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 therle of Cābridge and the erle of Penbroke / ledde a way fro the garyson of Bell Perche / the duke of Burbons mother / and all those that were within. Cap. CC .lxxiii. (Book 273)

WHan the erle of Cābridge and the erle of Penbroke had ben thus before y^e frē¦chmen the space of .xv. dayes / and saw howe they wolde nat yssue out of their bastyde to fight with thē. Than they toke coūsayle and aduyse to sende to them an heraulde / to knowe what they wolde do: and so they sent Chandos the heraude with the message that he shuld say to them / and so he went to them and said. Sirs my lordes and maysters hath sent me to you / & they wolde ye knowe by me / y^t they are all gret¦ly marueyled: sythe that ye haue perfyte know lede how they haue ben here the space of fyftene dayes before you / & yet ye wolde nat yssue out of your strayte to fight with thē. Therfore they send you worde by me / that if ye wyll cōe out to∣warde thē / they wyll suffre you to take a plot of groūde to fight on with them. And than let thē haue the vyctorie that god wyll sende it vnto. Than the duke of Burbon sayd: Chādos you shall say to your maisters / y^t we wyll nat fight with thē at their wylles / nor apoyntment. And I knowe well that they be yonder / but I wyll nat departe hens / nor breke vp my siege. tyll I haue wonne the castell of Bell Perche. Sir {quod} the heraude / I shall shewe them your pleasure. Than departed the heraud / & retourned to his

maisters / and shewed them the answere / y^• whi¦che was nothyng pleasant to them. Than they went to counsayle / and after they sayd agayne to Chandos / go agayne to yonder lordes and shewe them this wyse / and so declared to hym his message. And than he went for the / & whan he came to them / he sayd. Lordes: my maisters and lordes sendeth you worde by me / that sithe ye wyll nat fight. Surely they purpose the .iii. day hens / at the houre of .ix. or at noone to sette a horsebacke the lady of Burbone / and to con∣uey her awaye in the syght of you / my lorde of Burbone her sonne. And sir / than they bydde you rescue her and if ye can. Well {quod} the duke / to se my lady my mother ledde away / shalbe to me right displeasant. how beit we trust to haue her agayne whan we may. And sir heraud syth ye haue sayde this mocheto vs / say agayne to your maisters / that if they wyll put into y^e felde afyftie of their company / we shall put to them as many: and than take the vyctorie who may get it. Sir {quod} the heraude / I shall shewe them all that ye haue sayd. And therwith Chādos de¦parted & came agayne to therle of Cambridge and to the other lordes / shewyng them the duke of Burbons answere / and also his demaunde. Howe beit they thought nat soo to do / but or∣dayned to departe thens and to lede with them the lady of Burbon / and all they within the for teresse / who had ben sore traueyled with the en∣gens of the hoost.