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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Chronicle of Jean le Bel is in Late Medieval Books.
How the king and Sir Hugh the Younger were captured, and how the said Sir Hugh was condemned to a shameful death.
Comment le roy et messire Hue le jœune furent pris et ledit messire Hue jugié à mort vilaine.
After that justice had been done, as you have heard, the king and Sir Hugh Despenser, seeing themselves besieged in such anguish and distress, with no comfort or help in sight, one morning boarded a small boat with only a few attendants, behind the castle, intending to go to the kingdom of Wales if they could, believing they might escape to safety.
But God did not will to allow it, for their sin burdened them. And a great marvel and miracle occurred: they remained for a full nine days in that little boat, rowing forward as much as they could, but they could not get far, for every day the wind—by the will of God, being contrary—blew them back, each time within a league or so of the castle. So they were always within sight, and easily recognized by those in the queen's host.
Aprez ce que celle justice fut faicte, comme vous avez ouy, le roy et messire Hue le Despensiers, qui se veoient assiegez en telle angoisse et en tel meschief et ne sçavoient nul confort qui là endroit leur peust venir, se mirent en une matinée, entre eulx deux avecques petite maisnie, dedens ung petit bastel en mer par derriere le chastel, pour aler ou royaume de Galles, s'ilz peussent, comme ceulx lesquelz se cuidoient bien mettre à sauveté.
Maiz Dieu ne le volu mie souffrir, car leur pechié les encombra; si avint grande merveille et grand miracle, car ilz furent ix jours tous plains dedens le bastelet et s'eMorchoient de nager avant tant qu'ilz pooyent, maiz ilz ne peurent si loing nager que tous les jours le vent, qui leur estoit contraire par la voulenté de Dieu, ne les reme nast chascun jour une fye ou 11 à mains de la quarte part dudit chastel, siques tousjours les veoyent et congnoissoient bien ceulx de l'ost de la royne.
At last, some men from Holland who were good swimmers and had come with Sir John of Hainault got into boats and skiffs they found there and rowed after them as best they could. The king's boatmen could not escape fast enough, and in the end, they were overtaken and captured with their boat, then brought back to the town of Bristol and handed over to the queen and her son as prisoners. The queen and her son rejoiced greatly at this, and so did all the others, for with the help of God, they had fulfilled and accomplished their goal entirely to their satisfaction.
Au derrain, aucuns compaignons de Holande, qui bien sçavoient nager et qui là estoient venu avecques messire Jehan de Haynau, se mirent en basteaulx et en barquettes qu'ilz trouverrent là, et nagerrent aprez tant qu'ilz peurent, qu'onques les maronniers du roy ne peurent tant fuir devant eulx que au derrain ne fussent raconsuis et pris à tout leur bastel, et ramenez à la ville de Bristo!, et livrez à la royne et à son filz comme prisonniers, qui en eurent moult grand joye, et aussy eurent tous les aultres à bonne cause, car ilz avoient accompli et achevé leur desir, à l'ayde de Dieu, tout à leur plaisir.
From Hainaut came Jean le Bel [the author], canon of Liège, and in his company were Sir Henry his brother, Sir Godefroy de la Chapelle, Sir Huars d'Ohay, and Sir Jean de Libines—all four of whom were knighted there—along with Sir Lambert d'Oppey and Sir Gilbert de Hercs.
Des Hebignons y vinrent Jehan li Beaulx, channoyne de Liege, et en sa compaignie messire Henry son frere, messire Godeffroy de la Chappelle, messire Huars d'Ohay, messire Jehan de Libines, qui tous quatre là furent faiz chevaliers, messire Lambert d'Oppey et messire Gillebert de Hercs.
