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Title: The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Volume IX (of 13) : containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy
Author: Monstrelet, Enguerrand de
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Volume IX (of 13) : containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy" ***
THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.
_H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London._
THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF
ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;
OF THE POSSESSION OF
PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;
_THEIR EXPULSION THENCE_;
AND OF OTHER
MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE,
AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
_A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE
FRENCH_,
_Beginning at the Year_ MCCCC. _where that of
Sir JOHN FROISSART finishes, and ending at the Year_
MCCCCLXVII. _and continued by others to the Year_ MDXVI.
TRANSLATED
BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.
IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES ... VOL. IX.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.
1810.
CONTENTS
OF
_THE NINTH VOLUME_.
PAGE
CHAP. I.
The king of France, being satisfied that
the English had broken the truce, declares
War against them. Verneuil is
taken by a miller, whom an Englishman
had beaten 1
CHAP. II.
The count de St Pol appears before Nogent,
which surrenders to him. The capture
of Point-audemer 7
CHAP. III.
The English invade Scotland twice, and
are as many times repulsed. The tower
of Verneuil surrenders to the king of
France. Other matters 10
CHAP. IV.
The king of France summons Mantes to
surrender, which it does, and is taken
possession of, in the name of the king,
by the count de Dunois, his lieutenant-general 17
CHAP. V.
The king of France makes his entry into
Verneuil. The reception he receives. The
seneschal of Poitou undertakes an expedition
against the castle of Loigny. It surrenders
to the king, and several English are
taken in it. Vernon surrenders to the
king 20
CHAP. VI.
The king of France comes to the town
of Evreux, where he is handsomely received,
and goes thence to Louviers.
The castle of Anjou submits to the king.
Gournay surrenders also. John Howel
yields up the castle of La Roche-Guyon
to its lord, and turns to the French 27
CHAP. VII.
The counts of Eu and of St Pol take by
storm the new castle of Nicorps. The
castle surrenders on terms. The count
de Dunois gains the castle of Harcourt 33
CHAP. VIII.
The duke of Brittany and the constable
of France enter Normandy with a great
army and lay siege to St Lo, which
surrenders to them, as do many other
small places. The town of Carentan
surrenders also 37
CHAP. IX.
The duke of Alençon conquers his town
of Alençon. The count de Foix gains
the town and castle of Mauléon. The
count de Dunois takes Argentan. The
English retire into the keep of the castle,
and, on surrendering it, march away
with only staves in their hands 42
CHAP. X.
The king of Sicily waits on the king of
France at Louviers. Fresnoy surrenders
to the duke of Alençon. Gisors capitulates.
The castle of Gallon is besieged 49
CHAP. XI.
The king of France orders the counts de
Dunois, d'Eu, and de St Pol to join
him, as he intended to march to Rouen,
whence, after remaining three days he
returns. Some of the inhabitants of
Rouen are near delivering up the city
to him. The duke of Brittany besieges
Fougeres. Condé is taken 52
CHAP. XII.
The archbishop of Rouen and others of
the citizens negotiate to surrender that
city to the king of France. The keys
are presented to the lieutenant-general,
the count de Dunois, who enters the
town with his army 60
CHAP. XIII.
The king of France besieges the duke
of Somerset, Lord Talbot, and their men,
in the government-palace of Rouen.
They surrender, on condition of being
allowed to march away on yielding up
the castle of Arques, and other places
mentioned 70
CHAP. XIV.
The king of France makes a grand entry
into Rouen. He is sumptuously received.
The English restore to the king
the castle of Arques, Caudebec, Tancarville,
Monstierville, &c. 75
CHAP. XV.
The castle of Gaillon submits to the obedience
of the king of France, Fougeres
surrenders to the duke of Brittany, and
Bellême to the duke of Alençon. A
well-fought battle takes place between
the French and English 88
CHAP. XVI.
The king of France leaves Rouen. He
sends his lieutenant-general to besiege
Harfleur, which surrenders on capitulation.
The fair Agnes is taken ill. Her
death, and her last testament 92
CHAP. XVII.
The count de Foix raises a large army to
besiege the castle of Guischen. The
English assemble to raise the siege, but
are defeated by the lord de Lautrec and
the bastard de Foix 101
CHAP. XVIII.
After the capture of Valognes by sir
Thomas Kiriel, he takes the field with
a large army of Englishmen. He is
met by the count de Clermont, who at
tacks and defeats him 108
CHAP. XIX.
The duke of Brittany besieges Avranches,
with his whole force. It surrenders to
him. He takes Tombelaine. Bayeux is
won. The constable gains Bricquebec,
Valognes, St Sauveur le Vicomte. Other
incidents 117
CHAP. XX.
The siege of Caen. The king of France,
attended by the king of Sicily and his
son, the duke of Calabria, appear before
it with a large army. The English,
after sustaining much damage from the
batteries, surrender the town and castle
of Caen 123
CHAP. XXI.
The king of France makes his entry into
Caen, and is nobly received there. The
English surrender Falaise. Poton de
Saintrailles is appointed governor of it.
Domfront is reduced to the king's
obedience 131
CHAP. XXII.
The decease of the duke of Brittany, and
of the lord Giles his brother, whom he
had cruelly put to death before his
decease. Cherbourg is besieged by sea and
land, and is taken by the French 136
CHAP. XXIII.
The author particularises the valour of
several of the nobles in the conquest of
Normandy. The king of France sends
the count de Penthievre, as his lieutenant,
into Guienne 143
CHAP. XXIV.
The lord d'Orval defeats the men of Bordeaux.
Duke Peter of Brittany does
homage to the king of France. The
duke of Burgundy attempts to lay a
tax on salt throughout Flanders 154
CHAP. XXV.
The king appoints the count de Dunois his lieutenant-general
in Guienne, who besieges
Mont-Guyon. It surrenders to him.
He lays siege to the town of Blaye, which
is taken by storm. The castle capitulates 159
CHAP. XXVI.
The greater part of the towns and castles
in the duchy of Guienne enter into
treaties for their surrender, with the exception
of Bayonne. Bordeaux surrenders 166
CHAP. XXVII.
The city of Bayonne is besieged by the
counts de Foix and de Dunois, lieutenants-general
to the king. It surrenders. The
regulations made in consequence. Pope
Nicholas marries the emperor of Germany
to the daughter of the king of
Portugal. The events that take place in
England 180
CHAP. XXVIII.
Jacques Coeur is arrested and confined.
The reasons of it. The king of France
declares war against the duke of Savoy,
but peace is made, by the mediation
of the cardinal de Touteville. Lord
Shrewsbury regains Bordeaux from the
French 196
CHAP. XXIX.
The men of Ghent besiege Oudenarde.
The duke of Burgundy sends an army
against them. The Picards conquer the
Pont d'Espieres from the Ghent men,
and kill many of them 202
CHAP. XXX.
The count d'Estampes, with the aid of
the Picards alone, raises the siege of
Oudenarde, and defeats the Ghent men,
without the knowledge of the duke of
Burgundy 205
CHAP. XXXI.
The duke of Burgundy establishes garrisons
round Ghent. He makes several inroads
into the country of Waes 210
CHAP. XXXII.
The Ghent men fortify Nineve. The
count d'Estampes defeats them there.
The men of Ghent attempt to destroy
a dyke, to drown the country of Waes,
but are again defeated by the count
de St Pol 215
CHAP. XXXIII.
The battle of Rupelmonde, where the
Ghent men are defeated by the duke of
Burgundy 218
CHAP. XXXIV.
The Ghent men who had fled to Acre
abandon the place: it is burnt by the
duke of Burgundy. The king of France
sends ambassadors to the duke in Flanders,
to restore peace to that countrys 221
CHAP. XXXV.
The cutler of Ghent is made prisoner in
battle. The Ghent men are defeated.
They are again defeated at Hulst and
Moerbeke 224
CHAP. XXXVI.
The articles proposed by the ambassadors
from France as the ground-work for a
treaty of peace between the men of Ghent
and their lord, but which are not agreed
to by those in Ghent 230
CHAP. XXXVII.
The Ghent men recommence the war
against their lord, and burn Hulst. A
French herald escapes from Ghent 234
CHAP. XXXVIII.
The duke of Burgundy raises a large army
to combat the Ghent men, who burn
Harlebeck, a large village near Courtray.
Other events of this war 238
CHAP. XXXIX.
The marshal of Burgundy burns the small
town of Eckeloo. The Ghent men are
defeated before Alost, which they intended
to besiege 243
CHAP. XL.
Mention made of different encounters
between the Picards and Ghent men.
The latter attempt to set fire to some
parts of Hainault. They are met by
the Picards soon afterward 246
CHAP. XLI.
The Ghent men send a deputation to the
count d'Estampes, to mediate a peace.
Immediately after they besiege Courtray,
but without success. They are near taking
prisoner the duchess of Burgundy, on her
road to Bruges 249
CHAP. XLII.
Pierre Moreau makes another attack on
Dendermonde. The Ghent men invade
Hainault, and commit great ravages
there 254
CHAP. XLIII.
The Ghent men would have taken Alost
by storm, had it not been well defended.
The three estates of Flanders are urgent
for peace 256
CHAP. XLIV.
The duke of Burgundy sends an army
into Luxembourg against some Germans
who, from Thionville, were wasting that
country. The duke enters Flanders
with a large force, to make war on
Ghent 259
CHAP. XLV.
The duke of Burgundy takes the castle
of Poulcres, but that flower of chivalry
sir James de Lalain is slain before it.
He besieges the castle of Gavere, takes
it, and hangs all within, before the
Ghent men advance to offer him battle.
They are defeated 262
CHAP. XLVI.
The battle of Gaveren, where the Ghent
men are completely defeated, with the
loss of upward of twenty thousand men
slain and drowned 270
CHAP. XLVII.
The duke of Burgundy, moved by pity,
sends his herald to Ghent to know if
the townsmen would submit to his will
and he would have compassion on them.
The men of Ghent send him a deputation
to beg his mercy 275
CHAP. XLVIII.
Here follow the articles of the treaty between
Philip the good, and the town of
Ghent 278
CHAP. XLIX.
The manner in which the Ghent men
humble themselves to their lord, the duke
of Burgundy 283
CHAP. L.
While the duke of Burgundy is carrying
on his warfare against the Ghent men,
the lord de Croy is very active in opposing
the Germans in the duchy of
Luxembourg, where they had done much
mischief 286
CHAP. LI.
King Charles of France conquers Bordeaux
and the Bordelois a second
time 287
CHAP. LII.
Pope Nicholas notifies to the duke of
Burgundy a croisade against the Turks.
The duke vows to undertake an expedition
to Turkey, on certain conditions 289
CHAP. LIII.
Charles count de Charolois, son to the
duke of Burgundy, is betrothed to his
cousin-germain the lady Isabella of Bourbon.
The duke goes into Germany, and
soon after his return the count marries
his cousin-german 295
CHAP. LIV.
The king of France goes to his castle of
Lusignan. The earl of Shrewsbury takes
Fronsac. The French besiege Chastillon.
Lord Shrewsbury assembles a large
force to raise this siege. He is there
slain 297
CHAP. LV.
After the reduction of Chastillon, the French
take St Emilion and Libourne. The king
joins his army before Bordeaux, in which
were great numbers of English. That
town surrenders on capitulation 305
CHAP. LVI.
The grand Turk besieges Constantinople
and batters the city with heavy artillery.
It is taken by storm. The cruelties committed
there. A remedy proposed to resist
the Turk 314
CHAP. LVII.
The Turk sends letters to the pope, who,
in consequence, wishes to form a croisade
against him. Le Blanc, knight-marshal
of Hungary, defeats the Turks near the
port of Sambrine 335
CHAP. LVIII.
Judgement given against Jacques Coeur
and the damsel of Mortaigne. Master
William Edelin, doctor of divinity, is
publicly reprimanded at Evreux 341
CHAP. LIX.
The king of France sends an embassy
to the king of Spain. He builds two
castles at Bordeaux to keep the inhabitants
in subjection. The duke of
York imprisons the dukes of Somerset
and Glocester. Other events 347
CHAP. LX.
The marriage of the count de Charolois
with the lady Isabella of Bourbon. The
duke of Burgundy returns from Germany,
and is most honourably received in the
towns of Lille and Arras 351
CHAP. LXI.
The duke of Burgundy lays heavy taxes
on his estates, to defray his expedition
against the Turks 353
CHAP. LXII.
The bishop of Utrecht dies. The duke
of Burgundy goes to Holland to procure
the election to the bishoprick for his
bastard son David, then bishop of Therouenne 355
CHAP. LXIII.
The count de Clermont, the lord de Lohéac
marshal of France, and other captains,
arrest the count d'Armagnac, and
deliver him up to the king. They put
the archbishop of Auch in possession of
his archbishopric. Other events 357
CHAP. LXIV.
The king of France is discontented with
the dauphin, for going to the duke of
Burgundy without his consent. Pope
Calixtus makes regulations respecting
the croisade against the Turks 360
CHAP. LXV.
The duke of Burgundy, with a large
army, escorts his bastard son into Holland,
and puts him in peaceable possession
of the bishoprick of Utrecht. He besieges
Deventer, and forces its inhabitants
to obey the new bishop, which they had
before refused 372
CHAP. LXVI.
The duke of Alençon is arrested and thrown
into prison. The Turks are miraculously
defeated in Hungary. Other events that
happened in this year of MCCCCLVI 376
CHAP. LXVII.
The Dauphin of France takes refuge with
duke Philip of Burgundy. Other events
that happened in this year 381
CHAP. LXVIII.
A quarrel takes place between duke Philip
of Burgundy and his son the count of
Charolois, but is appeased by the dauphin.
The countess of Charolois is brought to
bed of a daughter. Other events that
happened in divers parts 388
CHAP. LXIX.
An embassy from the king of Hungary
arrives at Tours, and is honourably received
by the king of France. The king
of Hungary dies. The French take the
sea-port of Sandwich by storm 392
CHAP. LXX.
Duke Philip of Burgundy carries the dauphin
to Bruges, where he is joyfully
received with many honours. Other
events mentioned and repeated 402
CHAP. LXXI.
A coolness between the duke of Burgundy
and the count of St Pol. Other
matters 406
CHAP. LXXII.
The death of Lancelot king of Hungary,
which causes great mourning at the court
of France. The deaths of John of Coimbra,
king of Cyprus, and of the duke of
Brittany, which last is succeeded by his
brother Arthur count de Richemont 414
CHAP. LXXIII.
King Charles is dangerously ill. On his
recovery, he sends to inform the duke
of Burgundy that he shall take under
his ward the estates of the youth of
Rodemac. The duke's answer. Of the
storms of wind, frost, and snow in this
season 417
CHAP. LXXIV.
The duke of Burgundy, at the request
of the town of Ghent, goes thither. A
great feast is made there 420
CHAP. LXXV.
The death of the king of Arragon. His
bastard Fernando succeeds to the throne
of Naples. Of pope Pius, and the events
that happened about that time; such as
the death of the duke of Brittany, and
the embassy from England to the duke of
Burgundy 424
CHAP. LXXVI.
The duke of Burgundy makes his entry
into Ghent, and is magnificently entertained
by the town. The king of France
sends to summon the duke of Burgundy
to attend the trial of the duke d'Alençon 427
HERE BEGINNETH
THE NINTH VOLUME
OF THE
CHRONICLES
OF
_ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET_.
CHAP. I.
THE KING OF FRANCE, BEING SATISFIED THAT THE ENGLISH HAD BROKEN THE
TRUCE, DECLARES WAR AGAINST THEM.--VERNEUIL IS TAKEN BY A MILLER, WHOM
AN ENGLISHMAN HAD BEATEN.
The king of France, having received full information of the warfare
carried on by the English against Scotland, which was included in the
truce, and of that against the Spaniards by sea, who were also included
in it, as well as that on his own subjects of Dieppe, la Rochelle, and
elsewhere, ever since the signing of the truce, without making any
restitution whatever for the damages done by them, more especially
in the capture of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, for which they
refused to make any reparation, although often summoned by the king
so to do, as well by ambassadors to king Henry as to those who had
the government of Normandy: having, therefore, maturely deliberated
on all these grievances in his council, and knowing that he had fully
acquitted himself of his duty in endeavouring to preserve peace, he
declared war against England by sea and land.
