had received since he was twenty-five years, two thousand francs, of which nothing remained. The composition of his works had cost him seven hundred francs; but he regretted not this expense; for, as he says, ' I have composed many a history, which 'will be spoken of by posterity.' The remainder was spent among the tavern-keepers at Lestines, and in his travels, which he always performed with a good equipage, well-mounted, welldressed, and living well wherever he went. This last observation is very characteristic of Froissart, who is never at the slightest trouble to disguise his passion for a merry and jolly life.

His curiosity and his restlessness, his thirst for information and his love of locomotion, seem to have been perfectly insatiable: and he was, in all probability, by far the greatest traveller of his age. He visited more than once most of the countries of Europe, and found a friend and patron in almost every court, whether of king, petty prince, or noble. During his first residence in England, he spent six months in Scotland, and pushed his way as far as the Highlands, travelling on horseback, with his portmanteau ' behind him, followed by a greyhound.' The king of Scotland, as well as many nobles of whose names he has made honourable mention, courteously entertained him, more especially William, earl of Douglas, who treated him so hospitably, that he says he should have much liked to pay him another visit. He also made an expedition about the same time into North Wales.

But the most extraordinary instance recorded, both of the promptness with which he undertook long journies, and of his honest diligence in procuring the most authentic information for his 'Chronicles,' is as follows. While in France in 1390, being engaged in the continuation and completion of his history, he felt dissatisfied with the relation he had given of the war between the Spanish and Portuguese. He had heard only one side, and he thought it but right to hear what the Portuguese had to say. While in this state of doubt, he was informed that many of that nation were to be found at Bruges, and off he at once set to relieve his scruples. On his arrival there, he heard that there was a knight of Portugal, by name Juan Fernando Portelet, who had lately come to Middleburg, in Zealand, and who was on his road to Prussia, to take a part in the war against the infidels.' Without a moment's hesitation, Froissart sets off in search of him, accompanied by a friend of the knight's; repairs to Sluys, embarks there, reaches Middleburg, gets an introduction to the Portuguese, enjoys a hearty six days' gossip with him, returns home, and compiles a new book, which constitutes the third of his Chronicles.'

Even in advanced age, the same restlessness and thirst of information still possessed him. He was deterred neither by dangers nor fatigues; and he seems to have been quite a stranger to that

love of repose which is usually the appropriate and supreme gratification of age. In his last visit to England, which took place in 1395, when King Richard had just returned from his successful campaign in Ireland, he expressed his great regret that he had not come to England a year sooner, (as was his original intention,) in order that he might have accompanied the expedition to Ireland, and, as he expressed it, seen every-thing for himself.'

6

To his patrons, Froissart seems to have stood in somewhat of a nondescript relation; sometimes acting as secretary, (a post which few could fill in those days,) sometimes commissioned to transact important negociations, and sometimes appearing to be a sort of companion. Of Queen Philippa, wife of Edward III., to whose service he was attached for five years, he says, that in youth he was her secretary, and amused her with handsome ditties, and madrigals of love, and that through affection to the service of that noble and puissant lady to whom he belonged, all the other 'great lords, dukes, earls, barons, and knights, of whatever nation they might be, loved him, saw him with pleasure, and were of the greatest utility to him.' His principal patrons, after Queen Philippa, who died in 1369, and who was his earliest and one of his fastest and most beneficent friends, were Winceslaus de Luxembourgh, duke of Brabant; Guy de Chatillon, Count de Blois; and Gaston, Count de Foix, one of the most accomplished and valiant nobles of the age. Froissart died about the year 1400, at the age of about sixty years, having spent about forty of them in one incessant round of gossip and travelling.

Froissart's Chronicles were naturally great favourites with our warlike ancestors, to whom an amusing book on their favourite subjects must have been an invaluable rarity, and a most welcome guest both in hall and bower. So diligently were manuscripts multiplied, that M. de St. Palaye says, that after the bible and the fathers, he does not believe there is any work of which there have been so many copies.' In France, of course, they are most numerous; but there is also a considerable number in foreign countries. In England alone they exist to a far greater extent than, according to Mr. Johnes, M. de St. Palaye was apprised.

