The chronicles of England, France, Spain and the adjoining countries : from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV
Froissart, Jean, 1338?-1410?
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The rich yet restrained character of the illuminatior, indicates that it is of Flemish origin, though achieved in France, the latter fac*. being shown by the geometrical designs which enshrine the delicate flower-painting. X Copyright, 1901, Sy the colonial press. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGB The Free Companies — Duke of Gueldres Challenges King of France and Obtains Aid from England — Preparations of the King of France for Invading Guelderland i CHAPTER II Scots Invade England During her International Troubles — Meeting of Earl Douglas and Sir Henry Percy ; the Famous Battle of Otterbourne , 32 CHAPTER III The King of France Visits the Pope at Avignon — A Field of Arms at Calais — Invasion of Africa and a Challenge from the Saracens 53 CHAPTER IV Tournament at Smithfield — Death of the Count de Foix — The King of France Declares War on Brittany — Derangement of the King 75 CHAPTER V Negotiations for Peace— Dukes of Berry and Burgundy Govern France — Death of the Pope at Avit^non — Froissart Visits Eng- land and Presents a Book to King Richard 105 CHAPTER VI Reconciliation of Sir Oliver de Clisson and the Duke of Brittany — The King of Hungary Makes War against Turkey — De Coucy Defeats the Turks — Hainault at War with Friesland 131 CHAPTER VII The Kings of England and France have an Interview — Bajazet De- feats the Christian Army and Takes many- Prisoners — Duke of Gloucester Excites Rebellion in England 1 54 iT CONTENTS CHAPTER VIII PAOH Death of Dc Coucy and of Arlois — Magnificence of Bajazet — The Knights of Rhodes— King Richard and the Duke of Gloucester — Execution of the Earl of Arundel 173 CHAPTER IX Palm Sunday at Eltham Palace— Schism in the Church — The Pope and his Cardinals — Lord Derby's Return from Banishment — Coronation of Henry 1 89 ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Simon de Hesdin Presenting his Translation of Vale- rius MaXIMUS to Charles V. AT this period the Count d'Armagnac resided in Auvergne, and was negotiating with such free companies as held forts in Auvergne, Quercy, and Limousin; from his attachment to France he took great pains to make the leaders of these garrisons, who did much mischief to the country, sur- render them up, and depart to other places. All the captains except Geofifry Tete-noire, who held Ventadour, seemed will- ing to accept his terms, and received in one sum 250,000 francs ; on payment of which sum they were all to quit the country, which would gladly have seen them depart, for the inhabitants could neither till the earth nor carry on trade for fear of these pillagers, unless they had entered into composi- tion with them according to their wealth and rank ; and these compositions amounted in the year to as much as was now demanded for the evacuation of the forts. The dukes of Berry and Burgundy were informed of the arrangement on the part of the Count d'Armagnac, and were greatly desirous of seeing it accomplished ; however, the matter was attended with much Vol. II.— I I « FROISSART difficulty, for when commissaries were sent by the count to parley with Pcrrot Ic Bearnois, Amerigot Marcel, and others, those captains could never agree as to terms, since when one party agreed to it one week, the next it was refused ; for being of different countries, they had various opinions. Those from Armagnac, who were a sort of retainers to the count, readily assented to what he offered ; but the greater part and the most determined of these pillagers were from Beam and Foix. I do not mean that the Count de Foix ever wished anything but what was honorable and advantageous to France; but when he first heard of these negotiations with the captains of the free companies he was desirous to know upon what terms they were made, and the reason the Count d'Armagnac was so busy in the matter, also where the captains intended to fix them- selves when they left their present position. There had been for some time hatred between the houses of Brabant and Gueldres, whose countries border on each other. The origin of this hatred was the town of Grave, which the Duke of Gueldres had taken possession of, and held by force. Of this the Brabanters complained, as the town is situ- ated on their side of the river Meuse ; and though many con- ferences were held on the subject, the hatred was not abated, and the people of Gueldres complained that the Duke of Bra- a Froissart says this brother-in-law had married the widow of the count's son. CHRONICLES 3 bant had in revenge