[The epistles and ballades are found only in B, fos 32v.–36r. Its copy of the Prinse et mort finishes with: Explicit l'ystoire du roy Richart d'Engleterre composee par [blank] Creton. This MS has been compiled in a careless and hasty manner with many crossings out and expunctions, false starts and obvious scribal errors. All rejected readings can be found at the foot of each page in the French text and referenced by a superscript.]

[fo. 32v.] Epistle [I, to King Richard] written by the said Creton

As faithful love demands, I Creton – your devoted servant – send this letter to you Richard of England, most noble Christian Prince. And you should know that, as I write, the anger in my heart makes tears flow down my face when I think of your unhappy life. And yet my spirits are greatly comforted and I have high hopes for your well-being, because it is said over here that you are free and in good health; I pray to Our Lord that this may be so.

Alas! Most mighty Sire, how has your solitary self been able to bear such grievous sadness and live? Certainly everyone who talks about this or hears it talked about is greatly astonished, and most men cannot believe it. But through this it can be shown that Our Lord God, who is a righteous judge, has held you in His holy safe-keeping while you were in your enemies’ hands, and visited you with capricious and bitter misfortunes, in order perhaps to test the strength and firmness of your strong Christian faith; and – recognizing God's power and wishing to attain everlasting glory – you have borne them with true patience, giving Him thanks and praise for everything that it pleases Him to have done. Thus it appears that you are God's friend, or otherwise your life would have been over a long time since; perhaps these things were predestined before your birth.

Now hold fast to hope in Our Lord more than ever before, for well do I know that if you are alive – despite perfidious Lancaster and all his men – you will be restored to great honour and authority in your kingdom. Your body is more suited to Mars than to Jupiter or Venus, and God has formed you for this; your actions are fierce enough for war and men bear witness to this.

Ah! Most mighty and powerful Prince, when I remember that, while you were conquering lands in Ireland devoid of Christians and full of wild places, the perfidious scoundrel – Lancaster – landed in your kingdom and turned the hearts of your subjects against you with his falsehoods, my whole mind is moved to madness. Cursed be the hour when he crossed the sea to England, that NeptuneFootnote ²²⁵ – the god of the winds – did not play havoc with his sails on the high seas, in order that his ship might have been destroyed and that the days of his wicked and shameful life ended at that time: that his flesh might have been eaten by birds or fish, his furious spirit driven through the heavens, and his bones driven down into the sand of the seashore by the pounding of the waves; certainly they merited such a grave and none other.

Ah! most mighty Prince [fo. 33r.], the warm love which you showed towards the most false earl of RutlandFootnote ²²⁶ has cost you dear, for by him alone and his dishonest deception was your return from Ireland to England delayed by sixteen to eighteen days, after you had heard news of your enemies. Alas! And why did you believe him more than the members of your Council, who ardently desired your swift return? Certainly I am much amazed that the sea gods favoured you so, sending you winds to reach the port of Milford Haven;Footnote ²²⁷ it would have been better for you to have landed elsewhere, but none can resist what Our Creator has preordained.

Furthermore, most mighty Prince, when I remember the earl of NorthumberlandFootnote ²²⁸ I curse him, for he came to you at Conway and swore on the Host that your enemy – Henry Lancaster – only wanted his own estates and that he felt remorse for setting foot in your kingdom. Thus I am greatly astonished that the land of his fathers can permit him [Northumberland] to live, for all his promises were empty and steeped in treason; by reason of them he took you to Flint accompanied by a great number of his men-at-arms whom he had left treacherously hidden behind boulders between Conway and Rhuddlan. In this castle of Flint, dear Sire, you spent a most sorrowful night and understandably so, for you could see that you were surrounded on all sides by your enemies, who craved your death more than any other thing. And at that time I myself firmly believed that the end of my days had come, and my heart was filled with great sorrow, as much for you as for me.

The next day the scoundrel – LancasterFootnote ²²⁹ – led you in humiliation to London and handed you over to the citizens, who wickedly condemned you to imprisonment for life, from which Our Lord God has delivered you. Now you should thank Him steadfastly and foster a righteous hope that you can have revenge on your enemies; and that the slaughter is so great that their blood flows in rivers throughout your kingdom, so that the ends of their cruel lives may be an example to all other traitors for all time to come.

And you should know that I have documented – in pictures and wordsFootnote ²³⁰ – throughout the kingdom of France all the evil and hateful acts of treason that they have committed against you, in order that their lives might be filled with shame and condemnation. And certainly, most mighty Seigneur, I know not how it is that your person appears so often to my inner eye, for day and night all my thoughts and suppositions concern you alone. And had it been the Creator's will that I – sorrowful and sad – should have seen you again before I died, my heart would be eased. But although I cannot see you with the eyes in my head, yet you are always presented to my inner eye, and it sometimes appears to me that I see and speak to you. Thus do illusory joys delight me when I cannot experience real gratification, and for this reason my mindful heart offers up vows and prayers every day to Our Creator, that I may soon see you with all the joy that I desire.

Most noble and true Christian Prince, remember your noble and loyal wife, who spends day and night weeping as she waits for you, wishing to hear reliable news of your well-being. Send your instructions over here, so that we can clearly see that you are free and in good health, for all men, great and small, rejoice that you are alive. And do not feel sorrow or shame that revenge for you has not been taken a long time ago, for you well know the adversities and tribulations of this kingdom and especially of your father-in-law Charles, King of France; you can be sure that nothing else has delayed it. And if it is your pleasure to come over here, you will find the greater part of the chivalry of France ready to live and die with you.