But soon after dinner, a great brawl began between the servants of the Hainauters and the English archers with whom they were lodged, over a game of dice—which led to great misfortune, as you shall hear. For as these servants were fighting with some of the English, all the other archers in the town, and those also billeted among the Hainauters, immediately gathered with their bows, shouting ‘hahay, hahay' like pigs, and wounded many of these servants, who had to retreat to their lodgings. Most of the knights and their masters were still at court and knew nothing of this. But as soon as they heard news of the brawl, they each rushed back as quickly as they could to their lodgings—those who could get in. As for those who could not, they were forced to remain outside, for the archers—who numbered well over two thousand—were possessed, as if the devil were in them, and were shooting everywhere to kill, sparing neither lords nor squires, and seizing everything in sight. And I myself, who was there present, could not even enter my lodging to arm myself and my companions, so many Englishmen were at our door trying to break it down and plunder everything. And seeing so many bands swarming toward us, we had to flee elsewhere and await what fortune would bring, along with the others.
Mais, tantost aprez disner, commença ung grand hustin entre les garchons des Haynuiers et les archiers d'Angleterre, qui entre eulx estoient hebergé, a l'occasion du jeu de dez, de quoy grand mal avint, si comme vous orrez, car ainsy cornme ces garchons se combastoient à aucuns de ces Anglois, tous les aultres archiers de la ville et les aultres qui estoient hebergiez entre les Haynuïers furent tantost assemblez à tout leursars, hahay hahay (sic) ainsy que pourceaulx, et navrerent biaucop de ces garchons et les convint retraire en leurs hostelz. Le plus des chevaliers et de leurs maistres estoient encores en court, qui de ce ne sçavoient riens, et tantost qu'ilz eurent nouvellés de ce hustin, ilz se trairent du plus tost que ilz peurent chaseun à son hostel qui y peut entrer, et qui ne peut, il le convint demourer dehors, car ces archiers, dont il y avoit bien deux mille, avoient le dyable ou corps et trayoient merveilleusement pour tout tuer, et seigneurs et varlès, et pour tout desrober. Et je mesmes qui fus là present, ne peus en mon hostel entrer pour moy armer, moy et mes compaignons, tant trouvay d'Anglès devant nostre huys pour debriser et desroher tout, et tant vismes de settes aprez nous voler, qu'il nous convint aultre part tirer et attendre l'aventure avecq les aultres.
Note 1. "On June 14, 1327, Edward III ordered an inquiry into the causes of the brawl that had broken out between the foot soldiers of the counties of Lincoln and Northampton and the men of John of Hainaut." (Rymer, Fœdera, vol. II, part II, p. 707. See also Froissart, ed. Kervyn de Lettenhove, vol. 11, p. 512.)
Le 14 juin 1327, Édouard III donna l'ordre de faire une enquête sur les causes de la rixe qui s'éleva entre les hommes de pied des comtés de Lincoln et de Northampton et les hommes de Jean de Haïnaut. (Rymer, Fœdera, t. Il, Il° partie, p. 707. Voy. aussi Froissart, éd. Kervyn de Lettenhove, t. 11, p. 512.)
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From their arrows, some of our men were wounded unto death. But in the end, the archers were defeated, and there were many killed—both in the town and in the fields—316 in total, all of them belonging to the Bishop of Lincoln.
Du trait y eust aucuns des nostres navrés jusques à la mort, et au derrenier les archiers furent desconfits, et y en eust bien mors, que là en la place que aux champs, 316, qui tous estoient de l'evesque de Lincolle.
Before we reached York, all the English had dispersed and returned to their homes and lands, except for some knights who stayed behind to keep him company. We remained in the city for a good six days after our return. Sir John of Hainaut, that noble knight, and all those of his company were lavishly feasted and honored by the king, by the kingdom, by the queen, and by everyone in general, and especially by the ladies who were there. Each man had an accounting made of his horses, both dead and alive, and of his expenses. The king took the debt upon himself toward Sir John, and Sir John in turn took responsibility for paying all his companions, because the king could not at once raise enough money to cover the full value of the horses. But we were given enough money at the time to return to our own country, and afterwards, within the year, we were all fully paid for what our horses were worth.
