[1] [2] Thus were the wars partlie appeased in some part of France, but yet was the truce but slenderlie kept in other parts, by reason of the duke of Britaine. For whereas contention arose betwixt one Charles de Blois, and Iohn earle of Mountfort,The occas [...]o [...] of the war [...] [...] Britaine. about the right to the duchie of Britaine, as in the historie of France maie more plainelie appeare; the earle of Mount|fort, thinking that he had wrong offered him at the French kings hands, who fauoured his aduersarie Charles de Blois, alied himselfe with the king of England. And (as some write) after he had woone di|uerse cities and townes within Britaine, he came o|uer into England, and by doing homage to king Ed|ward, acknowledged to hold it of him, as of the soue|reigne lord thereof, so that he would promise to de|fend him and that duchie against his aduersaries: which the king promised him to doo. After this, the French king made such warres against this earle of Mountfort, that he was at length taken prisoner in the towne of Naunts, and committed to safe kéeping within the castell of Loure at Paris. But his wife be|ing a stout woman, and of a manlie courage, stood vp in the quarrell of hir husband, and presented a yoong sonne which she had by him, vnto such capteins and men of warre as serued hir husband, requiring them not to be dismaid with the infortunate chance of hir husbands taking; but rather like men of good sto|machs, to stand in defense of his right, sith whatsoeuer happened to him, the same remained in that yoong gentleman his sonne: meaning that although the e|nimies should deale tyrannicallie with him, & with|out regard of his noblenesse practise his ouerthrow; yet there was hope in hir son, as increase of yeares should minister strength and courage, both to be re|uenged on his fathers enimies, and to ad an inlarge|ment of glorie and renowne to his present honor by practises of his prowesse: which to be singular the séemelie symmetrie or goodlie proportion of his per|son and his iolie countenance séemed to testifie; for
Fortes creantur fortibus,Mor. lib. ca [...] 4 Ode 4. & bonisEst in iuuencis, est in equis patrumVirtus; nec imbellem ferocesProgenerant aquilae columbam.