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 eele Mountfort dyd ho∣mage to the kyng of England for the duchy of Bretayne. Cap. lxviii. (Book 68)

THus therle Moūtfort conquered the countrey and made hymselfe to be called duke of Bretayne. Than he went to a port on the see syde called G••e••o: thasie he sent his people abrode to kepe y^• townes and fortresses that he had won. Than he toke the see with a certayne with him: and so arryued in Cornwall in Englande at a port cal¦led Chepse: than he enquered where the kynge was / and it was shewed hym howe y^e he was at wyndsore. Than he rode thyderwarde & came to Wyndsore / wher he was receyued with gret ioye and feest / bothe of the kyng & of the quene and of all the lordes: than he shewed the kynge and his counsayle howe he was in possession of the duchy of Bretayne / fallen to hym by successi¦on by y^• deth of his brother last duke of Breten. But he feared lest that sir Charles of Bloyes & the frenche kynge wolde put hym out therof by puyssance / wherfore he sayd he was come thy∣der to relyue and to holde the duchy of the kyng of Englande by fealtie and homage for euer: so that he wolde defende hym agaynst the frenche kynge and all other that shul••e put hym to any trouble for the mater. The kynge of Englande ymagined that his warre agaynste the frenche kyng shulde be well fortifyed by that meanes / & howe that he coude nat haue no more profitable way for hym to entre into France than by Bre∣tayne: remembring howe the almayns and bra¦bances had done lytell or nothyng for hym / but caused hym to spende moche money. Wherfore ••••yously he condyscending to therle Mountfor¦tes desyre: and there toke homage by the hand{is} of therle callyng hym selfe duke of Bretaygne. And ther the kyng of Englande in the presence of suche lordes as were ther / bothe of Bretayne and of Englande: promysed that he wold ayde / defende / and kepe hym as his liege man: aga∣ynst euery man / frenche kyng and other. This homage and promyses were writen and sealed / and euery ••tie had his part belyuerd: besyde y^• the kynge and y^• quene gaue to therle and to his company many great gyftes: in such wyse that they reputed hym for a noble kyng / and worthy to raygne in gret prosperyte. Than therle toke his leaue and departed and toke agayne thesee and arryued at y^• forsayd port of Gredo in base Bretayne / and so came to Nauntes to his wyfe who sayde howe he had wrought by good and byscrete counsayle.