Ainchoys que nous parvenissions à Eurwik, tous les Anglès s'estoient departis et ralez vers leurs maisons et leurs pays, fors aucuns chevaliers, lesquelz estoient demourez pour luy faire compaignie, et nous demourasmes en la cité bien 6 jours aprez nostre revenue. Si furent haultement festiez et honnourez messire Jehan de Haynau, le gentil chevalier, et tous ceulx de sa compaignie, du roy, du royaume, de la royne et de tous generalment, et mesmement des dames lesquelles là estoient, et fist chascun somme de ses chevaulx morts et vifs et de ses fraitz. Si en fist le roy sa debte envers ledit messire Jehan, et ledit messire Jehan s'en obliga envers tous ses compaignons, car le roy ne pouoit si tost recouvrer argent tant que les chevaulx montoient. Maiz on nous delivra assez argent par raison pour revenir en no pays, et puis aprez fusmes nous dedens l'année tous payez de ce que nos chevaulx montoient.
And all our servants mounted up and arrived at Sluys, and our lords and all of us took leave of the king, the queen, and the other nobles. The king had us escorted as far as Dover by twelve knights, because of the fear we had of the English and the archers, who hated us and had made harsh threats against us at our departure. For this reason, we rode always armed throughout the kingdom until we reached Dover.
Et monterrent tous nos garchons et arriverrent à l'Escluse, et nos seigneurs et nous tous preismes congié du roy, de la royne et des aultres seigneurs, et nous fist le roy conduire jusques à Daures par XII chevaliers, pour a doubtance des Anglès et des archers, qui nous hayoiïent et nous avoient durement menachié à la departie: pour quoy nous chevauchasmes toudis armez parmy le royaume jusques à Daures.
Chapter 20
[29th November 1330] The judgment was quite clear and was soon agreed upon, for everyone had already been informed by rumor even before the king himself knew anything. Nevertheless, the sentence was ordered in such a way that he would die in the same manner as Sir Hugh Despenser. And so it was done: he was immediately drawn through the city of London on a hurdle and tied to a ladder in the middle of the square. Then his private parts were cut off, and his testicles; and afterwards, his belly was split open, and all his entrails were removed and burned. Then his head was cut off, and finally he was hanged by the hips. Soon after, the young king had his mother, the lady Queen Isabella, placed in a fine castle, and provided her with enough ladies and chambermaids to guard, serve, and keep her company, along with household officers and squires. He assigned her a large estate to provide for her comfortably for the rest of her life. But he did not wish to allow or consent that she go anywhere outside that castle openly, as I heard it said at the time. And I believe she remains there still to this day.
Le jugement en estoit assez cler, et fust tantost accordé, car chascun en estoit infourmé par fame ainchoys que le roy en sceust riens ; toutesfois, le jugement fut ainsy ordonné que il morroit par telle maniere que messire Hue le Despensier. Ainsy fut fait?, et fut tantost trayné par la cité de Londres sur ung bahu ct lié sur une eschiele enmy la place; et puis luy fut le vit couppé et les coulles, et puis aprez le ventre fendu et toutes les entrailles ostées et arses, et puis on lui couppa la teste, et puis fut pendu par les hanches. Et tlantost le jœune roy fist enfermer mademe sa mere en ung bcau chastel!, ct luy livra dames et chambrieres assez pour le garder, servir et faire compaignie, et mesnie, el escuiers, et luy assigna grande terre pour le souffisaument tenir tout le cours de sa vye. Maiz il ne voulut mie souffrir ne consentir qu'elle alast nulle part hors de cellui chastel apertement, ainsy que je l'ouy adoncques raconter. Encores crois je qu'elle s'y tiengne au temps present.
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Here you may hear of the marvelous Battle of Crécy, where the greatest lords of France were defeated and taken1.