seized on three castles,^ on their side of the same river. This quarrel between the two dukes was fre- quently embittered; but it was the opinion of many able knights and squires, that if the Lord Edward of Gueldres (who was unfortunately slain by an arrow from an archer of the dukes of Luxembourg and Brabant, at the battle of Juliers) c had survived and gained the victory, he was so valiant, that he would have reconquered these three castles. Duke Reginald of Gueldres, cousin-german to the Prince of Wales, had mort- gaged these castles for a sum of florins to a great baron of Germany, called the Count de Mours, who kept possession of them for a time ; and when no intention was shown of paying back the money he had lent, the Count de Mours offered the cas- tles for the money for which they were mortgaged, to the Duke of Brabant, who eagerly accepted the proposal, as they were on the confines of the territory of Fanquemonts, of which he was lord ; he took possession of them accordingly, and placed in them, as governor, the Lord de Kale. When on the death of Duke Reginald the Lord Edward succeeded to the duchy of Gueldres, he sent ambassadors to the Duke of Bra- bant, requesting that he might have the castles for the same money that had been paid for them ; but the duke, not hav- ing purchased them for this end, returned a positive refusal; at which the Duke of Gueldres was highly indignant, and in consequence was hard upon his sister-in-law, the widow of the Lord Reginald and younger sister to the Duchess of Bra- bant, by preventing her from receiving her dower. The lady, upon this, went to the Duke of Brabant, and laid before him and the duchess the vexations the Duke of Gueldres was occa- sioning her; who, on account of the long-subsisting hatred between the Brabanters and those of Gueldres, for the seizure of Grave, were well inclined to aid the lady by force of arms. Twelve hundred spears were at once collected, who advanced to Bois-le-Duc, and as the Duke of Gueldres likewise assem- bled his forces, it was generally thought a battle would have been the result; but the Duke Albert, the Count de Mours, and the Count de Juliers, this time interfered, and they sepa- rated without coming to blows. The quarrel, however, still continued, and on the death of b The names of the three castles were, Gambet, Buct, and Mille. c a.d. 1372. 4 FROISSART Duke Winceslaus the young Duke of Gueldres began to take measures for the regaining of these three castles, which had created such hatred between Brabant and his uncle, the Lord Edward of Gueldres; he, therefore, sent persons properly authorized to treat for the surrender : but the Duchess of Bra- bant, to whom they belonged, replied, " that they were now legally in her possession, and that she intended to keep them for herself and her heirs;" adding, "that if the duke were in earnest in his professions of friendship to Brabant, he should prove it by yielding up the town of Grave, which he unjustly detained." The Duke of Gueldres, on hearing this, was much piqued, but did not give up his plans ; for he now attempted to gain over to his interest Sir John Gosset, the governor of these castles ; but in this he could not succeed. Affairs remained for some time in this state, and the mutual hatred between the Brabanters and those of Gueldres was con- tinued. The Duke of Gueldres crossed the sea to England, to visit his cousin. King Richard, and his other relations, the dukes of Lancaster, York, and Gloucester, who were at that time at home. He entered into an alliance with the King; and, although he had not hitherto received anything from him to induce him to become his liegeman, he now accepted a pen- sion of i,ooo marks, on the King of England's treasury, which, according to the value of the coin, was equal to 4,000 francs, ready money. He was advised to renew his claims on Bra- bant, and was promised effectual assistance from England, in return for which he swore to be ever loyal in his services to the English Crown. When this treaty was concluded, he took leave of the King and his barons, and returned to Guel- dres. The Duke of Juliers, his father, remonstrated with him on the step he had taken, declaring that his alliance with Eng- land was an imprudent one, and that it would never turn out to his advantage ; but the Duke of Gueldres paid little atten- tion to what his father said, for he was young and rash, and preferred war to peace. The Duchess of Brabant, who resided at Brussels, was well informed of everything that was passing, and was very fear- ful lest the Duke of Gueldres should put his threat of war into execution. She, therefore, assembled her council, who, when she demanded their advice, said, '' We