Chronicles of England, France, Spain, etc

Front matter

SIR JOHN FROISSART'S Chronicles in ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &c. &o. CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND W&t aifjo'ntng Countries, FROM THE LATTER PART OF THE REIGN OF EDWARD II. TO THE CORONATION OF HENRY IV. BY SIR JOHN FROISSART. CransrtatcS from the dFirnrh ©DtttonS, WITH VARIATIONS AND ADDITIONS FROM MANY CELEBRATED MSS. BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ. TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, AN ESSAY ON HIS WORKS. AND A CRITICISM ON HIS HISTORY- IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: WILLIAM SMITH, 113, FLEET STREET. MDCCCXUI. LONDON '. BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRlNTBRS, WHITEFR1ARS.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. The Chronicles of Sir John Froissart have, ever since their first publication, when they were circulated only through the medium of manuscripts, and deemed worthy presents to kings and princes, been so highly prized, as to make any apology for their reproduction in a novel, and, it is hoped, an improved form, unnecessary. England is particularly rich in MS. Froissarts, and from these stores most of tho illustrations have been drawn. The reader should, however, be made aware that there scarcely exists one single MS. contemporary with the time of the author containing illustrations, and that the dresses, &c. displayed in the wood-cuts interspersed in these volumes, are almost all to be referred to a later date. The manners of the times had not undergone much alteration, nor was the costume materially different, and they at least approach very nearly to an exact representation of the scenes described in the history they illustrate.

Book I

1. Of the bravest knights of this present book . 3 2. Of some of the predecessors of king Edward of England . . . . .4 3. Of the relations of king Edward the third . 5 4. The occasion of the wars between the kings of England and France . . .ib. 5. How earl Thomas of Lancaster, and twenty-two of the greatest nobles in England, were beheaded ib. 6. The queen of England goes to complain of sir Hugh Spencer to her brother the king of France . . . . .6 7. Sir Hugh Spencer causes the queen Isabella to be sent out of France . . .7 8; The queen Isabella leaves France and goes to Germany . . ■ • .8 9.. Queen Isabella arrives in England with sir John de Hainault . . . .10 10. The queen of England besieges her husband in the city of Bristol . . . .11 11. Sir Hugh Spencer the elder, and the earl of Arundel,are adjudged to death . .12 12.

The king of England and sir H. Spencer are taken at sea, as they were endeavouring to escape from Bristol castle . . .ib. 13. Sir Hugh Spencer judged and executed . 13 14. The coronation of king Edward III. . . 14 15. Robert Bruce, king of Scotland, defies king Edward . . . . .15 16. A dissension between the archers of England and the Hainaulters . . . .16 17. Of the manners of the Scots, and how they carry on war . . . . .18 18. King Edward's first expedition against the Scots 19 19. King Edward, marries the lady Philippa of Hainault . . . . .25 20. Robert, king of Scotland, dies . . 26 21. Philip of Valois crowned king of France . 29 22. The battle ofCassel in Flanders . . 30 23. The carl of Kent and sir Roger Mortimer put to death . . . . .ib. 24. King Edward pays homage to the king of France for the duchy of Guienne . . .31 25.

Robert, count D'Artois, banished Franco . 34 26. King Edward takes the city of Berwick . ib. 27. King Philip of France aud several other knights put on the cross . ■ • .38 28. King Edward is advised by his council to make war against king Philip of France . . 39 29. Jacob Van Artaveld governs all Flanders . 41 30. Certain nobles of Flanders defend the island of Cadsant against the English . . 43. 31. The battle of Cadsant, between the English and the Flemings attached to the earl of Flanders 44 32. King Edward makes great alliances in the empire 45 CHAP. PAOK 33. David, king of Scotland, forms au alliance with Philip, king of France . . .46 34. King Edward of England made vicar of the empire of Germany . . . .47 35. King Edward and his allies send challenges to the king of France . . . .48 36.