During the truce, the english garrisons of Mantes, Verneuil, and Laigny
had gone on the high roads between Orleans and Paris, and had robbed
and murdered all passengers and merchants that fell in their way. In
like manner did the English of Neufchâtel, Gournay, and Gerberoy, on
the roads between Paris, Abbeville, and Amiens: they also made inroads
over the country, seizing all they could lay hands on, and murdering
gentlemen in their beds, who had sworn allegiance to the king of
France; such as the lord de Maillebois, the lord de St Remy, Olivier
de Noirequerque, and several more.
On the other hand, such tradesmen and labouring farmers as had, on
the faith of the truce, returned to their occupations, houses, and
villages, were continually harrassed and put to death by the English,
who called them false Armagnac-traitors.
These were the fine exploits of the English during the existence of
the truce. They were called Vizards, from wearing masks and frightful
disguises over their other clothes, when they went on any such
expeditions, to prevent them being discovered.
To put an end to all these deceitful proceedings of the English, the
king of France assembled a large body of men at arms, as did the duke
of Brittany, on their frontiers. The garrison of Fougeres made a sally
on these last,--but they were repulsed so valiantly that they lost
upwards of six score in killed and taken.
At this time a miller in the town of Varneuil[1] was beaten by an
Englishman going the rounds. In revenge, he went to the bailiff of
Evreux, and promised, on certain conditions, to admit him and his men
into the town. In consequence of this, sir Pierre de Brésé, seneschal
of Poitou, the said bailiff of Evreux, Jacques de Clermont and others,
collected their men with all haste, and appeared before the walls of
Verneuil by break of day on the 29th day of July.
The miller was on guard this night, and dismissed the watch sooner
than usual because it was Sunday, that they might attend mass and then
breakfast. The French, by the aid of the miller, fixed their ladders to
his mill, and, by this means, entered the town without any one knowing,
or even suspecting it. Six score English were in garrison, some of whom
were killed or made prisoners, and the rest fled in haste to the castle.
On the morrow, the miller drew off most part of the water from the
ditches of the castle, which was then vigorously attacked and
defended,--but at last it was taken by storm. Many gallant deeds were
done, particularly by the seneschal, who acquired greater renown
than any other, although all fought well, for they had not any heavy
artillery,--and numbers of the English were killed, wounded, and
taken. The remainder took shelter in the _tour grise_, which was
impregnable so long as provisions did not fail, being very thick and
high, and detached from the castle, surrounded with ditches full of
water. Notwithstanding its strength, the French attacked it on all
sides,--and while they were thus engaged, the count de Dunois arrived
with the lord de Culant and many other knights and esquires. The first
had been lately appointed lieutenant-general of the armies of the king
of France,--and the lord de Culant had been made grand master of the
household.
Having had information that lord Talbot was on his march to relieve
his countrymen in the tower, and was arrived at Breteuil[2], they soon
departed, leaving sir Florent Dilliers, who remained to manage the
siege, with about eight hundred combatants.
The count de Dunois kept advancing until he met lord Talbot near to
Harcourt[3], who, when he perceived the French, fortified himself so
strongly, with stakes and the baggage-carts which carried his stores,
that they could no way injure him. At nightfall, he retreated in
haste to Harcourt. All the ensuing day the French were drawn up in
battle-array in the expectation of an engagement, but Talbot would not
quit the town.
The following knights were this day created: the lord de Herbault, sir
John de Bar lord of Baugey, and John Daulon, equerry of the king's
stables; and the French, finding that Talbot would not come out of
Harcourt, withdrew that evening to Evreux.
On the sixth day of August, in this year, the king of France advanced
toward Amboise, to cross the river Loire, and march his army into
Normandy to support the besiegers of Verneuil. The count de Dunois and
his company remained two days in Evreux.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Verneuil,--a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux.]
[Footnote 2: Breteuil,--a town in Normandy, near Conches.]
[Footnote 3: Harcourt,--a town in Normandy, election of Conches, ten
leagues from Rouen.]
CHAP. II.
THE COUNT DE ST POL APPEARS BEFORE NOGENT, WHICH SURRENDERS TO
HIM.--THE CAPTURE OF POINT-AUDEMER.
On Friday, the 8th day of August, in this year, the count de St Pol,
with about four hundred[4] horse, came before the castle of Nogent,
of whom twenty or thirty of the most valiant of the van, at the first
shock, forced their way into the lower court, and gained the barriers.
Fearing the cannon of the English, they instantly retreated, to wait
for their companions,--but not before the portcullis had been rapidly
let down, and inclosed two of their number, who were made prisoners.
On the approach of the main army, the place was courageously attacked
on the side toward the fields, when many were killed and wounded on
each side. The governor for king Henry was called Jean le Fevre, born
near to Louviers, who had with him about thirty companions in arms.
On the Saturday, the place surrendered between eleven and twelve
o'clock, on condition that the garrison should march away in safety
unarmed, except the governor, who was to wear his sword. They deposited
all their effects in the church of St Peter, whence they afterward
came to seek and carry them away whither they pleased. The conquerors,
perceiving on the Sunday that the place was not tenable, decamped, but
not before they had set fire to it, and burnt it to the ground.
The same Friday, the count de Dunois marched from Evreux with a
large company of knights and esquires, and two thousand five hundred
combatants. Two days after, the counts d'Eu and de St Pol, the lords de
Saveuses, de Roye, de Moy, de Rambures, and others, to the number of
three hundred lances, and from fourteen to fifteen hundred archers,
passed Pont de l'Arche, and continued their march until they formed a
junction, on the 12th before Pont Audemer, with the count de Dunois and
his army. The count de Dunois was posted on the side toward Rouen, and
the counts d'Eu and de St Pol nearer to Honfleur, on the other side of
the river Rille, which runs by the town,--and each lord drew up his men
to the attack of the place.
That part of it near to the quarters of the count de St Pol was so
courageously attacked that it was carried by storm, notwithstanding the
very gallant defence of the English. Many brilliant acts were done by
the count de Dunois' men, who entered the place at the same time with
the others, crossing the ditches with water up to their necks.
Four hundred and twenty English retreated into a strong house at the
end of the town under their captains, Montfort, treasurer of Normandy,
and Foucques Ebon, who surrendered themselves prisoners to the counts
de Dunois and de St Pol.
Twenty-two new knights were made on this occasion, such as the lord de
Moy, the son of the vidame of Amiens, the son of the lord de Rambures,
and others. Thus was Pont Audemer replaced under the obedience of the
king of France.
King Charles came to Vendôme on this day, the 12th, and remained there
until the 18th day of August, when he marched for Chartres, and arrived
there on the 22d.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 4: Four hundred. In the original it is _four thousand_,--but
this number appeared to me too great.]
CHAP. III.
THE ENGLISH INVADE SCOTLAND TWICE, AND ARE AS MANY TIMES
REPULSED[5].--THE TOWER OF VERNEUIL SURRENDERS TO THE KING OF
FRANCE.--OTHER MATTERS.
It was evident that Heaven was against the English,--and they were
deserving of it, for it is a fact that they have alway encroached
on their Christian eighbours, as well in the kingdom of France as in
Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and elsewhere. Many violences have most
unjustly been done by them, by reason of their not having the words
of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST before their eyes, 'Render unto Cæsar the
things that be Cæsar's and unto God the things that be God's.'
Among their various plans of annoyance to their neighbours, they
carried one about this time into effect, namely, an invasion of
Scotland. The earl of Salisbury sent two lords of great renown, natives
of England, sir Thomas de Hanton, knight, and the lord Percy, son to
the earl of Northumberland, to wage war against Scotland. They had with
them fifteen thousand combatants and a numerous body of peasants, and,
crossing the river Solway, entered Scotland, where they remained three
days, having advanced six miles of that country, equal to three french
leagues.
When the earl of Douglas heard of this inroad, he collected, without
delay, six thousand Scots, and attacked the English on the plain in
open day. The battle was well fought on both sides, and many were
killed and wounded; but it was won by the Scots, who kept the field,
and made many prisoners: in the number were sir Thomas de Hanton
and Percy: the rest escaped as quickly as they could, to carry the
melancholy news to lord Salisbury. He was very much grieved, and not
without cause, but not cast down; for he instantly raised a greater
army than before, consisting of sixty thousand men, thinking to destroy
the whole kingdom of Scotland.
When the earls of Murray and of Ormond heard of the English having
crossed the Solway with a large army, they, having the fear of God
before their eyes, and finding the English determined thus conjunctly
to destroy their country, took measures to oppose them; for it
is perfectly lawful that every one should fight for his country.
They soon, with the aid of other scots lords, assembled a force of
thirty-two thousand able warriors, and, falling on the english camp
unawares, put them to the rout, with great slaughter and loss in
prisoners and wounded. They were pursued as far as the Solway, wherein
many were drowned. The English lost in these two invasions from twenty
to twenty-four thousand men in killed and prisoners.
The Scots gave all the merit of this signal defeat to God, and not to
human force, for which they celebrated a thanksgiving; and, to prevent
the English from being in future so eager to invade their country,
they resolved to continue the pursuit into England. Having crossed the
Solway, they destroyed the country, full twenty leagues in length, and
six in breadth, as far as the strong town of Newcastle, without leaving
a town or house on their road unburnt. On this expedition, a knight of
great power in Scotland was slain, called sir John Vbouailles; and the
Scots then returned unmolested home.
The account of these battles was given to the writer of the Chronicles
of St Denis, at that abbey, by three scots priests of the diocese of
Dunblaine, of which church one was a canon, and affirmed it for true
before the holy shrine of St Denis, in the manner above related, and in
the presence of the monks of that abbey.
On the 12th of August, the king of France came to Vendôme, grandly
accompanied by men at arms, as well lords, knights and esquires, as
others. He remained there until the 18th; and, during this time, the
lord de Lohéac, marshal of Brittany, sir Geoffry de Couren[7], and
Joachim Rohault and others, attacked the town of St Jacques de Beuvron
with great vigour from nine in the morning until night, and, with heavy
and small artillery, kept up a continual fire on the walls. It was,
however, gallantly defended; but on the morrow; the English capitulated
for its surrender, on being allowed to march away in safety with their
effects.
On the 22d of the said month, the king of France entered Chartres; and,
on the next day, the garrison of the tower of Verneuil surrendered
themselves prisoners. They were but thirty, of whom the greater part
were renegado French,--several having escaped a little before, carrying
off all their valuables, owing to the negligence of those who had the
guard during the night. Sir Florent was very much blamed for this,
as the king had sent him orders, by one of his heralds, to be very
attentive in guarding the place. The king, on the departure of the
principal leaders, made matters easy to those who had remained, from
the consideration that the place was impregnable but from want of
provisions; and he concluded a treaty with the lords de Presigny and de
Baugey, for their paying a moderate ransom, on delivering up the tower
to the king.
At this time, or a little after, Joachim de Rohault, with these lords
who had gained St Jacques de Beuvron, took, after an attack of ten
hours, the town of Mortain[8]. The count de Dunois, with the count
de St Pol and those who had been at the capture of Pont Audemer,
marched to lay siege to the city of Lisieux; but when those within the
city observed the great force brought against it, and which it was
impossible for them to resist,--fearing also that, should it be taken
by storm, they would lose every thing,--they held several conferences
together, and, by the advice of their bishop, offered to surrender the
place to the king of France. The bishop managed so honourably and
ably that not the smallest damage was done to any individual, but each
peaceably enjoyed his property as before the surrender. Several small
places round Lisieux surrendered to the count de Dunois at the same
time.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 5: Under the years 1446, 47, 48, 49, 50, in Andrew's History
of Great Britain, &c.
'An invasion of Scotland is attempted by the English, led by the earl
of Northumberland and Magnus Reidman. They are defeated at Sark[6] by
the Scots, under the command of the lord Douglas and his brother the
earl of Ormond.'
I see from Douglas's Peerage that it ought to be Archibald earl of
Murray, (and not lord Douglas) third son to James VII. earl of Douglas.
The earl of Ormond was his next brother.
The following extract is from Hutchinson's History of Northumberland,
page 233, vol. ii.
'Henry earl of Northumberland, in the 14th Henry VI. made an
unsuccessful irruption into Scotland,--and at Piperden was defeated by
the earl of Angus, with the loss of 1500 men.
'In the 29th of the same reign he entered Scotland again, and engaged,
near the river Sark, a large body of Scots under the command of sir
William Wallace of Craigey, where he again had a defeat, and narrowly
escaped being made prisoner,--his son choosing to throw himself into
the hands of the enemy to save his father.']
[Footnote 6: Sark,--a river in Scotland formed of two branches, the
white and black, falls into the Eden four miles below Carlisle.]
[Footnote 7: De Couren. Couvren.----MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 8: Mortain,--a town in Normandy, on the river Lances, on the
borders of Maine.]
CHAP. IV.
THE KING OF FRANCE SUMMONS MANTES TO SURRENDER,--WHICH IT DOES, AND IS
TAKEN POSSESSION OF, IN THE NAME OF THE KING, BY THE COUNT DE DUNOIS,
HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.
On the 26th of this same month of August, and on the morrow of the
feast of St Louis, the king left Chartres with a noble company, and
fixed his quarters at Château-neuf-en-Timerais[9], and, the same
day, sent his heralds to summon the garrison of Mantes,--which town
was held and occupied against his will. While the heralds were on
their embassy, the counts de Dunois and St Pol arrived with five or
six hundred combatants, the same day, before the town of Mantes, and
summoned the inhabitants to return to their obedience to the king of
France. They at first refused, from fear of the garrison, although in
their hearts they were well inclined to obey the summons,--and the
lieutenant-general ordered preparations for an immediate attack.
The inhabitants noticed this, but were fearful that the english
garrison, amounting to two hundred and sixty men, under the command
of sir Thomas Hos[10], knight, and chancellor for the king of England
in these parts, would make a defence. He was indeed not in the town;
but his lieutenant, Thomas de Sainte Barbe, bailiff of the place,
was present, and determined on resistance as long as he could. The
inhabitants, therefore, foreseeing the ruin of their town, caused the
bailiff to be informed, that if he would not enter into a capitulation
for the surrender of the place, they should certainly do so. This
they would not have dared to say, if they had not felt themselves
the strongest; and the better to force the English to terms, they
seized the tower and gate called the Port-au-Saint, with the whole of
that quarter, and then went in a body to the lieutenant-general, and
concluded with him a treaty for the surrender of their town.
The English were desirous of making resistance, and would have opposed
the French, had not this tower and its defences been occupied by
the townsmen. A copy of the capitulation was sent them, about four
o'clock in the afternoon, by a herald accompanied by fifty men at
arms, who were received by the inhabitants, and posted in this tower,
to guard them against the English, should there be occasion. Although
the lieutenant-governor had accepted the terms for himself and his
companions the bailiffs, the count de Dunois remained with his army
in order of battle before the walls from morning to evening, when he
entered the place with a strong detachment, to guard the inhabitants
from pillage and other mischiefs, which men at arms were accustomed
to do on similar occasions,--and also to confirm the townsmen in their
loyalty and obedience toward the king.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 9: Château-neuf-en-Timerais,--a town in Perche, election of
Verneuil.]
[Footnote 10: Sir Thomas Hos. Q.]
CHAP. V.
THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO VERNEUIL.--THE RECEPTION HE
RECEIVES.--THE SENESCHAL OF POITOU UNDERTAKES AN EXPEDITION AGAINST
THE CASTLE OF LOIGNY[11].--IT SURRENDERS TO THE KING, AND SEVERAL
ENGLISH ARE TAKEN IN IT.--VERNON SURRENDERS TO THE KING.
On the 27th of August in this year, the king of France made his entry
into Verneuil, with much pomp and grandly attended. He was received
there as magnificently as possible, for the churchmen and chief
inhabitants came out in procession to meet him, dressed in their best
clothes and hoods. The populace issued out also in crowds to welcome
his arrival: they made bonfires, and strewed the streets with flowers
in the best manner they could, singing carols day and night.