advise, lady, that you CHRONICLES 5 send ambassadors to the King.of France and the Duke of Bur- gundy for assistance." The duchess did so; and her ambas- sadors received from the duke the following answer : " You will return to our fair aunt, and salute her many times in my name ; give her these letters from the King and myself ; and tell her that we consider her affairs as our own, and desire her not to be alarmed at anything : for she shall speedily have aid. Tell her, also, that the Count of Brabant shall not in any way be injured." This reply was, of course, deemed very agreeable, and the duchess was much pleased when she heard it. About this time died a king who has supplied ample ma- terials for many parts of this history ; you may readily guess that I mean the King of Navarre. It is a well-known truth that nothing is more certain than death. I mention this be- cause the King of Navarre, when he died, did not think his end so near. Had he thought it, he would no doubt have taken more care of himself. He was residing in the city of Pam- peluna, when he took it into his head that he could raise 200,- 000 florins by a tax on his country, and his council could not contradict him. At the news of this heavy tax, however, the whole country was in great consternation, and unanimous in declaring that they could not bear this additional burden ; at which the King was greatly enraged, and went so far as to be- head three persons who were most determined in their opposi- tion to the tax. Just at this moment an extraordinary event happened at Pampeluna, which seemed like a judgment from God. I will relate it as it was told me at Foix by several per- sons from Pampeluna. " The King had passed the night with his mistress, when, returning to his own chamber, he said to one of his varlets, ' Prepare my bed, for I want to lie down.' He undressed himself and went to bed ; but he had no sooner laid down than he began to shake and could not possibly get warm. He was now about sixty years of age, and for a long time had been accustomed to have his bed well warmed with heated air. As usual, therefore, he ordered his servant to warm his bed ; but this time it turned out very unfortunately, for the flames somehow set fire to the sheets and it could not be extinguished before they were destroyed, and the King, who was wrapped in them, was horribly burned. He did not 5 FROISSART die immediately, but lingered on fifteen days in great misery and pain." Such was the end of the King of Navarre,^ whose death freed his subjects from the tax he would have laid on them. He was succeeded by his son Charles, who, soon after his father's obsequies, was crowned at Pampeluna. You have heard of the treaties which the Count d'Armag- nac attempted to make with the captains of the free com- panies, and how the Count de Foix determined to oppose him ; also, that Geoffry Tete-noire, who held the castle of Ven- tadour, on the borders of Auvergne and Bourbonnois, refused to surrender for any sum of money. He considered the castle as his own inheritance, and had forced all the surrounding country to enter into composition with him to avoid being plundered, by which means he was enabled to keep up the state of a great baron. He was a cruel man, and very ferocious in his anger. You must know that when the tax for the re- demption of these castles was first raised the inhabitants of Auvergne, imagining that Ventadour would be surrendered to the Duke of Berry and the country delivered from the oppres- sions of the garrison, very cheerfully paid their quota; but when they saw that of all the garrisons which continued their inroads, Ventadour was the most daring, they were very dis- consolate, and considered that the tax had been thrown away. Moreover, they declared, that until the garrison was prevented from overrunning the country, they would never pay one farthing of any future tax. When this was reported to the Duke of Berry, he resolved to besiege Ventadour, which he d Charles, King of Navarre, died in >387, aged fifty-five years. His death was worthy of his life. He was wrapped up in cloths that had been dipped in spirits of wine and sulphur, to reanimate the chill in his limbs, caused by his debaucheries, and to cure his leprosy. By some accident they caught fire, as they were securing them about him. and burned the flesh off his bones. It is thus that all the French historians relate the death of Charles; but in the letter of the Bishop of Dax, his principal minister, to the Queen Blanche, the sister of this prince, and widow of Philip de Valois, there is not one word said of this hor- rid accident, but only of the great pains he suffered in his last illness, and the resignation with which he bore them. Voltaire pretends that Charles was not worse than many other princes. Fer- reras had said before him, " that the French surnamed him Charles the Bad, on account of the troubles he had fo- mented in the kingdom; but that, if his actions were examined, he would be found not sufficiently wicked to de- serve such a surname." It is, how- ever, precisely his actions that have caused it. " He was," says Father Daniel, " treacherous, cruel, and the sole cause of the ruin of France." Father Daniel speaks exactly like Mari- ana, who has painted with energy his cruelties, his infamous . debaucheries, and his treasons. Our best historians have done the same.