SIB JOHN FROISSARTS CHRONICLES o» ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AMD THE ADJOINING COUNTRIES, from the latter part of the reign of edward h. to the coronation of henry iv. JIWH TRANU.ATED SSOU Till MRENCH IDITiaSt, WITH TAfttATIONS AKt> ADDITIONS HOM MAN? CELEBRATED MM. By THOMAS JOHNES. tajq f» Halt tt\U t tale after ä man, P?e moQc releifr, t» neigte as rset fee ecu, «öerfcj toaroe, if It it is o<* charge, «'.i rpete be nrbrr fa runri» ans U Urge; Si tilt* f)r me (It ttlirn tale nntttbe, St feinen ttjlnje«, ot finota buret* nttoe. chadcxk'i moLoevt. the third edition. TO WHICH It rtfFlXtD, a LIFE of THE AUTHOR, AM XUAY OK HCl WOXXt, A CRITICISM OH HIS HISTORY, AND a UlMEftTA rlOH OK 91» FOETKY. VOL. XT. LONDON: raiuTzD reu iosgka*, ho*it, »tws, ahd ohhe, FiTaawoiTia-aow; AMD l. V'lllTE, FLEET-STREET, 1808. m tower of the Louvre, for the debt he had been fentenced to pay of one hunrded thousand francs to the queen of Jerufaleai. I imagine he engaged' to pay the queen the; above fura by instalments j but I will, for the present, leave fpeaking of theft matters, and return to what was paging in Turkey. CHAP. XLI. the christians are forced to rai5b the siege of nicopoli, by the arrival of b a- jazet in turkey.-they are defeated avd the hungarians put to flight, 'through the presumptuous polly of thi frfnck, \70U have before read in our hiftory how the * king of Hungary, and the lords from France who had gone to Hungary in fearch of deeds of arms, had valiantly eroded the Danube, and entered Turkey; where, during the fummer, from the month of July, they had conquered a large traft of country, having mercifully fpafed the inhabitants and many towns and caftles, for none could withftand their power. They had beOeged the city of Nicopoli, and fo hardly preffed it by their attacks, that it was on the point of fur-V % render- 2$* rendering, widiout hearing any intelligence of Bajazet. . The king of Hungary had even addrcfifed the French lords, fuch as the count de Nevers, the count d'Eu, the count de la Marche, the count de Soiflbns, the lord de Coucy, and the barons and knights of Burgundy, faying,—>' My fair lira, thanks to God/ we have made a fbccefsful campaign■, for we have performed many brilliant deeds of arms, and have conquered Turkey. I look on the town of Nicopoli as our own, for it is, fo undermimed it can hold out no longer than we pleafe. I therefore would propofe, that after we, . fliaU have gained and fhewn mercy to this town, we attempt nothing more this fcafon, but recrols the Danube, and return to Hungary, where I have many handibme towns and caftles prepared receive you, fince you have fo gallantly aflifted me agajnft the Turks, my bitter enemies. During the winter, we will provide ftores for the erifuing fummer, each according to his pleafure, and (end information of our lituation, and what we havej done, to the king of France, who, before that time, will fend us large reinforcements; and I hope, when he fhall know the fuccefs we have had, he may be inclined to come hither in perfbn, for he is young and fond of arms. But whether h$ corae or not, if it pleafe God, we will next fummer crofa me Hellefpont, regain Armenia, and (hence march to Syria, with the towns of Jaffa and j§3fu$h,, ^od conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land, * ' stiouia S9S Should the fukan oppofe us, we will offer him battle> and never return >yithout haying combated him/ Such Was the fpeech of the king of Hungary to the French lords: they con&dered Nicopoli as Won, but it fell out otherwife. During the whole rummer, Bajazet had been bufily employed in railing an army of Saracens and infidels t he had even lent to Pcriia for fuccour, and the great lords of his religion had joined him againft Chriftendom. They had crofled the Hel-lefpont to the amount of two hundred thoufand -t but the Chrtftians were not only ignorant of their numbers, but of their approach j and, they advanced lb fecredy, they were clofe to Nicopoli before the 'befiegers knew of their having begun their march. Bajazet was as well acquainted with the ftratagems of war es moil, and of great valour and enterprife> He confidered maturely the power of the thriftians, and faid they were a valiant race. Bajazet marched to raife the liege of Nicopoli-in the following order. His army was drawn up in the form of a harrow, and - occupied about a league of ground : in front of this main body, and a league in advance, were eight thoufand Turks, to mafk the body of the army, which was divided into two wings. Bajazet was in the midft of his main body, who thus quietly advanced, with their van-guard of eight thoufand in front: .they were thus ordered, to make an appearance as if they were the whole army* but whenever they met > U3 > . xkt 29* tfie ChrtfHans, they were to fall back gently towards, die main body, which was then to extend itfelf as much as poflible, and endeavour to en-clofe Che Chriftians, whom they fhould then conquer at pleafure. Such was the order Of battle of Bajazet. It happened, that on the Monday preceding thaelmas-day, in the year 1396, about ten o'clock, as the king of Hungary and the lords, who were lying before Nicopoli, were feated at dinner, news was brought them that their enemies, the Turks, were near at handt but, as I heard, the fcouts did