Cy poez ouir de la merveilleuse bataille de Cressy, où furent desconfis et pris les plus grands seigneurs de France.
Note 1. See Froissart, ed. Luce, vol. III, p. 167, § 273, to p. 191, § 287. For this battle, Froissart must have had sources other than Jean le Bel; he provides more detail on the dispositions of the English army and on the various episodes of this struggle. Variants, pp. 403 to 436.
Cf. Froissart, éd. Luce, t. III, p. 167, § 273, à p. 191, § 287. Froissart, pour cette bataille, dut avoir d'autres sources que Jean le Bel; il donne plus de détails sur les dispositions de l'armée anglaise et sur les différentes péripéties de cette lutte. Variantes, p. 403 à 436.
You have already heard how King Philip came to Airaines after the King of England had departed from there, and he remained there for a time, waiting for his men who were following behind. The next day he set out to pursue the English, and everywhere he went he found his land burned and terribly laid waste. It was not long before he received word that the English had crossed at the Blanche-Tache and had killed some of his men; if he was sorrowful then, there is no need to ask. He halted and asked whether there was any place where his army might cross, and was told that no, only by the bridge at Abbeville. So he went to Abbeville and remained there that day to await his forces, and had them cross over as they arrived, so that they would be ready the next day
Vous avez bien ouy comment le roy Philippe vint à Araynes aprez ce que le roy d'Angleterre s'en fut parti, et y séjourna, attendant ses gens venans aprez. L'aultre jour il s'en parti et ala pourswir les Angloys, et toudis trouvoit son pays ars et grossement gasté. Longuement n'eut pas aie quant on luy dit que les Angloys avoient passé à la Blanche Tache et tué ses gens; s'il fut lors dolent, ce ne fait pas à demander. Il s'arresta et demanda s'il pourroit par nulle part passer son ost, on luy dit que non, synon par le pont d'Abbeville. Si s'en ala à Abbeville et y demoura ce jour pour attendre ses gens, et les faisoit passer ainsy qu'ilz venoient pour estre appareilliez l'endemain.
Note 1. Philip VI lodged at the Priory of Saint-Pierre in Abbeville. (State Letters, no. 447.)
Philippe VI logea au prieuré de Saint-Pierre d'Abbeville. (Lettres d'état, n° 447.)
The next day, he departed from Abbeville with banners unfurled. It was a fine sight to behold those lords, nobly mounted and splendidly attired, and the pavilions billowing in the wind. And know that this host was estimated at 20,000 men in iron armour on horseback, and more than 100,000 foot soldiers, among whom were around 12,000 crossbowmen and Genoese. Meanwhile, the King of England had no more than about 8,000 mounted men, and 10,000 archers, Welshmen, and foot sergeants.
A l'endemain il se parti d'Abbeville à baniere desployée. Adoncques feist beau regarder ces seigneurs noblement montez et habilliez, ces paveillons venteler au vent, et sachiez que cel ost fut extimé à XXM armeures de fer à cheval et à plus de c mil hommes de pyé, de quoy il y a voit environ XIIM, que bedeaux, que Jennevoys; et le roy d'Angleterre n'en avoit pas plus hault de nir à cheval et XM archiers et XM Galoys et sergans à pyé.
King Philip continued riding forward to overtake the English and sent ahead certain knights and squires to scout where they were, for he rightly believed they could not be far. After they had gone about a league, these riders returned and told him that the English were no more than another league ahead. Then the king commanded a most valiant knight, experienced in arms, along with four others, to advance further and follow the English, and to observe their position and their manner of array. These brave knights did so most willingly, then returned toward the king and encountered some of his banners about a league from the English lines, and had them halt there to await the others. Then they came to the king and told him they had seen the English less than a league away, had studied their formations, and that the English were awaiting battle in three divisions. He should therefore take counsel on what was best to do. The king asked the said knight Moyne—because of his great skill and valor in arms—for his advice. The knight, Le Moyne de Bâle, gave his opinion with great reluctance in front of the other lords; nonetheless, he was obliged to speak. And he said: "Sire, your army is greatly scattered across these fields, and it will be quite some time before it is all assembled. For now, it is already past nones [3pm]. I advise you to have your host make camp here, and then tomorrow morning, after Mass, you may order your battle lines and advance upon your enemies in the name of God and Saint George—for I am certain they will not flee, but rather wait for you, from what I have been able to observe.