And also you will find your noble wife, whom your mother-in-law has been keeping most carefully for you, since she was handed backFootnote ²³¹ by your enemy, the scoundrel, Lancaster; he dragged out the negotiations for twenty-two months without wanting to give her back, so that she would have been twelve years old, and anything he would have had her do or say would have been unalterable. For his wicked intention was to betroth her to his eldest son, whom you knighted with great honour and joy in Ireland.Footnote ²³² But it can be shown that she was entreated and petitioned for diligently by the Council of France, so that she was handed back before she attained her majority. And you should know that today she is as chaste and undefiledFootnote ²³³ as she was when you parted from her at Windsor to go on your Irish expedition; she herself bears witness to this. Thus, most mighty Prince, you must greatly wish to see her, for it is a very precious thing to cull the first flower from the tender body of such a noble virgin as your wife.

Now come over here, dear Sire, set sail and Hippotes,Footnote ²³⁴ the gentle wind, will waft you to safe port. And I am sure that all the gods of the winds and the sea will aid your passage and Stella Maris – the star of the sea – [fo. 33v.] will point you to safe harbour, for your cause appears just to Our Lord, considering that He has delivered you from such grave danger as you have been in for a very long time.

Ah! Most mighty Prince, how many noble ladies and knights will flock to meet you, weeping as much for joy at your well-being as for the bitter misfortunes that you have suffered. Certainly you will see all men praise Our Creator and enthusiastically lay hands on their weapons to go with you to fight your enemies. And if you cannot come here, because someone impedes your passage, at least, Sire, be pleased to tell us your heart's intent, and you will find that most of the nobles of the royal blood of France are your true friends and will not fail you, even unto death. And certainly if you do not arrive here soon, I shall go to you, wherever you are, and shall bring to you – in writing and pictures – a great portion of your bitter misfortunes and calamities as I saw them happen, I being with you in Ireland and in England.

Now at the end of my epistle I beg you, most mighty and true Christian Seigneur, that you do not despise it and that my shortcomings do not cause you displeasure. Read it with care and perhaps you will find in it something to please you in some way. And I promise you – in the name of God who is omnipotent over all beings – that the intense love that I bear you makes me write it, wishing with all my heart for the fulfilment of all your good pleasures and desires. Certainly if the sea gods favour me, I will swiftly follow, and soon set off after it.

Ballade [I] by the said Creton

Lords of the royal blood of France, lay hands on your weapons with all speed if you have reliable news about the King who has undergone so much suffering at the hands of the perfidious English; they have robbed him of his authority and then condemned him to death. But God, who is our righteous judge in Heaven above, has saved his life. Everyone – young and old – says so everywhere; it is noble King Richard of England.

And if it is so, for greater increase of honour you should swiftly have your men armed, for all his hope was in you; I know this to be true. Often in Wales did I hear him weep bitterly and praiseFootnote ²³⁵ King Charles of France, and all of you, while the perfidious English hounded him most cruelly. Alas and alack! Help him to improve his lot; it is noble King Richard of England.

He is of your blood and allied to you; everyone knows it plainly. Thus you have no excuse to refuse him aid. Do not await a call to arms, as for lesser cause was the palace of Ilium set ablaze and PriamFootnote ²³⁶ and four of his sons killed. Make haste then to send help over there and you will be praised in all quarters; it is noble King Richard of England.

Princes, do not take it amiss that he does not tell you of his affairs; you should not be surprised. Cross the sea and help the stricken leopardFootnote ²³⁷ to rise again; it is noble King Richard of England.

[Epistle II, to Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy]

[The passages in italic type represent borrowings from Valerius Maximus, as translated by Simon de Hesdin.]

[fo. 34r.] The fragility and mutability Footnote ²³⁸ of public affairs rightly demand a leader who is wise, prudent and endowed with good governance.

And because the head of this kingdomFootnote ²³⁹ has suffered or is suffering still from a strange and possibly unidentifiable injury – perhaps by the will of Our Creator, who was or still is angry at the multitude of sins committed by him or by others in his kingdom, punishment for which is sent him by His Celestial Majesty – or because of the sins of our fathers, of which the Holy Scriptures say: ‘Our fathers have sinned, but we will carry the blame’ Footnote ²⁴⁰ – or perhaps because of various wicked and hateful actions carried out by Fate:

Yet for the common good, most mighty Christian Prince, Philip – son of a King of FranceFootnote ²⁴¹ and duke of Burgundy – you should consider the kingdom's poor and miserable people, responsibility for whom you received at one time through the consent and command of your brother Charles, formerly King of France, which responsibility, most mighty Seigneur, you have exercised most wisely and beneficially to this day.

And in carrying out the work which you have begun – which needs help more than ever – I can compare you very well to the beginning, not the end, of the rule of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. In accomplishing the good works which you have begun, you are his only successor on earth, for Suetonius Footnote ²⁴² says in his book The Twelve Caesars that he was so overflowing in humility, chastity, good sense, wisdom and all other virtues, that he surpassed all other men; and at the same time he had such a great and special knowledge of the ceremonies due to the gods that it was most marvellous.

And from the beginning of his reign until almost the end, he would not tolerate being called emperor or father of the country, and could scarcely suffer anyone to kneel before him, and sharply reprimanded anyone who did. And especially did he mortally hate those who flattered him, which is very like how some great lords behave today, which is a matter of regret; and perhaps some lose their self-awareness. He never had harm done to anyone for what was said of him – be it good or bad – but said that in a free city all tongues should be free. He spoke so well to everyone and so honoured all those who spoke to him, that in doing so he almost overstepped the bounds of humanity.

