In this thirtéenth yeare of king Richards reigne, the christians tooke
in hand a iournie against the Saracens of Barbarie, through sute of
the Genowais, so that there went a great number of lords, knights,
and gentlemen of France and England, the duke of Burbon being their
generall. Out of England there went one Iohn de Beaufort bastard son to
the duke of Lancaster (as Froissard hath noted) also sir Iohn Russell,
sir Iohn Butler and others. They set forward in the latter end of this
thirtéenth yeare, and came to Genoa, where they remained not long, but
that the gallies and other vessels of the Genowais were readie to passe
them ouer into Barbarie. And so about Midsummer in the beginning of the
fourteenth yeare of this kings reigne, the whole armie being embarked,
sailed foorth to the coasts of Barbarie, where neare to the citie of
Affrike they landed, at which instant the English archers (as some
write) stood all the companie in good stead, with their long bowes,
beating backe the enimies from the shore, which came downe to resist
their landing.
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._
The earle of Derbie his exploits in his iournie against the infidels of
Prutzenland.]
After they had got to land, they inuironed the citie of Affrike,
(called by the moores Mahemedia) with a strong siege: but at length
constrained with the intemperancie of the scalding aire in that hot
countrie, bréeding in the armie sundrie diseases, they fell to a
composition vpon certeine articles to be performed in the behalfe of
the Saracens, and so 61 daies after their first arriuall there, they
tooke the seas againe, & returned home, as in the histories of France
and Italie is likewise expressed. Where, by Polydor Virgil it may
séeme, that the lord Henrie of Lancaster earle of Derbie, should be
capteine of the English men, that (as before ye haue heard) went into
Barbarie with the Frenchmen, and Genowais. It should otherwise appeare
by other writers, who affirme that the said earle made a iournie
in deed the same time against the miscreants, not into Barbarie,
but into Prutzenland, where he shewed good proofe of his noble and
valiant courage: for ioining with the masters and knights of the Dutch
order there, the armie of the Lithuanians that came against the said
order was vanquished, and foure chiefe leaders of the Lithuanians
were taken prisoners, thrée other being slaine, with thrée hundred
of their chiefest and best approoued soldiers. Through the policie
also and worthie manhood of the earle of Derbie, there was a certeine
citie taken, where the said earle and his men first entring vpon the
walles, did set vp his banner: other being slouthfull, or at the least
vnskilfull how to deale in such exploits. There were taken and slaine
foure thousand of the common people, and amongst them that were found
dead, the king of Polognies brother was one. The castell of the same
citie was besieged fiue weekes space: but by reason of sickenesse and
such infirmities as chanced in the armie, the masters of Prutzen, and
Lifeland would not tarie any longer, but breake vp their siege and
returned. The master of Lifeland led with him into his countrie thrée
thousand prisoners.
[Sidenote: A roiall iusts holden in Smithfield at London.
The manner of the iusts in Smithfield.