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.

How sir Bertram of Clesquy made great warre in the countie of Lymo∣ges / and howe they toke the castell of saynt yriell. Cap. CC .lxxxii. (Book 282)

THe same season that sir Robert Canoll made thus his vyage: and that the pri∣ce of Wales and his two bre¦therne lay before the cyte of Lymoges. Sir Bertram of Clesquy and his cōpany / the whiche were to the nombre of two hundred speares. He rode by the one syde of the countre of Lymoges / but he lay nat in the felde neuer a night for feare of the englysshmen. But euery night lay in a forteresse / suche as were tourned frenche: parteyning to sir Loyes of Maleuall and to sir Raymon of Marneyle / and to other. Howebeit euery day they rode forthe and dyde great payne / to conquere townes and forteres∣ses. The prince was well aduertysed of this to∣ney that sir Bertram made / and dayly cōplayn¦tes came to him: howe beit in no wyse he wolde breke vp his siege. Than sir Bertram of Cles∣nuy entred into the vicoūte of Lymoges / a coū¦tre that was yelded / and dyde holde of the duke of Bretayne (the lorde Johan of Mountford) And ther sir Bertram beganne to make great warre in the name of the lady / wyfe to the lorde Charles of Bloyes / to whome the same enhe∣rytaunce somtyme belonged. There he made

great warre for none came agaynst him / for the duke of Bretayne thought full lytell y^• sir▪ Ber∣trā wolde haue made any warr agaynst hym. And so sir Bertram came before the towne of saynt yriell / wherin there was neuer a gentyl∣man to defende the towne. Wherfore they were so afrayed / that they yelded them vp to y^• obey∣saunce of the lady of Bretayne / in whose name sir Bertram made warr. And so of saynt yriell the bretons made a great garison / wherby they wan dyuers other townes in Limosyn. Nowe let vs retourne to the prince of Wales.