not inform them of the whole truth: they had not noticed die main body of the Turks, for the moment they faw the van-guard they dared not advance farther, as they were not men at arms fear-lefs of fuch an enterprife. The Hungarians and French had each fcouts of their own, and both parties arrived nearly at the fame time with this intelligence. The -greater part of the army were at dinner when the news was tarried to the count de NeVefS and the other French lords, the meflenger bawling but, r Come ! quickly arm yourfelves, that you be not furprifed, for the Turks are on full march to meet you.' This information was agreeable to many who were defirous of arms: they inftafttly arofe, pufljed the tables afide, and demanded their horfes and armour. They were ibmewhat heated with wine, and haftened to the field as well as they could. Banners and pennons were difpla^ed, under which every one ranged himfelf in his .proper poft. The *9J The banner of the Virgin Mafy was unfuded, and the guard of it given to that valiant knight fir John de Vicnnci admiral of France; The French were fo eager tb arm thcmfcKes that they were, the fir ft in the field, drawn1 dp in handibtae array, and feerriingly feariefs of the Türks j for they wert ignorant of their immenfe numbers} and that Ba+ jazet commanded in periöhi As the French lords were haftening from their tents to the field, the marfhal of the king of Hungary, named flr Henry d'Öftenlemhalle*, mounted On a handfome courier* came to them with few at*-tendantsi He Was a valiant and experienced k nighr-, and had borne before him a pennon of his arms, which were a crofs anchored fable on a field argent, which in heraldry is called fcrofs moh'itet He ftopped, when oppofite the banne* of our Lady, Where the principal lords were afiemblcd, and faid aloud,—' I am fent hither by my lord, the king ofv Hungary, who entreats you by me, that you will hot begin the battle before you fhall again hear from him j for he much fufpefts and fears that the fcouts have not brought exact, intelligence of the numbers of the Turks. Within two- hours you fiiall have more certain intelligence* for we have fent Other fcouts, who will advance farther than the former ones, and bring us better information. Be afTured.the Turks will never attack you, unkfs you force them to it, or until they have collected all their forces together. Youwill act. asyou (hall think ---— • MSS. Steulemchalle. U 4 beft, 29$ - . , beft, "but fuch are my iord the king's orders. I muft »6w. retumj for I cannot longer flay." Oa faying this, the Hungarian marfiiai left them, and the lords aflemMed, together to confider what was to be done. The lord de Coucy was afked his and replied, that the king of Hungary had a fight to order them, and that what, he had requested was perfectly.j oft. It was mentioned to ■me that the count d'Eu, conftable of France, 'was vexed that his opinon had not been firft afked before the lord de Coucy's, and, through fpite and malice, inftantly opposed what he had laid, adding ; r Yes, yes, the king of Hungary wtfhes to gain all the honour of the day: he has given us the.van guards and now wants to take it away, that he may have the firft blow: let thofc who will believe what he fends to us, for my part I never will:' then addreffing the knight who bore his banner, he faid,—' In the name of God and Saint George, you mail fee me this day prove myfelf a good knight,* The lordde Coucy thought this a very vain fpeech of the conftable, and, turning to fir John de Vienne, who had the banner of our Lady under his guard, .and by whom all the others were to rally, afked what ought to be done. 'Lord de Coucy,' he replied, * when truth and reafon are not heard, folly and prefumption mufi reign j and, fince the count d'Eu is determined to fight the enemy, we mult follow him; but we fhould have greater advantage, if we waited the king of Hungary's, orders, and were all united.' While they thus converted, the infidels were faft «97 fafk appiFoachLng: the two wings of their army, which confiftcd of fixty thoufand men each,, were already doling, round thero. The Chriftians, ob-ierving this, weujd hare retreated, but that was im-pQfijpfa as they were completely furrpupded. Many knights and fquircs, who had been ufed to arms, now knew the day mult be loft; not-withftanding which they advanced* following the banner of our Lady, that was' borne by that galr iant knight fir John de Viennc. The lords of France were fo richly drefTed out, in their emblazoned furcoats, as to look like little kings i but, as I was told, when they met the Turks, they were not more than (even hundred, which fufficicntly fhewed the folly of die meafure* far, had they waited for the Hungarian army, con-lifting of fixty thoufand men, they might, perhaps, hare gained a victory, but* .to their pride and piefumptiian> was the whole lofs owing; and it was fo great, that never fince the defeat at Ron* ccfvalfcs, where the twelve peers of France were ilain, did the French fuffer & confiderabAy. However, before they were overcome, they made great Daughter of the Turks j though feveral knights News was- carried to the king of Hungary, that the" French, Englilh and Germans were engaged with the Turks, not having obeyed his orders fent them by the marihal. He was very wroth oh hearing it, as indeed he