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 the duke of Bretaine made his peace with the frenche kyng / and howe the englysshmen retourned in to their countrey. and of a dede of ar∣done / bytwene a frenche squyer and an englisshe. Cap. CCC .lxxiiii. (Book 374)

AFter these dedes of ar¦mes done / whyle the erle of Buckyngham lay at Uan∣nes / ther was nothyng don that ought to be remembred and as it hath ben sayd here before / the englisshmen laye at Uannes / at Hanyboute / at Camperle / and at Quynpercorentyne. And so they passed the wynter / as well as they might. Dyuers of thē

had great dommage / and were in ryght great daungers / and lacked vitayle / for theym selfe and for their horses / for they coude fynde no fo∣rage in the countre. And in that tyme of y^e yere / the graunges and barnes were all voyde / and the ••odder spente. The frenchemen theym selfe had sore wasted and distroyed it / bycause their ennemyes shulde haue no ease therby. In this daunger the Englysshemen were longe / for the frenchemen were in their garisons on the fron∣ters / wherfore the englysshmen durst nat ryde. Some vitayle came to the englysshmen by the see frome Corne wall / frome Gernesay / and fro the ysle of Wight / the whiche somwhat confor∣ted theym ▪ or elles they and their horses hadde dyed for famyne and hunger. And all this sea∣son / there was at Parys with the kyng / fro the duke of Bretaygne / the Uycount of Rohane / the lorde de Laualle / sir Charles of Dynaunt / and sir Guy of Rocheforde. and they dyde pur¦chase the dukes peace / to the whiche he agreed. For he sawe well he coude nat kepe his promise to the Englysshe men / without he wolde lese all his countrey. The entent of the Erle of Buc∣kyngham and his company / was to passe ouer the wynter in the marchesse of Uannes / aswell as they might. And in the begynnynge of So∣mer / to retourne in to Fraūce and make warr. And they hadde sende worde of their state and condycion to the kyng of Englande / and to the duke of Lancastre. And the kyng of Englande and his counsayle / thought the erle of Buckyn∣ghams entēcy on right good / and wrote to hym that they wolde he shulde so do. And sende hym worde / howe the same season they wolde sende ouer another armye of men of warre / to lande at Chyerbourge / to thentēt that bothe armyes shulde mete toguyder. Wherby it was thought they shulde do a great feate of warr in Fraūce. The Frenche kynge / his vncles and his coun∣sayle / ymagined well all those poyntes. And al¦so / they were somwhat enfourmed therof. And it was say de also among theym in secrete coun¦sayle / that if the duke of Bretaynge / and some of his townes / toke parte with the Englysshe∣men. the realme of Fraunce / shulde than̄e haue moche to do. And these foure barownes of Bre¦taygne representynge the duke / conceyued well all this busynesse / and layde forthe all these dou¦tes / and specially / shewed it to the duke of An∣towe. Who hadde the souerayne gouernynge of the realme of Fraunce / at that tyme. And al∣so the duke of Aniowe was entending to make a voyage within two yere / or shorter tyme / In to Poule & Calabre. And was lothe that his vy¦age shulde haue ben broken or lette. Therfore he enclyned lightely to the duke of Bretaignes peace / so that he wolde become faythfull & true / and do homage to the frenche kynge. And so he was agreed and his peace made. And it was al¦so agreed / that he shulde helpe the englisshmen with shyppes / to returne into their coūtreis. Al¦so it was agreed / y^t all they of y^e garison of Chi∣erbourge / that hadde ben in that viage to serue the erle of Buckyngham / that if they wolde re∣tourne by lande to their garison / they shulde ha¦ue good saueconducte of the kyng so to do. And to go throughe the realme of Fraunce without harnesse / and certayne knyghtes and squyers of Englande in their company / if they lyst so to do. And after the departynge of the Englysshe¦men out of Bretaynge. Than the duke to come in to Fraunce / to the kyng & to his vncles / and to do faythe and homage to the Kynge / as the duke of Bretayne ought to do / to his naturall lorde the frenche kynge. All these maters were written and sealed / and suffyciently brought to the duke of Bretaygne / who as than was in the marchesse of Uannes. And he accorded / to that his men hadde done / with right an yuell wyll / for he knewe well he coude nat do it / without y^e yuell wyll of the englysshmen.

