A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Part 39

ROB^{T}. PRITE.

A DECLARATION OF BERNARD DU TROY, A GASCON GENTLEMAN, THAT HE WAS THE PERSON WHO TOOK KING JOHN OF FRANCE AT THE BATTLE OF POICTIERS.

[_Lat. on vellum. Cottonian MSS. Caligula_ D. III. f. 74.]

In Dei Nomine Amen. Uniu'si nouerint p' p'n'tes q' Anno d'ni mill'imo ccc^{mo}. s.e.xsagesimo primo die p^{i}ma mens' Julij Indict'one xiiij^{a} pontificat' s'cissimi in xp'o p'ris et dni. d'ni Innocentij pp^{e}. s.e.xti anno nono inpresentia not' et testiu' subsc'ptor'

p'sonal'r const.i.tut'. discretus vir Bernardus deu Troy scutifer de vasconia. licet infirm' corpore mente t'n sa.n.u.s et intellectu. Corpus sac^{a}tissimu' ih'u x'p'i. q'd ut fidel' xp'ian' Recip'e volebat p'

ei' Ai'e saluat'one in manu sacerdotis habens p'oc'lis in domo habitato'is sue London' in Carreria et Rop'ia verba dixit et p'tulit que sequntur. Carissimi d'ni. q' nil certius morte nec incertius hora mortis. Et quia tempus p'ic'losum est vt nulli lat'e possit Jus meu'.

et cu'ctis notu' fiat. Dico Ego Bernardus deu troy p'd'cs cor' vob'

om'ib'. q' in p'ic'lo Ai'e mee et p' sac^{m} corpus ih'u x'p'i q'd hic cor' om'ib' est sac^{a}tum et intendo Recip'e p' saluato'e mee Ai'e pecat^{i}cis. q' die belli de poitiers Ego cepi Rege' francie. et se m^{i} Reddidit Rex p'd'cs et meus ver' p^{i}sionarius est et null'

ali' ius habet in eo p'ter me de Jure u'l Rato'ne. Et querelam q^{a}m cora' d'no n'ro Rege Anglie. Et ei' consilio a d'co bello cit^{a} p'sequt' sum sup' d'to Rege francie p^{i}sionario meo est bona et in ea ut Attemptaui et p'sequt' sum volo mori tanq^{a}m bona et iust'

querela. Al' corpus ih'u xp'i sac^{a}tissimu' quod ut sup^{a} dixi ut fidel' xp'ian' p' salute Ai'e mee volo Recip'e sit ad dampnato'em mea'

q'd deus euertat. Et Rogo d'nm Geraldum de tartasia d'nm de poyana milite' hic p'ntem Eo casu quo de hac infirmitate decederem q'

querela' mea' aucdacter Recipiat tanq^{a}' bona' cont^{a} d'nm denisium de morbek milite' et q'mcu'que aliu' Jus meum sup' d'co Rege francie vero p^{i}sionario meo vsurpar' nitente'. qui cont^{a} deu' et Justicia'. me et Jus meu' absorbet. et p' falsas suggestiones. et cautelas vsq' inp'ntem die' impediuit et impedit mi' iuste et d'cam q'relam p'seq^{a}tur ad fine' et bellu' faciat si Judicet' sup' hoc sub p'ic'lo Ai'e mee qua' quide' q'rela' d'c's d'ns de poyana ibi p'ns p'seq'ndam et finiendam ac bellu' si Indicetur aut Indicaret' in se suscipiendum et faciend' p'misit et fide sua media stipulauit. Eo Aute' casu quo dict' d'ns de poyana nollet d'cam querelam p'sequi aut no' posset morte aut impedimento aliquo impedit'. volo Ego Bernardus deu troy p'd'cs q' peleg^{i}n' deu cause socius me' in Armis d'cam q'relam p'seqatur et finiat Ac bellu' Recipiat et faciat p' d'ca q'rela si iudicatu' fuit sub p'ic'lo Anime mee ut p'dixi de comodo aute' et finantia qd' p'ue'iat ex d'co Rege francie vero p^{i}sionar'

meo sup' quo d'n'm n'r'm Rege' eius Ai'am et conscientia' onero, volo q' deductis expen' illi' qui p'seq't' si bellu' subseq^{a}tur exinde bellu' faciens Ecia' p'te, habeat duas alias p'tes inter hered' meos, peleg^{i}nu' deu canse, et socios qui in Armis erant socij mei d'ca die, Rat'onab'l'r diuidant' sicut ordinaret' Rat'onab'l'r et Reperiretur ip'os Jus habere. si aute' bellu' non subseq^{a}tur ex querela p'd'ca qd' absit. volo q' de comodo qd' p'ue'iat deductis expen' p'seq'ut' Recipiat ip'e p'sequens iuxta ei' conscientia'.