Sir Walter Manny, after the challenges had been, sent, makes the first incursion into France . 49 37. The French, after the challenges, invade England 50 38. King Edward besieges the city of Carnbray . ib. 39. King Edward creates sir Henry of Flanders a knight, and afterwards marches into Picardy . 5*2 40. The kings of France and of England appoint a day for their armies to engage . . 54 41. The kings of France and England draw up their armies in battle array at Vironfosse . . 55 42. The two kings retire from Vironfosse without giving battle . . . .55 43. King Edward assumes the arms and title of king of France .... 44. The French destroy the territories of sir John of Hainault .... 45. The earl of Hainault takes and destroys Aubeuton, in Tieracbe . . . .61 46 Those of Tournay make an incursion into Flanders . . . . .63 47.

John, duke of Normandy, marches into Hainault 65 48. The garrison of Douay makes an incursion into Ostrevant, during the absence of the earl of Hainault in England and in Germany , 68 49. The duke of Normandy lays siege to Thin L'Ev£que . . *. . .69 50. The naval engagement between the king of England and the French, before Sluys . . 72 51. Robert, king of Sicily, endeavours to make peaco between the kings of France and England . 73 52. The king of England and his allies hold a conference at Vilvorde . . . .74 53. The king of England besieges the city of Tournay with a powerful army . . . ib, 54. The earl of Hainault destroys the towns of Seclin and Orchies . . . .76 55. The Scots recover great part of their country during the siege of Tournay . . .77 56. The king of France assembles a large army in order to raise the siege of Tournay . . 78 57.

Some of the garrison ot' Bouchain defeat a body of soldiers from Mortnque before thetownofConde 79 58. Sir William de Bailleul and sir Vauflarts de la Croix, make an excursion to Pont a Tressin . 80 59. The eail of Hainault attacks the fortress of Mortnque in various manuers . . 81 60. The earl of Hainault takes the town of St. Armand, during the siege of Tournay . . 82 61 . Sir Charles de Montmorency, aud many others of the French, captured at Pout k Tressin . 83 62. The Flemings advance at St. Omer during the siege of Tournay . . . .84 63. The siege of Tournay raised by means of a truce CONTENTS. VIII CHAP. PAGB 99. The king of France orders the lord of Clisson, and many other lords of Brittany and Normandy, to be beheaded . . .124 100. King Edward institutes the order of St. George at Windsor . . . .125 101.

The king of England sets at liberty sir Herve de Leon . ■ • - - 126 102. The king of England sends the earl of Derby to make war in Gascony . . .1-7 103. The earl of Derby conquers Bcrgerac . . 128 104. The earl of Derby conquers many towns and fortresses in Upper Gascony . . .130 105. The earl of Oxford is taken prisoner in Gascony, but set at liberty by exchange . .131 106. Tho count de Lisle, lieutenant for the king of Fiance in Gascony, lays siege to the castle of Auberoche . . . . .132 107. The earl of Derby makes the count of Lisle, and nine more counts and viscounts, prisoners, before Auberoche .... 134 108. The earl of Derby takes different towns in Gascony, in his road towards La Reole . . 135 109. The earl of Derby lays siege to La Reole, which surrenders to him . . . .137 110. Sir Walter Manny finds, in La Reole, the sepulchre ofihis father - 138 111.

The earl of Derby conquers the castle of La Reole 139 112. The earl of Derby takes castle Moron, and afterwards Villefranche, in Perigord . . 140 1 13. The earl of Derby conquers the city of Angouleme . . . .141 1 14. Sir Godfrey de Harcourt banished from France . 142 115. Jacob Van Artaveld is murdered at Ghent . ib. 116. William earl of Hainault is slain in Friezland, and many noblemen with him . . 145 117. Sir John of Hainault quits the alliance of England for that of France . . .ib. 118. The duke of Normandy marches with a great army into Gascony, against the earl of Derby 146 119. Sir John Norwich escapes from AngoulÆme, when that town surrenders to the French . 148 120. The duke of Normandy lays siege to Aiguillon, with a hundred thousand men . .149 121. The king of England marches into Normandy with his army, in three battalions . . 152 122.