WHan the knowledge of this trea∣tie rāe to the erle of Buckyngham and to the Englysshe men / howe that the duke of Bretaygne was agreed with the frēche kyng. they were therwith greatly displeased / and were y∣uell content with the duke. Sayeng / howe he hadde sente for them to come in to Bretaygne. And neuer sythe they came / hē dyde neuer ac∣quyte hym selfe trewely agaynst theym / as he ought to haue done. Wherfore they sayd / there was no poynt of trouthe in hym. Anone after the duke of Bretaygne came to Uannes / to the Erle of Buckyngham / and there shewed them secretely / howe his menne had made his peace with the frenche kynge. To the whiche he was fayne to agree / or elles to haue lost his countre. There were great wordes bytwene them / but the duke humyled hym selfe / and excused hym as moche as he myght / For he knewe well in a maner / that he was in the wronge. Howe be it / he was fayne for to do it / to the entente that the

englysshmen shulde departe oute of Bretayne. Than therle made to be cryed through the cyte of Uannes / that if any of his men dyde owe a∣ny thynge in the towne / that they shulde come forthe and they shall be payed. And than therle rendred agayne the kayes of the towne / to the burgesses therof / and thāked them of the plea∣sure that they had done to hym. And than they delyuered to the erle for his money: shippes at Uannes / at Hanybout / at Camperle / & where as they were lodged. And so the erle of Buc∣kyngham departed fro Uannes the .xi. day of Aprell / with all his baners displayed in order of batayle / and so came to the hauyn. And thy∣der cāe the duke of Bretayne / sir Alayne Hou∣sey / the lorde of Monbroiser / sir Stephyn Gy¦on / sir Wyllyam of Tribiquidy / sir Geffray of Quaresmell / & dyuers other of the dukes coun¦sayle. And they sent to the erle in to his shyppe / desyringe hym to speke with the duke / but the erle wolde nat come agayne to lande / but sent to theym the lorde Latymer / and sir Thomas Percy. These two came and spake with the du¦ke of Bretaygne / and they comuned toguyder the space of thre houres. And the englysshmen promysed at their departyng / that they wolde do so moche / that the erle shulde speke with thē another day: and so retourued agayne to their shyppe. and than shewed the erle all that they had done with the duke. And anone after myd night the fludde came / and the maryners had wynde at wyll. Than they demaunded of the erle what he wolde do? and the erle / who wolde haue no more speakynge with the duke / sayde. Sirs / drawe vp your ankers and aueyle your sayles / and lette vs go / the whiche was incōty∣nent done. Thus departed the englisshmen fro the hauyn of Uannes / and sayled towarde En¦glande. And so dyde all other englysshmen fro other hauyns. so they all came toguyder on the see. ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of some knightes and squiers / that retourned to Chierbourg by lande / and recorde what aduentures fell to thē by the waye.