Residu' ut sup^{a} dc'm est diuidat'. Sup' d'co tamen p'ficus et emolume'to conscienta' d'ci d'ni n'ri Regis onero ut p'dixi. Rogans et Req^{i}rens magr^{m} guill'm. de Wolneston'. et magr'm philipu' de London'. et alios notarios hic p'ntes q' sup' hiis om'ibus faciant et Recipiant. Vnu' duo v'l pl'a publica instr'a que concessim' agenda in f---- et testimoniu' p'missor'. Acta sunt hec sub anno indict'one pontificat' mense die ... sup^{a}d'cis. Test' n.o.biles viri d'ni Oliueri' de Clisson. Guill'm' de mont agut Bartholomeus de borearhs ---- Rob'rt' de holand' thomas de Ros. Joh'n's de br---- Joh'n's ---- ccl' de london' Ber^{dus} de Brotas. ger^{dus} de menta R'ndus se ---- ---- p---- a---- a---- Ber^{dus} de la quinnada petrus de bra.s.sas Ar^{dus} de ----

P. 73. "And at the Tour hill they beheded maistre Simond Sudbury, than erchebisshop of Caunterbury and chaunceler of Englond; and frere Robert Hales priour of seynt Jones house, than tresorer of Engelond,"

&c.

The rebellion noticed in the text is so important an event in the history of England as well as of the Metropolis, that no apology can be required for the insertion of an inedited doc.u.ment in any degree connected with it. In the _Foedera_, tom. vii. are several proclamations on the same subject, and among them one tested at London on the 15^{th} June 1381, directed to the sheriff of Kent; but the following, dated at Chelmsford on the 5^{th} of July in that year, has never, it is believed, been printed. It appears from it that the rebels had a.s.serted that they were supported by the king's authority; and His Majesty therefore, not merely denies the fact, but commands the earl of Warwick and the other persons in that county to whom the instrument is addressed, to use every possible effort to suppress the disturbance of the public peace, in places under their jurisdiction.

COPIA PROCLAMATIONIS R. RICARDI II^{di} SUPER INSURRECTIONE JACK STRAW ET WAT TYLER.

[_Cottonian MS. Caligula_ D. III. _super Membr._ f. 100.]

Ricardus dei gr'a Rex Angl' et Franc' et Dominus Hib'n' dil'cis et fidelib' suis Thome Comiti Warr' Joh'i b.u.t.tourt Joh'i de Bermyngeham Henr' de Arden' Will'o de Clynton Militib' Rob'to Burgilon' et Joh'i Catesby: sal't'm Satis vob' et aliis ligeis n'r'is credimus esse cognitum qualit' q^{a}mplures malef'c'ores iam nouit' cont^{a} pacem n'ra' in diu'sis Com' regni n'ri Angl' in maximam turbaco'em fideliu'

ligeor' n'ror' in diu'sis congregac'o'ib' et conuenticulis illicitis quasi hostilit' insurrexerunt ven'abilem p'rem Simonem nup' Archiep'm Cantuar' tocius Angl' Primatem Cancellar' n'r'm et fr'em Rob'tum de Hales nup' Priorem Hospitalis s'ci Joh'is Jer'l'm in Angl' Thes' n'r'm Joh'em Cauendish nup' Capitalem Justic' n'r'm et q^{a}mplures alios ligeos et s'uientes et fideles n'ros absq' culpa crudelit' occidendo arsuras incendia p'straco'es et varias alias destrucco'es eccl'iar'