had reafon to be, and forefaw they would all be cut off. He faid td the grand mafter of Rhodes, who was befide him, 'We fhall lofe the day, from the vanity of the French: if they had believed me, and waited for bur Joining, we mould have had fufficicnt ftrength to cope with the enemy.' As he thus fpoke, looking behind him, he per^ ceived that his men Were flying panic-ftruck, and the Turks 'purfuing them. He then faw the day was irrecoverably loft, and thofe near his perfon cried out,*—* Sire, fave yourfelf! for, mould you be killed or taken, Hungary will be completely ruined. We rhuft be defeated through French pride; and their valour will prove in vain* for every one of them will be taken or flain j not one can pofubly efcape. Fly, therefore, from the dan^ ger, before it be too late.' The king of Hungary was in the xitmoft rage to be thus defeated through the arrogance of the French, and obliged to fly, if he would avoid captivity or death. It was a moft unfortunate day for the Hungarians and French ; whoever runs away from battle is purfued, and, as the Hungarians fled in the grcatcft confuflon, the Turks followed, killing them or making prifoners at pleafure. God, however, afTiftcd the king of Hungary and the grand 299 {rrahd matter óf Rhodes j tor, on their arrival on the banks of the Danube, they found a fmall veffěl belonging to' the grand matter, into which they entered/ with only five "more, and croficd to the oppofite fliore. Had they delayed, they muft have beeh'killed or taken j'&r the Turks came to the river as they were palling it, and made a great daughter of thófe who had followed the king thinking to efcape. We will return to the French and Germans, who were fighting 'moft valiantly. The lord de Mpntcaurel, a gallant knight from Artoís, feeing the defeat inevitable, and wiihtng to fave .his fon, who was very yoiing, faid to "his fquíre,—* Carry off my fon: thou rnayeft efcape by that wing which is open: fave my fon; ánď I will abide the event with my, companions.* The youth, on hearing his father thus fpeak, declared he would not go nor leave him.in fiich danger; but the father forced him away, and the fqiiire brought him fafely to the' Danube: the youth, who Was very melancholy at the fituation of his father, Was Unfortunately drowned bý falling between two barges, without a poflibility of being faved. Sir William de la Trimouille, and his fon difplayed great feats of.valour before thíy werí llaiň. Sir John de "Vienne, who boře the banner of our Lady, in ipite of his deeds of arms, was killed grafping the banner in his hands, and thus was he found after tfie battle. The whole of the French force that had been engaged at this battle of Nicopoli were -rdefcated'and flain, by the means I have related. The 300 Tbe lord John of Burgundy, count of Never** was wondrous richly arrayed, as were the lord Guy de la Riviere, and many barons and knights from Burgundy in compliment to him. Two fquires from Picardy, William d'Eu and die borgne de Montquel, who had difplayed their courage in many former battles, did the-fame at Nicopoli. Theft two {quires, by their vigorous courage, twice forced through the Turkifh army, and returned to tie fight, but were at length fiain. To fay the truth, the whole of the French chivalry and thofe from other countries acquitted them* felvcs moft gallantly ; and, had they been aflifted by th Hungarians with equal courage, thedav would have turned out differently. But the whole of the rnifchief was cauied by the French, and their prefumption Was their ruin. There was a knight from Picardy, called fir James de Helly, who had refided»fbme time in Turkey, and had ferved in arms under Amu rat) rather of the ftiltan Bajazet, of whom we are now (peaking, and who knew a little of the Turkish language. When he law the day was loft, he thought of laving his life i and as he knew the Saracens to be a covetous race he furrendcred himfelf to them, on their granting him his life. Thus did he cfcape, and alfo another fquirc from the Tournaifis, caUed James 'du Fay, who had formerly ferved Tamerlane king of Tartary; but when he learnt that the French were marching to Turkey, he quitted Tamerlane, and joined his countrymen. He was at this battle, and fayed by Tamerlane's men, who had i sot had been ordered thither in compliance with the requeft made to him for affiftance by Bajazet. Tamerlane had fcnt him a confiderable body of* men, as Sacarcn and pagan kings always do to the aid of each other. 4 t 1 ' " CHAP. XL1I. the turks, after the battle of nicopoli put to death a 1,1, their prisoners, except . the count de nevek3 and some other great lords. A T this battle of Nicopoli, which was for fatal * to the French, very many were laved, from the extreme richnefs of their armour: they were drefjed like kings j and the Saracens and Turks, who are avaricious, thought, by faving their, lives, they fhould gain large ranfoms; for they believed them much greater lords, from their appearance, than they really were. The count de Nevers was made prifbner, as were the counts d'Eu and de la Marche, the lord de Coucy, the Ibrd Henry de Bar, fir Guy de la Trimouille, Boucicaut and others. The lord Philip de Bar, fir John de Vienne, fir William de la Trimouille and his fon were killed. This battle Jafted for three hours j and the king of Hungary