PLATE XII.
SIR PETER DE CRAON RECEIVED BY THE DUKE OF BRITTANY.
Froissart relates that “he was in Paris at the time of the daring attack made by Sir Peter de Craon on the Constable de Clisson, and was very anxious to ascertain the true cause of the original disgrace of de Craon, which eventually led to that desperate attempt at revenge.” From Froissart’s information, it appears that de Clisson was in no way connected with Sir Peter’s disgrace. It seems that Sir Peter being handsome, accomplished, and rich, and of nearly the same age as the youthful Duke of Touraine, became a great favourite at Court, the Duke making him his constant companion, and causing him to dress in clothes of the same colour and device as his own, carrying him with him wherever he went, and intrusting him with his most secret thoughts. Froissart proceeds:—“The Duke, at that time young and amorous, much amused himself with the company of ladies and damsels, and, as I heard, was much attached to a young frisky lady of Paris[2].” This intrigue, which it appears was a very innocent flirtation, became known to his Duchess, who cautioned the young lady, one of noble family, never again to hold converse with the Duke as she valued her life. The Duke was soon aware that he had been betrayed, and eventually persuaded his Duchess to confess to him that it was from Sir Peter de Craon that she had obtained her information; and Froissart declares, that “if it was so, Sir Peter behaved most shamefully.”
The King, at the request of the Duke of Touraine, his brother, dismissed Sir Peter from the Court, who, finding himself disgraced, took refuge with his friend and relative the Duke of Brittany, by whom he was well received.
The illumination represents the moment of his reception by the Duke of Brittany. The figures of Sir Peter and his attendant are very well executed, but some of the others are carelessly finished, appearing as though sketched out by the master, but finished by inferior hands. Most of the miniature pictures in the magnificent volumes from which these are taken, are placed, like the present, at the commencement of the chapters, and the pages so ornamented are additionally enriched with[Pg 59] an elaborate border, occupying the outside margin. The pages are written in double columns, and the present Plate is a fac-simile of the outside column of page 238 of the Vol. containing this portion of the Chronicles. The volume is about eighteen inches high by twelve broad. The words at the top of the Plate are the conclusion of a chapter, relating to a truce between England and France, and are—“ne jamais la paix tant que je vive ne me accorderay”—words spoken by the Duke of Gloucester, uncle of Richard II., who declares, he will never, while he lives, consent to make peace by the surrender of Calais. The head of the chapter, written like all the others in red ink, is:—“De Messire Pierre de Craon, et comment il enchey en l’indignation du roy de France et duc de Thouraine son frere et comme’t il fut recoeilles du duc de Bretagne[3].”—Chapp’re XXV.
The chapter commencing with a richly-ornamented capital, begins:—“En ce temporal dont je parolle estoit trop gran[4].[Pg 60]”
The sudden death of Count Gaston de Foix.