The king remained some time in Verneuil, and thither came the bishops
of Lisieux and Auxerre to do him homage. During this interval, the
seneschal of Poitou formed a plan to gain the castle of Loigny, held by
an esquire of Normandy, called the lord de Sainte Marie, as governor
for sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, the owner of this
castle, and who had married sir Francis's daughter. Although the
seneschal did not come before the place personally, he had practised
with the governor (who had under his command two hundred combatants
quartered in the lower court); so that when the French appeared, they
were admitted into the dungeon, without the knowledge of the men at
arms sent by sir Francis for its defence, or of his lady, who was in
the castle.
The English, when they saw the French, thought to defend themselves;
but finding they were too weak in numbers, they desisted, and were,
with their horses in the lower court, and all their effects, seized
in the name of the king of France, except the lady of sir Francis,
who departed with her baggage, much enraged at the treachery of her
son-in-law. The lord de Sainte Marie was re-appointed to the government
of the castle, on the terms he had held it before.
On the same day, the captain of Robert de Flocques, bailiff of Evreux,
was sent with a certain number of men at arms to summon the garrison
and inhabitants of Vernon to submit themselves to the king of France,
by sending to him the keys of the town. The governor, John Ormond, an
esquire, son to the earl of Ormond in Ireland, replied, that he would
willingly do so,--and, by way of derision and mockery, sent for all the
old keys he could from the locksmiths in the town, and presented them
to the pursuivant who had brought the summons; but he made answer, that
they were too old to be of use to such a place, and departed, to make
his report of what had passed to the count de Dunois, who was not far
off with the main army.
On the morrow morning, the 28th, came the lieutenant-general, attended
by the counts de St Pol and d'Eu, the lord seneschal of Poitou, and
several other captains, with a large body of franc archers, (an
institution lately established in France) attacked, and instantly
gained possession of a small island, on which they raised a battery of
cannon, although they did not fire them, but some sharp skirmishings
took place between the archers,--and the English lost the bridge, when
their governor was pierced through both his cheeks with an arrow,
to their great dismay. Seeing, therefore, the great force that was
brought against them, and that numbers of towns and castles had of late
surrendered, they, in conjunction with the inhabitants, demanded from
the count de Dunois passports for four or six persons to hold a parley
respecting the summons that had been sent them.
This was agreed to; and the following persons were selected by the
governor and inhabitants to wait on the count de Dunois, namely,
John Abaron[12], an Englishman, captain of the troops in the town,
master Guillaume d'Aguenet, a most determined partisan of the English,
Regnault de Bordeaux and others,--and d'Aguenet was appointed
spokesman. Having made the usual salutations to the lieutenant-general,
he thus addressed him,--'My lord, you have summoned us to surrender
the town of Vernon to the king your lord: tell us on what grounds you
have made this demand.' The count de Dunois, with coolness and dignity
becoming the representative of a king, answered most eloquently, (for
he was one of the most eloquent men in all France) that the said town
of Vernon, and its dependances, belonged to the king his lord by
rightful inheritance; that it had been taken from him more by violence
than otherwise, with great part of his kingdom, during the life of the
late king his father; and he then recited, in a style that would have
done credit to a doctor, a history of the war between the kings of
France and England, and the innumerable evils that had resulted from
it: that the king of France, moved by his great charity, had consented
to certain truces, in the hope that, during their continuance, means
might be found to establish a permanent peace,--but that the English
had, through their disorderly love of conquest, in the interval, gained
by force the town of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, a relative and
subject of the king, and especially named in the said truces. He then
related all the conferences that had taken place on the occasion, and
their result, which have been already mentioned.
'The king, therefore, having maturely considered this conduct with
his council, captains and allies, and witnessing the infidelity of
the English, has raised a sufficient army to regain all that legally
belongs to him, and has appointed me his lieutenant-general to carry
his intentions into execution: I therefore have summoned, and do now
summon, you to restore this town to its rightful lord, to avoid the
perils you will run into from your rebellion and disobedience, and that
you may not attribute the evils that will ensue from your refusal to
your lawful lord and mine, whose benign grace is willing to receive you
again as his subjects.'
At the close of this speech, the English and the other deputies
withdrew to consult how they should act. In the discussion, great
disputes arose; for the French, considering king Charles as their
lawful king, and feeling that what the lieutenant had said was founded
in reason, wanted to surrender, but the English would not. After much
altercation, the townsmen declared that they would surrender, whether
the English would or no, if a fair treaty were offered for the tower,
in which the English should be included if they were agreeable to it.
The English, perceiving they could not resist the will of the
inhabitants, so plainly discovered, demanded letters, under the
town-seal, declaratory that the surrender was agreed to without their
consent, which were given them.
The deputies returned to the count de Dunois, who concluded a treaty,
with the assent of the lords in his company, by which the town and
castle of Vernon were surrendered,--in which were twelve score English,
under the command of the son of the earl of Ormond. They marched away
in safety with their baggage,--and the inhabitants remained peaceably
in the town, without losing an article of their effects.
The king afterwards gave this town and castle to the count de Dunois,
for the great services he had rendered him, and in the expectation that
he would do more in conquering Normandy, or wherever else he might be
employed.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 11: Loigny,--a village in Beauce.]
[Footnote 12: John Abaron. Q.]
CHAP. VI.
THE KING OF FRANCE COMES TO THE TOWN OF EVREUX, WHERE HE IS HANDSOMELY
RECEIVED, AND GOES THENCE TO LOUVIERS.--THE CASTLE OF ANJOU SUBMITS TO
THE KING.--GOURNAY SURRENDERS ALSO.--JOHN HOWEL YIELDS UP THE CASTLE
OF LA ROCHE-GUYON TO ITS LORD, AND TURNS TO THE FRENCH.
About the end of August, the king departed from Verneuil, and made
his entry into the city of Evreux with great pomp. He was sumptuously
received by the inhabitants, who went out in procession to meet him,
made bonfires, sang carols, and hung all the streets with tapestry
through which he passed. He slept one night only in Evreux, and on
the morrow went to Louviers, where he was equally well received. He
was accompanied by the count du Maine, brother to the king of Sicily
and the queen of France, the count de Clermont, eldest son to the
duke of Bourbon, the viscount de Longmaigne, eldest son to the count
d'Armagnac, the count de Castres, son to the count de la Marche, the
youngest son of the house of Albreth, John lord of Lorraine, many other
great lords and barons, and knights and esquires without number.
The king had two hundred lances for his body-guard, and his usual
archers, without including four armies he had in the field,--namely,
the army of the duke of Brittany, another under the command of the
count de Dunois lieutenant-general, the army of the counts d'Eu and de
St Pol, and that of the duke d'Alençon. The king was very active in
supplying these armies with every thing they might want, as well with
money as bombards, artillery, and all kinds of stores; and couriers
were constantly passing and repassing between him and them, to convey
orders and intelligence.
During this time, William de Chance, governor of Pontoise, marched a
body of men before the castle of Anjou, and summoned Portugal, the
governor, to surrender it to the king of France. Portugal, hearing
how the whole country, with its towns and castles, was submitting
daily to king Charles, and knowing the impossibility of any effectual
resistance, capitulated for its surrender,--when de Chance was
appointed, by the king of France, the governor.
Sir Louis de Luxembourg, count de St Pol, marched, on a Sunday, from
Vernon, to lay siege to Gournay. On his march, he was met by some of
the townsmen, who came to make an offer to yield up the place, which
was under the guard of William Harper, lieutenant to William Coram,
an Englishman. The lieutenant, fearful of the event of a siege, and
knowing also how the tide of war was turned,--and that all the towns
and castles were surrendering to the French,--having also in mind that
prudent maxim, 'Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum,'--went out
with one of the inhabitants, called Raoullet Pailleavoine, and some
others, to the count de St Pol, on his arrival before the place, and
confirmed the treaty that had been made at Longueville.
It was articled that the town and castle should be surrendered to the
count de St Pol, notwithstanding that the lord de Moy and William de
Chance, ignorant of the count's enterprise, had attempted to take
it by storm, and had opened batteries against its walls. The moment
they were informed of the count's intentions, they abandoned their
enterprise,--and the king of France gave it to the count, with all its
dependances, for his life. He appointed, therefore, as governor of the
castle and town, sir George de Croix, lord of Blainsel.
While this treaty was carrying on, the count d'Eu remained at Andeli
sur Seine[13], and thence went to quarter himself and his forces at
Pont Saint Pierre[14], where he staid three days, when he crossed the
Seine to besiege Harcourt[15].
On Monday, the 29th of August, all the lords who had been at the
surrender of Vernon joined the king at Louviers, to arrange their plans
for further conquests. During their assembly, the lord de Jalognes,
marshal of France, and the lord of Roche-Guyon, marched a large body
of men at arms to conquer the castle of La Roche-Guyon[16]. To effect
this, they detached about thirty men by water, well supplied with
cannon and ammunition, who approached the place as if intending to
besiege it, making as much noise as though they had been two hundred,
and remained before it for three days, constantly skirmishing with
the garrison; but although this garrison did not consist of more than
sixteen men, the French gained no advantage over them.
On Thursday the 3d of September, the lords de Jalognes and de la
Roche-Guyon appeared before it with their forces; and when John Howel,
the english governor, saw so numerous a body that it would be vain for
him to oppose it, at the same time fearing the event of a siege, and
considering the right the king had to reconquer his kingdom, entered
into a treaty with these lords conditionally to surrender the castle,
unless he should be relieved by the king of England or his lieutenant
in Normandy, within fifteen days; and that he and his men should have
free liberty to march away with their baggage whither they pleased.
Intelligence of this was sent to the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of
Normandy, in Rouen, who tampered with the messenger to introduce four
and twenty English into the castle, and put Howel to death. On his
return, he attempted to gain over some of the garrison to his purpose,
of admitting the twenty-four Englishmen to execute his damnable design;
but knowledge of this plan coming secretly to the ears of Howel, he
sent in haste for the lord de la Roche-Guyon, who had withdrawn
himself and his forces until the fifteenth day should arrive, to whom
he surrendered the place. The garrison marched away, under passports,
with their effects; but Howel was so indignant at the plot formed
against his life that he became a Frenchman, and took the oaths of
allegiance, on condition that he should enjoy the landed property of
his wife, who was a native of France,--and the lord de la Roche-Guyon
continued him in the government of his castle.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 13: Andeli-sur-Seine,--three leagues from Mantes.]
[Footnote 14: Pont St Pierre,--four leagues from Andeli.]
[Footnote 15: Harcourt,--ten leagues from Rouen, near Brionne.]
[Footnote 16: La Roche-Guyon,--a market-town in Normandy, three leagues
from Mantes.]
CHAP. VII.
THE COUNTS OF EU AND OF ST POL TAKE BY STORM THE NEW CASTLE OF
NICORPS[17].--THE CASTLE SURRENDERS ON TERMS.--THE COUNT DE DUNOIS
GAINS THE CASTLE OF HARCOURT.
About the middle of September, it was resolved, in the councils held
at Louviers, that, considering the great body of french chivalry, it
would be necessary to form two divisions: the one under the command
of Charles d'Artois count of Eu, Louis de Luxembourg count of St Pol,
and other captains, having with them from three to four thousand
combatants, were ordered to besiege the new castle of Nicorps, which
was held by the captain, Adam Illeton[18], an Englishman. The french
army came before it on Tuesday the 12th day of September, and took
the town by storm on the following Thursday. The castle was then
besieged,--and surrendered on capitulation fifteen days afterward.
The other division was under the command of the count de Dunois,
lieutenant-general, having with him the counts de Clermont and de
Nevers, with four thousand veteran soldiers. On leaving Louviers, they
marched to lay siege to the castle of Chambrais[19] on the 18th of
September, of which an Englishman, called William Crinton[20], was
governor, and had under him two hundred men for its defence. After
seven days siege, it surrendered on capitulation with the count de
Clermont,--and thus was it restored to the obedience of the king of
France.
Without losing time, the lieutenant-general marched his army before the
castle of Harcourt, which is handsome and strong. It was governed by
sir Richard Frongueval[21], an Englishman, having under him about eight
score of his countrymen. The siege lasted about fifteen days, with
daily skirmishes with the garrison. Great advances were made, in which
a very valiant man at arms from the garrison of Louviers was killed
by a cannon-shot,--and an Englishman lost his life by the shot of a
culverine, on the portal of the lower court.
A mutiny now took place in the garrison, when the governor was
disgraced, and hung by his feet under the gate,--when the French,
taking advantage of it, played their cannon so well that they greatly
damaged the walls of the lower court. The English, fearful of
consequences, entered into a capitulation to surrender, if they should
not, on the ensuing Friday, be in force to meet them in the field, and
gave hostages for the performance. When the day arrived, not receiving
any succours, they yielded up the place.
While these armies were thus employed, the english garrison of the
town and castle of Essay[22] made an excursion to fish a pond at some
distance,--which coming to the knowledge of the duke d'Alençon, he
instantly ordered his men to mount, and marched, as secretly as he
could, to cut off their retreat. He succeeded in making the whole
prisoners, and, carrying them to Essay, forced them to deliver up the
town and castle, on pain of losing their heads.
The french garrison in Dieppe, knowing that there was but a small
garrison in Fecamp, which is a sea-port, marched thither secretly, and
won it by storm.
Shortly after, arrived a vessel from England, having on board
ninety-seven soldiers to garrison the abbey, supposing it still
to belong to king Henry, whom the French suffered to land without
opposition, but instantly afterwards took them all prisoners.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 17: Nicorps,--a village in Normandy, diocese and election of
Coutances.]
[Footnote 18: Adam Illeton. Q. Elton, or Hilson?]
[Footnote 19: Chambrais,--a market-town in Normandy, 13 leagues from
Evreux.]
[Footnote 20: W. Crinton. Q. Clinton?]
[Footnote 21: Sir Richard Frongueval. Q.]
[Footnote 22: Essay,--a market-town in Normandy, five leagues from
Alençon, two from Sées.]
CHAP. VIII.
THE DUKE OF BRITTANY AND THE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE ENTER NORMANDY WITH A
GREAT ARMY, AND LAY SIEGE TO ST LO[23], WHICH SURRENDERS TO THEM, AS
DO MANY OTHER SMALL PLACES.--THE TOWN OF CARENTAN[24] SURRENDERS ALSO.
About the same period of this year, the duke of Brittany, his brother
the count de Richemont, constable of France, with other nobles and
men at arms from his duchy, amounting to a thousand or twelve hundred
lances, entered lower Normandy, to restore it to the obedience of the
king of France from the dominion of the English (the ancient enemies of
the realm), who had usurped the government of it for nearly thirty-two
years. They first advanced to the town of Mont St Michel[25]; and the
nobles and men at arms were quartered in the villages of upper and
lower Les Pas[26], Courtis[27], St George en Gaine, Postulbanch, and
thereabouts.
The duke, on quitting Brittany, had left his brother, the lord Peter,
on the frontiers, near to Fougeres and Avranches, for their defence,
with three hundred lances. On the morrow, the duke and the constable
formed their van-guard under the command of sir James de Luxembourg,
lieutenant to the constable, the marshal and admiral of France, of
five hundred spears, who that day marched to Coutances[28], and lay
before it,--while the duke and the main army, consisting of five or
six hundred lances, remained that night in and about Granville[29]. On
the morrow, the constable advanced the main army toward Coutances, and
halted opposite to the hospital; but they were not there a day before
the English in the town marched away, and the inhabitants continued in
the same peaceful state as before this renewal of war.
The duke of Brittany next marched to lay siege to St Lo, and ordered
his van to advance and take up their quarters on one side of the
town,--while he followed with the army on the next day, and posted
himself on the opposite side. Sir William de Poitou commanded in the
place, with a garrison of two hundred men,--but notwithstanding these
numbers, he made no resistance, but capitulated with the duke for its
surrender, on being allowed to march away with his men whither he
should please. The duke and the constable, during their stay at St Lo,
won the following towns, villages and castles, namely, le Hommet[30],
Neufville[31], Torigny[32], Beuseville[33], Hambie[34], La Motte
l'Evêque[35], la Haye-du-Puy[36], Chanteloup[37], L'Aunay[38], and many
other small places round St Lo, in which city, as well as in those
captured places, strong garrisons were posted.
