Jean, the author of the celebrated "Chronicle," was born at Valenciennes about the year 1337. He was the son of Thomas Froissart, a heraldic painter, an honourable employment in those the palmy days of chivalry. At an early age he distinguished himself by his proficiency in all the elegant accomplishments of his day. He had hardly left school when he devoted himself to the study of history, and, at the request "de son cher seigneur et maître, Messire Robert de Namur, chevalier Seigneur de Beaufort," undertook to narrate the wars of his own time, especially those which followed the battle of Poictiers. To dissipate his grief for the marriage of a young person for whom he had conceived a violent passion, he went to England, where he was kindly received by Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III., and mother of the Black Prince, who made him her private secretary. In her employment he remained for three or four years, and took advantage of his opportunities to visit Scotland, where he spent six months, travelling on horseback through the country, his only attendant being his greyhound. He was well received by David II. of Scotland and some of the leading nobility, whose exploits he afterwards recorded. After a flying visit to Bordeaux in 1366, he returned once more to England, where however his stay appears to have been brief, as two years later we find him visiting various Italian courts. He particularly describes his visit to that of Savoy, where he was present at the splendid fêtes given by Amadeus, surnamed the Comte Verd, in honour of Lionel duke of Clarence, and does not forget to mention that the guests danced a virelay of his composition. At Milan the same Count Amadeus presented him with a splendid cotte-pardie and twenty gold florins. On parting from this munificent patron, Froissart repaired successively to Bologna, Ferrara, and Rome. Instead of the meagre equipage with which he had travelled through Scotland, he had now a handsome steed for himself and a sumpter-horse for his servant and baggage. About this time he lost his protectress, Philippa of England, whose death he deeply deplored, and whose virtues he commemorated in a dirge; and it is even said that he wrote a life of her, but if he did he never published it. On returning to his own country he obtained the living of Les- tines, where he indulged himself more than was at all becoming in a churchman. During the short time that he held that cure he says that the tavern-keepers received five hundred francs of his money. After this Froissart attached himself successively to Wenceslaus of Luxembourg, duke of Brabant, for whom he made a collection of his songs and virelays, and to Guy, count of Blois, who made him clerk of his chapel. At the instance of this latter patron Froissart resumed the composition of his history, which had been interrupted, and to amass materials he paid a visit to the court of the famous Gaston de Foix. That prince had fixed his residence at that time at Ortez, and his court was thronged with the noblest chevaliers of Europe. Froissart's description of his sojourn there is one of the most interesting parts of his "Chronicle." On quitting Ortez the historian went to Flanders in quest of materials for his work, and after various pilgrimages made with the same object he at length settled down at Paris to complete it at his leisure. In 1395 he visited England, where he was hospitably received by Richard II., and presented with a silver goblet containing a hundred nobles; and on returning to France he became canon and treasurer of the church of Chimay. These offices he held till his death, which appears to have happened about the beginning of the fifteenth century. Froissart's poetry, very celebrated in its day, and now almost forgotten, embraces nearly 30,000 verses. His "Chronicle," on the other hand, less appreciated during the author's lifetime, is now regarded as one of the most interesting historical monuments of the middle ages. It contains the history of the fourteenth century from 1326 to 1400. The first edition of it appeared at Paris under the title of La Chronique de France, d'Angleterre, d'Ecosse, d'Espagne, de Bretagne, &c., without a date, and was often reprinted. The best of the early editions was that published at Lyons, 1559-61, in 4 vols. fol., by Denis Sauvage. Of recent editions the best is that by J. A. Buchon, in 15 vols. 8vo, forming part of the Collection des Chroniques Nationales Françaises, Paris, 1823-26. There are two English translations of Froissart; the first by Bourchier lord Berners, London, 1525-26, reprinted in 1812 by E. V. Utterson, Esq., in 2 vols. 4to.; the second, "which contains additions from many celebrated MSS.," by Thomas Johnes, Esq., issued from the Hafod press, in 4 vols. 4to., 1803-5. (For a more particular account of Froissart's "Chronicle," see CHIVALRY.)