And then when the Romans saw the very special way he governed and that he had such keen regard for public affairs, there were some men burning with avarice who advised Footnote ²⁴³ him to increase the country's dues and taxes. He replied to them most severely that they showed no love for the common good, and that a good shepherd did not swallow or devour his sheep but sheared it closely; and he did so many good things that he demonstrated in his own person how everyone ought to behave and live.

Considering the great virtues in Tiberius Caesar from the beginning of his rule almost to the end, I have been able to compare you to him, since you have been recently following in his excellent footsteps, in as much as you have become shepherd to the poor sheep – as he was – and have not been willing for them to be devoured, but have most energetically laid hands on your victorious weapons to protect them. For this, most mighty Christian Seigneur, your wisdom will be exalted and spread amongst all Christians today and for all time to come.

And you should know that by working in this way you gain a second life, which is called everlasting glory: for glory – that is to say good repute – gives all good men a second life after their deaths, and the repute which lives on following their good works makes it seem as if they were still alive. Also glory stops those who are praiseworthy from dying. Therefore, most mighty Seigneur, be pleased to continue the good work which you have begun, for your feats of arms are not violent or oppressive, but are gentle and shining like Jupiter's star to serve the common good. And you can see this clearly, for out of all other Christian princes you are courted by several places and nations, especially by the Bretons,Footnote ²⁴⁴ who want to hand over to you alone all their government and safe-keeping; this is most honourable, considering their nobility and strength and that of their country.

And because your strength and power, after those of the head of this kingdom are greater than other men's – as I can see – may it please you to apply yourself to two things which will make your good name live for ever: that you consider the most merciless and unhappy strife within our Holy Mother Church,Footnote ²⁴⁵ in order that she may be united and pacified by you. For [fo. 34v.] certainly I truly believe that all the trials and tribulations which are happening in this country or have been happening for a long time past, only come about through our sins and through our disregard for or disobedience towards Our Creator.

Valerius Maximus shows many fine examples of this when he deals with the Romans, saying: ‘It is no surprise Footnote ²⁴⁶ that the benevolence or goodwill of the gods have been constant in protecting and enlarging the Roman empire, which has had the petty misdeeds against their honour or service examined with such scrupulous care, for no one should think that our city was ever backward with regard to the most conscientious observance of the ceremonies due to the gods.’ And he proves this with a multitude of examples, one of which I want to relate to you and which we ought to remember.

‘In Rome two consuls were appointed, one of whom was named Scipio Nasica and the other Gaius Figulus. They were sent to wage war, one in Corsica and the other in Gaul; they subjected these lands to Roman rule. But notwithstanding their excellent feats of arms, they were recalled to Rome and stripped of their estates and situations simply because Tiberius Graccus Footnote ²⁴⁷ had written to tell the College of Augurs in Rome that they had held meetings in the temple or tabernacle of the gods,to hear matters Footnote ²⁴⁸ of little and trivial significance, the noise from which might perhaps have disturbed the sacrifices to the gods.’

We ought to mark well this example Footnote ²⁴⁹ and treat our holy places and churches with great reverence, for as St Isidore says in the fifteenth book of his Etymologies: ‘If pagans could bestow such great honour on the temples or tabernacles not of their gods but of their idols, Christians ought to be most ashamed to show so little reverence to God Himself who is Our Creator.’ Livy and Valerius Maximus relate many other marvellous things concerning this subject; through them they seemed to mean that the great benevolence Footnote ²⁵⁰ and goodwill of the gods favoured and helped the Romans.

Next, most mighty Seigneur, you should see that revenge is taken or punishment meted out for the spilling – so sinfully and so treacherously – of the royal blood of that good Christian, King Richard; certainly it is most pitiful and distressing to hear of the end of his days which have been cut short before his lifespan was reached, on account of the true and loyal love which he had for this country. Alas! If you knew what sad laments and piteous regrets he voiced to all the royal princes of France – and especially to you and to the Count of St PolFootnote ²⁵¹ – when he was a fugitive in Wales, in fear of those traitors, his enemies, who pursued him on all sides in order to put him to death, certainly you would gather large companies of men and cross to their island, for the long duration of peace makes good men become gross and lazy.

And therefore, Sire, do not agree to any further truce, but let revenge be taken, proportionate to the crime. And truly I think that there would be no more honourable conquest made or talked about than this, since the time that the Gauls destroyed the sovereign empire of Rome after they had crossed Footnote ²⁵² the frozen, wild and impassable Alps, which no man had crossed before except Hercules. And fear not their furious strength, for Our Lord God who is a righteous judge, knowing their wickedness, would not allow them to be victorious in battle – as we can clearly see – for since their rebellionFootnote ²⁵³ they have known only failure and defeat. Therefore, Sire, should it please you to set sail when you can, and unfurl in the wind those banners sent to your lineage by divine omnipotence, you will see the greater part of the nobility laying hands on their weapons to go along with you, seeking revenge for the royal blood shed in England.

Now I beg you, most mighty Christian Seigneur, at the end of my epistle, if I have misspoken in any way, please excuse me and bear with my ignorance, for I am only a lay person with little learning, and my knowledge is scant. But the faithful love I bear you made me write it, wishing with all my heart to serve you. May the God who broadcasts His riches and bestows His abundance on wise men grant you victory.

Amen.

Ballade [II] by Creton

Come, come from the Empire and from France, come and see an excellent company, come and see an alliance renewed. Come and see noble knights, come and see how they both act as one, come and see Caution coupled with Youth.Footnote ²⁵⁴ Come and see the scourge of sloth who labours diligently night and day for the common good. Come and see triumphant love, come to him bearing branches of laurel.