The king ot' France collects a large force to oppose the king of England . . . 154 123. The battle of Caen.— The English take the town ..... 155 124. The English commit great disorders in Normandy..— Sir Godfrey de Harcourt encounters the men of Amiens, on their way to Paris, and king Edward marches into Picardy . . 158 125. The king of France pursues the king of England in the country of Beauvais . .160 12G. The battle of Blanchetaque, between the king of England and Sir Godemar du Fay . .161 127. The order of battle of the English at Crecy, who were drawn up in three battalions on foot . 163 128. The order of the French army at Crecy . ib. 120. The battle of Crecy, between the kings of France and of England .... 164 130. The English, on the morrow, again defeat the French . . . . .168 131.

The English number the dead slain at the battle of Crecy . . . .ib. 132. The king of Eugland lays siege to Calais The poorer sort of the inhabitants are sent out of it 169 133. The duke of Normandy raises the siege of Aiguillon ... .ib. 134. Sir Walter Manny, by means of a passport, rides through France from Aiguillou to Calais . 170 CHAP. PACE j 64. The duke of Brittany dies without heirs ; upon which a war ensues for the succession . 87 65. The earl of Montfort takes the town and castle of Brest . . . . -89 66. The carl of Montfort takes the city of Rennes . 90 67. The earl of Montfort takes the town and castle of Hennebon . . • . ib. 68. The earl of Montfort does homage to the king of England for the dukedom of Brittany . 92 69. The earl of Montfort summoned before the parliament of Paris, at the request of the lord Charles de Blois . . . .ib. 70.

The duchy of Brittany adjudged by the parliament of Paris to the lord Charles de Blois . 93 71. The lords of France enter Brittany with lord Charles de Blois . . . .94 72. The earl of Montfort taken prisoner at Nantes, and the manner of his death . . 95 73. The king of England for the third time makes war upon the Scots . . . .96 74. King David of Scotland advances with a large army to Newcastle-upon-Tvne . . 97 75. King David of Scotland takes and destroys the city of Durham . . . .99 76. The king of Scotland besieges Wark Castle, belonging to the earl of Salisbury . . 100 77. The king of England is enamoured with tho countess cf Salisbury . . .102 78. The earls of Salisbury and Moray are set at liberty in exchange for each other . . . 104 79. Lord Charles de Blois with some other lords of France take the city of Rennes . . ib. 80.

The lord Charles de Blois besieges the countess of Montfort in Hennebon . ■ . 105 81. Sir Walter Manny conducts tho English into Brittany ..... 107 82. The castle of Conquet twice taken . . 108 83. The lord Lewis takes the towns of Dinant and Guerrande . . . . .109 81. Sir Walter Manny defeats the lord Lewis of Spain, at Quim perle . . .110 85. Sir Walter Manny takes the castle of Guy la Foret . . . . .111 86. The lord Charles de Blois takes the town of Carhaix . . . . .112 87. Sir John Boteler and Sir Matthew Trelawney I are rescued from death . . .113 88. Lord Charles de Blois takes the town and castle of Jugon . . . .115 89. The king of England makes great feasts and tournaments at London, through affection for the countess of Salisbury . . .ib. 90. The king of England sends the lord Robert d'Artois into Biittany . . .117 91.

A sea engagement, off Guernsey, between the lord Robert d'Artois and the lord Lewis of Spain 118 92. The lord Robert d'Artois takes the city of Vanncs ..... 119 93. The death of the lord Robert d'Artois . . 120 94. The king of England continues the war in person in Brittany . . . .121 95. The lord of Clisson and sir Herve de Leon are taken prisoners by the English . . 122 96. The king of England takes the town of Dinant. — The lord Lewis of Spain makes some cruises at sea . . . . .ib. 97. The duke of Normandy brings with him some lords of France, to oppose the king of England in Brittany ..... 123 96. The king of England and the duke of Normandy encamp their armies opposite to each other, near to Vanncs . . . .ib. CONTENTS IX CHAP. PAGE 135. The earl of Derby takes many towns and castles in Poitou, and the city of Poitiers . .171 136.

