The Boke of Noblesse Part 10

[Sidenote: Nota causam &c.]

[Sidenote: Nota optime.]

And none of alle these trewes hathe ben observed ne kept, notwithstanding any sacremente, othes, [or] promisses made by youre adversarie and be his dukes, erlis, and barones of the seide Frenshe partie, but alway brake the saide trewes whan they coude take any avauntage ayenst us, as it shewethe openly, and may be a mirroure for ever to alle cristen princes to mystrust any trewes taking by youre saide adversarie or his allies and subjectis, be it the duke of Breteyne, the duke of Orliens, or any suche other his complisses: for where as youre n.o.ble progenitours were seased and possessid of the said duchie of Normandie sithe that duke Rollo of the nacion of Denmarke, the yere of Crist .ix^cxij. conquerid it upon Charlis le Simple, to whome he gave his doughter in mariage withe the seide duchie, and so hathe continued from heire to heire .cc.iiij^{xx}xj. yere, but after as it may be cast it was .cc.iiij^{xx}xj. yere that it was nevor in no king of Fraunce is hande tille it was lost in king Johan is daies of Englande. And than for suche inconvenientis as was used now be mysfortune under {40} [the umbre of trewes and for puttyng down Arthur of Breteyn,[133]] it was lost and yoven up to the seide king Phelip dieudonne in the yere of Crist M^l.cc.iij., about the first [and second[133]] yere of the seide king Johan. And frome the saide first yere of king Johan the possession of the saide duchie of Normandie discontynued .C.x.x.xvj. yere, that was to the yere of Crist M^l.ccc.x.x.xix., that youre right and possession was refourmed by youre n.o.ble progenitoure king Edwarde the thrid, whiche by many yeris leide segis and had batailes withe Philip de Valois and Johan of Fraunce, occupieris of that kingdom.

How king Edwarde the thrid made first grete alliaunces withe gret astatis or he began to make werre in Fraunce.

[Sidenote: Nota de auxilio regis Edwardi.]

[Sidenote: Conciderand'.]

[Sidenote: In cronicis Frodsard.]

[Sidenote: Pax finalis sperata fuit.]

[Sidenote: .1360.]

[Sidenote: Exclamacio.]

[Sidenote: Consideracio.]

And therto king Edwarde allied hym withe fulle mighty princes to socour and reliefe hym in his werres or he began to set on hem: first withe Lowes emperoure of Allemayne, to whome he rewardid fifty thousande sak wolle for perveaunce, and soulde men of werre that he shulde make to helpe king Edward the thrid in his conquest; and after allied hym to the erle of Heynew and to the erle of Flaundres, and also withe the duke of Bretein; the whiche alliaunces was a fulle gret socoure and helpe to his conquest in Fraunce and Normandie, for he wanne at the first raise that he made over the see M^l.M^l.v^c. townes and castellis, and soforthe reigned and continued in armes .x.x.xiiij. yeris, by putting the Frenshe king and his allies in gret subgeccion for the right of his enheritaunces, like as who so l.u.s.t rede the booke [of] his actis clepid [mayster[133]] Froddesarde more plainly may perceyve. And so alle his daies contynued tille unto the tyme that be dissimulacion of the gret peas taken atwix hym and his prisoner king Johan of Fraunce, made at Bretigny the yere of Crist M^l.iij^c.lx., that undre umbre of the seid trewes Charles le Sage his sonne, after the decese of king Johan, did put king Edwarde thrid out of alle his said conquest in Fraunce and Normandie, and partie of Guyen. And sithen more effectuelle laboures and dedis of armes {41} hathe be done by that victorioux prince Henry the .v^{the}., he being parsonelly bothe at many sieges, leyng at a.s.sautes, at batailes, and journeis frome the second yere of his reigne [exclusyfe[134]] into the day of his trespa.s.s.e.m.e.nt the s.p.a.ce of .vij. yere. Whiche labouris parcellis of them briefly bene specified before. And there youre obeisaunt subgeitis and trew liege peple be put owt of their londis and tenementis yoven to hem by youre predecessoures, as wel as be that highe and mighty prince Richarde duke of Yorke youre father, being at two voiages lieutenaunt and gouvernaunt in Fraunce, for service done unto hem in theire conquest, not recompensed ayen to theire undoing. Heh allas! thei did crie, and woo be the tyme they saide, that ever we shulde put affiaunce and trust to the Frenshe partie or theire allie[gh] in any trewes keping, considering so many folde tymes we have ben deceived and myschevid thoroughe suche dissimuled trewes as is late before specified. And yet not for alle these inconvenientis that have falle to us be conspiring of deceitis undre umbre of suche dissimuled trewes, late it be out of doubte that, thoughe they holde theym never so proude, puissaunt, and strong, ne so sotill and crafty in suche deceitis conspiring, they by G.o.ddis might shalbe overcome and brought to the right astate that it oughte be, where as the t.i.tle and clayme of thenheritaunce of Fraunce is verray trew, whan dew diligence have be shewed by us in executing the saide right, as it is verefied briefly by examples here before.

