Page xv
¶ Howe the lorde syr ••ubert of Ar∣toyse was chased out of the realme of Fraunce. Cap. xxv. (Book 25)
THe man in the world that most ayded kyng Philyppe to attayne to the Crowne of Fraunce. was syr Robert er∣le of Artoyse. Who was done of the most sagelt / and great teste lordes in Fraunce / and of hygh lynage extraughte / fro the blodde roy∣all and hadde to his wyfe suller iermayn to the sayd kyng Phylyp / & allwayes was his chief / and speciall compaignyon / and louer in all hys astatis. And the space of .iii. yere / all that was done in the realme of Fraunce / was done by his aduyce / and withoute hym nothyng was done. And after it fortuned / that this kyng Philyppe tooke a meruailouse great his pleasure and ha∣tred ageynst this noble man syr Robert of Ar∣toyse / for a plee / that was m••••ed before hym / Wherof the Erle of Artoyse was cause / For he wolde haue wonne his entent by the vertue of a letter that he layd forth / the whiche was nat true as it was sayde. Wherfore the kyng was in su∣che displeasure / that yf hadde takyn hym in his ire surely it hadde coste hym his lyfe With∣out remedye. So this syr Robert was fayne to boyde the realme of Fraunce / and went to Na∣mure to the Erle John̄ his Nephewe. Than the kyng toke the Erles wyfe / and her two son∣nes / who were his owne nephewes John̄e and Charles / and dyd put them in prison and were kept straytly / and ye kyng sware that they shuld neuer come out of prison / as long as they lyued The kyng is mynde wolde nat be turned by no maner of meanes. Than the kyng in his furye sente hastely to the busshopp Laoul of Liege〈…〉〈…〉 desired hym at his instaūce that he wolde befye and make warre / agaynst the erle of Namure. without he wolde put out of his countrey 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ro∣berte erle of Artoyse. ¶ And this busshoppe / Who greatly loued the kynge of Fraunce / and but lytle loued his neyghbours dyda〈…〉〈…〉 y• kyng desired hym. Than the erle of Namure sore a∣geynst his wyll / caused the erle of Artoyse to a∣uoyde his lande. Than this erle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Robert went to the duke of Brabant his cosyn / who right ioy¦ously receyued hym and dyd hym great cōforte And as soone as the kyng of Fraūce knew that he sent worde to ye duke / that if he wold susteyue maynteyn or sus••re the erle of Artoyse in his co••¦trey / he shulde haue no greatter ennemy than he wold be to hym / and that he wolde make warre ageynst hym / and al his to the best of his power with all the realme of Fraunce. Than the duke sent the erle of Artoyse pryuely to Arge••tuel to then tent to se what the kyng wold do forther in the case. And anon the kyng knew it / for he had spyes / in euery corner. The kyng had great di∣spyte / that the duke shuld so dele with hym / and within a brief space after / the kyng pourchased so by reason of his golde & syluer / that the kyng of Behaigne / who was cosin iermayn to y• duke of Brabant / and the busshop of Liege / the arche bysshop of Coleyn / the duke of Guerles / ye mat∣ques of Julyers / the erle of Bare / ye lord of Los the lorde Fawkmount / and diuers other lordes were alied to guyther al ayenst the duke of Bra∣bant / and defyed hym / and entred with a great oste in to his countrey by Esbayng and so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Hanut / & brent twyse ouer the coūtrey where as it pleased them. And the kyng of Fraūce sent with them therle of Ewe his Constable / with a great oste of men of armes. Than the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉∣liā of Heynaulte sent his wy〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kyng and his brother 〈◊〉〈◊〉 John̄ 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉de Be∣amont / into Fraunce / to t〈…〉〈…〉 peace / & suf∣feraūce of warr bitwene the kyng and the duke of Brabant. And at last the kyng of Frāce wis••y moche warke consented therto / vpon condition that the duke shulde put hym selfe vtterly to a∣byde the ordynaunce of the kyng of Fraūce and of his counsaile / in euery mater that the kyng 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all suche as had befyed hym had ageynst hym / And also wt in a certayn day lymitted to auoyde out of his coūtrey the erle of Artoyse / & to make shorte / al this the duke dyd sore ayenst his wyll.