Man'ior' domor' rer' et aliar' possessionu' fideliu' ligeor' n'ror'

enormit' et p'peram p'petrando Quia v'o malef'c'ores p'd'ci falso et mendacit' a.s.seruerunt et affirmarunt ip'os mala homicidia et dampna p'd'ca ex n'ris auctoritate et voluntate fecisse et p'petra.s.se vt ip'i sic maliciam suam continuare valeant et de p'missis licet indigni cicius excusent' ad v'ram et alior fideliu' ligeor' n'ror' quor'c.u.mq'

volum' p'uenire noticiam quod p'missa mala homicidia et dampna quecunq' ex auctoritate et voluntate n'ris minime p'cesserunt neq'

fiunt set exinde vehemencius contristati ea in n'r'm maximu' vitup'iu'

et Corone n're p'iudiciu' et tocius regni n'ri dampnu' et turbac'o'em non modica redundare sentimus. Et ideo vob' sup' fide et ligeancia quib' n.o.b' tenemini firmit' munigendo mandamus qd' p'sens mandatum n'r'm in singulis locis infra Com' Warr' tam infra lib'tates q^{a}m ext^{a} ubi melius expedire videritis ex p'te n'ra publice p'clamari et vlt'ius inhiberi fac' ne qui cuiusc.u.mq' status seu condico'is fu'int infra Com' p'd'c'm seu alibi insurg'e seu congregaco'es vel conuenticula huiusmodi fac'e vel levare seu quicq^{a}m aliud attemptare seu p'curare p'sumant seu p'sumat aliquis eor' p' quod pax n'ra ibidem infringi aut populus n'r inquietari aut turbari pot'it sub forisf'cura vite et membror' et o'i'm alior' que n.o.b' forisfac'e pot'unt in futur' Damus eciam vob' et cuil't v'r'm et quibusc.u.mq'

aliis fidelib' n'ris tenore p'senciu' potestatem et mandatum sp'ale quibusc.u.mq' malef'corib' cont^{a} pacem n'ram et quietem p'p'li n'ri insurg'e seu huiusmodi congraco'es et conuenticula illicita fac'e volentib' modis om'ib' quib' melius pot'itis vel sciu'itis eciam si oporteat manu forti tanq^{a}m rebellib' et inimicis n'ris et tocius regni n'ri resistendi et que'l't ip'or' iuxta eor' dem'ita et discreco'es v'ras castigandi et puniendi et insurrecc'o'es et turbac'o'es quasc.u.mq'. si que ibidem quod absit fiant pacificandi et sedandi et om'ia alia faciendi et exequendi que conseruaco'em pacis n're et quietem p'p'li n'ri conc'nere pot'unt in Com' p'd'co et p'tib'

eiusdem quibusc.u.mq'. In cuius rei testimoniu' has l'ras n'ras fieri fecim' patentes T' me ip'o apud Chelmersford' quinto die Julij Anno R'

n' quinto.

p' ip'm Regem.

In pp. 99-102, as well as in pp. 157-159, an account is given of Henry the Fifth's expedition into France in the year 1415, and of the battle of Agincourt. In the Harleian MS. N^{o} 565, from which the preceding Chronicle was transcribed, the following Poem occurs on the same subject, a correct copy of which has never been published, though at the end of Hearne's edition of Elmham's Life of Henry the Fifth, a poem is inserted so very similar to the annexed that it may be presumed to have been taken from another copy of the same. It is said to have been transcribed from the Cottonian MS. Vitellius D. XII., which is not now extant: but upon collating this piece with the one printed by Hearne, it appears, after allowing for the various readings which frequently occur in different copies of an early poem, that many words were erroneously given by that zealous antiquary.

Notwithstanding that it possesses but little claim to poetical merit, it is highly curious, from its being nearly if not quite contemporary with the events which it relates; for there can be no doubt of its having been a production of the prolific pen of that "drivelling monk," as he has been severely termed, the monk of Bury, John Lydgate, several of whose other pieces, from their presenting a faithful but rude picture of the manners and transactions of the times, are also inserted in this volume. The garrulous monk, in the article which is the subject of these remarks, particularly notices every circ.u.mstance in which the Mayor and Citizens of the Metropolis were concerned, and hence it is an appropriate ill.u.s.tration of a "CHRONICLE OF LONDON." It is worthy of observation, that the story of the tennis-b.a.l.l.s having been sent as a satirical present from the Dauphin to Henry the Fifth, and to which Shakspeare alludes, is frequently mentioned in the poem, and furnishes the writer with several metaphors.

"_Amba.s.s._ He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, Desires you, let the dukedoms that you claim, Hear no more of you--This the Dauphin speaks.

_K. Hen._ What treasure, uncle?

_Exeter._ Tennis-b.a.l.l.s, my liege.