The van was now detached to the town of Carentan, and followed by
the main body; but the garrison held out only three days before they
surrendered, and then marched away with staves in their hands,--and
those in the town were reinstated in their possessions.
The marshal and the admiral of France now separated from the duke and
the constable, and came before Pont d'Oue[39], which having taken by
storm, they overran all the country of Coutantin, without meeting any
resistance. The government of it and Carentan was given to Joachim
Rohault. From Carentan, the above lords returned to Coutances, and
thence, in the month of October, detached a party to Gavrey[40]. On
the morrow, the duke and the constable came to Coutances, where the
duke staid that day, and before the constable could arrive at Gavrey,
the bulwark had been won by storm; and on the morrow, sir Geoffry de
Couvren, who directed the siege, having made great approaches by his
mines, attacked the castle with such vigour that the english garrison,
of about six score men, demanded a parley, and concluded a treaty with
the constable for its surrender, on being allowed to march away in
safety with their effects.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 23: St Lo,--a city of Normandy, on the Vire.]
[Footnote 24: Carentan, a town in Normandy, three leagues from the
sea-coast.]
[Footnote 25: Mont St Michel,--a strong town in Normandy, built on a
rock, and surrounded by the sea at high water.]
[Footnote 26: Les Pas,--a village in Normandy, diocese of Avranches.]
[Footnote 27: Les Courtis,--a village in Normandy, diocese of
Avranches.]
[Footnote 28: Coutances,--capital of the Coutantin, two leagues from
the sea.]
[Footnote 29: Granville,--a sea-port in Normandy, six leagues from
Coutances.]
[Footnote 30: Le Hommet,--a small town near St Lo.]
[Footnote 31: Neufville,--a village near Alençon.]
[Footnote 32: Torigny,--three leagues from Coutances.]
[Footnote 33: Beuseville, a village in Normandy.]
[Footnote 34: Hambie,--a market-town near Coutances.]
[Footnote 35: La Motte-l'Evêque,--a barony and castle near St Lo.]
[Footnote 36: La Haye-du-Puy,--a market-town near Coutances.]
[Footnote 37: Chanteloup,--a village near Coutances.]
[Footnote 38: L'Aunay,--a village.]
[Footnote 39: Pont d'Oue. Q. Pont d'Ouilly? a market-town in Normandy,
on the Vire.]
[Footnote 40: Gavrey,--a town on the Seine, four leagues from
Coutances.]
CHAP. IX.
THE DUKE OF ALENÇON CONQUERS HIS TOWN OF ALENÇON[41].--THE COUNT DE
FOIX GAINS THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF MAULÉON[42].--THE COUNT DE DUNOIS
TAKES ARGENTAN[43].--THE ENGLISH RETIRE INTO THE KEEP OF THE CASTLE,
AND, ON SURRENDERING IT, MARCH AWAY WITH ONLY STAVES IN THEIR HANDS.
The duke of Alençon, in consequence of intelligence with friends in
Alençon, advanced thither by day-break, and by their means was admitted
into the town. The english garrison retreated to the castle, which was
instantly surrounded by the duke, who had with him eight hundred lances
besides archers. There were numbers of English in the place,--but their
hearts failed them, for they made little resistance, and surrendered
the town to the duke, whose inheritance it was. Sir Louis de Beaumont,
governor of Mans, had come to his assistance with sixty lances, and
archers in proportion. During this time, the king of France was at
Louviers.
About this same period, namely, the latter end of September, the count
de Foix accompanied by the counts de Comminges, d'Estract[44], the
viscount de Lautrec his brother, and many other knights, barons, and
esquires from the counties of Foix, Comminges, Estract, Bigorre and
Béarn, to the amount of five or six hundred lances and two thousand
cross-bows, marched from his country of Béarn through that of the
Basques[45], until he came before the town of Mauléon de Soule, to
which he laid siege. The inhabitants, perceiving such numbers, were
afraid of the consequences, should the siege be pushed to extremities,
and capitulated to surrender, on condition that no harm should be done
to them.
Upon this, the english garrison retreated into the castle, which is the
strongest in all the duchy of Guienne, and is seated on a high rock.
But the count de Foix, learning that it was badly provided with stores
and provision, surrounded it with his troops on all sides; and this
coming to the knowledge of the king of Navarre, he instantly issued
his summons for the relief of the English, and marched six thousand
Navarrois, Arragonians, Gascons and English, to within two leagues of
it, to raise the siege. Finding the enemy so strongly intrenched, and
so numerous, he retreated, and sent messengers to the count to say
that he was desirous of having a conference with him, if he would send
passports for himself and what company he might please to bring with
him.
The king of Navarre, on receiving the passports, advanced with a small
company to within a quarter of a league of the count's army, where he
was waiting for him; when, after the usual salutations from the count,
(who had married the king of Navarre's daughter, and had a beautiful
family) the king said that he was much astonished, considering how
nearly they were connected together, that he had besieged a place
under his protection, his constable being governor for the king of
England, to whom he had promised to defend it against all his enemies.
The count good-humouredly replied (paying at the same time all honour
and respect), that he was lieutenant-general for the king of France
of all the countries between the river Gironde and the mountains: he
was, likewise, a relation and subject to the king of France, and it
was by his command that he had taken the town and besieged the castle;
and to preserve his honour unspotted, and that no blame might ever
be cast on him by any of his family, he would never raise the siege
until the place was reduced to the obedience of the king of France,
unless he should be fought withal and conquered; that in every other
respect he would assist and serve the king of Navarre, the father of
his wife, against all persons whatever, excepting the king of France,
his subjects and allies, and all things appertaining to the crown of
France. Upon this, the king of Navarre returned with the troops to his
own country.
The garrison in the castle, finding they had no hopes of succour,
and knowing their scarcity of provisions, surrendered it on
capitulation,--and thus was the castle restored to the obedience of the
king of France. Shortly after, the lord de Luce[46], attended by six
hundred combatants, all wearing red crosses, came and did homage to
the king of France in the hands of his lieutenant-general for the town
and castle of Mauléon, which was his inheritance. After he had taken
the oaths, he and his company returned to his mansion, wearing white
crosses, to the great astonishment of all the men, women and children,
of his country. When this had been done, the count de Foix marched his
army back to Béarn, having left a sufficient garrison in the town and
castle of Mauléon.
On the 27th of September, the lord de Blainville came with a large
force of men at arms before the castle of Toucques, strongly situated
on a rock close to the sea, and having an english garrison of sixty
men. On seeing so large a body, they did not attempt resistance, but
surrendered on having their lives and fortunes spared, and being
allowed to march in safety whither they pleased.
On the last day of this month, the counts de Dunois and de Nevers
laid siege to the castle of Yemmes[47], which the English instantly
surrendered on similar terms.
The count de Dunois then marched his army to besiege the town and
castle of Argentan. The English opened a parley, although they had not
any intentions to surrender; but when the townsmen saw that they were
only laughing at the French by these pretended parleys, and knew their
intention of holding out to the last, and that what they were saying to
the French was the farthest from their thoughts, they called some of
their countrymen aside, and bade them have no more parleys with the
English, for that they would hold out as long as they could. At the
same time, they asked for a banner or pennon, which they would display
from a certain part of the walls,--and that when they should see it
they should advance thither with courage, and they would admit them
into the town, which was done.
The English, perceiving themselves betrayed, retreated into the castle;
but a large bombard was instantly pointed against the walls, and made
a breach wide enough for a cart to pass. The French, on this success,
attacked the castle, and entered the breach,--but the English retired
into the dungeon, which they soon surrendered, fearing to be taken by
storm; and although they demanded a capitulation, they were marched
away with only staves in their hands.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 41: Alençon,--a handsome city in lower Normandy, 47 leagues
from Paris.]
[Footnote 42: Mauléon. Q. Mauléon de Soule? a town in Gascony, eight
leagues from Pau.]
[Footnote 43: Argentan,--seven leagues and a half from Alençon.]
[Footnote 44: D'Estract. In the MS. from Du Cange's copy, it is changed
to _d'Estrar_. I suspect that it ought to be _de la Trane_; for the
souldich de la Trane was of that country, and one of Edward the IIId's
great captains. He is frequently mentioned by Froissart.]
[Footnote 45: Basques,--a small country near the Pyrenées, surrounded
by Spain, the ocean, Béarn and the river Adour.]
[Footnote 46: De Luce. Luxe.----MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 47: Yemmes. Q. if not Yesme, a village in Maine?]
CHAP. X.
THE KING OF SICILY WAITS ON THE KING OF FRANCE AT
LOUVIERS.--FRESNOY[48] SURRENDERS TO THE DUKE OF ALENÇON.--GISORS[49]
CAPITULATES.--THE CASTLE OF GALLON[50] IS BESIEGED.
At this season, the king of Sicily came to the king of France at
Louviers, where he was very joyfully received. He had with him his
brother the count du Maine, and a long train of nobles, knights and
esquires, whose names it would be tedious to relate, to the number of
more than two hundred lances, and archers, without including those
from the army of the duke d'Alençon, the duke of Brittany, the count
de Dunois lieutenant-general, the count de Clermont, nor those of the
count d'Eu, or of the count de St Pol, who all had with them very many
men of note.
The king, seeing such a numerous and well appointed body of chivalry,
resolved to pursue with vigour the conquest of the whole duchy of
Normandy, and began his operations by ordering siege to be laid to
the castle of Gallon. This castle was very strong, and impregnable
but by famine,--for it was seated on a rock near to the Seine, out of
cannon-shot, and could not any way be won, so long as provision for
the garrison should last. The command of the siege was given to the
seneschal of Poitou and others, who pushed their approaches toward it
with great activity. The king went thither in person.
In the mean while, the duke of Alençon laid siege to the town and
castle of Fresnoy, wherein were many English; but they made no
opposition to the prosperity of the king's affairs, and surrendered on
capitulation.
During the siege of Gallon, and about three or four days before its
surrender, sir Richard de Merbury, an english knight and governor of
Gisors, agreed to terms of capitulation with the brother of his wife,
for its surrender on the 17th day of October following. In fact,
the governor turned to the french interest, and took the oaths of
allegiance, on condition that two of his sons, John and Hemond, who had
been made prisoners at the capture of Pont-Audemer, should be restored
to him without ransom; and also that he should enjoy unmolested the
lands of his wife, which were now held by the French, whether by
gift from the king or otherwise. At the solicitations of his wife's
relations, the king granted his requests,--and, in expectation of the
services that he looked to from him and his children, he also made him
governor of St Germain en Laye, and gave him, for his life only, all
the profits and emoluments arising from this government.
The king appointed, as governor of Gisors, the lord de Gaucourt, who
had long laboured in his majesty's service: and considering his great
age, of four score years and upwards, he had lately acquired very great
honour.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 48: Fresnoy,--a village in Normandy.]
[Footnote 49: Gisors,--a city in Normandy, capital of Vexin-Normand.]
[Footnote 50: Gallon,--10 leagues from Rouen, about a league from the
Seine.]
CHAP. XI.
THE KING OF FRANCE ORDERS THE COUNTS DE DUNOIS, D'EU, AND DE ST
POL TO JOIN HIM, AS HE INTENDED TO MARCH TO ROUEN, WHENCE, AFTER
REMAINING THREE DAYS HE RETURNS.--SOME OF THE INHABITANTS OF ROUEN ARE
NEAR DELIVERING UP THE CITY TO HIM.--THE DUKE OF BRITTANY BESIEGES
FOUGERES.--CONDE IS TAKEN.
In the month of October, the king of France ordered the count de
Dunois, and the lords in his company who had subdued Argentan, to
join him: and likewise the counts d'Eu and de St Pol; for it was his
intention to march to reduce Rouen to his obedience. They hastily
complied with his orders, insomuch that their armies were soon in the
plains of Neufbourg[51], and assembled on the opposite side of the
river, toward Rouen.
The king of France departed from Louviers, attended by the king of
Sicily and his nobles, and advanced to Pont de l'Arche,--when the
inhabitants came out with great joy, to welcome him on his arrival. He
thence sent heralds without delay to summon Rouen to surrender, that
all oppressions might be avoided by a voluntary submission: but the
english garrison, aware on what embassy the heralds came, would not let
them approach the walls, nor would they hear their summons, ordering
them, at the same time, to make haste and return, under pain of death.
They reported to the king all they had seen and heard, who, having
learnt the answers the English had given to his heralds, commanded the
army to cross the bridge at Pont de l'Arche, which was done under the
conduct of the count de Dunois, and thence to proceed to Rouen. They
remained before that city for three days with a multitude of men at
arms and soldiers of all descriptions; but during these three days, the
army suffered so greatly from the continual rains and storms that the
whole was nearly destroyed.
Notwithstanding the severity of the weather, the garrison made many
sallies, in which very gallant deeds of prowess were done; and a french
esquire, called the bastard de Forbier, was made prisoner by reason of
his horse falling under him. The french lords drew their army up in
battle-array before the walls, and sent the king's heralds, a second
time to summon the city to surrender; but as the English would not
suffer them to approach near enough to be heard by the people, they
were forced to return as before, which was quite contrary to every rule
of chivalry; for heralds are always allowed the liberty of freely going
and coming, to deliver their messages, provided such messages do not
contain any thing treasonable.
The heralds, having made their report to the count de Dunois on their
return, and he having considered that there seemed at present no chance
that the city would surrender, and that the severity of the weather had
much weakened his army, and worse was to be expected during the winter,
which was nigh at hand, marched back to Pont de l'Arche, and quartered
his men in the villages round that town. On the day of this retreat,
the king of France had come with the king of Sicily to a nunnery within
a league and a half of Rouen; but the king of France returned to his
former quarters at Pont de l'Arche, while the king of Sicily remained
until all the companies had marched for their cantonments near to Pont
de l'Arche.
Shortly after, the king received intelligence that some of the
inhabitants of Rouen had gained two towers that commanded part of the
walls, and that they would admit them by this way into the city. On
this information, the count de Dunois was ordered with the army to
undertake the business, who marched off, on the 16th day of October, in
handsome array.
On their arrival before Rouen, the army was drawn up fronting the new
castle, whence two detachments were ordered,--the one to the gate of
the Carthusians, and the gate Beauvoisienne, under the command of the
counts de Dunois, de Nevers, d'Eu, and de St Pol, having with them many
knights and esquires. The other detachment was to take post between
the place appropriated to the execution of criminals and the walls of
the city, under the command of the counts de Clermont, de Chartres,
the viscount de Lomaigne and others. Each remained in battle-array
until two hours after midday, when a person sallied out of the city
on horseback, and told the above-mentioned commanders that some of
the townsmen had gained, and kept by force, two towers, purposely to
introduce, by their means, the king's army into the town.
Upon this, the count de Dunois, and the other lords in the detachment
before the gate of the Carthusians, ordered their archers to march
towards that part of the walls between these two towers,--and the count
and his companions instantly dismounted and advanced to the foot of the
walls, against which they raised the few scaling ladders they had, and
made all diligence to mount them.
On this occasion were made knights the count de Nevers, the lord
Concresault, Brunet de Long-champ, the lord de Pleu-martin, Pierre de
la Fayette, the lord de Graville, master William Cousinot, Jacques de
la Rivierre the bailiff of Nivernois, Robert de Hurenville, who all
exerted themselves manfully to scale the walls, so that there were more
than thirty Frenchmen who were on the battlements or within the town.
The lord Talbot now advanced, with about three hundred men, planting
his banner on the wall, charged the French most valiantly, to
repulse those who had made good their entrance into the town. They,
however, fought well,--and great part saved themselves by leaping
into the ditches, being forced thereto by the arrows of the english
archers. Those who could not thus escape were put to death, or made
prisoners,--and the English became masters of the wall and of these two
towers. At this attack, from fifty to sixty French, including those of
the townsmen who had assisted them, were killed or taken; and several,
in attempting to escape, destroyed themselves. A few saved themselves
from the towers: others had their legs broken by their fall, and such
as remained were inhumanly slaughtered; so that it was an abomination
to see the torrents of blood that ran in streams from the two towers.
