Then the dukes of Lancaster and Glocester demanded to haue restitution
of all such lands as had béene deliuered, either to king Richard, or
to king Edward the third, or to anie their deputies or commissioners,
and also to haue fullie paid the summe of florens that was left vnpaid,
at the time when the warre reuiued betwixt England and France: and
this the English lawiers prooued to stand with equitie and reason.
But neuerthelesse, the lords and chancellor of France argued to the
contrarie, and so agrée they could not, insomuch as the Frenchmen
required, that if the Englishmen meant to haue anie conclusion of
peace, they should draw to some neerer points. At length, the foure
dukes tooke order, that all their demands on either side should be set
downe in writing, and deliuered to either partie interchangeablie,
that they might be regarded at length, and such as should be found
vnreasonable, to be raced or reformed. After they had communed togither
diuerse times, and remained there fiftéene daies, they appointed to
aduertise the two kings of their whole dooings, and after nine daies
space to meet againe. The French dukes rode to Abbeuile, where the
French king then laie: and the English dukes returning to Calis, wrote
to the king of England, of all the whole matter. The duke of Glocester
was harder to deale with in each behalfe, concerning the conclusion
of peace, than was the duke of Lancaster, for he rather desired to
haue had warre than any peace, except such a one as should be greatlie
to the aduantage and honour of the realme of England: and therefore
the commons of England vnderstanding his disposition, agreed that he
should be sent, rather than anie other. For where in times past the
Englishmen had greatlie gained by the warres of France, as well the
commons, as the knights and esquires, who had by the same mainteined
their estate, they could not giue their willing consents, to haue anie
peace at all with the Frenchmen, in hope by reason of the wars, to
profit themselues, as in times past they had doone. The French king
& nobles of France were greatlie inclined to peace, and so likewise
was the king of England, & the duke of Lancaster. But the Frenchmen
were so subtill, and vsed so manie darke and coloured words, that the
Englishmen had much a doo to vnderstand them: which offended much the
duke of Glocester. But neuerthelesse, at the daie prefixed, these foure
dukes met againe at Balingham, and with the French lords came the king
of Armenie, newlie returned into France foorth of Grecia, for into his
owne countrie he durst not come, the Turkes hauing conquered it, the
strong towne of Conich, which the Genowaies held, excepted. |823|
[Sidenote: The king of Armenie.
Obscure and doubtfull words to be opened.