Jean Froissart Essay

The French historian and poet Jean Froissart (c. 1333-c. 1405) was educated for the church but at the age of nineteen began to write a history of the wars of his time. In 1360 he went to England, where he received a gracious welcome from Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III, who appointed him clerk of her chamber. In 1364 he traveled in Scotland, where he was the guest of King David Bruce and of the Earl of Douglas. In 1366 he went to Aquitaine with the Black Prince; in 1368 he was in Italy, possibly with Chaucer and Patriarch, at the marriage of the Duke of Clarence. About 1390 he settled in Flanders, and resumed work on his Chronicle. In 1395 he revisited England, and was cordially welcomed by Richard II. He then returned to Chimay, where he had obtained a canonry, and where he may have died. This essay will explore the three places where Jean had visited and her description on loyalty, nationality and chivalry. Go Normandy instead of Taking Gascoyne, testing the loyalty of the King. During the plan attacked to Gascoyne to rescue his men were sore constrained in the castle of Aiguillon. Lord of Harcourt suggested to the King of England to change the route instead of taking Gascoyne, he wanted rather to set a land to Normandy. He reasons out â€Å"jeopardy of my head, if ye will land there, there is none that shall resist you; the people of Normandy have not been used to the War, and all the knights and squires of the country are now at the siege before Aiguillon with the duke and I require you to believe me in this voyage. † By this reasons he wanted the King to believe in him. (Boss, p. 6) Because of the loyalty of the King he agrees with the lord of Harcourt. The King then he commanded the mariners to set their course to Normandy, and he took into his ship. (Page 6). However, the King before deciding he should first think and consult also all other lords, earls, barons and knights. (Page 5). I believe more head is better than one head. The decision of the King display loyalty to only one person. He didn’t draw a plan that if he takes Normandy what consequences they are going to face and the positive possibilities might happen. If they take Gascoyne what are some advantages and disadvantages. Loyalty is good to see in a person just like what Froissart wanted and like to have in a person. Conquering the Hogue Saint-Vaast is the only means of giving joyful to his men. The Knights sees the negative signed when they arrived in Hogue Saint-Vaast. This signed is the fallen of the King to the ground, that the blood brast out of his nose. (Page 7). So they wanted to warn the King that might evil things will happen. The knights want the Kings and the whole groups’ safety. But the King answered quickly and said: â€Å"Wherefore? This is a good token for me, for the land desired to have me. ‘ Of which answer all his men were right joyful† (Page7). In this passage he never believed his knight and even don’t want to listen to the idea that his knights was pointing out. The King believed that conquering this place would be the only great joyful to his people. He doesn’t take the advice of his knights. He is not loyal to his knights he thinks that the taking the place can give happiness to his people by robbing the other country and burning the house. These acts break the code of chivalric. Where Jean Froissart hated especially the cruelty they display. The only way in succeeding the war is being Loyal to the King and the constable. During the battle of Caen, the men of lord of France display loyalty to their Kings and constable for they will not do any fights with out the King and the constable. The men feel power and courage if they have the King and the constable in their sides. They believed that loyalty to the king and constable made them win in the war. Succeeding in the war can be harvested if the King and the constable showed their full support and braveness. The King of France and constable agrees with his men says ‘In the name of God be it, ye shall not fight without me. ‘(p. 12) Then they issued out in good order and made good face to fight and to defend them and to put their lives in adventure†. (Tetterton, 1993). The King and constable believed that if they are with the men in the war they will have the glory. Their presence can make the men brave and assertive in the war. To a certain extend they are right. Their loyalty to the King and constable are plays a lot especially pleasing their Kings. But they forget that they must first loyalty to one self and create confident and courage to their heart to win the war. Loyalty to self is the most important to all endeavors. Loyalty to one self can make a person brave. It can even do the impossible things that are extraordinary to others. If a person lacks this loyalty to others and to one self failure might occur. That’s maybe they are fought in the battle of Caen over the England. Nationalism is the only way in retrieving the lost country. The King of France shows nationalism in acting to retrieve his country that devastated by the Englishmen men. (Tetterton, 1993) His country was Brent, exiled, robbed, wasted and pilled the good with the Englishmen. He felt that his people pain and swear and said how they should never return again defaulted withal, and that such hurts and damages as they had done should be dearly revenged. (p. 10) By these barbaric act done by the opponents, the King of France call all the great leaders in his country and plan in retrieving and depending his people who are now under the hands of the England. In response to the call of the King of France all the great leaders come and set with the King of France. Like the lord John of Hainault, who came to him with a great number: also the king sent for other men of arms, dukes, earls, barons, knights and squires, and assembled together the greatest number of people that had been seen in France a hundred year before (P. F. Collier & SON). Lord John of Hainault responded because he has Nationalism in his country if that’s the reason he agree with the King sacrificing his life in defending the people who are violated by the Englishmen. I agree with the King of France in retrieving his country against the opponent. And I believed that Jean Froissart also agree for he love nationalism. Nationalism should be live in heart for every human. Defending the nation is great honor for every citizen. Dying for one’ country is a great privilege for a servant. Conclusion This essay shows nationalism is important to the King of France in defending their country. The King call all his great leaders and sacrificing his safety for the good of his people. While the King of England shows more loyalty to his trusted arm men who happen to be his cousin the lord of Harcourt. Finally, the scene above as stipulated by Jean Froissart shows nationalism greater in France and lesser in England, by the way they acted on the situation during the war. Jeans Foissart who loves chivalry who is violated both the France and England during the war. The cruelty done to women who Foissart disagree to see was there. The men in the war did not show politeness to the citizens. All they think is there happiness in taking advantages to the captured enemy. Loyalty and nationalism should be done and accomplished not to violate human rights of others. It should be put and live in our heart. References Boss, Judy. The Chronicles of Froissart. 22 November 2006, from Conversion to TEI-conformant markup: University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center. : 1994