[Sidenote: Divina concideracio enodanda per theologos.]

How be it that at som tymes that G.o.d suffrithe the partie that hathe a true t.i.tle and right to be overcome, yet for alle that a man shulde not be discouraged alway to sew his right.

[Sidenote: .1450.]

[Sidenote: Infortunium bellum apud Fermenye ultima vice.]

[Sidenote: Gyen.]

[Sidenote: Burdeux.]

[Sidenote: De sancto Lodovico rege Fraunciae.]

And albeit that at som tymes G.o.d suffrethe the partie that hathe right and a trew t.i.tle, and that livethe after his lawes, to be gretly pa.r.s.ecuted, and to be put to over gret aventure, laboure, and peyne, some tyme to be overthrow, some tyme to be prisoner or slaine in {42} bataile be divine providence whan hym l.u.s.t to be Juge, thoughe the peple be never so goode, ne the querelle, t.i.tle, and right never so trew; and yet not for no suche adversite and as have fallen the yere of Crist M^l.iiij^c.l., be the last overthrow of a notable arme at Fremyny, where ser Thomas Kirielle knight, lieftenaunt in that voiage, [was take prysoner wyth many othyrs to the nombre about .ix^c.,[135]] a grete caus was that the pety capteins wolde not obbey at the day of that journay at that sodeyne recountre to her chieftein, and taried lengir in his voiage after he was londed or he came to any strong holde was present.[136] Also another gret armee and voiage fordone for defaut and lak of spedy payment this yere of Crist M^l.cccclj., whiche were at last redy to goo to Gyen, the armee taried upon the see coostis in Englande almost a quarter of a yere or theire payment was redie.

And the cite of Burdeux lost in the meane tyme for lak of rescue. Yet G.o.d defende that thoroughe suche adversitees we shulde be utterly discoraged.

Late us take example in according to this. It is wretin in the booke of Machabeus, in the .viij. chapitre, how the worshipfull Judas Machabeus, seeyng G.o.ddis peple gretly febled and abashed be divers discomfitures of theym, seide to his knightis, A, a, It is bettir to us to avaunce us forthe and rather to die in bataile then lengre to suffre the gret pa.s.sions and troubles of oure infortune. And fro thens forthe by the wille of G.o.d, good corage and comfort taken to theyme, they were made conquerours and had the victorie in alle theire batailes. Also another example by seint Lowes king of Fraunce, whiche in encresing the cristyn feithe made gret armees into the holy land in [about[135]] the yere of Crist M^l.ij^c.lxx., and suffrethe gret adversiteis among the Sarresyns, he and his knightis overthrow and take prisoneris to the Soudan of Babilon, and the king put to gret raunsom paide, his peple died up by gret mortalite of pestilence, suffred famyne, hungur, and thurst, yet G.o.d at the last releved hym, and [he] came into Fraunce withe gret worship.