—" Nouveau Dic- tionnaire Historique." CHRONICLES 7 did, and so saved the country- the large sums which they used to pay as composition money. This same year, about the middle of May, forty bold com- panions set out from Chaluget, which was in the possession of Perrot le Bearnois, to seek adventures in Auvergne under com- mand of a squire from Gascony called Geronnet de Maudu- rant, an able man-at-arms. On account of the dread which the country and the borders of the Bourbonnois had of these people, the Duke of Bourbon had appointed for its defence one of his knights, a valiant man- at-arms, called Sir John Bonne-lance, courteous, amorous, and eager to display his courage. When he heard that these com- panions were abroad, he asked how many they might be ; and when told about forty, he replied, " As for forty lances, we have no fear of that number. I will take as many to meet them." As soon as he had got his men together, they set out and came to a pass which they imagined the enemy must cross ; and so it was, for they had not been there more than half an hour when the enemy appeared^ no way suspecting this meeting. Bonne-lance and his party, with their spears in their rests, charged them, shouting their cry as they were descending the mountain. When they found they must fight they put a good face upon it, and prepared for their defence, Geronnet, who was a stout squire, setting them a good example. At the first onset many were beaten down on both sides; but, to say the truth, the French were far better men-at-arms than the ad- venturers, twenty-two of whom were made prisoners, and six- teen left dead upon the field, while the leader surrendered himself to Bonne-lance. The victorious party set out on their return, taking their prisoners with them. On the road Bonne- lance recollected that about a month ago, when at Montfer- rant, in Auvergne, a lady who was much in his* good graces expressed a desire to see an Englishman, adding, " I have often heard that they are most determined and expert men-at-arms, and indeed they prove it by their gallantry, and by taking from us towns and castles." '* Fair lady," replied Bonne-lance, " if I have the good fortune to make one of them prisoner you shall see him." Bonne-lance, remembering this conversation, took the road to Montferrant, and he and his people dismounted at the hotel. 8 FROISSART The ladies and damsels assembled, when Bonne-lance, ad- dressing the lady who was so anxious to see an Englishman, said, ** Lady, I come to acquit myself of the promise I made to you about a month since. Through the grace of God I have this day fallen in with a party of valiant Englishmen; not, indeed, real Englishmen, but Gascons who wage war un- der that name; you may view them at your leisure, for, out of love to you, I shall leave them in this town until they have paid me their ransom." The ladies laughed and expressed their obligation to him : during his stay in Montferrant, Bonne- lance well entertained Maudurant and his companions, and on leaving said that Maudurant must remain as a hostage, while some of his companions went to seek for the rknsom, and that as soon as the money was paid, they would all be set at liberty. When the captain of Chaluget heard of the ill-suc- cess of Geronnet de Maudurant, he was very indifferent about it, and said to those who brought him the news, " You are come, I suppose, to seek for money to pay his and your ran- som." " Yes," they repHed. " Well/' said the captain, " you will get nothing from me ; I did not send you on this excur- sion— it was your own free choice to seek an adventure. I will not ransom any man unless he be taken when in my company." This was all the answer they could get: when they reported it to Maudurant and the rest of the companions, they were extremely vexed, and after a time resolved to send again to Perrot le Bearnois, and tell him that if he would pay the ransom, they would, within one month after their deliver- ance, lead him to such a place that it would be his own fault if he did