FROISSART, JEAN, a French poet and historian, was b. at Valenciennes in the year 1337. Being destined for the church, he received a liberal education, but soon dis played a passion kir poetry and the charms of knightly society. At the age of 20, he began to write a history of the wars of his time,•and made several journeys to examine the theater of the events lie was about to relate. The composition of this work, which forms the first part of his chronicles, oceupied him about three years (1357-60). On its completion, he went over to England. where he was received with great favor by Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III. In 1362, she appointed him clerk of her chapel and secretary. Two years afterwards, he visited Scotland, where he became the guest of king David Bruce, and also of William earl of Douglas. Everywhere the gay, poetical, quick-witted, and shrewdly observant Frenchman was welcomed and honored. In 1366, he accompanied the black prince to Aquitaine and Bordeaux. He afterwards went with the duke of Clarence to Italy. F., along with Chaucer and Pet rarch, was present at the marriage of this prince, at Milan,' with the daughter of Gale azzo Visconti, and directed the festivities given by Amadeus VI., of Savoy, in honor of the duke. On the death of his protectress Philippa, F. gave up*all connection with England, and, after many adventures, entered the service of Wenceslaus. duke of Brabant, as private secretary. The duke was himself a poet, and F. made a collection of his verses, to which he added some of his own, and entitled the whole Ilfelktdor, or the Knight of the Golden Sun. On the death of Wenceslaus, he entered the service of Guy, count of Blois, who encouraged him to continue his chronicles. He now took a journey to the court of Gaston Phoebus, count de Foix, that he might hear from the lips of the knights of Beam and Gascony an account of their exploits. F. also made sev
eral other journeys, to collect information for his chronicles. In 1394, he obtained the canonry and treasurership of the collegiate church of Chimay; in the following year visited England, where he was courteously and generously entertained by king Richard II.; and on his return spent the remainder of his life in completing his great work. He died at Chimay in 1410. F.'s chronicles embrace the events occurring 1326-1400. They are valuable documents for illustrating the character and manners of his age. The page antry of feudal times brightens his page's; the din of arms, the shouting of knights, and the marshaling of troops, is ever and anon heard; while "visions of fair women" rise befere us as we read. The gorgeous feasts and spectacles in which F. so much delighted are set forth in copious details; and though F. is no philosopher, his shrewd observations and richly minute descriptions have helped others to phildsophize.
chronicles first appeared at Paris about the end of th'e 15th c. under the title of Chroniques de France, d' Angleterre, d'.Ecosse, d'Espagne, de Bretagne, de Gascogne, Flan dres et lieux d'alentour. The best edition is that of Buchon (15 vols., Par. 1824-26). His poems have likewise been published by Buchon (Par. 1829). The beautiful MS. of the chronicles in the library at Breslau was executed in 1468, and was secured to the town in a separate article, when Breslau capitulated to the French in the year 1806. The chronicles have also been translated into Latin and several modern languages. England has two versions: one executed in 1523-25 by Bourchier lord Berners (reprinted in 1812); and the other in 1803-5 by Thomas Johnes (reprinted by Bohn in 1845). The latter is the more exact; but tho former, according to sir Walter Scott, is the more artless and lively.