Le roy Philippe fit avant chevaucher pour raconsuivir les Angloys, et envoya devant aucuns chevaliers et escuiers pour espier où ilz estoient, car bien pensa qu'ilz n'estoient pas loing. Ainsy que eut aie m lyewes, ces chevaucheurs retournèrent et luy dirent que les Angloys n'estoient pas ira lyewes plus avant. Adoncq commanda le roy à ung moult vaillant chevalier et usé en armes et à IIII aultres qu'ilz se voulsissent avanchier et aler aprez les Angles, et considérassent leur convenant et leur manière. Ces vaillans chevaliers le firent moult vol en tiers, puis s'en retournèrent par devers le roy et rencontrèrent de ses banieres à une lyewe prez des Angloys, et les firent arrester pour attendre les aultres, puis vinrent au roy et luy dirent qu'ilz avoient veu les Angloys à moins d'une lyewe de là, et considéré leurs manières, et les attendoient en m batailles. Si avisast en son conseil qu'il estoit de faire. Le roy pria audit Moyne chevalier, pour tant que si vaillant estoit es armes, qu'il en dist son advis. Le Moyne de Basle^ chevaHer, luy en dit son semblant moult envis devant les aultres seigneurs; néant mains dire luy convint. Si luy dit: "Sire, vostre ost est grandement espars par ces champs, si sera bien tart ainchoys qu'il soit tout assemblé, car nonne est ja passée, si vous conseille que cy faces vostre ost logier et puis demain au matin, aprez la messe, vous ordonnerez vos batailles et irez sus vos anemis en nom de Dieu et de saint George, car je suy certain qu'ilz ne fuiront pas, ains vous attendront selonc ce que j'ay peu aviser."
Note 1. This knight is Alard de Bazeilles, one of the vassals of the King of Bohemia. (See on him Froissart, ed. Kervyn de Lettenhove, vol. V, p. 475, and ed. Luce, vol. III, p. liv, note 3.)
Ce chevalier est Alard de Bazeilles, un des feudataires du roi de Bohême. (Voy. sur lui Froissart, éd. Kervyn de Lettenhove, t. V, p. 475, et éd. Luce, t. III, p. liv, n. 3.)
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This counsel pleased the king well, and he would gladly have followed it. So he had it proclaimed that everyone should pull back their banners, for the English were already drawn up nearby in battle order, and he wished to camp there until the next day. But none of the lords wished to turn back unless those who were already ahead returned first—and those in front refused to turn back, for it seemed to them a shameful thing to do. So they stood still, without moving, while those behind continued to ride forward. And all of this was due to pride and rivalry, which would be their undoing, for the advice of the valiant knight was not followed. Thus, riding on out of pride and envy, without any order—one ahead of the other—they continued until they saw the English drawn up in three strong battle lines, ready and waiting. Then the shame of retreating was all the greater, seeing their enemies so near.
Ce conseil pleut bien au roy et Teust moult voulentiers fait, si fit crier que chascun feist retraire ses banieres, car les Angloys estoient là emprez arrengiez, si vouloit là logier jusques à Tendemain. Nul des seigneurs ne voulu retourner se ceulx de devant ne retournoient premièrement, et ceulx qui estoient devant ne vouloient retourner, car ce leur sembloit estre honte, mais il se tenoient coys sans mouvoir, et les aultres qui estoient derrière chevauchoient toudis avant, et tout ce estoit par orgueil et envie qui les destruit, car pour ce ne fut pas le conseil du vaillant chevalier tenu. Ainsy chevauchant par orgueil et envie, sans ordonnance, l'ung devant l'aultre, ilz chevauchèrent tant qu'ilz virent les Angles rengiez en trois batailles bien fayticement qui les attendoient. Adoncq fut le honte plus grande de retourner quant ilz veoient leurs anemis sy prez.