During this time, the kings of France and of Sicily arrived at
Darnetal[52]; but when they saw that the attempt had failed, and that
the citizens of Rouen were not unanimous to assist them, they returned,
on the 16th day of October, to Pont de l'Arche. The army was quartered
in the villages on the banks of the Seine, according to their former
disposition.
On the 17th day of October, sir Richard Merbury, the english knight
before mentioned, fulfilled his engagement, and delivered the town and
castle of Gisors to the lord de Gaucourt, for the king of France. In
consequence, his children were restored to him, and all the articles
agreed on fulfilled; after which, he departed. He, however, sent
away, previously to yielding up the place, an english captain called
Regnéfort[53], who had been his lieutenant in the command of the
garrison, and in the guard of the castle.
At this period, the duke of Brittany left lower Normandy, where he had
taken many places, on his return to besiege the town of Fougeres, held
by sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian.
The French, at this time, won the town of Condé sur Noireau[54] through
neglect of the guard at the gate; and therein was taken the lady of sir
Francis de Surienne, who had been driven from her lord's own residence,
and forced to shelter herself in Condé. The French plundered every
thing within the town, and also carried away the English prisoners.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 51: Neufbourg,--a town in Normandy, between the Seine and
Rille, 8 leagues from Rouen.]
[Footnote 52: Darnetal,--a town very near to Rouen.]
[Footnote 53: Regnéfort. Q. Rainford.]
[Footnote 54: Condé sur Noireau,--in the valley of Noireau, diocese of
Bayeux.]
CHAP. XII.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN AND OTHERS OF THE CITIZENS NEGOTIATE TO
SURRENDER THAT CITY TO THE KING OF FRANCE.--THE KEYS ARE PRESENTED TO
THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, THE COUNT DE DUNOIS, WHO ENTERS THE TOWN WITH
HIS ARMY.
On the 18th day of October, the inhabitants of the city of Rouen, being
greatly frightened lest their town should be stormed by the French,
and of course pillaged and destroyed, and also to avoid the further
effusion of blood, assembled with one accord at the bishop's palace.
They were much enraged at the deaths of their relatives and friends;
and had they met the lord Talbot, it was generally supposed that they
would have murdered him, as he had done their fellow-citizens and
friends.
They, however, saw the duke of Somerset, and plainly told him, that it
was expedient that a treaty should be opened, with the king of France,
otherwise they would be ruined and starved,--for it was upwards of six
weeks since any corn, wood, meat or wine had entered the town. This
language was not very agreeable to the duke,--but looking round, and
seeing that he had not more than fifty or sixty Englishmen with him,
and that there were from eight hundred to a thousand of the townsmen,
without including the remainder of the inhabitants who were under arms
in the different streets, he began to be alarmed, and, addressing
himself with much humility to the archbishop and people, said, that he
was ready to do whatever the inhabitants of the town should wish. To
appease the populace, he went to the town-hall, where public meetings
are usually held,--and, after some discussion, it was resolved that
the archbishop, with some english knights and citizens, should attend
at the gate of St Ouen, to confer with the king, or with a part of his
great council, respecting the welfare and surrender of the city of
Rouen.
In consequence of this resolution, the official of the town was sent
to the king at Pont de l'Arche to obtain a safe conduct for certain
persons therein named, to treat of peace,--which being granted, the
official returned to the archbishop and the duke. The archbishop, and
some knights and esquires on the part of the duke of Somerset, together
with certain of the townsmen, were sent to Port St Ouen[55], within
a league of Pont de l'Arche, where they met, on the part of the king
of France, his lieutenant-general the count de Dunois, the chancellor
of France, the seneschal of Poitou, sir William de Cousinot, and
some others. They had a long conference, in which the deputies from
Rouen insisted on a general amnesty being granted, and that such as
chose might depart with the English, and all who preferred to stay
should have the enjoyment of their fortunes unmolested. It was also
stipulated, that the English and their party should have safe conducts
for themselves and their effects, when they marched away. All these
demands having been agreed to by the count de Dunois and the king's
counsellors, the archbishop and his associates promised to deliver up
the town to the king's obedience.
The archbishop and his companions then departed, to make their report
to the English and the citizens of Rouen,--but as they arrived in the
night, they could not do it until the following day. On the 18th,
therefore, the archbishop and the other deputies went very early to the
town-hall, and related every thing that had passed between them and
the ministers from the king of France, which was very agreeable to the
inhabitants, but sorely displeasing to the English, who, when they saw
the strong inclinations of the townsmen to turn to the french interest,
were greatly astonished, more especially the duke of Somerset and the
lord Talbot. They therefore left the town-hall much discontented, and,
instantly arming themselves, withdrew to the government-palace, the
bridges, and portals of the castle.
The citizens, having observed their motions, began to take alarm, and
armed themselves also. They, as well as the English, kept up a strong
guard the whole of this Saturday, and likewise during the night; but
the townsmen, anxious to expel the English for refusing to accept of
the terms the deputies had agreed to, sent a messenger to Pont de
l'Arche, who arrived there on Sunday by day-break, to inform the king,
that if he would send a force to their relief, it should have free
entrance into the town.
On this same Sunday, the 19th day of October, about eight o'clock in
the morning, the whole of the inhabitants were under arms, and on their
guard against any attempts of the English,--when they attacked all of
that nation whom they found in the streets so sharply that it was with
difficulty that they could join their companions on the bridge, and in
the palace and castle. In the pursuit, from seven to eight English were
killed,--and the townsmen gained possession, in the interim, of the
principal gates of the town.
The count de Dunois lost no time in hastening to the relief of Rouen,
but instantly mounted his horse, attended by a large company of men at
arms. In the number was Flocquet, bailiff of Evreux; but in his hurry,
he forgot to put his greaves on, and was so badly kicked by one of the
horses of his troop that his leg was broken, and he was carried back to
be cured at Pont de l'Arche, after he had given the command of his men
to the lord de Maulny.
On the arrival of this force before Rouen, those within St Catherine's
were summoned to surrender the place to the king of France, who had,
during the summons, set out from Pont de l'Arche, grandly accompanied
by men at arms and archers, to appear personally before the walls of
Rouen. He had ordered his artillery to be charged, for an immediate
attack on his arrival at St Catherine's, although there was no
necessity,--for the governor of the place, having six score English
under his orders, seeing so noble a company, and knowing that the king
was on the road, fearful also of the event, if he made any resistance,
surrendered it to the count de Dunois, and he and his garrison marched
away whither they pleased. The bailiff of Evreux was appointed
governor, until the king should otherwise dispose of it. A herald was
sent with the english garrison of St Catherine's, to answer for their
safety, and to conduct them to Port St Ouen. On their march, they met
the king, who bade them take nothing from the poor people without
paying for it; but as they said they had no money, he gave them the sum
of one hundred francs to defray the expences,--and then they continued
their march with their baggage, of which, indeed, they had little, to
Honfleur, or wherever else they pleased. The king took up his quarters
that night at St Catherine's, with the intent to accomplish his
enterprise.
To gain the city of Rouen, the count de Dunois, the count de Nevers,
the lord d'Orval, the lord de Blainville and the lord de Maulny,
advanced with all their men, with the king's banners displayed, before
that gate of Rouen called Martinville, and drew up in battle-array near
to the bulwark of the gate. The citizens came out with the keys of the
gates and presented them to the count de Dunois,--at the same time
pressing him to enter the town with as many of his men as he pleased.
The count replied, that he would act as should be most agreeable to
them, when, after some further conversation respecting the welfare of
the city, sir Pierre de Brézé, seneschal of Poitou, was ordered to
enter with one hundred lances and his archers, the lord de Maulny with
the same number of lances, and the archers of Robert de Flocques, and
one hundred lances and archers from the men of the count de Dunois.
They posted themselves as near to the English as they could, namely
the men of the count de Dunois in front of the government-palace, in
which were the duke of Somerset and lord Talbot, with twelve hundred
English,--the lord de Maulny between the palace and the castle, and
the seneschal of Poitou facing the castle. The other captains were
encamped in the fields, and posted in the villages on the side toward
the countries of Caux and Beauvoisis.
The king's army was a fine sight; for never, in the memory of man, had
the king so grand or so numerous an assembly of lords, barons, knights
and esquires, with common men, as were now under his orders.
This evening, the English surrendered the bridge, the guard of which
was given to the lord de Herunville,--and, on the morrow, the gates of
the town were thrown open, for all to enter or go out as they pleased.
The duke of Somerset was afflicted at heart to see the great army the
king had brought against him, and demanded a conference with him.
On this being told the king, he was well pleased to agree to it. In
consequence, the duke of Somerset set out, on the fifth day afterward,
from the palace, accompanied by a certain number of persons, and by
some of the king's heralds, who escorted him to St Catherine's on the
mount of Rouen, where the king received him, attended by the king of
Sicily, the count de Dunois, and others of his council and blood: the
patriarch of Antioch, the Archbishop of Rouen, and other prelates,
were likewise present. After the usual salutations, and when the duke
had paid his respects to the king, he requested that his majesty would
be pleased to allow him and lord Talbot, with the men under their
command, to march away with their baggage in safety, according to the
terms of the general amnesty which had been agreed to by the lords of
his council.
The king deliberately and prudently replied, that his request was
unreasonable, because they had refused to accept or adhere to the terms
of the amnesty; but in contempt of it had held, and now did hold, the
palace and castle contrary to his will, and had also done every thing
in their power to prevent the inhabitants of Rouen from surrendering
their town. The amnesty had, therefore, been annulled by their own
conduct; and before they were suffered to leave the palace, Honfleur,
Harfleur, and all places in the country of Caux, now in the hands of
the king of England, must be given up to him.
The duke of Somerset, on receiving this answer, took leave of the king
and returned to the palace, and saw every one, in all the streets he
passed through, wearing the white cross, which did not tend to raise
his spirits. He was escorted back by the counts of Eu and of Clermont.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 55: St Ouen. I believe there must be some mistake, for there
is no St Ouen near to Pont de l'Arche; but a St Ouen seems to be within
a league of Elbeuf, which is near to Pont de l'Arche.]
CHAP. XIII.
THE KING OF FRANCE BESIEGES THE DUKE OF SOMERSET, LORD TALBOT, AND
THEIR MEN, IN THE GOVERNMENT-PALACE OF ROUEN.--THEY SURRENDER, ON
CONDITION OF BEING ALLOWED TO MARCH AWAY ON YIELDING UP THE CASTLE OF
ARQUES[56], AND OTHER PLACES MENTIONED.
On Wednesday, the 22d of October the king of France commanded the
government-palace and the castle of Rouen to be besieged at the same
time. Eight hundred lances, with the archers, were ordered on this
service, who made deep trenches round the palace, as well in the town
as in the fields. Bombards and cannon were pointed against the gates
that opened to the country and town. All these preparations greatly
dismayed the duke of Somerset. Having considered that there was very
little provision or stores within the palace, and a great many
men, and that there was not a possibility of his being relieved, he
requested, on the 28th of the same month, that the king would permit
him to speak with him, which the king kindly granted. The duke left
the palace accompanied by about forty of his principal knights and
esquires: he was dressed in a long robe of blue figured velvet, lined
with sables, having on his head a crimson-velvet bonnet, trimmed also
with sables. The king's heralds escorted him through the tower to the
sallyport leading to St Catherine's, where he was met by the count de
Clermont, eldest son to the duke of Bourbon, and other knights and
esquires, who conducted him to St Catherine's where the king received
him very kindly, in an apartment most richly decorated.
The king had with him, at this audience, the king of Sicily, the counts
of Maine, of Dunois, of Nevers, of Clermont, of St Pol, of Castres, of
Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and so many great lords and
knights that it would be tiresome to name them all. When the duke
had saluted the king, he requested that his majesty would be pleased
to grant to him, and the English in the palace and castle, the same
capitulation he had granted to the town.
The king replied aloud, and in handsome terms, that the same
capitulation had been granted them at the conference at St Ouen, but
that neither himself nor his countrymen, like ill-advised persons,
would accept of it: his request was therefore so unreasonable that
he could not grant it. The duke then took his leave of the king and
returned, with those who had accompanied him, to the palace, escorted,
for his security, by the counts of Clermont, of Eu, and of Castres.
The king ordered the count de Dunois to push forward his approaches to
the palace with the greatest vigour, on the side toward the country as
well as on that toward the town. The lieutenant-general obeyed this
order with so much activity, valour and prudence, that the English were
completely blockaded in both the castle and the palace.
The English now demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and a
truce was concluded between them. The bailiff of Evreux, the marshal
de la Fayette, and others of the king's council were called in to the
conference, when the truce was prolonged from day to day, for the space
of twelve days, because the English would not leave the lord Talbot as
an hostage for the performance of the treaty. After many discussions,
it was at length agreed that the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of
the king of England, his lady, children, and all the English within
the palace and castle should depart in safety with their effects
whithersoever they pleased, leaving behind the prisoners and heavy
artillery. They were bound to pay the king of France the sum of fifty
thousand crowns within the twelvemonth, and to those who had concluded
this treaty six thousand. They also promised faithfully to pay every
thing they owed to the innkeepers, townsmen, tradesmen and others of
Rouen.
The duke of Somerset and his companions were besides bounden to
deliver up the castle of Arques, the town of Caudebec, the castle
of Tancarville, and L'isle-bonne, the towns of Honfleur and
Monstierville, to the king of France, or to such commissioners as
he should appoint to receive them. For the fulfilment of these
engagements, the duke of Somerset gave written promises, and also
left, as hostages for their performance, lord Talbot, the sons of lord
Abergavenny, of lord Roos, and of the duchess of Somerset, of the earl
of Ormond in Ireland, and two other english noblemen.
On the conclusion of this treaty, the duke of Somerset and the English
departed from the palace on the 4th day of November, and went strait
to the town of Harfleur,--some by water, others by land. The hostages
remained under the care of the king's commissaries in Rouen. The duke
of Somerset, before his departure, had directed sir Thomas Hou and
Fulk Hou[57] to restore to the king of France the places mentioned in
the treaty; which was done, excepting Honfleur,--for the governor,
called master Thomas Courson, refused to surrender it,--and the lord
Talbot, therefore, remained prisoner to the king. On Monday, the 10th
of November, the eve of the feast of St Martin, the count de Dunois and
the bailiff of Rouen had the king's banner displayed from the castle,
palace, and walls of the city, by one of the king's heralds, and in the
presence of the principal inhabitants.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 56: Arques,--two leagues from Dieppe.]
[Footnote 57: Sir Thomas Hou, &c. Q. Howe? Berry changes the names into
Heu and Heston. See Hollingshed, &c.]
CHAP. XIV.
THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES A GRAND ENTRY INTO ROUEN.--HE IS SUMPTUOUSLY
RECEIVED.--THE ENGLISH RESTORE TO THE KING THE CASTLE OF ARGUES,
CAUDEBEC, TANCARVILLE, MONSTIERVILLE, &c.
While the negotiations were carrying on with the English, the king of
France celebrated the feasts of All-saints in St Catherine's with the
utmost joy on seeing his enemies fall before him,--and he returned
thanks to God for the good fortune that was daily pouring in upon him.
The count de Dunois having restored good government in the town of
Rouen, the king prepared to make his solemn entry into it.
He set out from St Catherine's on this same Monday, about one o'clock
after midday, attended by the king of Sicily, and several great
princes, as well of his blood as otherwise, with his army drawn out
in handsome array. First marched his archers, the leaders of whom
were dressed in striped jackets of red, white and green, covered with
embroidery. After these came the archers of the king of Sicily, of the
count du Maine, and of other great lords, to the number of six hundred,
well mounted, and all armed with plate armour, under jackets of various
colours, having greaves, swords, daggers and helmets, richly ornamented
with silver. The king appointed the lords de Preuilly and de Cléré, sir
Theaulde de Valperge, and a few more, to command them, who had their
horses covered with satin housings of different forms and colours.