_K. Hen._ We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; His present, and your pains, we thank you for: When we have match'd our rackets to these b.a.l.l.s, We will in France, by G.o.d's grace, play a set, Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard: Tell him, he hath made a match with such a wrangler, That all the courts of France will be disturb'd With chaces....

And tell the pleasant prince,--this mock of his Hath turn'd his b.a.l.l.s to gun stones;[145] and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them:"

_Henry the Fifth_, Act I. Scene II.

[Footnote 145: Thus Lydgate, _infra_,

"For they shall play with Harflete, A game at tynes, as y wene, Mine engynes that bethe so kene They shall be sett besyde this hill, Over all Harflew that they may sene For to loke if they play well; Go we to game be G.o.dys grace, Myne children ben redy everych on Every greet gonne that there was, In his mouth he hadde a ston."

But Shakspeare's expressions are still more similar to those of an inedited Chronicler of the period: "And whan the kyng had hard ther wordis and the answere of the dolphynne, he was wondre sore agreved and right evell a.s.sayd towarde the Frensshmen, and toward the kyng and the Dolphynne, and thought to avenge hym upon them as sone as Good wold send hym grace and myght, and anon lette make tenys ballis for the Dolpynne in all the hast that they myght be made; _and they were grete gonne stones for the Dolpynne to play wythall_." _Cottonian MSS._ _Claudius_ A. viii.]

But besides the historical information with which the poem abounds, and which is corroborated by the best authorities, it cannot fail to be considered of much interest, from the description of the magnificent reception of the king into London, after his return from France.

A POEM BY JOHN LYDGATE, MONK OF BURY, DESCRIBING THE EXPEDITION OF HENRY THE FIFTH INTO FRANCE IN 1415, THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT, AND THE KING'S RECEPTION INTO LONDON ON HIS RETURN.

[_Harl. MSS._ 565.]

G.o.d that all this world gan make And dyed for us on a tre, Save Ingelond for Mary sake, Sothfast G.o.d in Trinyte; And kepe oure kyng that is so free, That is gracious and good with all, And graunt hym evermore the gree, Curteys Crist oure kynge ryall.

Oure kyng sente into France ful rathe, Hys ba.s.satours bothe faire and free; His owne right for to have, That is, Gyan and Normande; He bad delyvre that his schulde be, All that oughte kyng Edward, Or ellys tell hym certeynle, He itt gette with dynt of swerd.

_Wot ye right well that thus it was, Gloria tibi Trinitas._

And than answerde the dolfyn bold To oure ba.s.satours sone ageyn, Me thinke youre kyng he is nought old, No werrys for to maynteyn; Grete well youre kyng, he seyde, so yonge That is bothe gentill and small; A tonne of tenys ballys I shall hym sende, For to pleye hym with all.

_Wot ye right well, &c._

A dien Sire, seide oure lordis alle, For there they wolde no longer lende: They token there leve, bothe grete and smalle, And hom to Ingelond they gum wende; And thanne they sette the tale on ende, All that the Dolfyn to them gon say; I schal hym thanke thanne, seyde our kynge, Be the grace of G.o.d if that y may.

_Wot ye right well, &c._

The kyng of Fraunce that is so old, Onto oure kyng he sente on hy, And prayde trews that he wolde hold For the love of seynt Mary.

Oure Cherlys of Fraunce gret well, or ye wende, The Dolfyn prowed withinne his wall, Swyche tenys ballys I schal hym sende As schall tere the roof all of his all.

_Wot ye right well, &c._

Oure kyng ordeyned with all his myght, For to amende that is amys, And that is all for Engelond ryght, To geten agen that scholde ben his; That is, al Normandie forsothe y wys, Be right of eritage he scholde it have, Therof he seith he wyll nought mys, Crist kepe his body sounde and save.

_Wot ye right well, &c._

Oure kyng at Westmenster he lay, And his bretheren everych on; And other many lordes that is no nay, The kyng to them seyde anon, To Fraunce y thenke to take the way, Sires, he seyde, be swete seynt John; Of good counsaill y will yow pray, Wat is youre will what y shall don?

_Wot ye right well, &c._

The duk of Clarence, thanne seyd he, My lord it is my right full will, And other lordys right manye, We hold it right reson and skyll, To Fraunce we wolde yow redy bryng, With gladder will than we kon say.

Gramercy, sires, seide our kyng, I schall yow qwyte if that y may.

_Wot ye right well, &c._