not gain 100,000 francs from it. When this message was delivered to Perrot le Bearnois, he mused upon it awhile, and then ordered a large coffer to be opened, which contained upward of 40,000 francs — money ac- quired from pillage you must understand, and not the rent of his estates, for the town wherein he was born had in it but twelve houses and belongs to the Count de Foix. Perrot le Bearnois had counted out before him two-and-twenty hundred francs, and one hundred for their expenses, which he put into a purse, and calling to him the three companions who had returned from Montferrant^ said, " I give you three-and- twenty hundred francs; a friend in need is a friend indeed; CHRONICLES 9 I shall risk this for Geronnet-s freedom : he is able to regain for me, if he pleases, as much again, if not more." Geronnet, on learning that his ransom was obtained, was much pleased, and immediately paid the sum to those who had been ap- pointed to receive it. On gaining his liberty he returned to Chaluget, when Perrot le Bearnois called him and said, *' Geron- net^ you are obliged to the fair offers you sent me for your freedom, and to them alone; I was not in any way boun4 to pay your ransom — you must, therefore, now prove the truth of your offers ; otherwise we shall be upon bad terms." '' Cap- tain," replied Geronnet, " I now offer to put you in posses- sion of Montferrant within fifteen days, if you be willing to undertake it; in this town there is great wealth, and where- withal to plunder, for, besides its riches in silk and merchan- dise, many of the inhabitants have much money ; besides, the town is one of the weakest and worst guarded in the realm." ** It is well said," answered Perrot, " I accept it ; you know all the outlets of the town ; will it require many men ? " " Three or four hundred spears," said Geronnet, " will do the business." Perrot immediately got himself in readiness and sent infor- mation of his intention to the captains of the forts in the neighborhood, fixing their rendezvous at the castle of Donzac,^ of which place Olim Barbe, a Gascon and famous pillager, was captain. Toward evening they took a great deal of care of their horses, e A village in Armagnac, diocese and generality of Auch. ,o FROISSART giving the host and hostess to understand that, as they came from afar off, it was necessary they should be well attended to. They had no inclination to retire to rest, but kept drink- ing in their chamber, and the host and hostess noticing the merry life they led, and not having the slightest suspicion of them, went to bed. The same day, toward evening, Perrot le Bearnois and his companions left Donzac, and in their way were obliged to pass under the walls of Clermont; when within a league of this place they fell in with Amerigot Marcel, governor of Alose, with about lOO spears; they were much rejoiced at meeting, and mutually asked whither they were going in such bad weather, and what were the objects of their being abroad. Amerigot Marcel said, " I came from my castle of Alose, and am going to Carlat." " In God's name," replied the two cap- tains of Carlat, the bourg Anglois, and the bourg de Copane, who were of Perrot's company, " here we are, if you have anything to say to us." " Yes," said he, '' you have some pris- oners who belong to the Dauphin d'Auvergne, and I wish to have them in exchange for some others who are in my fort ; but where are you going?" asked Amerigot. " By my faith, brother soldier, we are going straight to Montferrant, which town is to be delivered to me to-night." " Perrot," replied Amerigot, " this is very wrong ; you know we have entered into a treaty with the Count d'Armagnac, and you will act very ill if you break the treaty." On my troth, I shall never keep any treaties," said Perrot, " as long as I am master of the field. Come with us; you have nothing to do at Carlat, as the captains are here." " No, no," replied Amerigot, " I shall return to my own castle." The parties then separated, and Perrot continued his road toward Montferrant. It was eleven o'clock when they arrived at the place, and Perrot said to his companions, " Do you wait here while I go by those ditches, and see if I can learn an3rthing of Geronnet, who has brought us hither." On this Perrot le Bearnois, with three others, went away. It was so dark that they could scarcely see an acre before them, and it rained, snowed, and blew most unmercifully. Geronnet was at this hour on the walls im- patiently awaiting their arrival, and as soon as he thought he could discover them he began to whistle. Near where they were talking was a small house adjoining the walls in which lived a poor tailor, who, having been hard at work until that