{43}

[Sidenote: Animacio.]

An nother exhortacion of the historier.

O ye highe and myghtifulle prince, king of Englande and of Fraunce, and alle ye other n.o.ble princes and other puissaunt lordes and n.o.bles of divers astates olde or yong, of so auncien a stok and of so worthy a lineage, as of the n.o.ble Trojan is blode descendid, as it is auctorised and may appere by many croniclers and histories of n.o.ble doctours enacted and registred, that ye alonly have ever ben halden without note of errour or deformite of the law withe the most puissaunt and of power thoroughe alle regions cristen or hethen, haveng alway under youre regencie and governaunce the habondaunce of n.o.ble men of chevalrie, pa.s.sing alle othir landes after the quant.i.te and afferaunt of youre roiaume, lete then be as a mirrour noted and had before youre eyen by contynuell remembraunce to thentent that the excersising of theire n.o.ble actis in conquestis may the more vigorously endeuce you to succede the prowesse and vaillauntnesse of youre highe predecessoures in armes, like as it shewethe welle at this tyme of what worship they have bene by here victorious dedis, for they in difference of other nacions have ever ewred and shewed the renomme and excellence of youre highe and mighty antecessours' corages, aswelle in straunge regions as among the Sarrazyns in the region of Sirie and Turkie, as in the said neere regions of Fraunce, Spayne, Lumbardie, Spruce, and other countrees.

And therfor ye shulde yeve laude and praisingis alway to G.o.d, for, sithe the trespa.s.s.e.m.e.nt of prince Edwarde and good Henry duc of Lancaster that was, [ther wer but few like to hem in armys.[137]]

Here is brieflie made mencion of the recomendacion of acyn[138] worship of Henry the .v^{the}. and his bretheryn Thomas, Johan, and Humfrey, .iiij.

n.o.ble princes.

Where was he of late daies descendid of n.o.ble bloode that was so corageous in dedis of armes as was that mightifull prince of renommee of {44} youre n.o.ble lynage Henry .v^{te}. and his said thre full mighty and n.o.ble princes his brethern, and next .ij. cosyns germayns of youre kynne, that in here daies were as the pilours and chief postis of the holders up of the [last conquest, and of the[139]] possession of youre rightfulle enheritaunce, bothe of youre roiaumes of Fraunce as of justice keping, tranquillite and pease in youre roiaume of Englonde, also of the duchies of Normandie, Gascoigne, Guyen, and of the counte of Mayne.

[Sidenote: Dux Clarence.]

[Sidenote: Conciderandum est.]

For as for a brief advertis.e.m.e.nt and remembraunce how Thomas the duc of Clarence in his yong age, the yere of Crist M^l.cccc.iij., lieutenaunt of alle Irelonde, and after that lieutenaunt and governoure of youre d.u.c.h.ees of Gascoyne and Guien, defending the true subgettis frome theire adversaries, holding up youre right and keping youre peple and subgettis under youre lawes. And after [the seyd duc,[139]] in company of the victorioux prince Henry the .v^{te}., labourid in armes upon that n.o.ble conquest in Fraunce and the duchie of Normandie, there being lieutenaunt for that marchis, where as he in bataile among youre adversaries in the duchie of Anjou at Bowgee most worshiplie at a sodeyn recountre fighting withe a few felouship of lordes and n.o.bles, levyng his hoste behynde, not abiding theire comyng, ayenst a gret mult.i.tude of fighters, the yere of Crist M^l.cccc.xxj. among the Frenshemen and Scottis was slayne; whiche not long after G.o.d thoroughe power suffred the seid capteyns of Scottis to be overthrow bothe at the batailes of Cravant, also at the bataile of Vernelle, and [also[139]] at the bataile of Rouverey.