After the archers came the heralds of the king of France, the king of
Sicily, and the other princes in company with the king, all dressed in
their tabards of arms,--and with them were some pursuivants. Then came
the trumpeters and clarions, who sounded so loudly that it was very
melodious, and gave much delight to hear them: the king's trumpeters
were clothed in crimson, having their sleeves covered with embroidery.
Next came sir William Juvenal des Ursins, knight, lord of Trainel and
chancellor of France, dressed in his robes of ceremony, namely, a
robe, mantle and hood of scarlet, trimmed with minever, and on each
of his shoulders were golden ribbands, interlaced with strips of fur.
Before him walked two footmen, leading by the bridle a white hackney,
covered with a housing of blue velvet, besprinkled with flowers de luce
and gold tissue. On this housing was placed a small coffer, covered
also with blue velvet and flowers de luce in silversmith's work, in
which were the seals of the king. After him rode an equerry of the
stables, called Pierre Fonteville[58], fully armed, and mounted on a
charger covered with housings of azure velvet, having great clasps of
silver gilt: he had on his head a pointed hat, with the point trimmed
with crimson-velvet and ermine. He bore before him, in a scarf, the
royal mantle of scarlet, ornamented with purple fringes and ermine.
Next came, without any interval between him and the king, the lord de
Saintrailles, grand equerry of the royal stables, and bailiff of Berry.
He was in complete armour, mounted on a charger with similar housings
and clasps as the said Fonteville, and bore in a scarf the royal sword
of state, whose handle, cross and sheath, were covered with blue
velvet, besprinkled with flowers de luce of gold.
Then came the king, in complete armour, on a stately charger with
housings, reaching to the ground, of blue velvet, covered with flowers
de luce in embroidery. On his head was a beaver hat lined with crimson
velvet, having on the crown a tuft of gold thread. He was followed
by his pages dressed in crimson,--their sleeves covered with silver
plates, the armour of their horses' heads was of fine gold, variously
ornamented, and with plumes of ostrich feathers of divers colours. On
the right of the king rode the king of Sicily, and on the left his
brother the count of Maine, both in full armour, their horses richly
ornamented, with similar housings, having white crosses, and their
devices intermixed with tufts of gold thread. Their pages' horses had
the like housings,--but their head-armour was of fine gold with their
devices.
After them came the counts de Nevers, de St Pol, and de Clermont. The
first was mounted, fully armed, on a charger covered with green velvet
embroidered with gold, and followed by three pages dressed in violet
and black: he was also accompanied by twelve gentlemen completely
armed, mounted on horses covered with violet-coloured satin: each
housing bore a white cross, except one whose housing was of green
satin. The count de St Pol was likewise in full armour, mounted on a
charger having a housing of black satin covered with silversmith's
work and embroidery. His five pages were clothed in black satin,
slashed below, which slashes were covered with silversmith's work:
the housings of their horses were the same. One of them bore a lance
covered with crimson-velvet, another a lance covered with figured
gold tissue, and the third bore on his head an helmet of fine gold
richly ornamented; and behind these pages was his groom handsomely
dressed, with the housings of his horse similar to the others, leading
a handsome charger in hand. The count de Clermont was also completely
armed, mounted on his charger covered with housings of his livery, as
were his pages.
The lord de Culant, grand master of the king's household, (having the
command of a battalion of six hundred lances, each having a pennoncel
of crimson satin with a golden sun in the center,) followed the pages
of the king, in complete armour, a hat on his head, and mounted on a
charger covered with a housing of blue and red velvet in stripes, each
stripe having a large golden or silver leaf: the armour of his horse
was similarly ornamented. He wore round his neck a baldrick of pure
gold, that hung down below the crupper of his horse. With the lord de
Culant was an esquire called Rogerin Blosset, equerry of the stables
to the king, who bore the royal standard of crimson satin, having the
figure of St Michael in the center, and besprinkled with leaves of gold.
Jean de Scaenville was also in the rear of the king: he was surnamed
Havart, bailiff of Dreux and esquire-carver to the king, and bore the
royal pennon, which was of azure velvet, with three flowers de luce
embroidered thereon in gold, and the border of this pennon was of large
pearls.
In their attendance on the king were numbers of great lords, such as
the viscount de Lomagne, the count de Castres, Ferry lord of Lorraine,
sir John his brother, the lord d'Orval, the count de Tancarville, the
lord de Montgascon, son to the count de Boulogne and Auvergne, the lord
de Jalognes marshal of France, the lord de Beauveau, and more than I
can remember, all clad in complete armour, and their horses covered
with housings of velvet or satin, having on each a white cross.
Thus did the king advance until he came within bow-shot of the
beauvoisine gate, near to the carthusian convent, where the count
de Dunois, his lieutenant-general, came out to meet him, mounted
on a charger covered with crimson velvet, and himself dressed in
a crimson-velvet jacket trimmed with sables: he was girt with a
magnificent sword, whose pummel was set with diamonds, pearls and
rubies, to the Value of fifteen thousand crowns. The seneschal of
Poitou, and Jacques Coeur, master of the king's wardrobe, attended him
mounted on chargers covered and clad like to the lieutenant-general.
The bailiff of Evreux and sir William Cousinot were also there,--the
first mounted on a charger covered with crimson velvet, and himself
clad in the same stuff. Sir William Cousinot had lately been nominated
bailiff of Rouen, and was dressed in blue velvet with rich clasps of
silver gilt: his horse had housings of the same.
The lieutenant-general had brought from the town, to do reverence to
the king, the archbishop of Rouen, the bishops of Lisieux, Bayeux, and
Coutances, and the principal inhabitants. When these prelates had done
their obeisance, they returned into the town, leaving the citizens, who
were very numerous, clad in blue with red hoods, with the lieutenant,
who presented them to the king. After paying their humble reverence,
they delivered the keys of their town into the hands of the king, as
their sovereign lord; and after many fine speeches from them, which
he heard with kindness, he gave the keys to the before-mentioned
seneschal, appointing him governor of the place.
The king then began his entrance into the city in the same order as
I have described; but the moment he began to move a procession of
prelates and churchmen, in their pontifical habits, regulars and
seculars, bearing jewels and relics, and accompanied by the four
mendicant orders, came out to meet him, singing 'Te Deum laudamus,'
for the joyful arrival of the king of France, their sovereign lord.
They placed themselves before the chancellor of France, the lord de la
Fayette marshal of France, the lord de Gaucourt first chamberlain to
the king, the lord de Presseigny, and Jacques Coeur, who all had their
horses covered with velvet and satin, and had jackets of the same with
white crosses. The count de Dunois placed himself directly before the
king, near to the equerry of the stables.
It is certain, that in the memory of man, never was king seen with such
a handsome body of chivalry, so finely dressed, nor so great a number
of men at arms as the king of France had with him on his regaining
his good city of Rouen. At the entrance of the gates, a youth, aged
about twelve or thirteen years, and son to the lord de Presseigny, was
knighted by the seneschal of Poitou. At the gate of the bulwark were
four of the most distinguished of the citizens with an exceedingly rich
canopy, which they held over the head of the king until he came to the
church of our Lady in Rouen. All round this gate, and on the bulwark,
were immense crowds of people, who, on the king's entrance in the midst
of his men at arms, sang carols for joy at the happy event. In all the
squares were different pageants: in one was a fountain ornamented with
the arms of the town, namely, a lamb, who spouted out liquors from his
horns. Elsewhere was a tyger with its young ones, who were admiring
themselves in looking glasses; and near to the church of our Lady was
a flying stag, sumptuously made, having on his neck a crown,--and he
kneeled down, by way of reverence to the king as he passed on his way
to the church.
At this place were the count de Dunois with lord Talbot and the english
hostages at a window to see the pageant: the last were very pensive,
and hurt at heart, on witnessing a sight so disagreeable to their
interests. The king dismounted on his arrival before the church, where
he was received by the archbishop and his clergy, richly dressed in
their copes. Having entered the church, he continued some time in
prayer, and thence went to the palace of the archbishop, where he was
lodged.
Every one now returned to their homes,--and the populace made great
bonfires in all the streets, to testify their joy on the occasion.
The archbishop, on the morrow, led several solemn processions,--and
the day was kept sacred from all labour and work, the same as if it
had been Sunday. On the Wednesday and Thursday, the rejoicings were
continued, and tables were spread in the street, covered with meats and
wines for all comers, at the expense of the inhabitants. They also made
rich presents to the king, his officers, his heralds and pursuivants,
then present. While the king remained at the archbishop's palace, the
churchmen, citizens and inhabitants, required an audience of him,
touching certain requests they had to make. On its being granted,
they entered the great hall, where the king was seated on his throne
richly adorned, and himself dressed in cloth of gold, surrounded by his
ministers. They proposed various measures to him, and, in the number,
most humbly supplicated that he would be graciously pleased to pursue
his ancient enemies the English; for by means of the towns they yet
possessed in Normandy they were still enabled to do great mischiefs to
the country. To assist him in this measure, they offered their lives
and fortunes.
The king was well pleased with their proposal, more particularly
with their offers of service and of money, and made, by means of the
chancellor, a satisfactory answer to all they had proposed. They then
took their leave, and retired to their homes. The king staid some time
in Rouen to remodel the government of it; during which the English
surrendered all the places they had given hostages for namely, the
castle of Arques, Tancarville, Lillebonne, Monstierville[59] and
Caudebec. But although they had engaged to restore Honfleur, it was not
done, because the governor refused to obey, in this point, the orders
of the duke of Somerset, and, consequently, the lord Talbot with the
other hostages remained prisoners to the king of France. Sir Pierre de
Brézé, seneschal of Poitou, was appointed governor of Rouen.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 58: Fonteville. Fontenay.----MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 59: Monstierville--should be _Montivilliers_, a town in
Normandy, three leagues from Havre, eight from Fecamp.]
CHAP. XV.
THE CASTLE OF GAILLON SUBMITS TO THE OBEDIENCE OF THE KING OF
FRANCE.--FOUGERES SURRENDERS TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, AND BELLÊME[60]
TO THE DUKE OF ALENÇON.--A WELL-FOUGHT BATTLE TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE
FRENCH AND ENGLISH.
On the 23d of November, in this year, the impregnable castle of Gaillon
surrendered to the king's forces, after a siege of six weeks. The
english garrison amounted to from one hundred to six score, and marched
away on capitulation, to carry with them their effects to Harfleur, or
to any other place under their subjection.
About the same time, the duke of Brittany gained the town and castle
of Fougeres, after a siege of a month. He had battered the walls with
his cannons and bombards so that the breaches were nearly wide enough
to storm, when the English, seeing their danger, and knowing their
provisions were expended, surrendered on capitulation. Their captain
was sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, having under his
command from five to six hundred men,--and they were allowed to march
away with their horses and arms, but each with only a small bundle
before him. This sir Francis afterwards turned to the French, and took
the oaths of allegiance to the king, notwithstanding that he had taken
the town of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, and thus had broken the
truce between the kings of France and England.
The duke of Brittany had, at that time, in his army, eight thousand
combatants, lords, knights and esquires; but after the surrender of
Fougeres they returned home, on account of the great mortality in the
army, which carried off very great numbers, and among the rest the
son of the viscount de Rohan, which was a great pity. The duke went
also into Brittany, after he had placed sufficient garrisons in his
conquests.
Toward the end of November, the duke of Alençon laid siege to his town
and castle of Bellême, then occupied by the English contrary to his
will. He had with him about three hundred lances, knights and esquires,
and a body of archers, without including the peasantry from the
countries of Maine and Vendôme, who were estimated at three thousand
fighting men. After several skirmishes and sallies, the English,
finding all resistance vain, entered on a treaty with the duke, and
engaged to surrender the town and castle on the 20th day of December,
unless their friends should appear on that day in sufficient force to
give the duke battle and conquer him.
The duke, therefore, intrenched his army on the plain to wait the
arrival of the English, who were on their march to relieve the place.
Two thousand of them had advanced to Torigny[61], and, on their
departure, had set it on fire, and proceeded to Thury[62], where they
received certain intelligence of the exact strength of the duke's army,
and in consequence marched back again. On the 20th day of December,
the duke of Alençon and the lord de Saintrailles drew their army up
in battle-array, and waited thus until the hour for the appearance of
the enemy was passed. The captain of the english garrison in Bellême,
called Matago[63], having about two hundred combatants with him, then
surrendered the place, and marched away in safety with their effects,
according to the terms of the capitulation, whither they pleased.
About Christmas-day, the english garrison in Vire[64], to the number of
twelve score, marched out to seek adventures, but were met by a party
of the constable's men in garrison at Gourey[65], near to the Croix de
Vamoux, under the command of sir Geoffry de Couvran, Joachim Rouhault,
and others, when a very sharp engagement took place,--but the English
were discomfited, so many being killed or taken that few escaped.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 60: Bellême,--a town in Perche, 10 leagues from Alençon.]
[Footnote 61: Torigny,--a small town in Normandy.]
[Footnote 62: Thury,--a small town in Normandy.]
[Footnote 63: Matago. Q. Matthew Gough?]
[Footnote 64: Vire,--on the river Vire in Normandy, diocese of Bayeux,
generality of Caen.]
[Footnote 65: Gourey. Q. if not Gournetz, a village in Normandy.]
CHAP. XVI.
THE KING OF FRANCE LEAVES ROUEN.--HE SENDS HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TO
BESIEGE HARFLEUR, WHICH SURRENDERS ON CAPITULATION.--THE FAIR AGNES IS
TAKEN ILL.--HER DEATH, AND HER LAST TESTAMENT.
The king of France, having settled the government of Rouen to his
satisfaction, marched thence clothed in a brigandine, having over it a
jacket of gold tissue, accompanied by the king of Sicily, and the other
princes of his blood, magnificently dressed, more especially the count
de St Pol, whose horse's forehead-piece was valued at thirty thousand
francs.
Thus attended, the king rode to Caudebec,--in which town it was
resolved to lay siege to Harfleur; and in consequence, he advanced to
Montivilliers, which is but half a league distant from Harfleur, and
thence detached his lieutenant-general, the count de Dunois, to open
the trenches. The count had with him the counts d'Eu, de Clermont, de
Nevers, de Castres, with many men at arms, archers and franc archers,
so that his force was estimated at six thousand men, without including
the franc archers, who amounted to three thousand, or the cannoneers,
labourers, and followers, or the mariners who blockaded the place with
twenty-five large vessels, or those who had besieged the abbey of
Graville, amounting, in the whole, to more than a thousand men.
The siege was commenced on the 8th day of December, with many
difficulties,--for there were neither houses nor trees near at hand,
and the weather was more severe, by reason of frosts and inundations,
than had been experienced for some time. The besiegers suffered also
greatly from the sea, which at times destroyed their huts, which were
composed only of earth covered with juniper branches.
Sixteen large bombards were pointed against the walls, which the king
came frequently from Montivilliers to see fired. Deep trenches of
communication were formed, wherein the king often exposed his person,
armed only with a light helmet and covering shield, to witness the
effect of this battery against the walls. Covered trenches were carried
to the very walls of Harfleur; and these mines and trenches were formed
under the directions of master John Bureau, treasurer to the king,
in conjunction with his brother Jasper, grand master of the royal
artillery, both very expert and able in the sciences.
Thomas Aurmagan[66], governor of Harfleur, and the English with him,
to the amount of sixteen hundred, receiving pay, witnessing the great
preparations of the king of France, opened a treaty with the count de
Dunois, on the eve of Christmas-day, for the surrender of the place.
On the morrow, the capitulation was signed,--and they were to march
away with their baggage, and were allowed to transport their effects
by land or sea, the term for so doing being limited to the first
day of the year. Eight english gentlemen were given as hostages for
the due performance of the treaty, who were sent under an escort to
Montivilliers. On the first day of January, they were brought back to
Harfleur, for the accomplishment of the treaty. About vespers, Thomas
Aurmagan, the governor, presented the keys of the gates and towers to
the count de Dunois, with much reverence and kneeling, in the presence
of all the English, and even before master Sanice[67], who had brought
a reinforcement of five hundred English just before the siege.