Do this to strengthen the old custom,Footnote ²⁵⁵ established long ago by the Romans; [fo. 35r.] it is the true symbol of victory, awarded for loyalty – as formerly the Romans used to award it for wisdom or valour – for it was the supreme earthly prize, given for worthy deeds and honour. If you follow the Romans, everyone will hold you dear, and if a prince's work leads to victory, come to him bearing branches of laurel.

The man who brings safety where there was danger saves the lives of many valiant men. And perhaps FranceFootnote ²⁵⁶ would shortly have been enslaved by the jealous English,Footnote ²⁵⁷ since previously they showed that they had the ability to do so. Thus it seems to me that the man who extinguishes such a misfortune should have many triumphs.Footnote ²⁵⁸ Come and see him to thank him, everyone in turn should come and see him, come to him bearing branches of laurel.

Another ballade [III] by the said Creton

AllFootnote ²⁵⁹ the lands of Asia and Europe, Africa also and India were formerly conquered by the ancient Romans’ mighty feats of arms, so strong were their noble levies, until Sulla and MariusFootnote ²⁶⁰ were elected to rule as consuls. Then began the cruel jealousy from which many Romans died. The strength of Rome was almost destroyed by their quarreling and hostility; reflect on this, noble blood of France.

Sulla, who was full of self-will, planned to go and conquer the lands of noble King Mithridates.Footnote ²⁶¹ But before he had led his army from the Campania,Footnote ²⁶² Marius said that he would lead the armies himself and that he was consul; he had been consul for six years or more. Then Sulla appeared, full of rage, and put all those of Marius’ party to death. Marius took revenge when he returned from his flight to Ostia;Footnote ²⁶³ reflect on this, noble blood of France.

A long time afterwards CaesarFootnote ²⁶⁴ – the first emperor – won many noble victories, and you can be sure that in under three years he subjugated fourteen kings with his fierce fighting. Pompey feared his receiving a triumph from those he had defeated, and ordered him not to enter Rome. Julius Caesar said to his men, who knew how to fight to the death: ‘Those who have enslaved Rome will die’; reflect on this, noble blood of France.

Then was Caesar feared so much by Pompey that he fled, having called up his men. Then were father and cousin fighting against one another with bloodied weapons. Caesar's men were slaughtered, but then Pompey was defeated and his people killed; not one of them survived. He fled to PtolemyFootnote ²⁶⁵ by sea, [fo. 35v.] and did not survive there long; Ptolemy had him executed without warning. After this Rome lost her ascendancy; reflect on this, noble blood of France.

Now Lucan,Footnote ²⁶⁶ an upright and worthy man, said that these misfortunes were brought about because the one did not want another to rule over him, considering the honours he had won. ‘The other, full of pride, would bear no equal, thus the whole empire was lost,’ said Valerius. At one time Caesar and Pompey held sway over all the world. Alas! Had there been enduring peace between them,Footnote ²⁶⁷ no city would have been hostile to them; reflect on this, noble blood of France.

Princes, be clothed in harmony – that is a garment of great virtue – behave so that it is not torn by you. No one will take sides against you, for you have a huge amount of righteous power. Rome was despoiled by strife; reflect on this, noble blood of France.

Another ballade [IV] by the said Creton.

Lay hands on your weapons with all speed to win honour and renown, to improve your standing amongst noble men, to be like Judas Maccabaeus,Footnote ²⁶⁸ to emulate the valiant deeds of Alexander, who was bold and brave. If you have any thought of defeating a king,Footnote ²⁶⁹ muster troops against this summer season, then throw down a challenge to Henry who has falsely accused you of treachery, in the letters sent to France.

Do not lead your army into ItalyFootnote ²⁷⁰ – that is a country full of dangerous people – even if you had conquered them, that would not win you any security. Do not hate the Germans, but be ready, willing and able to attack those most wicked peopleFootnote ²⁷¹ who have long been hostile to the royal blood from which you sprang and to which you belong today. Do not look elsewhere; you can see the truth of this, in the letters sent to France.

Do not wait until they have crossed the sea, for advantage very often lies with the aggressor. But let their land be pillaged by you, riding hard and setting fireFootnote ²⁷² like they did here in many districts, until fire appears in more than a hundred places. Repay them what they did to us in their great perfidy. You will be obeyed and feared for evermore if you exact revenge, you whom they have greatly insulted, in the letters sent to France.

[fo. 36r.] Prince, go to war with Perfidy, who ought to make you want to punish boldly, in faith and in hope, those who show you no love, in the letters sent to France.

[The epistles and ballades are found only in B, fos 32v.–36r. Its copy of the Prinse et mort finishes with: Explicit l'ystoire du roy Richart d'Engleterre composee par [blank] Creton. This MS has been compiled in a careless and hasty manner with many crossings out and expunctions, false starts and obvious scribal errors. All rejected readings can be found at the foot of each page in the French text and referenced by a superscript.]

[fo. 32v.] Epistre faicte par ledit Creton*

Ainsy come* vraye amour requiert, a tresnoble Prince et vray catholique, Richart d'Engleterre, jeFootnote ¹⁹⁹⁴ Creton – ton lige serviteur – te envoie ceste epistre. Et saches que en l'escripsant, l'yre de mon cuer espandoit mes larmes par mes joes, pensant a ta douloureuse vie. Et toutesfoiz mon esperit est moult reconforté, et ay vertueuse esperance pour ta santé,Footnote ¹⁹⁹⁵ et pour ce que on dit par deça que tu es sains et alegiés, desquelles choses je pry Nostreseigneur que ainsi soit.

