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SIR JOHN FROISSART
Chronicles of England, France, Spain and the adjoining countries
from the latter part of the reign of Edward II to the coronation of Henry IV. Vol.1
page 58
xlvtt
rieâion between feveral chapters at a great diftance from each other.
The interval there is between the third and . fourth volumes, feems to have been caufed more to give repofe to the reader, than to the hiftorian ; for Froiffart, in ending the third, announces the events *rhich are to be the materials of the fourth volume,
ί believe, the hiftorian, immediately on completing the third, wrote thç fifty firft chapters of the fourth volume, which clofe with the events of 1392.
A great number of manufcripts, and black-lette? editions, which begin the fourth volume after thefe fifty chapters, form a very natural prejudice in favour of this opinion : befides, from the year 1392, when they end, two years paffed in continual négociations between the French and Englifli ; during which, fçveral truces, but of ihort duration, were made ; they, however, ended at laft in a peace, or truce, for four years. I do not doubt but that Froiffart then interrupted his writing ; finçe that was the time when he performed his journey intp England', where he refided three months. I believe* this interval was confiderable, becaufe the remainder of the fourth volume, which feems to me to have been written without intermiflion, was compofed, if I miftake not, feveral years after thia journey ; that is to fey, towards the end of the fourteenth, or the beginning of the fifteenth cen* tury. We find in it thofe events which belong
to the years 1399 and 1400,. but nothing that may lead us to form any judgftient how long a rime the author employed on this laft part.
It
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