The lieutenant-general, on receiving the keys, sent a party to take
possession of the towers, and to lower the english standard, of a red
cross on a white field, that was flying on one of them. He afterwards
ordered two heralds to replace it with the standard of France, which
was done with the shouts and rejoicings of the populace. The count also
posted a party of his men in the towers on the side toward Rouen. This
day, the greater part of the English departed; but as all could not be
ready by the return of the tide, the lieutenant-general listened to
their humble supplications, and permitted those who remained to tarry
there until the Friday and Saturday at midday, and appointed a guard
over them that they might not be ill treated. When the English were all
gone, the king gave the government of Harfleur to the count de Dunois,
who appointed the lord de Moy his lieutenant, with one hundred lances
and a proportionate number of archers for its defence, and for that of
the country around.
Jacques de Clermont, esquire, was made governor of Montivilliers,--and
he had likewise one hundred spears and archers for its guard, and for
the defence of other forts in the neighbourhood. The king, having made
these appointments, left Montivilliers on the 5th day of January: he
ordered detachments of his army to march through Rouen, Caudebec and
Tancarville, to besiege Honfleur, and went himself to the abbey of
Jamieges[68], on the Seine, five leagues below Rouen, where he remained
for some time, while preparations were making for the siege of Honfleur.
At this abbey, the king met the fair Agnes, who had come thither
(as she said) to give the king information that some of his officers
intended to deliver him up to his enemies the English. The king,
however, paid no attention to the intelligence, but laughed at it. This
fair Agnes had been five years in the service of the queen, during
which she had enjoyed all the pleasures of life, in wearing rich
clothes, furred robes, golden chains, and precious stones; and it was
commonly reported that the king often visited her, and maintained her
in a state of concubinage,--for the people are more inclined to speak
ill than well of their superiors.
The affection the king showed her was as much for her gaiety of temper,
pleasing manners, and agreeable conversation, as for her beauty. She
was so beautiful that she was called the Fairest of the Fair, and the
Lady of Beauté, as well on account of her personal charms as because
the king had given her for life the castle of Beauté, near Paris.
She was very charitable, and most liberal in her alms, which she
distributed among such churches as were out of repair, and to beggars.
It is true, that Agnes had a daughter, who lived but a short time,
which she said was the king's, and gave it to him as the proper father:
but the king always excused himself, as not having any claim to it. She
may indeed have called in help, for the matter was variously talked of.
At length, she was seized with a bowel-complaint, and was a long time
ill,--during which, she was very contrite, and sincerely repented of
her sins. She often remembered Mary Magdalen, who had been a great
sinner, and devoutly invoked God and the virgin Mary to her aid. Like
a true catholic, after she had received the sacraments, she called for
her book of prayers, in which she had written with her own hand the
verses of St Bernard, to repeat them. She then made many gifts (which
were put down in writing, that her executors might fulfil them, with
the other articles of her will), which, including alms and the payment
of her servants, might amount to nearly sixty thousand crowns. Her
executors were Jacques Coeur, counsellor and master of the wardrobe
to the king, master Robert Poictevin, physician, and master Stephen
Chevalier, treasurer to the king, who was to take the lead in the
fulfilment of her will, should it be his gracious pleasure.
The fair Agnes, perceiving that she was daily growing weaker, said
to the lord de la Trimouille, the lady of the seneschal of Poitou,
and one of the king's equerries called Gouffier, in the presence of
all her damsels, that our fragile life was but a stinking ordure. She
then required that her confessor would give her absolution from all
her sins and wickedness, conformable to an absolution, which was, as
she said, at Loches, which the confessor, on her assurance, complied
with. After this, she uttered a loud shriek, and called on the mercy
of God, and the support of the blessed virgin Mary, and gave up the
ghost on Monday, the 9th day of February, in the year 1449, about six
o'clock in the afternoon. Her body was opened, and her heart interred
in the church of the said abbey, to which she had been a most liberal
benefactress; and her body was conveyed, with many honours, to Loches,
where it was interred in the collegiate church of our Lady, to which
also she had made many handsome donations, and several foundations.
May God have mercy on her soul, and admit it into paradise![69]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 66: Thomas Aurmagan. Q.]
[Footnote 67: Master Sanice. Q.]
[Footnote 68: Jamieges,--a market-town on the Seine, two leagues from
Caudebec, six from Rouen.]
[Footnote 69: Agnes Sorel, says Moreri, was one of the handsomest women
of her time. She was a native of Promenteau, a village of Touraine, in
the diocese of Bourges. King Charles VII. no sooner saw her than he
fell in love with her. This prince made her great presents, and gave
her the castle of Beauté sur Marne. It is said that his affection for
her caused him to neglect public business, but that Agnes contrived
to excite him with such animosity against the English that he exerted
his utmost efforts to drive them out of the kingdom. It is added,
that she assured him that an astrologer had foretold to her that she
would captivate the affections of the greatest king in the world, but
that this prediction had no reference to him, since he neglected to
establish his authority in a state which his enemies had usurped, and
that, in order to accomplish it, she would be obliged to repair to the
court of the king of England. These reproaches roused the king from his
lethargy,--and he took the field to gratify, at once, his love and his
ambition. On this subject it is also said, that Francis I. being, one
day in the house of the count d'Estampes, who had been his governor,
and who was then grand master of France, he amused himself with looking
into a port-folio which was upon the dressing table of the countess,
who was fond of painting, and had drawn in it the portraits of divers
illustrious persons, and among others of Agnes Sorel. The king made
devices and verses for each of these portraits,--and under that of the
fair Agnes he wrote the following lines with his own hand.]
CHAP. XVII.
THE COUNT DE FOIX RAISES A LARGE ARMY TO BESIEGE THE CASTLE OF
GUISCHEN.--THE ENGLISH ASSEMBLE TO RAISE THE SIEGE, BUT ARE DEFEATED
BY THE LORD DE LAUTREC AND THE BASTARD DE FOIX.
About this period, the count de Foix raised a large army, and caused
the strong castle of Guischen, situated four leagues from Bayonne, to
be besieged by his brother, the lord de Lautrec, and the bastard de
Foix. The English, on hearing this, instantly took the field with four
thousand combatants, under the command of the constable of Navarre. He
had with him the mayor of Bayonne, George Saltviton[70],
'Plus de loüange et d'honneur tu merites,
La cause étant de France recouvrer,
Que ce que peut dedans un cloitre ouvrer
Close nonnain, en bien devot hermite.'
and many other English, who, having embarked their stores on the river
that runs through Bayonne, to convey them near to this castle, marched
as close to the vessels as they could.
News of their intentions was carried to the besiegers, who marched as
secretly as possible to meet them, and made so sharp an attack on the
English that they were driven from their boats, and lost twelve hundred
of their men in killed and taken. When Saltviton witnessed this defeat,
fearing it was impossible to recover the boats, he broke gallantly
through the french army with only sixty lances, and saved himself for
the moment in one of the outworks of the castle. Finding that he could
not long maintain himself in his present post, he marched away with his
men, thinking to regain Bayonne; but the bastard de Foix, knowing his
departure, immediately pursued him, and made him and the greater part
of his men prisoners.
On the morrow, the castle surrendered, and all the country between Dax
and Bayonne,--in which were from fifteen to sixteen strong places,
that surrendered to the count de Foix. When these forts had been
sufficiently garrisoned, the count's army was marched home.
The siege of Honfleur was commenced with great courage on the 17th day
of January, while the king remained at Jamieges, by his lieutenant
general, the count de Dunois, and the other lords before named. The
franc archers, who had been sent by these lords in advance ten or
twelve days before, to skirmish with the english garrison of Honfleur,
did their duty well.
When the blockade was completed, the king left Jamieges, and fixed his
quarters at the abbey of Grestain, two leagues from Honfleur. On his
arrival, the approaches and trenches were pushed forward with vigour,
and many cannons and bombards were pointed against the walls, to the
astonishment of those within the town.
The governor of the place was called master Courson[71], having a
garrison of three or four hundred English who exerted themselves
valiantly in their defence with cannons and other missile weapons. By
their means was killed a gallant Frenchman, named Regnault William,
le Bourgognon, then bailiff of Montargis, which was a great loss. At
length, the English were so overpowered by fear and want of provision
that they were constrained to demand a parley, to arrange terms of
capitulation; and they agreed to surrender the town and castle on the
18th day of February, unless there should appear a force sufficient to
relieve them, by conquering the French, and gave hostages for its due
performance, on which they were to march away with their effects in
safety.
The French now fortified their camp, and made preparations for a
combat, but the English did not appear; for the duke of Somerset dared
not leave Caen ungarrisoned, and, besides, they were not strong enough
to expect success without great reinforcements from England. The place
was therefore surrendered according to the terms of the capitulation,
and the English marched to other parts under their obedience.
Soon after the reduction of Honfleur, the king left the abbey of
Grestain, and went to Berucy[72], and thence to Essay[73] and Alençon.
He ordered a party of his guards, with the franc archers, to lay siege
to Fresnay[74], which was under the government of two Englishmen,
called Andrew Torfflot[75] and Janequin Vaquier[76], having with
them from four to five hundred English and Normans, called French
Renegadoes. The French advanced before the place in a numerous body,
in handsome array, which so much alarmed the governors that they
instantly offered to treat for a surrender. After a short discussion,
it was agreed, that on the place being given up to the king of France,
together with ten thousand golden saluts, their captain, called
Montfort[77], who had been made prisoner at Pont Audemer, should be
restored to them, and they should be allowed to march away in safety
with their baggage. Thus was the place surrendered,--and the English
departed, on the 22d day of March, for Caen or Falaise, or to wherever
else they pleased.
During the time of Lent, in this year, three thousand English landed
at Cherbourg, under the command of sir Thomas Kiriel, a knight of
great experience and renown, and marched to lay siege to Valognes[78],
which was under the government of an esquire from Poitou, called Abel
Rohault. He held it valiantly for some time, for his brother Joachim
Rohault; but having no hope of succour, he was forced to surrender it
to sir Thomas Kiriel, after a defence of three weeks, and was allowed
to march his men away in safety with all they possessed.
The king's army was, at the time, collecting to raise the siege;
as were the English to oppose them, from their different
garrisons,--namely, sir Robert Vere, in Caen, had six hundred
combatants,--Henry Morbery, in Vire, had about four hundred,--Matago,
in the town of Bayeux, had eight hundred fighting men,--so that they
amounted in all, including sir Thomas Kiriel's force, to six or seven
thousand combatants. The French, learning this, suffered the town to be
surrendered without any attempt to the contrary,--for they could not be
assembled in time, considering that the king's army was then dispersed
in cantonments throughout Normandy, for the better preservation of
their conquests.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 70: Saltviton. In the MS. of Du Cange, it is _Soliton_; but
this seems as far from the true name as the other.]
[Footnote 71: Courson. Q. Curzon?]
[Footnote 72: Berucy,--Bernay, a market-town in Normandy, twenty
leagues and a half from Alençon. MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 73: Essay,--a market-town in Normandy, five leagues from
Alençon.]
[Footnote 74: Fresnay. There are two villages of this name in Normandy.]
[Footnote 75: Andrew Torfflot. Troslo.----MS. Du Cange. Q. if not
Truslow?]
[Footnote 76: Janequin Vaquier. Basquier and Baquier.----MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 77: Montfort. Q. if not lord Fauconberg? See in the preceding
pages.]
[Footnote 78: Valognes,--five leagues from Cherbourg.]
[A.D. 1450.]
CHAP. XVIII.
AFTER THE CAPTURE OF VALOGNES BY SIR THOMAS KIRIEL, HE TAKES THE FIELD
WITH A LARGE ARMY OF ENGLISHMEN.--HE IS MET BY THE COUNT DE CLERMONT,
WHO ATTACKS AND DEFEATS HIM.
On the 12th day of April, in the year 1450, after Easter, sir Thomas
Kiriel dislodged from Valognes, having with him the greater part of
the garrisons of Caen, Bayeux, and Vire, and, crossing the fords
of St Clement[79], advanced toward the country of Bayeux and Caen.
Intelligence of this movement was carried to the french headquarters,
and a detachment was ordered to pursue them, under the command of the
count de Clermont, the count de Castres, the seneschal of Poitou, the
lord de Montgascon and de Retz, admiral of France, and others, to the
amount of five or six hundred spears and archers. Although they were
so few in numbers, they continued their pursuit until they overtook
them. Sir Geoffry de Couvran and Joachim Rohault had, some little time
before, separated from them to seek if they could gain any information
of the enemy, and luckily fell in with their track. Notwithstanding the
disparity of numbers, they boldly and courageously made an attack on
their rear-guard, and killed and wounded several. They then retreated,
and sent notice of what they had done to the count de Clermont, who was
not far off. He hastened to come up with the English, which he did near
a village called Fourmigny, between Carentan and Bayeux, on the 13th of
the same month.
The English, on perceiving the enemy, drew up in battle-array, and sent
in haste to a captain, called Matago, who had that morning quitted them
for Bayeux, but instantly returned to the aid of his companions.
The two armies remained drawn up facing each other for three hours,
while a continual skirmish was going forward,--during which, the
English made, with their swords and daggers, deep holes in their front,
that those who should charge them might fall in with their horses: they
were also very advantageously posted, for they had, within a bow-shot
of their rear, a small river with gardens and orchards thick planted
with fruit-trees, so that they could not be attacked on that quarter.
The count de Clermont, observing their situation, and considering that
he had not an adequate force to combat them, dispatched a messenger
in haste to St Lo, to require that the count de Richemont, constable
of France, would come to his succour,--otherwise he and his men would
have more work on their hands than they could accomplish, for that the
English greatly outnumbered his force.
The constable, on receiving this intelligence, instantly set out,
at three o'clock in the morning of the same day, the 18th, to his
assistance, although he was but just arrived from Brittany without
halting. He rode to Trevieres[80], accompanied by the lord James de
Luxembourg, the count de Laval, the lord marshal de Lohéac, and from
two hundred to twelve score lances and eight hundred archers. They
advanced with great rapidity (for the English had already crossed the
ford) until they came to the windmill above Fourmigny, where they drew
up in order of battle in sight of the English.
The count de Clermont had begun the engagement with his army of a
thousand to fifteen hundred men before the arrival of the constable,
and had been sharply repulsed by the English, who had taken from them
two culverines. The constable first marched his men to gain a stone
bridge,--but no sooner did Matago and sir Robert Vere perceive this
manœuvre of the constable than they fled with a thousand of their men
from Caen and Bayeux. Kiriel and the remainder retreated toward the
rivulet, and occupied the village that was hard by.
Part of the constable's archers, having dismounted at the end of the
bridge, attacked the left wing of the English,--and many were killed
and put to the rout. The constable now crossed the rivulet and joined
the count de Clermont; when the grand seneschal of Normandy asked his
permission to march his division toward the enemy's right wing, which
being granted, the English were slain and defeated. The main body of
the constable's men marched now in handsome order until they were near
the village, and crossed the brook by the high road. The English were
so much alarmed that they quitted the village, and advanced to the
rivulet, where a well-fought engagement took place; but although the
French were in all not more, according to the report of the heralds,
than three thousand combatants, and the English from six to seven
thousand, nevertheless, by the grace of God, the French defeated them.
From the accounts of the heralds, priests, and credible persons, three
thousand seven hundred and seventy-three were slain, and buried in
fourteen deep trenches on the spot.
Among the prisoners were sir Anthony[81] Kiriel, sir Henry Norbery[82],
sir Thomas Drieut[83], Thomas Kirby, Christopher Auberton, Arpel,
Helix Alengour, Jannequin Vacquier, Gobert Caleville, and numbers
of other captains, and english gentlemen bearing coats of arms.
Conformably to the old proverb, of 'He who fights and runs away, may
live to fight another day,' did those act who fled and left their
companions to bear the brunt of the battle, namely, Matago, sir Robert
Vere, Henry Lons, master Meillan, and another captain who commanded
thirty lances and five hundred archers. The prisoners taken at this
battle were estimated at from twelve to fourteen hundred. Matago fled
to Bayeux, and sir Robert to Caen,--and thus, by the favour of Divine
Providence, were the English defeated.
