FROISSART

(frwa-sar), Jean, a French poet and historian, was born in1337atValenciennes, died in Flanders between 1400and1410. He received a liberal education,and took orders in the Church, but his inclination was more for poetry and gallantry. At the age 594 FROME of eighteen he went to England,where, having already the reputation of being a gay poet and narrator of chivalric deeds, he was received with great favour, Philippa of Hainault, wife of Hdward III, declaring herself his patrone . After returning to the Continent and travelling for some time, he again visited England, and from 1361 to 1366 he was a secretary to the queen. He also visited Scotland, and was entertained by King David Bruce, and William, Harl of Dougias. In 1366 he left England and again travelled. After the death of Queen Philippa, Froi art became curé of Lestines in Hainault, and was patronized by Wenceslaus, Duke of Brabant, who was himself a poet, and of whose verses, united with some of his own, Froi art formed a sort of romance called Meliador. On the death of Wenceslaus he entered the service of Guy, Count of Blois, who gave him the canonry of Chimay, and induced him to take in hand the history of his own time. After twelve years of a quiet life he again began his travels, chiefly for the purpose of collecting further matter for his Chronicle, and he again visited England after a lapse of forty years. Little is known of the closing part of his life, which is said to have terminated at Chimay. His Chronicle, which reaches down to 1400, gives a singularly vivid and interesting picture of his times, and also presents bis own character in a pleasing light. The best editions of his Chronicle are those of Buchon, which also contains his collected Poésies (Paris, 1835-6, 3 vols.), of Kervyn de lLettenhove (Bru els, 1863-77, 25 vols.), and of S. Luce (Paris, 1869-88). The earliest, and in some respects the best, English translation is that of Lord Berners (London, 1525), although that by Thomas Johnes (1803-5) is more exact.—Cf. Madame Darmesteter (Duclaux), Froi art. IMG:fig595_1.jpg: