Unpublished since 1826, The Metrical History is a first-hand account of a knightly adventure which became a traumatic nightmare. News of Henry’s armed rebellion reaches Richard II in Ireland and Frenchman Jean Creton returns to Wales with the earl of Salisbury to prepare a counterattack.

Morale is low, the soldiers melt away and there’s just a handful of loyalists left to meet the king when he eventually reaches Conway castle.

But it’s now too late; Jean Creton’s highly personal testimony lets us share their confusion and despair as Henry closes in until, captured in an ambush and imprisoned in Flint castle, they see his army coming towards them along the shore.

Of all the chronicular sources for the events of 1399, Creton’s is probably the most truthful as it contains tiny but significant fragments which can be corroborated elsewhere, though he was himself ignorant of their significance.

Illustrated with 16 colour illuminations from the Harley 1319 manuscript.