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.

¶ The maner of the batayle of Rose∣beque / and howe the flemyng{is} were (Book 421)

〈…〉〈…〉yted by the coūsayle of the thre for••••a•••• knightes / who had a••ewed all their b••hauyng. Cap. iiii. C. xx••. (Book 421)

SO these thre foresayd knyghtes retourned to the kyng and to the bataylles / y^e which were redy in good a••ey as the•• ought to be. for ther were many noble and wyse men and well experte in armes bothe in the vowa••de and in the rere¦garde / and in the kynges batayle. & they knew right well what ought to be done / for ther was the ••••our of all the good ch••••alry of the worlde So thus euery man gaue these thre knyghtes way to cōe to the kyng / the lorde Clysson spake first en••lynynge his body to the kynge / doyng of his hatte and sayde. Sir / be mery: yonder people be all yours / ••ure varlettes shall beate them. Constable quod the kynge / god graunt it. Let vs go forwarde than in the name of god and saynt Denyce. Than̄e suche knyghtes as were apoynted to attende on the kynges body were sette in good order. And there the kynge made many newe knightes / and so dyde euery lorde in his owne batayle / and dyuers baners were newe reysed vp. Than it was ordayned / that wha••e they shulde ••oyne to fyght / that the kynges batayle with the ••riflambe of Fraūce shulde be in the fore fronte / and the Uo warde shulde passe by a syde on a Wynge on the one syde of the kynge. And the rerewarde to passe by / a lytell on the other syde of the kynge. So that all thre batayls might atoues / close about the ••••••mynges batayle / who came close toguy∣der all in one batayle. So the arereward were shewed of this apoyntmēt / the erle of Ewe / the erle of Bloyse / the erle of saynt Poule / the erle of ••arcourte / the lorde of Chatyllone / and the lorde Sere were chiefe of that warde. And be∣fore the erle of Bloyse there was made barone the yonge lorde of haurell / sir Thomas Dy∣stre ▪ & sir James ••ameth bastarde were made ••••••ght••s. There were made the same day by the reporte of the haraudes / foure hundred thre score and s••uyn knightes. And so than the thre knight••s departed fro the kyng and went in to the vowarde / where as their romes were. than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ••riflambe was displayed that si•• ••e••e•• of ••yllers dyde beare. And some say as they haue founde written / that it was neuer before sene displayed agaynst christēmen. but tha•• in that voyage there was great questyon made / whyder it shulde be displayed ornatte. Howe be it dyuers reasons consydered / finally it was determyned to be displayed as than / by cause the flemynges helde the opynion contra∣rie to pope Clement. And therfore the frenche∣men called theym Urbanystes / wherfore they sayde they were hery••••kes / and oute of the true beleue. That was the chyefe cause that it was borne and displayed in Flaunders. This Ori∣••••ambe is a precyous baner / and was sent first fro heuyn for a great mysterie / the whiche was euer a great comfort to them that sawe it. And the same daye it shewed some of his vertue / for all the mornyng there was a great thicke myst / that one coude scantese another. But as soone as it was displayed and lyfte vp on hyghe / the myst brake away / and the skye was as clere as any tyme in the yere before. The lordes of Frā¦ce were greatlye reioysed / whan they sawe the sonne shine so clere / that they might se all about them / this greatly dyde reconfort them. it was great beautie than to regarde the baners and stremars waue with the wynde. And behelde well the great batayle of the flemmynges / who euer styll aproched / fast ioyned toguyder with their staues vpright / that it semed a lytle groue of wode / there were so many of them.