Helas! Tresredoubté Sire, et coment a peu ton seul corps soustenir ne porter tant de doulereuse tristresse sans mort? Certes toutes les creatures, qui en parlent ou oent parler, s'en esbaÿssent moult, et la plus grant partieFootnote ¹⁹⁹⁶ des homes ne le peut croire. Maiz par ce leur peut apparoir que Nostresire Dieux, qui est vray juge, toy estant es mainsFootnote ¹⁹⁹⁷ de tes ennemis, t'a tenu en sa saincte garde, en toy demonstrant perverses et ameres fortunes, et par avanture pour esprouver la constance et l'estableté de ta ferme foyFootnote ¹⁹⁹⁸ catholique; et toy – congnoissant la puissance divine [et]Footnote ¹⁹⁹⁹ desirant parvenir a la gloire qui est sans fin – les as portees en vraye pacience, en ly rendant graces et loenges de tout ce qu'i* ly plaist estre fait. Et par ainsi appert que tu es amy de Dieu, ou autrement ta vie fust pieça finee; et peut-estre que ces choses te sont predestinees devant ta nativité.

Or ayes doncques ferme esperance en Nostreseigneur plus que oncques maiz, car je sçay bien que, se tu es vif – maugré le traïstre de Lencastre et toutes ses batailles – tu seras restabli a grant honneur et a grant puissance en ton royaulme, car ton corps et ta personne est plus convenable a Mars que a Jupiter ne a Venus, et Dieu t'a formé ad ce; et sont tes faiz dignes de batailles, et de ce te portent les homes tesmoignage.

Ha! Tresredoubté et puissantFootnote ²⁰⁰⁰ Prince, quant il me souvient que, toy conquerant terres deshabitees de crestiens et plaines de desers en Hybernie, et come le lierre [et]Footnote ²⁰⁰¹ traïstre de Lencastre entra en ton royaulme et soubvertist les cuers de tes soubgez par son faulx art contre toy, tout mon sens s'esmeut a forsenerie. Et maudite soit l'eure quant il passa en Albion, que Neptunus – le dieu des vens – ne fist ses batailles enmi ses voiles ou hault pelageFootnote ²⁰⁰² de la mer, affin que* sa nef fust rompue, et que a celle heure les jours de sa malvaise et honteuse vie fussent finés: et que sa chair fust devouree, viande a oyseaux ou aux poissons, et son esperit foliéFootnote ²⁰⁰³ par diverses regions de l'air, et ses os sustraiz en la rive de la mer dedens le sablon par le deboutement des eaues; certes de telle sepulture* estoient ilz dignes et non d'autre.

Ha! Tresredoubté Prince, [fo. 33r.] l'ardant affection d'amour que tu avoies au tresfaulx conte de Rotelant t'a esté moult chier vendue, car par luy seul fut ton passage retardé de .xvi. a .xviii. jours d'Ybernie en Angleterre, toy avoir oÿ* nouvelles de tes ennemis, par son faulx enginement. Helas! Et pour quoy le crus tu plus que ceulx de ton conseil, qui desiroient moult ta briefve retournee? Et certes je me esmerveille moult come les dieux de la mer te furent ay favourables, qui te mandoient vent pour arriver au port de Milleforde; mielx eust esté pour toy d'estre arrivé a portFootnote ²⁰⁰⁴ d'autre region, maiz ce qui est predestiné du CreateurFootnote ²⁰⁰⁵ ne peut nul contrester.

Encore, tresredoubté Prince, quant il me souvient du conte de Northomberlant, je maudiz sa vie, carFootnote ²⁰⁰⁶ il te vint jurer a Cornüay sur le corps Nostreseigneur que ton ennemy – Henry de Lencastre – ne vouloit que sa terre, et qu'il se repentoit de tant qu'il estoit entré en ton royaulme, dontFootnote ²⁰⁰⁷ je suy moult esbahy come la terre paternelle [le]Footnote ²⁰⁰⁸ peut soustenir en vie, car toutes ses convenances estoient faulces et plaines de traÿsons; et par ycelles t'enmena a Flint avec grant quantité de ses gens d'armes, qu'il avoit laissiés traïteusement tapis de rochesFootnote ²⁰⁰⁹ entre Cornüay et Rothelant. Ouquel chastel de Flint, chier Sires, la nuyt te fu moult douleureuse et a bon droit, car tu teFootnote ²⁰¹⁰ vëoies environné de tes ennemis de toutes pars, lesquiex desiroient ta mort plus que nulle autre chose. Et moy mesme cuiday a celle heure fermement que la fin de mes jours fust venue, et avoie grant douleur au cuer, tant pour toy come pour moy.

Et le lendemain le lierre de Lencastre te enmena honteusement a Londres et te livra au turbe, lesquiex parFootnote ²⁰¹¹ leur faulx conseil te condampnerent en chartre perpetuelle, dont Nostreseigneur Dieu t'a delivré. Or penses donc de luy rendre graces de ferme entencion, et ayes vertueuse esperance de prendre vengeance de tes ennemis; et que ce soit par sy grant occision, que de leur sang courent fleuves par ton royaulme, sy que la fin de leur dolereux jours soit exemple a tous autres traïstres a tous temps a venir.