[Sidenote: J. dux Bedfordie regens regni Frauncie.]

[Sidenote: Conquestus comitatus de Mayn.]

[Sidenote: .1435.]

Also youre second cousyn Johan duc of Bedforde, that in his grene age was lieutenaunt of the marchis, werrid ayenst the Scottis, keping them in subgeccion, havyng gret journeis and batailes ayenst them. After that made admirall and kepar of the see, havyng a gret mortal bataile and victorie ayenst the carrakes, galeis, and othir gret shippis. Beyng also a certayn tyme lieutenaunt and protectoure in this lande; and sethe yeede upon youre said conquest into Fraunce and {45} Normandie, therof being regent and gouvernoure in the daies of the devout prince Henry the s.e.xt over alle the subgeitis of Fraunce and Normandie .xiij. yeris, and conquerid the counte of Mayne, defending, keping, and gouvernyng the said countreis in gret tranquillite and peace, to the gret worship of bothe roiaumes, and there made his faire ende at Rone, where he liethe tombid, the yere of Crist M^l.cccc.x.x.xv., the .xiiij. day of Septembre.

[Sidenote: Dux Glouc'.]

[Sidenote: Comes de Marche. Comes Suff'.]

[Sidenote: Calix.]

[Sidenote: .1436.]

[Sidenote: .1447.]

And how the thrid brother Humfrey duc of Gloucestre, withe a notabille power, was upon youre conquest in Normandie withe his said brother, and at the bataile of Agyncourt was sore woundid, and after he wanne [with help of the n.o.ble erle of Marche and the erle of Suffolk acompanyed,[140]] brought in subjeccion, beforce of siegislieng among youre adversaries, base Normandie, the castelle of Chierbourgh, the cite of Bayeux, Costances, withe all the close of Costantyne and Averances, Seynt Lowe, Carenten, and Valoignez, withe alle othir forteressis and villages in that marcher. And over that sithe he was protectoure and defendoure of your roiaume of Englond, in the tyme of the said Henry the s.e.xt of grene age, keping gret justice, tranquillite, and peace withyn youre saide roiaume. And after whan youre n.o.bille castelle and towne of Calix was beseigid in the yere of Crist M^l.cccc.x.x.xvj., without long respit or tarieng, he puissauntly rescued it.

And many other souvereyne and princely condicions he used in this youre roiaume of Englonde, as in [bokys yovyng as yt ys seyd to the value of M^l.

marks of all the .vij. sciences, of dyvinite, as of lawe spirituell and cyvyle, to the universite of Oxford, and[140]] cherisshing the n.o.ble clergie of youre said roiaume. And also havyng gret charge and cost aboute the gret tendirnesse and favoure shewed and done to alle straungiers, were they amba.s.satours, messangiers, and other n.o.blesse that sought worship of armes, that of divers regions visited this lande, for whiche favoure and bounteous chier, withe gret rewardes done to theym, the renome of his n.o.ble astate and name sprad thoroughe alle cristyn roiaumes {46} and in hethynesse. And after he had by many wyntris lyved in worship, he making his ende at the towne of Bury, the yere of Crist M^l.cccc.xlvij., the .xxv.

day of Februarie.

And over alle these puissaunt dedis done and meynteyned by the foreseid .iiij. n.o.ble princes in theire daies, and now sithen many of youre n.o.ble bloode, as cosins germayns and other allie[gh] of youre nere kyn, as dukis, erlis, barons, bene deceasid sithe the tyme of the last conquest of Fraunce and Normandie.

[Sidenote: Nota de ordine militum de la Gartere.]

For what cause the knightys of the order and felouship of saint George was ordeigned.

[Sidenote: Non sunt oblivio tradend'.]

[Sidenote: n.o.bilitas Johannis Chaundos de comitatu Herefordie, senescalli de Peytou.]

[Sidenote: Senlys]

[Sidenote: .1431.]