Chronicles

Froissart begins by discussing the ascension of King Edward III to the English throne. He cites an English legend that “between two brave and warlike kings there has always reigned one less gifted in body and mind” (39). The example of this was Edward III’s grandfather, King Edward I, who was a great king who won wars against Scotland “three or four times” (39). However, Edward I’s father and his predecessor Edward II fell under the influence of a bad advisor, Hugh Despenser, and alienated the nobility of the kingdom.

After the barons of the kingdom met to discuss the problems of the realm, Edward II had them arrested and executed 22 of them, including Thomas, the Earl of Leicester. The spot where the Duke of Leicester was executed became believed to be a site where miracles took place. Froissart also blames Despenser for causing the relationship between Edward II and his queen Isabella to deteriorate so badly that Isabella left for her homeland of France with one nobleman, Roger Mortimer, and her son, the future King Edward III. Despenser bribed and manipulated both the Pope and Isabella’s brother King Charles IV of France to force Isabella to leave France. Next, Isabella went to Hainault, where the Count of Hainault’s brother Robert gave her a fighting force.