They have, of course, been translated into several languages. In English alone, there are two versions; one very old, the other comparatively recent. The former is that of Lord Berners, who undertook the task at the express command of Henry VIII.; the latter is that of Mr. Johnes, published we believe somewhat more than thirty years ago, at that gentleman's private press, and, if we have been correctly informed, at his sole cost, in several expensive volumes. This is the translation selected for the present edition, and is here presented to the public in two handsome volumes, royal octavo, at an exceedingly moderate price.

In the reasons assigned by the editor for the selection of the present translation, in preference to that of Lord Berners, we must upon the whole concur. It has undoubtedly the merit of greater accuracy, and is to the general reader far more intelligible. By the scholar well versed in our older literature, the translation of Lord Berners will undoubtedly be preferred. As might be expected, it is expressed in far more racy English, not to mention, that as the spirit and the usages of chivalry still existed unimpaired at the time the translation was executed, it reflects the original more vividly than any modern version can. The terms of old Froissart were translated, not by explanatory phrases and feeble circumlocutions, but into the very language of chivalry, then every-where current, and forming part of the living language the language of the people. Still it was not desirable to make that version the basis of the present edition. Not only are the technicalities of chivalry no longer intelligible, but a large portion of the general language of the work has become entirely obsolete, while the orthography is of course throughout exceedingly antiquated. To render it intelligible, therefore, to the mass of the people, there must have been an abundance of comments attached to the text, a copious glossary, and an entire revision of the orthography; while even then, to all but the comparatively few who are familiar with the style of our ancient writers, its perusal would have been a very tedious task. Upon the whole, therefore, we see no reason to complain that the modern has been preferred to the older version. At the same time, we observe with pleasure, that in some few passages of stirring interest, where Lord Berner's version possesses great fidelity, vigour, or raciness, the editor has judiciously appended his translation also to the text.

We shall now proceed to introduce the reader to a few striking extracts from Froissart himself; and we are much mistaken if their perusal does not render them anxious to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with this graphic writer.

We have purposely abstained from more lengthened comment on his genius or writings, in order that the particular events or scenes described in the following extracts might be given nearly entire and unmutilated. The reader can hardly fail to perceive in every one of them that vividness of colouring, and vivacious minuteness of detail which we have already represented as so characteristic of this ancient historian.

Our first extract shall be the description of the battle of Crecy, in which the reader will admire, not only the vigour and life-like character of the painting, but the candour and impartiality with which the author has narrated events so humiliating to his own countrymen.

The English, who were drawn up in three divisions, and seated on the ground, on seeing their enemies advance, rose undauntedly up,

and fell into their ranks. That of the prince was the first to do so, whose archers were formed in the manner of a portcullis, or harrow, and the men at arms in the rear. The earls of Northampton and Arundel, who commanded the second division, had posted themselves in good order on his wing, to assist and succour the prince, if neces

sary.