Et saiches que tous les maulx et horribles traÿsons, qu'ilz t'ont faictes, j'ay manifestees par figures [et]Footnote ²⁰¹² par diz* ou royaulme de France, affin que leur vie soit honteuse et plaine de reprouche. Et certes, tresredoubté Seigneur, je ne sçay come la representacion de ton ymage me vient sy souvent devant les yeux de mon cuer, car de jour et de nuyt toutes mes pensees et ymaginacions* ne sont autres sy non penser a toy. Et se la voulenté du Createur estoit telle, que moy – dolereux et triste – eusse veu ta figure devant ma mort, tout mon esperit en seroit reconforté. Maiz combien que je ne la puisse veoir des yeulx de mon chief, sy est elle tousdiz presentee devant les yeulx de ma pensee, et m'est aucunesfoiz advis que je te voy et que je parle a toy. Ainsi me delictent les faulces joyes, quant les vraies je ne puis avoir, et pour ce je faiz sacrefice de voeux,Footnote ²⁰¹³* d'oroisons et de prieres tous les jours de cuer ententif a nostre Createur, que bien brief je te puisse veoir, a telle joye come je le desire.

O, tresnoble Prince et vray catholique, ayes remembrance de ta noble et loyal compaigne, qui espant ses larmes jour et nuyt en toy actendant, desirant oÿr vraies nouvelles de ta santé. Fay tes mandemens par deça, affin qu'il appere clerement que tu es sains et alegiés, car tous homes nobles et nonnobles se resjoïssent de ta vie. Et n'ayes doleur ne vergoigne au cuer, se ta vengeance n'a esté faicte des pieça, car tu peus congnoistre et savoir clerement les adversités, douleurs et tribulacions de cest royaulme et en especial de ton beau pere, Charles, roy de France; et soies ferme et certain que nulle autre chose ne l'a retardee. Et s'il te plaist venir par deça, tuFootnote ²⁰¹⁴ trouveras la plus grant partie de la chevalerie preste pour vivre et mourirFootnote ²⁰¹⁵ avec toy.

Et sy trouveras ta noble compaigne, que ta belle mere t'a moult precieusement gardee depuis la restitucion faicte de ton ennemy – le lierre de Lencastre – lequel delaia laFootnote ²⁰¹⁶ prosecucion par l'espace de .xxii. moiz sans la vouloir rendre, affin telle que elle eust .xii. ans acomplis, et que ce qu'il [ly]* eustFootnote ²⁰¹⁷ fait faire ou dire eust esté ferme et estable. Car sa faulce entencion estoit telle de la donner a son filz aisné, lequel tu feis chevalier a grant honneur et a grant joye en Yrlande. Maiz par ce peut apparoir que diligeaument a esté requise et sommee par le conseil de France, et tant que elle a esté rendue, ainz que le jour de son aage fust acomplis. Et sachies que aussi chaste et aussi entiere que elle estoit, quant tuFootnote ²⁰¹⁸ partis d'elle a Windesore pour aler en ton voyage d'Yrlande, elle est au jour d'uy, et de ce porte elle mesmez tesmoignage. Et pour ce, tresredoubté Prince, tu doiz avoir tresgrant desir de la veoir, car moult precieuse chose est de cuillir la premiereFootnote ²⁰¹⁹ fleur du tendre corps de sy noble pucelle come de ta compaigne.

Or viens doncques par deça, chiers Sires, et met tes voiles en mer, et Ypothades, leFootnote ²⁰²⁰ doulx vent, te fera arriver a bon port. Et suy certain que tous les dieux des vens et de la mer te feront ton passage, et te fera l'estoile [fo. 33v.] d'eaue demonstrerresse de vray port, car ta cause appert juste a Nostreseigneur, veu qu'il t'a delivré de sy grant peril, ouquel tu as esté moult longuement.

Ha! Tresredoubté Prince, quantes nobles dames et chevaliers yront a l'encontre de toy, espandant leurs larmes, tant pour la joye de ta santé come pour les ameres fortunes et douleurs que tu as souffertes. Certes tu verras tous les homes loer nostre Createur et mettre les mains aux armes ententivement pour aler avecques toy contre tes ennemis. Et se tu ne peus venir par deça, et que aucun empesche ton passage, au moins, Sire, qu'il te plaise mander l'entencion de ton courage, et tu trouveras la plus grant partie des nobles du sang de France tes vrais amis, et qui ne te fauldront jusques a la mort. Et certes se tu ne viens bien brief par deça, je yrayFootnote ²⁰²¹* a toy en quelque lieu que tu soyes, et te porteray – par escript et par figures – une grant partie des ameres fortunes et doleurs, come je les vy avenir,Footnote ²⁰²² moy estant avecques toy en Ybernie et en Angleterre.

Or te prie je, mon tresredoubté Seigneur et vray catholique, en la fin de mon epistre, que tu ne la vueilles prendre en desdaing, et que la faulte de mon povreFootnote ²⁰²³ corps ne te desplaise point. Et la parlis ententivement, et par avanture que tu y trouveras chose qui te pourra aucunement plaire. Et sy te promet – par Dieu qui est puissant sur toutes creatures – que l'ardant desir d'amour que j'ay a toy le me fait faire, desirant de toutFootnote ²⁰²⁴ mon cuer l'acomplissement de tes bons plaisirs et desirs.Footnote ²⁰²⁵ Et certes se les dieux de la mer me sont favourables, je la suyvray tost et yray briefment aprez.

Balade [I] par ledit Creton

[Epistle II, to Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy]

[The passages in italic type represent borrowings from Valerius Maximus, as translated by Simon de Hesdin.]

[fo. 34r.] La fragilité avecques l'inconstance Footnote ²⁰³² de la chose publique doit ou doivent* desirer par droit cours de Nature chief sapient, prudent et plain de bon gouvernement.