hour, was just going to bed, when fancy- ing he heard voices, he left his house in order to make further examination, and seeing Perrot's men walking about, he cried out, " Treason ! Treason ! " One of Geronnet's party, how- ever, seized him by the throat and kept him quiet. Geronnet then addressing Perrot, said, '' Return to your men, and when you hear the inner gate open, attack the outward one with axes in order to gain admittance." He then told him the use he meant to make of the tailor. Perrot upon this returned and related what he had heard ; and as soon as he was gone Geron- net told the tailor that he must go with him to the gate of the town, awaken the porter, and tell him that the governor had sent him to give orders that the gates were to be opened to admit some merchants who were coming from Montpellier. The poor man, seeing nothing but instant death unless he complied, did as he was ordered ; and on asking for the keys at the gate, one of the porters arose, opened a small window, and gave them to him. The moment after Geronnet snatched them from him, and luckily opened the lock with the first key he put into it ; he then went to the outward gate, thinking to do the same there, but in vain. Perrot and his companions were on the outside waiting its opening, and as Geronnet's endeavors with the key were fruitless, they provided them- selves with axes and wedges, and forced an entrance. The porters gave an alarm, crying out, " Treason ! Treason ! " which aroused the whole town; many fled to the castle, but few were allowed to enter it; for when the governor heard ,a FROISSART that the enemy had surprised the place, he would not lower the drawbridge, but made his preparations for defence in case the castle should be attacked. The captain with his compan- ions now marched into the town without opposition, and went through it to ascertain whether any bodies of men were col- lecting to resist them ; they found only a few, who were soon either slain or made prisoners. But why should I make a long story of it? The town of Montf errant was thus surprised on February 13th, and when Perrot le Bearnois and his accompHces saw themselves mas- ters of the place they took up their lodgings at different hotels, without doing violence to anyone: for Perrot had ordered under pain of death that neither women nor damsels should be injured; that no houses should be burned, nor any pris- oners made without his knowledge; and that no one under the same penalty should hurt church or churchman, nor take anything away from them: the whole town was put in pos- session of himself and his captains, and on Friday morning all the inhabitants were tied together, so that no one should oppose them, their houses were searched, and everything of value packed up. When, at breakfast, the captains had a long consultation whether to keep the town or not, some were for keeping it, but the majority were of a contrary opinion, and said it would be madness to do so, as the place was too far from their own castle. They, therefore, had the men busily employed until near nightfall in packing up their plunder, and at the point of six o'clock they set out on foot, except about sixty on horseback, and conducted down the streets more than 400 horses laden with cloths, linens, furs, and other plunder. Having bound all the inhabitants two and two, they had the gates opened after nightfall and departed; the baggage and prisoners went before with those on foot, and the captains followed close after on horseback. The night was dark, and as the country did not suspect that their stay would have been so short, they were not pursued, and reached Donzac about midnight, when they unpacked and examined their plunder. It was well for the companions that they left Montferrant as they did, for, had they stayed two days longer, they could not have attempted it without great danger to their lives, for the whole surrounding country was collecting, and large CHRONICLES 13 bodies of men were advancing- to lay siege to them at the in- stigation of the Count-dauphin of Auvergne, and his daugh- ter the Duchess of Bourbon/ I have before mentioned the challenge which had been sent by the Duke of Gueldres to the King of France, which chal- lenge was much talked of everywhere, from the rude and un- courteous language it contained. It was evident that the King of France was much provoked at it, and determined to have reparation; indeed the King's council had resolved that the matter should not remain quiet. The King was young, but of good courage, and if he suffered such insults with patience, the nobility of France considered that foreign countries would hold them very cheap, as they were the King's advisers, and