Unpublished since 1826, The Metrical History is a first-hand account of a knightly adventure which became a traumatic nightmare.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 let’s 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.
Illustrated with 16 colour illuminations from the Harley 1319 manuscript.
Bonus chronicle: the chance that anyone interested in Jean Creton would not want to read ‘La Chronique de la Traison et Mort de Richart II Roy D’angleterre’ (in English) is very slim, so we've included it in full.
It’s a different type of chronicle - interesting - informative - but how many hands wrote it, and who they were, is unsure. It is nevertheless another authentic literary relic which nobody interested in the period will want to do without.
Both chronicles are supported by helpful appendices, including a bold assertion.
Jean Creton: Eyewitness 1399 -
The Metrical History
£16.50
Pages - 218
In Stock
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