Et pour ce que en ce royaulme le chief principal se peut estre dolu ou deult encore de bleceure merveilleuse et par avanture incongneue – et peut-estre par la voulenté du Createur, lequel peut avoir esté ou est indigné aucunement par la moultiplicité d'aucuns pechiés commis par luy ou par autres de son royaulme, dont pugnicion luy est transmise de la majesté celestiele – ou par le pechié de noz peres, desquiex l'Escripture Saincte dit: ‘Noz peres ont pechié, maiz nous emporterons le mal’ – ou par avanture [par] aucunes malvaises oevres et detestablesFootnote ²⁰³³ faictes par [le]Footnote ²⁰³⁴ sort ou autrement:

Toutesvoiz loist il pour le bien publique, tresredoubté Prince et vray catholique, Philippe – filzFootnote ²⁰³⁵ de roy de France, duc de Bourgoigne – que tu ayes regard a son povre et miserable peuple, duquel tu as une foyz receu la charge et garde par le consentement et commandement de ton beau frere Charles, jadix roy de France, auquel gouvernement, mon tresredoubté Seigneur, tu as esté moult prudent et favorable jusques au jour d'uy.

Et en poursuyvant l'euvre que tu as commencee – laquelle a greigneur mestier d'aide que oncques mayzFootnote ²⁰³⁶ – je te puis assez comparer au commencement de la seignourie de Tybere Cesar – empereur des Rommains – non pas a la fin de son empire. Maiz en acomplissant les oeuvresFootnote ²⁰³⁷ vertueuses que tu as commencees, tu peus estre son seul successeur en terre, car Suetonius dit ou livre Des .xii. Cesarres Footnote ²⁰³⁸ qu'il fut sy habondant en humilité, en chasteté, en sens, en prudence et en toutes autres operacions vertueuses, qu'il en passa tous les autres; et avecques ce il fu de sy grant congnoissance et especial cultivement des Footnote ²⁰³⁹ cerimonies aux dieux, que ce fu grant merveille.

Et tant que du commancement Footnote ²⁰⁴⁰* de son empire et prez jusques a la fin, il ne voult souffrir non d'empereur ne surnon de pere du païs, Footnote ²⁰⁴¹ ne a paine vouloit il souffrir que on se agenoillast devant luy, et reprovoit aigrement ceulx qui Footnote ²⁰⁴² le faisoient. Et especialment ceulx qui le blandissoient ou flatoient heoit il mortelment, laquelle chose est au jour d'uy moult prouchaine, collateral et familliant d'aucuns grans seigneurs, dont est pitié et domage; et par avanture peut-estre que aucuns en perdent la congnoissance d'eulx mesmes. Il ne faisoit fere mal a nul pour chose que on dist de luy – feust bien ou mal – maiz [disoit] Footnote ²⁰⁴³ que en franche cité toutes langues devoient estre franches. Il parloit sy bel a chascun et honnouroit aussi tous ceulx qui parloient a luy, que a pou que en ce faisant il ne passoit les mectes de humanité.

Et lors, quant les Rommains virent son tresespecial gouvernement et qu'il avoit sy aspreFootnote ²⁰⁴⁴ regart a la chose publique, il y ot d'aucuns ardans en convoitise, qui a luy conseillerent qu'il creust les threuz et redevances du païs, de quoy il respondi a eulx Footnote ²⁰⁴⁵ moult crueusement qu'ilz n'amoient pas le bien publique, et que ce n'estoit pas fait de bon pastre ou pastour de vouloir transgloutir ou mengier sa beste, maiz de la tondre justement; et tant fist de biens, qu'il monstra en luy par exemples come chascun se devoit gouverner et vivre.

Et pour l'influence des grans biens habondans en ycellui Tybere Cesarre du commancementFootnote ²⁰⁴⁶ de son empire et pres jusques a la fin, je te puis bien avoir comparé a luy, car encores depuis nagueres tu as moult habondaument enssuy les vertus de sa succession, de tant que tu as voulu devenir pastour des povres bestes – come il fut – et n'as pas voulu souffrir leur transgloutissement, maiz as tresviguereusement mis la main aux armes vainquerresses pour les garder. Pour laquelle chose, mon tresredoubté Seigneur et vray catholique, la prudence de toy sera essaucee et divulguee entre tous les crestiens de cest monde et entre les aages a venir.

Et sachies que en faisant telles oevres tu peus acquerir une vie seconde, qui est appellee gloire perdurable: car la gloire – qui vault autant a dire come bone renommee – donne a tous preudommes une vie seconde aprés la mort, et la renommee, qui remaint de leurs bones oevres, fait sembler qu'ilz soient encores vifs. Encore deffent la gloire que ceulx ne soient mors qui sont dignes de loenges. Et pour ce, mon tresredoubté Seigneur, vueillies soustenir vertueusement laFootnote ²⁰⁴⁷ oevre* que [tu]Footnote ²⁰⁴⁸ as commencee, car tes armes ne sont pas armez forcenees ne persecutoires, maiz sont doulces et reluisans come l'estoille de Jupiter pour le bien publique. Et tu le peus appercevoir clerement, car entre tous les autres princes des crestiens tu es desiré en plusieurs lieux et plusieurs nacions mesmement des Bretons, lesquiex singulierementFootnote ²⁰⁴⁹ et seulement a toy veulent baillier toute leur seignourie et garde et gouvernement; laquelle chose est moult honnourable, veu la noblesse et force d'iceulx et de leur païs.

Et pour ce que ta force et puissance, aprezFootnote ²⁰⁵⁰ celle du chief de ce royaume surmonte les autres – come je puis appercevoir – qu'il te plaise mettre ententive a deux choses, lesquelles feront vivre ta renommee perdurablement: c'est que tu ayes regard a la trescrueuse et miserable discorde de nostre mere Saincte Eglise, affin que par toy elle puisse estre unie et mise en paix et en repos. Car [fo. 34v.] certes je croy veritablement que toutes les tribulacions et maulx, qui aviennent ou sont avenus en ce royaume depuis longtemps a, ne viennent sy non des pechiés commis par nous et par la descongnoissance ou desobeïssance que nous avons de nostre Createur.