Note 1. On the disposition of the English army, see G. Le Baker, p. 82. Compare also Froissart, ed. Luce, vol. III, p. li, note 1, and p. lvi, note 4; and Denifle, The Desolation of Churches, Monasteries, and Hospitals in France during the Hundred Years' War, vol. II, part 5, p. 43.
Sur la disposition de l'armée anglaise, voy. G. Le Baker, p. 82. Cf. Froissart, éd. Luce, t. III, p. li, n. 1, et lvi, n. 4, et Denifle, la Désolation des églises, monastères et hôpitaux en France pendant la guerre de Cent ans, t. II, 1re part., p. 43.
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Then the commanders of the crossbowmen, the Genoese, and the pavisiers (shield-bearers) ordered their men forward, to advance in front of the battle lines of the great lords and begin shooting at the English. They came so close that they loosed volleys at each other. But the Genoese and pavisiers were quickly thrown into disarray by the English archers and would have fled — the battle formations of the French lords, heated and inflamed by envy, surged forward one upon the other, heedless of order. They did not wait for anyone, but charged all in disorder, jumbled together without any coordination, until they surrounded the Genoese and pavisiers between themselves and the English. So those men could not retreat; weak horses fell on top of them, and others trampled over them. They toppled onto each other like chicks in a heap.
Adoncques firent les maistres des bedeaux, des arbalestiers et des Jennevoys leurs gens avanchier et aler par devant les batailles de ces seigneurs tout premièrement pour traire aux Angles, et alerent de sy prez que ilz trairent assez les ungs aux aultres, et furent assez tost bedeaux et Jennevoys par les archiers desconfis et s'en fussent fuis, mais les batailles des grands seigneurs estoient si eschauffées l'une sur l'aultre par envye que ilz n'atendirent ne ung ne aultre, ains coururent tous desordonnez et entremêliez sans ordre quelconques tant qu'ilz enclorrent les bedeaulx et les Jennevoys entre eulx et les Angles, par quoy ilz ne pœurent fuir, ains cheoient les chevaulx flebes sur eulx, et les aultres les tempestoient et cheoient l'ung sur l'aultre comme pouicheaulx à tas.
The next morning, he had his men leave their tents, arm themselves, and construct a large enclosure near a wood, made from all the carts and wagons of the army, with only a single entrance. He ordered all the horses to be placed inside this enclosure. Then he arranged the battle formations in a notable manner. He assigned the first battle formation to his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, with 1,200 men-at-arms, 3,000 archers, and 3,000 Welshmen, placing him under the command of the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Stafford, the Earl of Kent, Sir Godfrey de Harcourt, and several others whose names I do not know. He gave the second battle formation to the Earl of Northampton, the Earl of Suffolk, and the Bishop of Durham, with 1,200 men-at-arms and 3,000 archers. He kept the third formation for himself, which was to be placed between the other two, with 1,600 men-at-arms and 4,000 archers. And know that all were English or Welsh, for there were not even six archers from Germany, one of whom was Sir Races Massures; the names of the others I do not know.
