He next argues how men of noblesse ought to leave sensualities and delights.
In the following chapters (p. [22] et seq.), he sets forth the King's title to the duchy of Normandy, to the inheritance of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine, and to the duchies of Gascoigne and Guienne.
The "historier" proceedeth (p. [25]) in his matter of exhortation, strengthening his arguments by the heterogeneous authority of master Alanus de Auriga, of "the clerke of eloquence Tullius," of Caton, the famous poet Ovid, and Walter Malexander. The work of the first of these authors, Alain Chartier, seems to have been at once the source from which many of our author's materials were derived, and also to have furnished the key-note upon which he endeavoured to pitch his
appeals to the patriotism and prowess of his countrymen. Alain Chartier[[9]] had been secretary to king Charles the Seventh, and wrote his Quadrilogue[[10]] in the year 1422, in defence of the native party in France, and in opposition to the English usurpation. Our author imitates his rhapsodical eloquence, and borrows some of his verbal artillery and munitions of war, whilst he turns them against the party of their original deviser.
In the subsequent pages several anecdotes are derived from Alain Chartier[[11]]; and further advice is drawn from the Arbre des Batailles (pp. [27], [30]), and from the treatise of Vegetius (p. [29]).
It is related (p. [33]) how king John lost the duchy of Normandy for lack of finaunce to wage his soldiers; and next follows (p. [34]) a long and important chapter recounting the various truces made between the kings of England and France, and showing how frequently they had been broken by the French party, to the decay of the English power, except when revived by the victories of Edward the Third and Henry the Fifth. This part of the discussion is concluded with a representation (p. [41]) of the lamentable condition of the French subjects of the English crown, when put out of their lands and tenements. "Heh allas! (thei did crie,) and woo be the tyme (they saide) that ever we shulde put affiaunce and trust to the Frenshe partie or theire allies in any trewes-keping, considering so many-folde tymes we have ben deceived and myschevid thoroughe suche dissimuled trewes!"
Yet, notwithstanding all these discouragements, a confident trust is expressed that the inheritance of France will at length be brought to its true and right estate.
The writer then proposes (p. [41]) a question to be resolved by divines, How be
it that at some times God suffereth the party that hath a true title and right to be overcome, yet for all that a man should not be discouraged from pursuing his right. He mentions the last unfortunate overthrow sustained at Formigny[[12]] in 1450, and the consequent loss of Guienne and Bordeaux.
After which follows (p. [43]) "another exhortation of the historier," addressed to the "highe and myghtifulle prince, king of Englonde and of France, and alle ye other noble princes and other puissaunt lordes and nobles of divers astates olde or yong."