The king of Scotland, during the siege of Calais, invades England .... 173 137. The battle of Nevil's Cross . . .174 138. John Copeland takes the king of Scotland prisoner, and receives great advantages from it .178 139. The young earl of Flanders is betrothed, through the constraint of the Flemings, to the daughter of the king of England. — He escapes to France in a subtle manner .... 179 140. The lord Robert de Namur does homage to the king of England before Calais . . 181 141. The English conquei La Roche-d'Enien, to which place the lord Charles de Blois lays siego . . . .182 142. The combat of La Roche-d'Errien, where the lord Charles de Blois is made prisoner . 183 143. The king of France collects a great army, to raise the siege of Calais . . . 184 144. The king of England guards all the passes round Calais, so that the king of France cannot approach to raise the siege . . . 185 145.

The town of Calais surrenders to the king of England . . . . .186 146. The king of England re-peoples Calais . 189 147. A robber of the name of Bacon does much mischief in Languedoc . . . .190 148. A page, of the name of Croquart, turns robber . 191 149. Sir Am cry de Pavie plots with sir Geoffry de Chargny, to sell the town of Calais . . 192 150. The battle of Calais, between the king of England, under the banner of sir Walter Manny, with sir Geoffry de Chargny and the French . ib. 151. The king of England presents a chaplet of pearls to sir Eustace de Ribeaumont . . 195 Additions from two MSS. in the Hafod Library, not in any of the printed copies . . 196 152. The death of king Philip, and coronation of his son John ..... 201 153. The king of Navarre causes the lord Charles of Spain, constable of France, to be murdered ; with other matters .... 203 154.

The tax of the gabelle imposed throughout France, by the three estates, on account of the war ..... 206 155. The king of France arrests the king of Navarre, and orders the earl of Harcourt and others to be beheaded at Rouen . . . 208 156. The king of France issues out summons for assembling an army to combat the prince of Wales, who was overrunning the province of Berry .... '209 157. The prince of Wales takes the castle Romorantin 211 158. The king of France leads a great army to the battle of Poitiers . . . .212 159. The disposition of the French before the battle of Poitiers .... 214 160. The cardinal de Perigord endeavours to make peace between the king of France and the princo of Wales, previous to the battle of Poitiers . . . . .215 161. The battle of Poitiers, between the prince of Wales and the king of France . .217 162.

Two Frenchmen, running away from the battle of Poitiers, are pursued by two Englishmen^ who are themselves made prisoners . . 222 163. The manner in which king John was taken prisoner at the battle of Poitiers . . 223 164. The prince of Wales makes a handsome present to the Lord James Audley, after the battle of Poitiers . . . . .224 CHAP. PAGE 165. The English gain very considerably at the battle of Poitiers ..... 225 166. The lord James Audley gives to his squires the pension of five hundred marc6 he had received from the prince .... 226 167. The prince of Wales entertains the king of France at supper, the evening after the battle . ib. 168. The prince of Wales returns to Bourdeaux, after the battle of Poitiers . . . 228 169. The three estates of France assemble at Paris, after the battle of Poitiers . . 230 170.

The three estates Bend men-at-arms against sir Godfrey de Harcourt . . .231 171. The battle of Coutantin, between sir Godfrey de Harcourt and sir Raoul de Reyneval . 232 172. The prince of Wales conducts rhe king of France from Bourdeaux to England . . 233 173. David Bruce, king of Scotland, obtains his liberty ..... 235 174. The duke of Lancaster lays siege to Rennes . ib. 175. A knight of the county of Evreux, called sir William de Graville, reconquers the city and castle of Evreux from the king of France, who had taken it from the king of Navarre . ib. 176. The Archpriest assembles a company of men-at-arms. — He is much honoured at Avignon . 238 177. A Welchman, of the name of Ruffin, commands a troop of the free companies . . ib. 178. The provost of the merchants of Paris kills three knights in the apartment of the regent . 239 179.

By what means the king of Navarre escapes out of prison . . .ib. 180. The king of Navarre makes a solemn harangue to the Parisians . . . 240 181. The commencement of the infamous Jacquerie of Beauvoisis . . . .ib. 183. The king of Navarre defeats many of the villainB in Beauvoisis. — The provost of merchants builds a wall round Paris . . . 241 184. The battle of Meaux in Brie, where the villaiDB are discomfited by the earl of Foix and the captalofBuch . . . .ib. 185. Paris besieged by the duke of Normandy, regent of France . . . . .243 186. Some Parisians are slain at St. Cloud, by tho English, who had been soldiers in Paris . 244 187. The death of the provost of the merchants of Paris 245 188. The king of Navarre declares war against France, the French king being at the time a prisoner in England .... 247 189.

