John Boucmel

Family: France · Role: squire · First appears: Book 2, Chapter 2, part 1/2

At Château Josselin, John Boucmel, a French squire and the closest and most-loved squire of John de Bourbon, had previously served in the garrison at Valogne with Sir William des Bordes and joined his expedition against Cherbourg. He and Nicholas Clifford had often argued over a tilting-match; before leaving, Nicholas agreed to meet him, and when they met at Château Josselin, Nicholas struck Boucmel in the neck with his spear and killed him.

The constable absolved Nicholas Clifford of responsibility, saying, “I acquit you of it, for it was no fault of yours.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Nicholas agreed to meet John Boucmel in a tilting-match.(Book 2, Chapter 2, part 1/2 · 📍 Château Josselin)
  • With: Nicholas Clifford
  • “Nicholas then said he would consider of it, and before his departure he would make him acquainted with his resolution; adding, ‘If it will not be possible for me to comply with your request at this place, and if my lords, under whom I am, should be unwilling to assent to it, on my return to Cherbourg, if you will come to Valogne, and signify to me your arrival, I will immediately hasten thither, and deliver you from your engagement.’”
• Nicholas Clifford killed John Boucmel during their tilting-match.(Book 2, Chapter 2, part 1/2 · 📍 Château Josselin)
  • With: Nicholas Clifford
  • “At the first onset Nicholas Clifford struck with his spear John Boucmel on the upper part of his breast; but the point slipped off the steel breastplate, and pierced the hood, which was of good mail, and, entering his neck, cut the jugular vein, and passed quite through, breaking off at the shaft with the head; so that the truncheon remained in the neck of the squire, who was killed, as you may suppose.”
• The constable absolved Nicholas Clifford of responsibility for John Boucmel’s death.(Book 2, Chapter 2, part 1/2 · 📍 Château Josselin)
  • With: Nicholas Clifford
  • “But I acquit you of it, for it was no fault of yours; and, as God is my judge, if I had been in the situation you were in, you have done nothing more than I would have done, as it is better to hurt one’s enemy than to be hurt by him.”

Book 2, Chapter 2, part 1/2

• patron: John de Bourbon “Among the French there was a squire of great renown in arms, who belonged to John de Bourbon, Count de la Marche, the nearest to his person of all his squires, and whom he loved the most: his name was John Boucmel.”
• rivals with Nicholas Clifford “During that time he had often had words with an English squire called Nicholas Clifford, who was then present, respecting a tilting-match.”
• allies with Sir William des Bordes “He had formerly been in garrison in Valogne with Sir William des Bordes, and in his expedition against Cherbourg.”
• with Nicholas Clifford (Nicholas Clifford accidentally killed John Boucmel in the tilt.) “At the first onset Nicholas Clifford struck with his spear John Boucmel on the upper part of his breast; but the point slipped off the steel breastplate, and pierced the hood, which was of good mail, and, entering his neck, cut the jugular vein, and passed quite through, breaking off at the shaft with the head; so that the truncheon remained in the neck of the squire, who was killed, as you may suppose.”
• with Nicholas Clifford (Nicholas Clifford killed John Boucmel during their tilting-match.) “At the first onset Nicholas Clifford struck with his spear John Boucmel on the upper part of his breast; but the point slipped off the steel breastplate, and pierced the hood, which was of good mail, and, entering his neck, cut the jugular vein, and passed quite through, breaking off at the shaft with the head; so that the truncheon remained in the neck of the squire, who was killed, as you may suppose.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Boy's Froissart. Made with Rho MD.