ILLUMINATED

ILLUSTRATIONS OF FROISSART.

SELECTED FROM

The MS.

IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The idea of publishing these illuminations was suggested by the great success which has attended the reprint of the Chronicles of Monstrelet and Froissart; the extensive sale of which books bears strong testimony to the searching spirit of inquiry now abroad. We are no longer content to read our early history through the filtered medium of a compilation, but seek it in the vivid pages of the chroniclers, who drew from the life, and sketched off in simple and quaint, but earnest language, the stirring panorama of their times. But the pleasure of reading such an historian as Froissart, in an ordinary printed book, is small when compared with that of reading him in one of the curious manuscripts of his own time.

To unclose the gilded clasps of one of those ponderous velvet-bound volumes, to turn over the crisp vellum, and read the story of those exciting times traced in quaint Gothic characters by careful clerks; but above all to admire the curious and elaborate borderings of the illuminated pages, and dwell on the miniature pictures, wrought with the greatest care and beauty by the most skilful contemporary limners, to embody more tangibly the narration of the author, is indeed a pleasure;—yet one which but few can enjoy. To afford that enjoyment to the many, and place before them some of the most interesting of these rare illuminations, is the object of the present publication.

WITH

REFERENCES TO SMITH’S EDITION OF “FROISSART,” IN TWO VOLUMES.

THE CORONATION OF POPE BONIFACE IX.

THE MARRIAGE OF KING LOUIS OF SICILY, SON OF THE DUKE OF ANJOU, TO THE DAUGHTER OF KING PEDRO OF ARRAGON.

THE PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUCE BETWEEN RICHARD II. OF ENGLAND AND CHARLES VI. OF FRANCE.

THE EXPEDITION OF THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH TO THE COAST OF AFRICA, AT THE REQUEST OF THE GENOESE.

THE RAISING OF THE SIEGE OF THE STRONG TOWN OF AFRICA, AND THE RETURN OF THE EUROPEAN KNIGHTS.

The siege of Africa having failed, as it was thought partly in consequence of the pride and obstinacy of the Duke de Bourbon, and the army having fruitlessly remained sixty days before the place, suffering much loss, as well by the heat of the weather as in an attempt to take the town by storm, it was determined that they should re-imbark, and return to Europe, which they did.

TOURNAMENT HELD AT ST. INGLEVERE, NEAR CALAIS, WHEN THREE FRENCH KNIGHTS DEFENDED THE LISTS FOR THIRTY DAYS, AGAINST ALL COMERS FROM ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE.

Sir John Holland, half brother to king Richard the Second, and many English knights, went over to Calais to accept the challenge of the French knights at this tournament. Three rich vermilion-coloured tents were pitched near to the lists, and in front of which were suspended two targets, for peace or war, emblazoned with the arms of each lord. It was ordered that such as were desirous of performing any deed of arms, should send to or have touched one or both of these targets according to their pleasure, and they would be tilted with according to their request. The following is Froissart’s account of one of the encounters, each of which he describes minutely.

“Sir Henry Beaumont” (an Englishman) “then came forward, and sent to have the target of Sir Boucicaut” (one of the French knights) “touched, who was instantly ready to reply to the call, having not dismounted from the tilts with Lord Clifford. The Lord Beaumont did not manage his lance well, and hit Boucicaut on the side, but Sir Boucicaut struck him so full in the middle of his shield, that it drove him to the ground, and continued his course. Lord Beaumont was raised up by his attendant and remounted. The Lord de Saimpi” (another of the French knights) “then presented himself, and they tilted two courses very handsomely, without hurt to either.”

The king of France was present in disguise at this tournament, and returned each evening after the tilting to an inn at Marquise; the English returned each evening to Calais; while the three French knights and their attendants were lodged at the convent of St. Inglevere.

THE ATTACK ON SIR OLIVER DE CLISSON, BY THE FOLLOWERS OF SIR PETER DE CRAON.

Sir Peter de Craon having been disgraced by King Charles VI. and his brother the Duke of Touraine, and banished the court of France, imagined Sir Oliver de Clisson to be the remote cause of his disfavour. To revenge himself, therefore, he caused many men-at-arms to conceal themselves in his hôtel at Paris; and having been privately informed of all the movements of Sir Oliver, who supped with the King on the day of the feast of the Holy Sacrament, and remained the last of the party, he attacked him on his way home with his men, and would have cruelly murdered him, but for a lucky accident that saved his life. Having received a severe blow on the back of his head that struck him senseless from his horse, he fell against the door of a baker, who was already up to attend to his bread, and hearing the noise, had slightly opened the door, which the weight of Sir Oliver now threw completely back, and he fell into the shop. The horsemen, thinking they had done their work effectually, now rode off, and thus Sir Oliver escaped, though desperately wounded. The King was much affected on hearing of the attempted murder of Sir Oliver, who was High Constable of France, and went immediately in his night-dress and slippers to visit him, for it was very near the hôtel St. Pol, and the King was not yet in bed when news of the event reached him. Sir Peter, though pursued immediately, escaped into Spain, and eventually he was again received into favour, and Sir Oliver fell into disgrace.

THE MEETING OF CHARLES VI. OF FRANCE, AND THE DUKE OF BRITTANY AT TOURS.

Misunderstandings having long existed between the King (Charles VI.) of France and the Duke of Brittany, and being much increased by the protection afforded by the Duke to Sir Peter de Craon, many feared that other powerful Lords might follow his rebellious example, and the supremacy of the Crown, by degrees, be lost. It was, therefore, determined to invite the Duke to a conference with the King at Tours, which, after some difficulty, was effected; and though much bitterness was shown on both sides during the discussion, all disputes were eventually adjusted, and a general good understanding secured, by the proposal of a marriage between the son of the Duke of Brittany and a daughter of the King of France; and also between a son of the Lord of Blois and a daughter of the Duke of Brittany.

THE GREAT ASSAULT UPON THE TOWN OF AFRICA.

During the sixty-one days that the siege lasted, many were the skirmishes and encounters before the town and at the barriers; but the principal assault occurred in consequence of a challenge having been sent by ten Saracens to meet ten Christians in combat, between the town and the camp. Ten knights, among whom was Sir John Russel, an Englishman, having accepted the challenge, went forth to the ground of combat, and the army was drawn up in battle-array to witness the encounter, but the Saracens never came, and the commander thinking it a pity that the day should pass without a little fighting, as they were all prepared, ordered a general assault upon the town. They took the outer wall by storm, but it was little advantage to them, as the enemy retired behind the inner line. The loss sustained by the Christian troops was very great, for numbers fell victims to the heat alone on that day, whilst many were killed in the combat; the Saracens sustaining but slight loss.

After the raising of the siege, the Saracens of Africa, Tunis, Morocco, Granada, and other places, formed an alliance for the purpose of making themselves masters of the Mediterranean, and revenging this siege of Africa. They succeeded so well in annoying the trade of the Venetians, Genoese, &c., that merchandise from the east and south was scarcely to be had for any money; and Froissart winds up the chapter by telling us, that “all sorts of spicery became enormously dear.”