The Navarrois are besieged in the caBtle of Mauronseil by the men of Picardy . . 249 190. Several of the citizens of Amiens attempt to give up that city to the Navarrois. — A famine in France ..... 250 191. The men of Picardy besiege the Navarrois in St. Valery. — The kingdom of France is filled with Navarrois . . . .251 192. The canon de Robesart defeats the NavarTois in the Laonnois, near to Creil . . . 253 193. The Navarrois surrender St. Valery to the French, who had besieged it a long time . 254 194. The lord Philip de Navarre assembles three thousand men to raise the siege of St. Valery . 255 195. Sir Peter Audley leads a party of Navarrois, in the night, to take ChalonB . . . 257 196. The earl de Roucy taken a second time . 258 197. Three queens, with the Navarrois, arc besieged in Melun . . . . .ib. 198.

SirBroquart de Fenestrages, with many French, draw up in battle array against sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt and the English in Champagne CONTENTS. X CHAP. PAGH treaties with the kings of Navarre and England, and the prince of Wales, to induce them to undertake this croisade against the Saracens 304 219. King John returns, of his own free will, to England, and dies there . . . 307 220. King Charles of France makes wise preparations against the king of Navarre, immediately after the death of king John his father, and before his coronation . • * .310 221. The king of Cyprus returns to Par's. — The funeral of King John at St. Denis. — The captal de Buch makes an attack on Sir Bertrand du Guesclin . . • .313 222. The battle between the French under Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, and the Navarrois under the captal de Buch, at Cocherel in Normandy. — -The captal is made prisoner, and victory declares for the French . . .317 223.

Charles V., surnamed the Wise, is crowned king of France. — His brother Philip is invested with the duchy of Burgundy, and sent against the free companies of pillagers . . . 322 224. The lord Lewis of Navarre makes incursions into France. — The duke of Burgundy plans several expeditions against him, but is forced to go into Burgundy, to defend it against the earl de Mountbeliart .... 324 225. King Charles orders the duke of Burgundy to besiege La Charite. — He wants it to surrender unconditionally, that he may send assistance to lord Charles de Blois, who is contesting the duchy of Brittany with the earl of Montfort 326 226. The lord Charles de Blois advances against the earl of Montfort in order of battle. — Sir John Chandos, after having drawn up the battalions of the earl of Montfort, prevents the treaty from taking place which the lord de Beaumanoir was negociating between the two pretenders to the duchy of Brittany . • 328 227.

The battle of- Auray, in which Sir Bertrand du Guesclin is made prisoner, Chas. de Blois is slain, and John de Montfort is victorious . 332 228. The chiefs attached to the earl of Montfort retire after the victory at Auray. — The earl's conduct on seeing Charles de Blois dead. — Truces granted for burying the slain. — In what manner the king of England was informed of the event of this battle of Auray . . . 334 '229. The Earl of Montfort conquers Auray and several other places from the widow of lord Charles de Blois — King Charles interposes between them and makes peace A peace is also made between the kings of France and Navarre, through the medium of the captal de Buch . . 336 230. A war in Spain between the king, Don Pedro of Castille, and his bastard brother Henry, to whose aid the lord John de Bourbon and Sir Bertrand du Guesclin lead the pillaging companies. — Henry, by their means, is crowned king of Castille .... 339 231.

King Don Pedro sends to entreat the prince of Wales' assistance against his biother Henry the Bastard. — He retires into Guienne, where he is well received by the prince . . 343 232. The prince of Wales holds a grand conference at Bourdeaux on the affairs of the king of Castille. He receives letters from the king of England to assent to the proposals of assisting Don Pedro. He makes overtures to the king of Na* vane, for a free passage through his kingdom, to enable him to conduct Don Pedro back to Castille ..... 346 cn»r. PAGE 199. The battle of Nogent-sur-Seiue, between sir Broquart de Fcuestrages and the Flench, and sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt and the English . 260 200. The pillagers, who had kept possession of different fortresses in France, begin wonderfully to fall off -262 201. The French refuse to ratify the treaty which king John had entered into with England . 263 202.

