Volume 1

Chronicles of England, France, Spain, and the adjoining countries : from the latter part of the reign of Edward II. to the coronation of Henry IV / by Sir John Froissart. Tr. from the French editions ; with variations and additions from many celebrated mss. by Thomas Johnes, esq. To which are prefixed, a life of the author, an essay on his works, and a criticism on his history.

  • Froissart, Jean, 1338?-1410?
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Chronicles of England, France, Spain, and the adjoining countries : from the latter part of the reign of Edward II. to the coronation of Henry IV / by Sir John Froissart. Tr. from the French editions ; with variations and additions from many celebrated mss. by Thomas Johnes, esq. To which are prefixed, a life of the author, an essay on his works, and a criticism on his history. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    715/968 (page 577)
    were more firm and unanimous in their opposition to it than all the rest. John Lyon, their deacon, was secretly rejoiced at this; for he was desirous of maintaining all their ancient rights and privileges, and flattered himself that the brothers were in his favour, while they were acting just the contrary. John Lyon reported to the earl the answer of the mariners, adding, “ My lord, it is a thing which cannot be done: much evil may result from it: let things remain as they are, and do not attempt to introduce any novelties.” This answer was not very pleasing to the earl, for he perceived that if the impost were laid, and collected in the manner he had been told, he should have received every year from six to seven thousand florins of revenue : he therefore made no reply, but did not think less upon it, and had those mariners whom John Lyon found rebellious sued by actions and otherwise. On the other hand, Gilbert Matthew came to the earl and his council, to say that John Lyon did not act well in this business; that if he had his office, he would so manage the mariners that the earl of Flanders should have this revenue hereditarily. The earl did not see clear, for this revenue, with his avarice, blinded him; and, without asking for advice, he deprived John Lyon of his office, which he gave to Gilbert. When Gilbert thus saw himself deacon of the pilots, he turned his brothers according to his will, and gave the earl satisfaction in regard to this impost, for which he was not the more beloved by the majority of the mariners; but they were forced to submit, for the seven brothers, assisted by the earl, were too many for them, and it behoved them to do so in silence. Thus did Gilbert Matthew, by this wary method carry his point, and obtain the favour of the earl of Flanders. Gilbert made very handsome presents to the officers and chamberlains of the earl; by which means he blinded them, and gained their friendship. All these fine gifts were paid for by the mariners, which dissatisfied many, but they dared not complain. John Lyon, by the above mentioned means and intrigues of Gilbert, entirely lost the good graces of the earl: he lived quietly on his fortune, suffering patiently whatever was done to him. Gilbert, being now deacon, and secretly hating John Lyon, took away from him a third or fourth of the profits which were his due from the navigation. John Lyon did not say one word, but, prudently dissembling, and with an apparent good will, took whatever they gave him; for, he said, there were times when it was better to be silent than to talk. Gilbert Matthew had a brother named Stephen, a cunning fellow, who had watched all the actions of John Lyon : he said to his brothers (for he prophesied to them all that was to happen) ; “ Certainly, gentlemen, John Lyon suffers at this moment, and keeps his head very low ; but he acts with good sense, and will contrive to throw us as low as we are now high. I will give you one piece of advice, which is, to kill him while we continue in the favour of my lord the earl: I can very easily do it, if you charge me with this business, by which we shall escape all the danger, and can easily get acquitted for his death.” His brothers refused to consent to this, saying he had not done them any wrong, and that no man ought to lose his life but by the sentence of a judge. Things remained in this situation for some time, when the devil, who never sleeps, ])ut it into the heads of the people of Bruges to make a canal from the river Lys : the earl agreed in their plans, and sent a number of pioneers, with a body of men at arms to guard them. They had in former times attempted to do this, but the citizens of Ghent had by force made them desist. News was brought to Ghent, that the inhabitants of Bruges were now intend- ing to carry by force their old scheme of making a canal to obtain the waters of the Lys, which would be very prejudicial to them ; so that great murmurs arose in Ghent, more par- ticularly among the mariners, who were much affected by it. They said, that the people of Bruges should not thus make a canal to draw off the course of the river, as it would be the ruin of the town. Some others said, in an underhand manner, “ Now God save John Lyon! had he been our deacon, such an attempt would not have been made, nor the people of Bruges have had the courage to have undertaken this business.” John Lyon was duly informed of all these things : he began to awaken, saying, “ I have for some time slept; but it seems that this trifling affair in appearance has roused me, and shall create such troubles between this town and the earl as will cost a hundred thousand lives.” Intelligence of these diggers was brought, with great additions^ that much inflamed men’s minds; for it chanced, that a woman on her return from a pilgrimage to our Lady of F e