had sworn to guard his honor; especially the Lord de Coucy showed clearly that he personally felt the insult. The Coun- cil of France, however, were unwilling to decide upon any bold measures in respect of the Duke of Gueldres until the affairs of Brittany were in a more satisfactory state, for the Duke of Brittany showed clearly a preference of war with France to peace, and was making many preparations of a war- like character ; the Duke of Berry, therefore, resolved to send the Count d'Estampes to the duke to endeavor to win him over to the French party; but the attempt was perfectly un- availing; for though the duke entertained the count very handsomely, and on parting presented him with a beautiful white palfrey, saddled and equipped as if for a king, and a ring with a rich stone which cost at least 1,000 francs, he, nevertheless, was quite resolved to take his own course, what- ever it might be, and showed no desire to side with the French. The Duke of Berry, therefore, on the return of Count d'Es- tampes, seeing nothing could be done, made light of the mat- ter, and affairs remained in this state. On the failure of the Duke of Lancaster's expedition, as has been already related, the whole country of Galicia re- turned to its allegiance to the King of Castille; for the Cas- tillians and Galicians a good deal resemble the Lombards and f Froissart here introduces the mar- in a marginal note says that Froissart, riages of Lord Lewis of Blois with the having omitted to notice these mar- Lady Mary of Berry, and the Lord riages at the proper time, prefers men- John of Berry with the Princess Mary tioning them here rather than omit of France; both which marriages took them entirely, place in the year 1386. Denis Savage X4 FROISSART Italians, who are always on the side of the strongest, and shout out, " The Conqueror forever." The Duke of Lancas- ter, while at Oporto, heard of all this without being able to provide a remedy, and it gave him great uneasiness. The King of Portugal gave him all the comfort he was able, say- ing, ** Sir, you will keep your state in this country while you write to your brother and friends in England the melancholy event of your expedition, though they be now fully informed of all, and press them to send you, early in March next, 500 or 600 spears and 2,000 archers. I will then reassemble my forces, and make an effectual war upon the Castillians. A kingdom may be won and lost in one campaign." The duke thanked the King for his kindness ; however, he too well knew that the English would not grant him any supplies, and therefore retired to Bayonne without troubling himself further about the matter. Those who returned to England from this expedition abused Castille to all they met. France, they said, was a rich coun- try, and has a temperate climate, with fine rivers; but Cas- tille had nothing but rocks and high mountains, a sharp air, muddy rivers, bad meat, and wines so hot and harsh there was no drinking them. The inhabitants are poor and filthy, badly clothed and lodged, and quite different to us in their manners, so that it would be folly to go thither. Such were the reports of the English who returned from Castille, so that the ministers who ruled the country saw that any ex- pedition would be very unpopular ; moreover, the country was not as yet recovered from the troubles into which the execu- tion of Sir Robert Tresilian and others, and the flight of the Duke of Ireland, had thrown it. The situation of England, with respect to its internal divisions, the desperate state of the affairs of the Duke of Lancaster, and all that related to the Duke of Ireland and his partisans, were known to the King of France and his council ; and to gain more informa- tion on these subjects, the King, by the advice of his uncles, resolved to invite the Duke of Ireland into France; a knight and a clerk, who was one of the King's notaries, were sent to seek him. The duke was at Utrecht, and was much aston- ished when he first heard that the King of France wished to see him; however, he resolved to comply, and set out on his CHRONICLES 15 journey to Paris, for the King then resided at the castle of the Louvre. The duke was well received by the King and his uncles, who were desirous that he should fix his resi- dence in France, and had a hotel prepared for him. There was now great disagreement in the French council as to the King's going into Germany to revenge himself for the out- rageous challenge which the Duke of Gueldres had sent him. The wisest of the council thought that it would be too danger- ous for him at such a moment to leave the realm; for they now saw clearly that the Duke of Brittany would listen to no terms of