he gette hym selfe out of the prease / but he sayd to his company / and to hym that bare his stan∣derd. I charge you all as ye loue me or fere my displeasur / that ye abyde thende of the batayle and do your deuours aswell as ye can̄e. but as for me I wyll departe and nat retorne agayne / for I may nat as this day fight nor be armed a∣gaynst some knight that is in the felde agaynst vs: and if any demaunde for me answere them as I haue shewed you before. So thus he de∣parted and but one squyre all onely with hym / and so he repassed the ryuer and lette the rem∣nant deale. and so the resydue of the felde myst him nat / for they sawe his baner and company to thende of the batayle / wherfore they beleued surely y^t he had ben there {per}sonally. Nowe shall I shewe you of y^e bataile & howe it was ended

AT the begynnyng of the batayle whan sir Johan Jonell was come downe the hyll and his company with hym / and the Cap∣tall also and his company trusting to haue had the vyctorie. Howe beit the case tourned other∣wyse / and sawe that the frēchmen torned them in good array and ordre / than they perceyued well howe they had ben to hasty to cōe fro their aduauntage. Howbeit lyke valyant knyghtes they basshed nothynge / but thought to wynne the victory with their handes in playne felde. And so a lytell they reculed backe and assēbled togyder all their people / & than they made way for their archers to come forthe on before who as than were behynde them. And whan the ar∣chers were forwarde than they shotte fiersly to¦gyder / but the frenchmen were so well armed & so strongely pauyssed / that they toke but lytell hurt / nor letted nat for all that to fyght. And so entred in among thenglysshmen & naueroyse / and they in lykewise among them: so that ther was bytwene them a cruell batayle / they toke by strentgh of armes & wrestlyng: speres / ares and other wepyns eche fro other / & toke priso∣ners

on bothe partes. Thus they fought hand to hand so valiātly y^• it was marueyle to be hol¦de ••o ye may well beleue y^• in this great preas and parell there were many ouerthrowen and stay••e for ther were none y^• spared other I say to you playnly y^• frēchmen had no nede as thā to slepe for they had in hande people hardy & full of corage. Wherfore it behoued euery man to aquyte thēselfe valyantly / & to defende their bodyes & kepe their countre & to take their ad∣uantage whan it came at the poynt / or els they had ben all disconfyted. Surely the bretons & gascons dyd acquyte thēselfe right well y^• day & dyd many a noble feate of armes. Now shall I shew you of y^• .xxx. y^• were apoynted to set on the captall who were right well horsed, they to¦ke hede to nothyng els but to the executyng of the•••• enterprice y^• they had in charge: so all to∣gyder cāe on the captall wher as he was fygh∣tyng with a great axe in his hande & gaue ther¦with so great strokes y^• none durst aproch nere hym / but these .xxx. by force of their horses bra∣ke the pease & came on the captall & by clene for¦••e they toke him. Than began the batayls sore in euery place for the captals men cryed to y^• re¦scue / how be it all their payne au••yled them no∣thing / for y^• captal was caryed out of y^• felde at which tyme it was herd to tell who had y^• bett.