From the Library - Len Mullenger
The
Froissart Chronicles
These were much used as source material by Dr Janina Ramirez in her
four part series on the Hundred Years War.
The chronicles start in 1326 and go up to about 1400. The chronicle
covers the start of the 100 years war (1337 -1453). They exist as
about 150 Manuscripts which are scattered across Europe and America.
They contain some beautiful Illustrations. Froissart kept revising
them to the end of his life. In 1361 he came to England and served
as secretary and clerk of her chapel to Queen Philippa , the wife
of Edward III. But he was always travelling. He went to France with
the Black Prince, and to Italy with the Duke of Clarence. He was interested
in the ideal of Chivalry.
Much
of the early part of his chronicle he took from an existing source
written by Jean Le bel, a Flemish Chronicler but later work was what
he had witnessed himself or information gathered from those who were
there.
There
is an actual date 28th January 1523. It is at the very end of the
text as it would be on a manuscript and is a hangover from handwritten
texts
The illustrations
are hand coloured but the Charlecote copy does not appear to have
any. The conservator thinks they are on manuscript copies of the text
but not the printed text. The book has also been rebound.
The complete chronicles
are available on-line
and here is a sample
OF THE ORDER OF
THE ENGLISHMEN AT CRESSY, AND HOW THEY MADE THREE BATTLES AFOOT
ON the Friday, as I said before, king Edward III of England lay in
the fields, for the country was plentiful of wines and other victual,
and if need had been, they had provision following in carts and other
carriages. That night the king made a supper to all his chief lords
of his host and made them good cheer; and when they were all departed
to take their rest, then the king entered into his oratory and kneeled
down before the altar, praying God devoutly, that if he fought the
next day, that he might achieve the journey to his honour: then about
midnight he laid him down to rest, and in the morning he rose betimes
and heard mass, and the prince his son with him, and the most part
of his company were confessed and houselled; and after the mass said,
he commanded every man to be armed and to draw to the field to the
same place before appointed. Then the king caused a park to be made
by the wood side behind his host, and there was set all carts and
carriages, and within the park were all their horses, for every man
was afoot; and into this park there was but one entry.
Then he ordained three battles: in the first was the young prince
of Wales, with him the earl of Warwick and Oxford, the lord Godfrey
of Harcourt, sir Raynold Cobham, sir Thomas Holland, the lord Stafford,
the lord of Mohun, the lord Delaware, sir John Chandos, sir Bartholomew
de Burghersh, sir Robert Nevill, the lord Thomas Clifford, the lord
Bourchier, the lord de Latimer, and divers other knights and squires
that I cannot name: they were an eight hundred men of arms and two
thousand archers, and a thousand of other with the Welshmen: every
lord drew to the field appointed under his own banner and pennon.
In the second
battle was the earl of Northampton, the earl of Arundel, the lord
Ros, the lord Lucy, the lord Willoughby, the lord Basset, the lord
of Saint-Aubin, sir Louis Tufton, the lord of Multon, the lord Lascelles
and divers other, about an eight hundred men of arms and twelve hundred
archers.
The third battle
had the king: he had seven hundred men of arms and two thousand archers.
Then the king leapt on a hobby, [Note: 'Un petit palefroi.']with
a white rod in his hand, one of his marshals on the one hand and the
other on the other hand: he rode from rank to rank desiring every
man to take heed that day to his right and honour. He spake it so
sweetly and with so good countenance and merry cheer, that all such
as were discomfited took courage in the seeing and hearing of him.
And when he had thus visited all his battles, it was then nine of
the day: then he caused every man to eat and drink a little, and so
they did at their leisure. And afterward they ordered again their
battles: then every man lay down on the earth and by him his salet
and bow, to be the more fresher when their enemies should come.
Len Mullenger is a Sunday volunteer guide. Any comments
are welcome and can be sent to len@musicweb-international.com