A lendemain matin, il fit ses gens issir hors des loges, et armer, et faire ung grand parc prez d'ung bois de tous les chars et charrettes de l'ost, qui n'eust que une seule entrée, et fit mettre tous les chevaulx dedens ce parc. Puis ordonna les batailles notablement et donna la premiere à son aisné filz le prince de Gales, à tout XIIC armeures de fer, IIIM archiers et IIIM Galoys, et le mit en la garde du conte de Warvich, du conte de Staffort, du conte de Cayn et de messire Godeffroy de Harecourt et de pluseurs aultres que je ne sçay nommer. Et donna la seconde bataille au conte de Noyreton, au conte de Suffort et à l'evesque de Durenne, à tout XIIC armeures de fer et IIIM archiers, et retint la tierce pour luy qui debvoit estre entre ces deux, à tout XVIC armeures de fer et IIIIM archiers. Et sachiez que tous estoient Anglès ou Galoys, car il n'y eut pas vi archiers d'Alemaigne, desquelz l'ung fut messire Races Massures, je ne sçay nommer les aultres.
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Meanwhile, the English archers shot so marvelously that the horses, feeling the pain of the barbed arrows—which caused great damage—would not move forward. One leapt backward, as if mad; another reared up hideously; another turned its rump toward the enemy, despite its rider, overwhelmed by the stings it felt. Others collapsed, unable to go on. And the English lords, being on foot, advanced and struck into the midst of these men, who could neither help themselves nor their horses.
Et d'aultre part les archiers tiroient si merveilleusement que ceulx à cheval, sentans ces flesches barbelées [qui] faisoient merveilles, l'ung ne vouloit avant aler, l'aultre sailloit contremont si comme arragié, Taultre regimboit hydeusement, l'aultre retournoit le cul par devers les anemis, malgré son maistre, pour les settes qu'il sentoit, et les aultres se laissoient cheoir, car il ne le poyoient amender; et ces seigneurs angles estans à pyé s'avanchoient et feroient parmi ces gens, qui ne se poyoient aydier d'eulx ne de leurs chevaulx.
Afterwards, in the year 1348, it happened that Sir Geoffrey de Charny, a valiant and worthy knight, so pressed upon the Lombard named Aymery, whom King Edward so greatly trusted that he had made him castellan and keeper of Calais, that he bargained with him to deliver the castle by night for the sum of twenty thousand écus. Then it came about that King Edward learned of this agreement — I know not how — and so he summoned the said Lombard, and by persuasion or otherwise caused him to confess the truth. When the king had heard the beginning and the end of the matter, he reflected and said to the Lombard: ‘If you are willing to do what I shall tell you, and will pledge yourself to me, I will pardon you everything and will keep you ever after in my counsel.' The Lombard replied that he would very gladly do so. Then the king said: ‘This is what you shall do. I will that you take the florins, and that you fulfil your promises; but once you have received your payment, tell him that he must be well provided with a great force of men-at-arms and with plenty of money, for you will seem to hold well to your word, and I shall manage the rest. But do not show to any man in the world that I know anything of it.'"
Aprez, avint l'an mil CCC XLVIII que messire Jeffroy de Charny, vaillant et prœu chevalier, pourchassa tant envers ce Lombard nommé Aymery, de cui le roy Edowart tant se foit qu'il l'avoit fait chastellain et garde de Calais, qu'il luy convenança de luy livrer le chastel par nuit parmi la somme de XX escus. Aprez, avint que le roy Edowart sceut ces convenances, je ne sçay comment ce fut; si manda ledit Lombart et fit Lant par amours ou aultrement que ledit Lombart luy congnut la verité. Quant le roy eust ouy fin et commencement de la besongne, il s'avisa et dit au Lombard : "Se tu vouloyes faire ce que je te diray et m'en vouloyes asseurer, je te pardonneroye tout et te tendroye à tousjours de mon conseil." Le Lombard luy dit que moult voulentiers le feroit : "Doncques dit le roy, je te diray que tu feras. Je vueil que tu gaagnes les florins, tu parferas tes promesses, mais que tu ayes ton payement et luy feras sçavoir qu'il soit appareillié de grande foison de gens d'armes et garny d'argent, car tu luy tendras trés bien ta promesse et tu me lairas chevir du remanant. Mais ne fay nul semblant à homme du monde que je en sache riens."
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