You must know, that these kings, earls, barons, and lords of France, did not advance in any regular order, but one after the other, or any way most pleasing to themselves. As soon as the king of France came in sight of the English, his blood began to boil, and he cried out to his marshals, Order the Genoese forward, and begin the battle, in the name of God and St. Denis.' There were about fifteen thousand Genoese cross-bowmen; but they were quite fatigued, having marched on foot that day six leagues, completely armed, and with their cross-bows. They told the constable, they were not in a fit condition to do any great things that day in battle. The earl of Alençon hearing this, said, 'This is what one gets by employing such scoundrels, who fall off when there is any need for them.' During this time a heavy rain fell, accompanied by thunder, and a very terrible eclipse of the sun; and before this rain a great flight of crows hovered in the air over all those battalions, making a loud noise. Shortly afterwards it cleared up, and the sun shone very bright; but the Frenchmen had it in their faces, and the English in their backs. When the Genoese were somewhat in order, and approached the English, they set up a loud shout, in order to frighten them; but they remained quite still, and did not seem to attend to it. They then set up a second shout, and advanced a little forward; but the English never moved. They hooted a third time, advancing with their cross-bows presented, and began to shoot. The English archers then advanced one step forward, and shot their arrows with such force and quickness that it seemed as if it snowed. When the Genoese felt these arrows, which pierced their arms, heads, and through their armour, some of them cut the strings of their cross-bows, others flung them on the ground, and all turned about and retreated, quite discomfited. The French had a large body of men-at-arms on horseback, richly dressed, to support the Genoese. The king of France, seeing them thus fall back, cried out, 'Kill me those scoundrels, for they stop up our road without any reason!' You would then have seen the above-mentioned men-at-arms lay about them, killing all they could of these runaways.

The English continued shooting as vigorously and quickly as before; some of their arrows fell among the horsemen, who were sumptuously equipped, and killing and wounding many, made them caper and fall among the Genoese, so that they were in such confusion they could never rally again. In the English army, there were some Cornish and Welshmen on foot, who had armed themselves with large knives; these, advancing through the ranks of the men-at-arms and archers, who made way for them, came upon the French when they were in this danger, and, falling upon earls, barons, knights, and squires, slew many, at which the king of England was afterwards much exasperated. The valiant king of Bohemia was slain there. He

was called Charles of Luxembourg; for he was the son of the gallant king and emperor, Henry of Luxembourg; having heard the order of the battle, he inquired where his son, the lord Charles was; his attendants answered, that they did not know, but believed he was fighting. The king said to them, Gentlemen, you are all my people, my friends and brethren at arms this day; therefore, as I am blind, I request of you to lead me so far into the engagement that I may strike one stroke with my sword.' The knights replied, they would directly lead him forward; and, in order that they might not lose him in the crowd, they fastened all the reins of their horses together, and put the king at their head, that he might gratify his wish, and advanced towards the enemy. The lord Charles of Bohemia, who already signed his name as king of Germany, and bore the arms, had come in good order to the engagement; but when he perceived that it was likely to turn out against the French, he departed, and I do not know well what road he took. The king, his father, had rode in among the enemy, and made good use of his sword; for he and his companions had fought most gallantly. They had advanced so far that they were all slain; and on the morrow they were found on the ground, with their horses all tied together.

The earl of Alençon advanced in regular order upon the English, to fight with them; as did the earl of Flanders, in another part. These two lords with their detachments, coasting, as it were, the archers, came to the prince's battalion, where they fought valiantly for a length of time. The king of France was eager to march to the place where he saw their banners displayed, but there was a hedge of archers before him. He had that day made a present of a handsome black horse to Sir John of Hainault, who had mounted on it a knight of his, called Sir John de Fusselles, that bore his banner; which horse ran off with him, and forced his way through the English army, and, when about to return, stumbled and fell into a ditch, and severely wounded him; he would have been dead, if his page had not followed him round the battalions, and found him unable to rise: he had not, however, any other hindrance than from his horse; for the English did not quit the ranks that day to make prisoners. The page alighted, and raised him up; but he did not return the way he came, as he would have found it difficult from the crowd. This battle, which was fought on the Saturday, between la Broyes and Crecy, was very murderous and cruel; and many gallant deeds of arms were performed that were never known. Towards evening, many knights and squires of the French had lost their masters; they wandered up and down the place attacking the English in small parties; they were soon destroyed, for the English had determined that day to give no quarter, or hear of ransom from any one.

Early in the day, some French, Germans, and Savoyards, had broken through the archers of the prince's battalion, and had engaged with the men-at-arms; upon which the second battalion came to his aid; and it was time, for otherwise he would have been hard pressed. The first division, seeing the danger they were in, sent a knight in great haste to the king of England, who was posted upon an eminence,