THe constable of Fraunce / was as than in the castell of Josselyn / a se¦uyn myles fro Uānes / and he had gyuen safecōduct to dyuers knigh¦tes englysshe and nauerosse: to go by lande to the garysone of Chierbourge / the which knyghtes hadde serued the erle of Buc∣kynghame in his sayde voyage. And amonge other there was sir you of Fitz waren / sir Wyl∣lyam Clynton / and sir Johan Burle. They de¦parted fro Uannes / and toke their way by the castell of Josselyn / and there lodged in the tow¦ne without the Castell / thynkinge no more but to dyne there / and so departe. And whan they were alyghted at their lodgyng / certayne com∣panyons of the castell / knyghtes and squyers came to se them: as men of warre often tymes wyll do / and specially englysshmen and french men. And amonge the frenchemen there was a squyers a good man of armes / parteyninge to the lorde of Burbone erle of Marche / and one that he loued entierly / called Johan Boucmell: He had bene before that tyme in the garyson of Boloyne with sir Wylliam Bourdes / with the frenchmen / agaynst the garyson of Chierbour¦ge / at whiche tyme there had bene dyuers wor∣des spoken of dedes of armes to haue ben done bytwene hym and an englysshe squyer / called Nycholas Clyfforde. The whiche Nycholas was as than there present. And whan the frēch men were come to the englysshmens lodgyng / and had comuned toguyder / and behelde eche other. Than Johan Boucmell began to speke and sayde to Nycholas Clyfforde. Nycholas / dyuers tymes we haue wysshed and deuysed / to do dedes of armes toguyder / and nowe we haue foūde eche other in place and tyme / where we may accomplysshe it. Nowe we be here be∣fore the constable of Fraunce / and other lordes that be here present. Therfore I requyre you / let vs nowe haue thre courses a fote with a spe∣are / eche of vs agaynst other. Than Nicholas answered and sayde. Johan / ye knowe ryght well / we be here nowe goynge on our waye / by the saueconducte of my lorde youre Constable. Therfore that ye requyre can nat nowe be done for I am nat the chiefe of this saueconduct / for I am but vnder these other knightes y^• be here / for thoughe I wolde here abyde / they wyll nat do so. Than the frenche squyer answered. Ny∣cholas / excuse you nat by this meanes. let your cōpany departe if they lyst / for I promyse you by couenaunt / the armes ones doone bytwene you and me. I shall bringe you in to the vales of Chierbourge without domage or {per}ell / make ye no dout therof. Than Nycholas answered / and sayd. I thynke well that ye wyll bringe me thyder / and I beleue it of a very trueth. But ye se well / howe we go throughe the countre with∣out any harnesse / we haue none with vs. So y^t though I wolde arme me / I haue nat wher∣with. Than answered Johan: excuse you nat

by that I shall shewe you what ye shall do. I haue harnes of dyuers sortes at my cōmaunde∣ment / they shall be brought in to y^• place / where as we shall do dedes of armes. Than beholde them well and chose whiche ye wyll / and I shal arme me with the other. Whan Nicholas Clif∣forde sawe himselfe so sore aposed / he was sham fast: by cause of thē that were there present and her de the mater. & he sawe well howe this John̄ offered hym so moche reason / that he coulde nat with his honestye refuse hym. And moreouer Johan sayde to hym. sir / take what parte and what couenaunt ye wyll / and I shall nat refuse it rather thanne we shulde nat do dedes of ar∣mes. Thā Nicholas sayd: howe he wolde take aduyse / and shewe him his mynde or he depar∣ted. And if it be so / that I may nat do it nowe / and that the lordes vnder whome Jame / wyll nat agre therto / I promyse you / as soone as I come to Chierbourg and you to Boloyne letre me knowe of your comyng thyder / and I shall incōtynent come to you / and delyuer your cha∣lenge. Nay nay {quod} John̄ seke no respite / I haue offered and yet do offer you / so many thynges so honourable / that in no wyse ye can departe / ••auynge your honoure: without doyng dedes of armes with me / sythe I requyre you of it. Than Nycholas with those wordes was sorer displeased than he was before / for he sawe well (and trewe it was) y^e he layd sore to his charge / ther with the frenchmen went to their castel / and the englisshmen abode styll at their lodgynge / and so dyned / and whan the frenchmen were in their castell / there was no lytell speakyng of the wordes that hadde ben bytwene Johan Bour∣mell and Nycholas Clyfforde. In soo moche that the wordes therof came to the hearyng of the cōstable / and he studyed a lytell therat. than the knyghtes and squiers of the countrey desy∣red hym that he wolde put to his payne / y^t this dedes of armes myght be done / and the consta∣ble (sayd) he was content ther with. And whan they had dyned / the englyssh knightes suche as were there and wolde departe / they went to the castell to se y^e coustable / and to speke with him: bycause he shulde sende at the lest .vii. knightes to conduct them through Bretayne and Nor∣mandy to Chierbourge. and whan they were come to the castell / the constable receyued them swetely / and than sayd to thē. sirs / Ja rest you all: so that ye shall nat departe this day. and to¦morowe after masse ye shall se dedes of armes done / bytwene our squier and yours. and than ye shall dyne with me / and after dyner / ye shall departe with suche guydes as shall bryng you to Chierbourge. So they agreed to hym and dranke of his wyne / and than returned to their lodgynge.