accommodation, and they felt his late conduct in arresting, confining, and ransoming the constable for 100,- 000 francs, three castles, and a town, highly offensive to the honor of France. Moreover, they heard that the duke had entered into a strong alliance with the King of England, and was laying up stores of all kinds in his different towns and castles. This, indeed, was quite true, for on April 7th, in the year of grace 1388, it was determined in the English council that Richard, Earl of Arundel, should be appointed com- mander-in-chief of a naval expedition ; he was to have under him 1,000 men-at-arms, and 3,000 archers, who were to as- semble at Southampton. The King of England kept a grand feast this year on St. George's Day at Windsor, which was attended by a number of the lords who were to accompany the Earl of Arundel, and who then took leave of the King and Queen. On the day appointed the whole of the armament assembled at South- ampton and in those parts, and embarked on board the fleet the twentieth day of May, when the weather was fine and clear. With the Earl of Arundel were the earls of Notting- ham and Devonshire, the Lords Thomas Percy and Clifford, Sir John de Warwick, Sir John d'Ambreticourt, Sir Thomas Cook, Sir William Paulet, and several more; in the whole there were 1,000 good men-at-arms, and above 3,000 archers. They took no horses with them, for they hoped, if successful, to find horses in plenty in Brittany. On weighing anchor they made for the shores of Brittany or Normandy, with a de- termination to land nowhere else unless other intelligence should be brought to them ; in the fleet they had some light vessels which drew but little water, and these they sent in l6 FROISSART advance to seek for adventure ; in the same manner as knights and squires, mounted on the fleetest horses, are ordered to scour the country in front of an army, to see if there He any ambuscades. We must, however, leave this army for the present, as other matters require attention. The Duke of Gueldres, finding he could in no way succeed in recovering his three castles on the Meuse, of which we have already spoken, resolved to secure himself the possession of Grave from the Brabanters, who, this year, in the month of May, came with a powerful force to lay siege to it. The town of Grave is situated on the Brabant side of the Meuse, over which there is a bridge which connects it with Gueldres. The siege of it was a bold undertaking. The Duke of Guel- dres was regularly informed of everything that passed at the siege, for he had fixed his residence only four leagues off at Nimeguen; he wrote frequently to England for assistance, and was in hope that the armament at sea under the Earl of Arundel would come to raise the siege. He knew the town was so strong that it could not be taken by storm, and he had too much confidence in the fidelity of the inhabitants to think that they would ever capitulate ; the siege, consequently, lasted a considerable time. It was not surprising that the Duke of Lancaster, consider- ing his hopes were totally destroyed, should be sometimes melancholy; for the Count de Foix, one of the wisest of princes, in conversation with his knights, declared that the duke's expectations in regard to the crown of Castille were completely at an end; however, he was of a high spirit, and sought consolation in the prospect of the elevation of his children. He had with him a handsome daughter by the Lady Constance, daughter of Don Pedro, in whose right he had made war in Castille; musing, therefore, upon this subject, he said, " If fortune be now unfavorable to me, it may be other- wise to my daughter, who is young and handsome, and by her grandfather and mother the true heiress of Castille. Some gallant prince of France may seek her in marriage, either on account of her right or from her high birth." The duke would gladly have had some overtures made him from France on this head, for he knew that the King had a younger brother, the Duke of Touraine, and by his means he considered the crown CHRONICLES 17 of Castille might be gained: with such expectations did the Duke of Lancaster flatter himself ; and his imaginations were in a way to be reahzed — not, indeed, by the brother of the King of France, but by one who was well qualified to change the face of affairs in Castille, and who completely governed France, I mean the Duke of Berry. He and his son were made widowers nearly at the same time. Now what I am about to relate I know of my own knowledge ; for I, the au- thor of this book, was at the time in the country of Blois, with my very dear and honored lord, Count Guy de Blois, by whose desire and encouragement this history was undertaken. 