Sir Eustace d'Ambreticourt obtains his liberty by a great ransom .... 264 203. Sir Broquart de Fenestrages forces payment from the duke of Normandy, regent of France ib. 204. Sir Robert Knolles makes an excursion into Berry and Auvergne. — He is pursued by the gentlemen of those countries . • 265 205. Some Germans wait for the king of England at Calais, to attend him in his expedition into France, during the time king John was in England . . ■ • -266 206. The king of England leads a great army into France, during the time the king of France was a prisoner in England. — The arrangement of the army of England t . . 267 207. The king of England leaves Calais. — The order of his army in their march through Picardy towards Rheims .... 269 208. The king of England lays siego to the city of Rheims, and to the castle of Chargny. — The war re-commences between the duke of Normandy and the king of Navarre . . 273 2C9.

The lord of Roye and Ms company defeat the remainder of the troops of the lord of Gomegines. — The castle of Commercy surrenders to the English . . . .276 2 1 0. The king of England , after he had raised the siege of Rheims, wastes and destroys all the countries he passes through. — He comes to Guillon, where he remains, — Great quantities of provision follow the army .... 278 211. The king of England lays the kingdom of France under great tribulation. — A Cordelier friar prophesies. — The English place an ambuscade for ihose who should come out of Paris . . 280 212. The form and tenor of the paper drawn up as articles of the peace which was concluded before Chartres, between, the kings of France and England . . . . .284 213. The transactions of the two kings of France and England, when at Calais, respecting the duchy of Brittany and some lands of the late Godfrey de Harcourt King John sets out from Calais and returns home in freedom . . 290 214.

Commissioners appointed on both sides to seethe garrisons in the kingdom of France evacuated. Different bodies of armed men overrun the kingdom, and do much mischief . . 292 215. The lord James de Bourbon and his army are defeated by these freebooting companies. — The Pope orders a croisade to be proclaimed, after they have taken the Pont du St. Esprit, and finds means to get rid of them . . 295 216. The deaths of the dukes of Lancaster and of -Burgundy, which last causes new dissensions between the kings of France and Navarre. — The prince of Wales crosses the sea to Aquitaine 300 217. The kings of France and of Cyprus undertake and swear to perform a croisade against the infidels. — The king of Cyprus makes earnest solicitations for assistance to many kings and princes in divers places of Christendom . 303 218.

The king of England detains the hostages aB prisouers. — The king of Cyprus uses great en- CONTENTS. XI CHAP. PAGE 233. The prince of Wales makes preparations for replacing Don Pedro on his throne of Castille. Henry the Bastard, though late informed of it, endeavours to prevent it . . 349 234. The viscount of Narbonne, the seneschal of Toulouse, with other French lords, having attacked some of the free companies, that were come into France according to the orders of the prince, are discomfited near Montauban. — The pope forbids the prisoners whom the companies had taken, and set free on their parole after the combat, to keep their faith, or to pay any ransom . . . • .351 235. During the time the prince of Wales is preparing for his expedition into Castille, the king of Majorca seeks refuge with him against the king of Arragon The prince displeases the Lord D'Albrct . . . .355 236.

The birth of Richard, son of the prince of Wales. — The arrival of the duke of Lancaster to accompany his brother on his intended expedition. — New treaties with the king of Navarre, for the security of passing through his kingdom. — ■ Sir Bertrand du Guesclin returns to the assistance of king Henry .... 357 237. The prince of Wales and his army pass the mountains of Navarre, and arrive at Pampeluna.«— King Henry of Castille writes letters to him. — Sir William Felton commands an advanced party of the army . . 359 238. The king of Navarre is made prisoner by sir Olivier de Mauny, a Breton and partisan of king Henry. — The prince of Wales advances to Salvatierra in Spain. — Sir William Felton skirmishes with the enemy near the quarters of the king of Spain. — The two armies advance towards each other .... 363 239.