Moult de beaux exemples en monstre Valerius, ou il traicte des faiz des Rommains, en disant ainsi: ‘Ce n'est pas merveille, se indulgence ou bone voulenté des Footnote ²⁰⁵¹ dieux a esté ferme et constant de garder et acroistre l'empire de Romme, lequel a voulu par sy scrupuleuse cure estre examinez les petis mesfaiz encontre leur honneur ou service, car on ne doit pas cuidier que nostre cité eust oncques les yeulx arriere du tresespecial cultivement des cerimonies aux dieux.’ Et il le monstreFootnote ²⁰⁵² bien par moult d'exemples, entre lesquiex je t'en vueil raconterFootnote ²⁰⁵³ un, duquel nous devrions bien avoir la souvenance.

‘Il fu ordonné a Romme deux consules, dont l'un fu appellé Scipio Nasica et l'autre Gayus Figulus,Footnote ²⁰⁵⁴ lesquiex furent envoiés pour fere guerre, l'un en Corsique et l'autre en Gale, lesquelles terres ilz soubzmistrent a la seignourie de Romme. Maiz nonobstant leurs armes vertueuses furent ilz remandez a Romme et furent privez de leurs estas ou offices, pour ce seulement que Tyberius Graccus avoit escript au college des augures a Romme qu'ilz avoient Footnote ²⁰⁵⁵ fait assemblees de gens dedens le temple ou tabernacle aux dieux pour oÿr questions de petites choses et inutiles, desquelles la noyse par avanture povoit avoir empeschié le sacrefice des dieux.’

Ceste Footnote ²⁰⁵⁶ exemple devroit on bien noter, et avoir les sains lieux et eglises en grant reverence, car sycome dit Ysidore ou .xv.^e livre d'Ethimologies: ‘Se les paiens faisoient aussi grant honneur aux tabernacles ou temples non pas de leurs dieux maiz de leurs ydoles, bien devroient les crestiens grant vergoigne avoir de fere si pou de reverence au vray Dieu, qui est nostre Footnote ²⁰⁵⁷ Createur.’ Moult d'autres grans misteres en raconte Titus Livius et Valerius Maximus touchans ceste matiere, par lesquiexFootnote ²⁰⁵⁸ il semble qu'ilz veulent dire que la grant indulgence et bone voulenté des dieux les Rommains Footnote ²⁰⁵⁹ ont esté favourables et aydans.

Aprés, mon tresredoubté Seigneur, vueillies que vengeance ouFootnote ²⁰⁶⁰ pugnacion soit faicte du noble sang du bon catholique le roy Richart, lequel a esté espandu tant villainnement, tant traïcteusement, que certes c'est moult misericordieuse et piteuse chose a oÿr la finFootnote ²⁰⁶¹ de ces* jours lesquiex, par la vraye et loyaleFootnote ²⁰⁶² amour qu'il avoit par deça, ont esté finiz, ainz que son aage deust estre acompli. Helas! Se tu savoies bien les tristes complaintes et les piteux regrés qu'il faisoit a tous les seigneurs du sang de France – et especialment a toy et a Monseigneur de Saint Pol – quant il estoit fuitif en Gales pour la crainte des traïctres ses ennemis, qui le chassoient de toutes pars pour le mettre a mort, certes tu feroies assembler tumultes de batailles pour passer en leur ysle, car la longue demeure de paix fait les bons homes a rudir* et devenir paresceux.

Et pour ce, Sires, ne soies consentans de leur plus donner treves, maiz que vengeance en soit prise, telle come il appertient au mesfait. Et vrayement je cuide que – depuis le temps que les Gaulx destruisirentFootnote ²⁰⁶³ le souverain empire de Romme et qu'ilz orent passees Footnote ²⁰⁶⁴ les Alpes tresfroides, rudes et incertables,* que oncques home par avant n'avoit passees que Hercules seulement – ne fu plus honnourable conqueste faicte come ceste, ne dont il fut plus parlé. Et ne doubte point leur force forcenee, car Nostreseigneur Dieux, qui est vray juge, congnoissant leurs maulx, ne les pourroit souffrir ne soustenir en armes victorieuses – come on le peut clerement appercevoir – car depuis le temps de leur rebellion ilz n'ont eu gaires que fortunes etFootnote ²⁰⁶⁵ desconfitures. Et pour ce, Sires, s'il te plaist metre tes voiles en mer maiz que temps convenant soit venu, et tes enseingnes au vent – lesquelles furent envoiees a ton sang par la puissance divine – tu verras la plus grant partie des nobles homes mettre la main aux armez ententivement pour aler avecques toy, desirans la vengeance du noble sang espandu en Albion.

Or te prie je, mon tresredoubté Seigneur et vray catholique, a la finFootnote ²⁰⁶⁶ de mon epistre que, se j'ay aucunement mespris en parler, qu'il te plaise le moy pardonner et supporter l'ignorance de moy, qui ne suys que home lay et pou sachant; et est mon entendement de pou de congnoissance. Maiz la vraie amour que j'ay a toy le m'a fait faire, desirant de tout mon cuer ton service. Ycellui Dieu, qui ses richesses eslargist et donne habondament a la vie des saiges, te vueille octroier vie victorieuse.

Amen.

Balade [II] par Creton

Autre balade [III] par ledit Creton

Autre balade [IV] par ledit Creton