Chronicles

Jean Froissart

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1400

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Book 1, Chapter 8-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 8 Summary: “The Siege of Calais”

After the victory at Crècy, Edward III attempts to seize Calais, an important port town on the French side of the English Channel. To prepare for the English siege, the French commander of Calais sent away the poor residents of Calais since they would not have the provisions to last in a siege. Edward III gave the impoverished exiles food and money.

King David II of Scotland attacked England, but he was captured in battle. After David II was imprisoned in the Tower of London, Queen Philippa sailed to France to join her husband at the siege. Meanwhile, the Count of Flanders, who was killed at the Battle of Crècy fighting for Philip VI, is succeeded by his son, who is also pro-French. The pro-English burghers of Flanders imprisoned the count and forced him to marry Edward’s daughter Isabella and side with the English. Edward III accepted the new alliance with the count and swore to him “that he had neither seen nor heard anything of the Count of Flanders during the whole of the battle of Crècy, or the day after” (100). However, while going hawking, the count escaped and went to the court of Philip VI.

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The French organized an army to save Calais. They succeeded in taking an English tower at Tournay, guarded by archers. However, the swampy land and beach surrounding Calais made it difficult to approach with an army. Philip VI sent an envoy to Edward III, asking him to come battle him. Edward III refused, writing back, “I am not disposed to do very much to suit his plans and convenience, or let slip the thing I have so strongly desired and brought so dearly” (103). Philip VI is forced to withdraw. Losing hope, the citizens of Calais coaxed their governor Jean de Vienne into negotiating with Edward III’s representative Walter Manny. Because Edward III wanted revenge for the hardship Calais put on his army, he insisted that six of the leading citizens of Calais be submitted to him wearing ropes around their necks, on the condition he spare everyone else. Six of the wealthiest citizens of Calais agreed to surrender to Edward III to save the lives of the rest of the population.

The six burghers submitted to the king. According to Froissart, “None of the brave men present, lords, knights, or men at arms could refrain from shedding tears of pity when they heard this” (108). Still, Edward III decided to have them executed. However, Philippa, who was pregnant at the time, begged Edward III to spare them. Still, Edward III exiled all the citizens of Calais without allowing them to keep their possessions. (However, Brereton writes that historical evidence suggests some people of Calais were allowed to return or take their possessions. Also, despite what Froissart suggests, Philip VI did attempt to compensate them).

Chapter 9 Summary “Black Death, Flagellants and Jews”

By 1349, the Black Death hit Europe. Starting in Germany, some people “did public penance and scourged themselves with whips of hard knotted leather with little iron spikes” (111). These people, who wandered from town to town, were called the Flagellants. This was an attempt to convince God to stop the Black Death, which Froissart believed killed “at least a third of all the people in the world” (111). The Pope condemned the activities of the Flagellants, but many priests, monks, and nuns joined them regardless. Still, the Flagellants were eventually broken up under opposition from the Pope and Philip VI. Also, Froissart notes there was a prophecy among the Jews of Europe that “cruel” knights in Germany will seek to “destroy” them (112). Froissart argues this came true, and Jewish refugees had to migrate to the Spanish kingdoms of Navarre, Castile, and Aragon.

Chapter 10 Summary: “Sea Battle off Winchelsea”

Because of Spanish piracy against English ships, Edward III prepared to fight Spanish sailors in Flanders. Froissart’s own patron, Robert of Namur, was present and appointed master of an English ship called Salle du Roi. In the resulting fight, the Spanish threw heavy iron bars at the English ships to sink them. At one point, Robert of Namur’s ship was nearly captured by the Spanish, but he and others managed to get on board the enemy ship and kill the crew. The English were victorious, and the Spanish lost 14 ships out of 40 (118-119). Philippa was distressed because she could watch the entire battle from the abbey she was staying in.

Chapters 8-10 Analysis

These chapters provide another example of how Froissart’s treatment of Chivalry, Honor, and War might seem strange to the modern reader. Edward III was again willing to slaughter the citizens of a town that proved difficult to capture. Although he decided against it, he was still determined to execute six of Calais’s wealthiest citizens. Only the tearful intercession of Queen Philippa stopped him (108-109). Such a plea for mercy from influential women, especially a queen, is a common trope in medieval history. Likewise, in terms of Nobility, Burghers, and Peasants, Froissart exhibits what Brereton describes as his middle-class “conscience” (22). The six burghers of Calais are portrayed very sympathetically for their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their city.

Also, Froissart describes the Flagellants. In terms of Religion and the Church, Froissart describes some of the Flagellants’ rules as “quite reasonable and acceptable things which agreed with such natural human inclinations as to journey about and do penance” (112). Regardless, the movement is still banned by the papacy.