THan these two squters / Johan and Ny¦cholas aduysed them well of y^e batayle / that they must furnyshe the next day / and so in the next mornynge they bothe harde one masse and were confessed / and so slept on their horses and all the lordes of Fraunce on the one parte / and the englisshmen on the other parte / and so came all to gyder to a fayre playne place with∣out the castell of Josselyn / and there taryed. Johan Boucmell had made redy two harnes∣ses fayre and good / accordyng as he promysed too the englysshe squier / and than (he sayde to hym) Nycholas chose whiche ye wyll haue / but he wolde in noo wyse chose / and gaue the fyrst choyse to the frenche squier / and so he tooke the one and armed hym therwith / and Nycholas dyd helpe to arme hym / & so dyd he in lyke wyse agayne / and whan they were bothe two armed they toke good speares all of one lenght / and so eche of them tooke hys place and came a fayre pace a foote eche agaynst other / and whan they shulde aproche they couched downe their spea∣res. and at the fyrst stroke Nicholas Clyfforde strake Johan Boucmell one the brest / and the stroke dyd slyde vp to the gorget of mayle / and the speare heed dyd entre in to his throte / and dyd cutte a sonder the orgonall vayne / and the spere brake and the tronchion stacke styll in the squiers necke / who was with that stroke woū∣ded to dethe. the englisshe squier passed for the and went and sate downe in his chayre. Whan the lordes sawe that stroke / and sawe howe the tronchyon stacke styll / they came to hym and toke of his bassenet / & drewe out the tronchion / and as sone as it was out he turned about with out any worde spekyng / and so fell downe deed sodenly / so that the englysshe squier coulde nat come to him tyme ynough / for he had certayne wordes to haue staūched hym / that wolde haue holpen. but whan he sawe that he was deed / he was sore dyspleased bycause of that aduenture / seyng howe he shulde sle so valyāt a man of ar∣mes. he that than had sene the erle of Marche wold haue had pyte to se what sorowe he made for his squier / for he loued hym entierly. The cōstable reconforted him / and sayd: in suche de¦des of armes let no man loke for no thynge els / though this yuell fortune be fallen on our squi∣er / the englysshman is nat to blame / for he can

nat amende it. Than the collable sayd to then∣glisshmen / sirs: let vs go and byne it is tyme / & so the constable agaynst their good wylles had them with hym in to the castell to dyner / for he wold nat breke his promyse for the dethe of the squier. The erle of Marche wept piteously for his squier / and Nicholas Clifforde went to his lodgyng and wolde nat dyne in y^e castell / what for sorowe and for doute of the frenche squiers frendes / but the constable sent so for him / that it behoued hym to go to the castell. And whan he was come / the constable sayd: certaynly Nicho¦las / I beleue verely and se well / how ye be sory for the dethe of Johan Bourmell / but Jercuse you for ye can nat amēde it / for as god helpe me if I had bene in the same case as ye were in: ye haue done nothyng but I wolde haue done the same / or more if I myght. for better it is a man to greue his enemy / thā his enemy shuld greue him / suche be the aduentures of armes. so they sate downe at the table and dyned at their ley∣sar. And dyner done and the wyne drouke / the cōstable called to hym the lorde Barrois of bar¦res / and sayd to hym. Sir: make you redy / I wyll that ye shall conduct these englysshmen to Chierbourg / and all they way open to thē tow∣nes and castels / and mynistre to them all thyn∣ges necessary. The knight answered and said. Sir / with ryght a good wyll it shall be done. Than they toke their leaue of the cōstable and of the other knightes there present / and so went to their lodgynge / and moūted on their horses and departed fro the castell of Josselyn / & rode to Pontorson and to mount saynt Mychell / vn¦der the conduct of the gentyll knight the Bar∣rois of barres / who neuer left them tyll they cāe to Chierbourge. Thus as ye haue herde / de{per}∣ted the erle of Buckynghams army / bothe by see and by lande. ¶ Nowelet vs retourne to the busynesse of Flaunders in that season / how they of Gaunt maynteyned them selfe. And al∣so of the erle of Flaunders their lorde / howe he parceyuered agaynst them / who made to them right sore and cruell warre.