On this day, the following were made knights: the count de Castres,
son to the count de la Marche,--Godfrey de Boulogne, son to the count
de Boulogne and Auvergne,--the lord de Vauvert, son to the count de
Villars, the lord de St Severe, the lord de Chalençon, and several
more. The French only lost this day, by death, eight persons at the
most!
The army now marched to lay siege to the town and castle of Vire. After
their departure, a dispute arose among the captains, to whom the honour
of the day was due: some said to the constable, as being, from his
office, lieutenant-general for the king in all parts of the realm; but
others claimed it for the count de Clermont, he having been specially
ordered on this service,--and a special order ought to supersede a
general one. It came to such a length that it was referred to the king,
who decided in favour of the count de Clermont, although it was through
the constable's able support that he had gained the victory.
News of this success was soon spread all over the kingdom of France;
and coming to the ears of master William Charrier, bishop of Paris,
he immediately ordered a procession to be made to the church of Nôtre
Dame of all children, as well male as female, that were at school,
from the age of seven to eleven years, to return thanks to God for
the signal victory the most Christian king had obtained over his
ancient enemies. The procession, consisting of from twelve to fourteen
thousand children, attended by their masters and tutors, set out from
the church of St Innocent, where they were assembled, each with a
wax taper, or other light, in his hand. The chaplains of the church
were in the center, bearing the relics of Saint Innocent,--and the
procession extended from this church to that of our Lady, and was a
fine sight to see, and did great honour to the bishop. On its arrival
at the church of Nôtre Dame, a solemn mass was sung, and the bishop
preached a sermon, taking for his text the second verse of the eighth
Psalm,--'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy
and the avenger.' When the service was over, they returned two and two
as they had come, conveying back the relics to the church of Saint
Innocent,--and thence each child went to its school.
About this period, the duke of Suffolk quitted a strong castle into
which he had retired for fear of the English, who would have put him
to death, and embarked for foreign countries; but he was met at sea
by the partisans of the duke of Somerset, who laid hands on him and
cut off his head, which they sent, with the body, to their friends in
London, who hung up the quarters at the different gates.[84]
The French, without loss of time, after their late victory, marched
to besiege the town of Vire, in which was a garrison of three or four
stout english combatants: their captain was sir Henry Norbury, then
a prisoner, in consequence of the defeat at Fourmigny. The siege did
not last long before the commandant capitulated to surrender, on being
allowed to march away in safety with the garrison and baggage to Caen.
The french army was now divided: one part, under the count de Clermont,
marched toward Bayeux,--and the other, with the constable, returned to
the duke of Brittany, to lay siege to Avranches[85].
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 79: St Clement,--a village near to Bayeux.]
[Footnote 80: Trevieres,---a market-town near Bayeux.]
[Footnote 81: Anthony. He is called _Thomas_ before.]
[Footnote 82: Norbery. Before Morbery. Probably Norbury.]
[Footnote 83: Drieut. Q. Trivet?]
[Footnote 84: See the english historians for a more correct account of
the end of the duke of Suffolk.]
[Footnote 85: Avranches,--a bishoprick in Normandy, 75 leagues from
Paris, 50 from Rouen.]
CHAP. XIX.
THE DUKE OF BRITTANY BESIEGES AVRANCHES, WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE.--IT
SURRENDERS TO HIM.--HE TAKES TOMBELAINE[86].--BAYEUX IS WON.--THE
CONSTABLE GAINS BRICQUEBEC[87], VALOGNES[88], ST SAUVEUR LE
VICOMTE[89],--OTHER INCIDENTS.
When the duke of Brittany's army was returned to him, and had taken
some rest, he mustered his men, and without delay began his march,
well attended by artillery, to besiege the town of Avranches, which
was garrisoned by four or five hundred English under the command of
a captain called Lampet[90]. The duke displayed great ability and
courage in forming the siege, during which many skirmishes took place
between the parties.
This siege lasted three weeks, when the walls were so battered that
the captain and garrison were reduced to surrender; but although they
proposed different terms of capitulation, they could only obtain
permission to march away in safety, but without arms or baggage; so
that, when the place was given up, they departed with staves in their
hands. On the reduction of Avranches, the duke of Brittany advanced
with his army to Tombelaine, which is impregnable, so long as provision
and stores last; for it is seated on a rock in the sea, near to St
Michael's Mount. There was in it an english garrison of from four score
to one hundred men,--but they no sooner perceived the great force that
was brought against them than they capitulated to surrender the place,
on being permitted to march to Cherbourg in safety with their baggage
and effects.
On the 16th day of May, the king of France ordered the counts de
Dunois, de Nevers, d'Eu, and several other knights and esquires, to
lay siege to Bayeux. In consequence, they encamped near to the town,
and pushed forward the siege with such vigour, by mines and battering
cannon, that many breaches were made in the wall, wide enough to be
stormed; but the commanders were averse to this, to avoid the effusion
of blood and the numberless other evils that would ensue. However,
notwithstanding this laudable resolution, the ardour and avarice of
soldiers to become rich induced part of the army, without orders, to
storm the town twice in the same day, when many gallant deeds were done
on both sides, and several were killed by arrow and culverine shots.
The French were forced to retreat without success, for the storm had
been only made on one side: had this measure been carried on under the
direction of their officers, it must undoubtedly have succeeded.
Matago, the governor of Bayeux, surprised at the valour he had seen
displayed by the French at this attack, for they had slain some of the
stoutest of the English, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois for
its surrender; but after many parleys, he could only obtain permission
for his men to march away without arms or baggage and with staves in
their hands. Thus marched away, by the castle-gate for Cherbourg, all
the English, to the amount of nine hundred, esteemed the most valiant
of their party; but in honour of nobility, horses were given to carry
their damsels and gentle ladies,--and carts were also supplied to
convey the most respectable of the women who followed their husbands.
It was a pitiful sight thus to see from three to four hundred women,
(without including children, who were very numerous,) some carrying
their infants in cradles on their heads, others swinging them round
their necks or in rolls of cloth round their bodies and in a variety of
other ways.
On the restoration of Bayeux to the obedience of the king of France,
the count de Dunois appointed a captain, and other officers, to
govern the city, and then crossed the Orne[91], with the count de
Clermont,--and there cantoned the army, to live on the country until
the arrival of the count de Richemont, constable of France. He had left
all his artillery at Bayeux to be ready for laying siege to Caen.
In the mean time, the constable, and those in his company,--namely, the
troops of the lord de Laval, the marshal de Lohéac, the troops of the
admiral and of the lord de Touteville,--gained the town of Bricquebosq
for the king of France, on permitting those within it to march away
with their baggage and effects. The constable then besieged Valognes,
that had lately been captured by the English; but it was not long
before it surrendered, for the lieutenant-governor for the king of
England had turned to the french interest. He, however, obtained from
the constable that the english garrison, amounting to six score men,
should march in safety, with arms and baggage, to Cherbourg.
On the departure of the duke of Brittany, the constable came to Bayeux,
and thence sent sir James de Luxembourg his lieutenant, and Odet
Dadic, with about thirty lances, to commence the siege of St Sauveur
le Vicomte, which is a handsome town, and one of the strongest in
Normandy. They remained before it three days, waiting for the marshals
of France and of Brittany, the lords de Touteville, de Boussac and
others.
The lord Robersart, a baron of Hainault, was the governor, having with
him two hundred english combatants,--and on the arrival of the marshals
the place was besieged in earnest. During the opening of the trenches,
a valiant esquire from Berry, called John de Blanchefort, was killed by
a cannon-shot, whose loss was much lamented. The garrison witnessing
the approaches of the French, although unhurt by their batteries,
offered to surrender, on condition that they should depart in safety
with their arms, baggage and effects, and be allowed eight days for
clearing the place. Thus was St Sauveur le Vicomte restored to the
king of France; and the marshals rode to a village called Ceaux[92],
within two leagues of Caen, where the constable and his company were
quartered, carrying with them the english hostages for the performance
of the treaty,--and at the end of eight days, when the place was
cleared, they were set at liberty.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 86: Tombelaine,--a small island, or rock, on the coast of
Normandy, between Avranches and St Malo.]
[Footnote 87: Bricquebec. Probably Bricquebosq, a village in Normandy,
near Valognes.]
[Footnote 88: Valognes,--a large town between Cherbourg and Carentan.]
[Footnote 89: St Sauveur le Vicomte, near Valognes.]
[Footnote 90: Lampet. Q. Lambert?]
[Footnote 91: Orne,--a river in Normandy: it runs into the sea at
Estreham.]
[Footnote 92: Ceaux,--a small town in Normandy, near Avranches.]
CHAP. XX.
THE SIEGE OF CAEN.--THE KING OF FRANCE, ATTENDED BY THE KING OF SICILY
AND HIS SON, THE DUKE OF CALABRIA, APPEAR BEFORE IT WITH A LARGE
ARMY.--THE ENGLISH, AFTER SUSTAINING MUCH DAMAGE FROM THE BATTERIES,
SURRENDER THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF CAEN.
On the 5th day of June, the constable and his division dislodged from
Ceaux, and fixed his quarters in the abbey of St Stephen, in the
suburbs of Caen, and near to the walls. On the same day, the count
de Clermont, the count de Castres, and many other lords, knights and
esquires, marched their men to the quarters of the constable: they
amounted to twelve hundred spears, four thousand five hundred archers,
guisarmes[93], and armour-bearers, and two hundred franc archers on
foot.
The count de Dunois posted himself in the suburbs of Vaucelles, on
the side toward Paris with a large company of nobles, men at arms
and archers, to the amount of eight hundred lances, and two thousand
archers, guisarmes, and armour-bearers on horseback, and two thousand
franc archers on foot, so that the city was completely blockaded on
its two sides. They instantly threw a bridge of communication between
the two divisions over the river Orne, by which, the fourth day after,
the counts of Nevers and of Eu passed a considerable body of men at
arms and archers, and quartered them in the suburbs of Caen, toward
the sea, at the abbey of la Trinité, a convent of women. They were
scarcely arrived before they attacked an outwork of the town, which was
valiantly defended, and many gallant deeds were performed on each side,
but it was at length won by storm by the French. They soon deserted
it, because it was open on the side near the walls,--and it was not
re-occupied by the English, for they had destroyed its communication
with the town by walling up the gate.
The king of France departed from Argentan[94], to be present at this
siege, attended by the king of Sicily, his son the duke of Calabria,
the duke of Alençon, the counts of Maine, of St Pol, of Tancarville,
and a numerous body of barons, knights, esquires, men at arms and
archers, to the number of six hundred lances, and archers in proportion.
The king lay the first night at St Pierre sur Dive[95],--on the morrow
at Argentan,--and on the third day, he came to dinner in the suburbs of
Vaucelles[96]; after which, he instantly crossed the river by the new
bridge, and was lodged at an abbey called Dardenne, where he remained
during the whole siege, except one night that he passed in the abbey
of la Trinité, wherein were quartered the king of Sicily, the duke of
Calabria, and other lords, to the amount of a thousand lances.
The king had with him twelve thousand archers on horseback, one
thousand guisarmes, and armour-bearers mounted also, and two hundred
franc archers on foot, of whom the greater part were quartered in
the villages round. The siege was pushed forward with the greatest
diligence on the arrival of the king, and trenches were made round
the town, in which every person individually exerted himself. The
count de Dunois made an attack on the outworks of Vaucelles, on the
river Dive[97], which were valorously defended; but after many gallant
deeds on both sides, they were gained by the French, and numbers of
the English slain, wounded, and taken, to the great dismay of their
companions.
From all the quarters of the French, deep mines were made even unto
the ditches of the town, more particularly from the constable's
quarters, which advanced under St Stephen's,--so that all the wall
above fell to the ground, and the French and English could there engage
hand to hand. The English, perceiving the near approach of the enemy,
were fearful of being taken by storm, and demanded to capitulate.
The king of France, moved by compassion and pity, after the example
of our Lord, who desires not the death of sinners, but would rather
that they would turn to their God,--and considering what a loss the
destruction of so fine a town would be, and the miseries that would
ensue from pillaging the churches, violating women and damsels,--and
desirous also of sparing a further effusion of human blood, consented
to their request, and agreed that the place should be surrendered on
capitulation. In truth, the town might have easily been taken by storm,
as there were many practicable breaches; but the English might have
retired into the castle, and have held out for a considerable time, if
they had had the courage so to do,--although, in the end, they must
have yielded to the numerous chivalry then before it.
To show that the castle was tenable to those who have never seen it,
I must say that it is the strongest in all Normandy, fortified with
high and great bulwarks of a very hard stone, situated on a rock,
and containing in extent as much as the whole town of Corbeil. It
has a very strong keep, consisting of a large and high square tower,
surrounded by four massy ones from the foot of the ditch to the level
of the ground, the whole strengthened by a high wall all round, with
towers at proper distances, and a very deep ditch cut out of the solid
rock. In this castle were lodged the duke of Somerset, his lady and
children,--and in the town were quartered sir Robert Vere, brother to
the earl of Oxford, sir Henry Radford, and others, who commanded, under
the duke of Somerset, four thousand English as the garrison of Caen.
In regard to the capitulation, several conferences were held between
the English and French. On the part of the king, the count de Dunois,
the seneschal of Poitou, the lord John Bureau, treasurer of France,
acted as commissioners;--for the English, sir Richard Herisson,
bailiff of Caen, Robert Parges, and some others;--for the inhabitants,
Eustace Gaingnet, lieutenant to the said bailiff, and the abbot of St
Stephen's,--each alleging various articles, and supporting them by
their arguments. After much discussion, a treaty was concluded on the
morrow of the feast of St John Baptist, when the English promised to
deliver up to the king of France the said town, castle and keep, on the
first day of July next ensuing, unless they should combat and conquer
the said king on or before that day,--and on condition that the duke of
Somerset, his lady and children, and the other English who should wish
to depart with them, should be allowed so to do, and to carry away with
them all their effects and furniture without molestation or hinderance.
They were also to take with them their horses and armour; and for the
transport of these articles, they were to be provided with vessels
to convey them to England, and to no other part, on their paying the
expences: provided, however, that the English gave up all their
prisoners, and acquitted themselves of debt to the inhabitants of Caen,
churchmen and others, without carrying away any thing belonging to
them. They were also to leave behind their large and small artillery,
with the exception of bows, cross-bows, and hand culverines.
For the due observance of this treaty, the English delivered twelve of
their countrymen, two knights of Normandy and four of the principal
inhabitants, as hostages.
As no succours arrived on the first day of July, the town, castle,
and keep were surrendered. The aforesaid bailiff carried the keys of
the keep to the french camp, and delivered them into the hands of the
constable, in the presence of the count de Dunois, lieutenant-general,
who immediately gave them to the count, as governor of the town and
castle for the king of France. The new governor remained in the field,
to see that the English took the strait road to Estreham[98]; but
soon after their departure, accompanied by the marshal de Jalognes,
preceded by two hundred archers on foot, the king's trumpets and
heralds, and having in his rear three equerries of the stables, bearing
the royal banners, and the whole closed by one hundred men at arms
on foot, he entered the town by the keep of the castle, and had the
banners displayed from the keep and gates.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 93: Guisarmes,--a kind of (offensive) long-handled and
long-headed weapon; or, (as the Spanish visarma) a staff that had
within it two long pikes, which, with a shoot or thrust forward, come
forth.----_Cotgrave._]
[Footnote 94: Argentan. I should suppose it must be Alençon.]
[Footnote 95: St Pierre sur Dive,--a market-town near Trouard in
Normandy.]
[Footnote 96: Vaucelles,--a village in Normandy near Bayeux.]
[Footnote 97: The Dive separates the bishopricks of Lisieux and Bayeux,
and loses itself in the Channel.]
[Footnote 98: Estreham,--at the mouth of the Orne, four leagues from
Caen.]
CHAP. XXI.
THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO CAEN, AND IS NOBLY RECEIVED
THERE.--THE ENGLISH SURRENDER FALAISE[99].--POTON DE SAINTRAILLES IS
APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF IT.--DOMFRONT[100] IS REDUCED TO THE KING'S
OBEDIENCE.
On the 6th day of July, the king of France left the abbey of Dardenne,
to make his entry into Caen, attended by all his nobles who had been
at the siege, magnificently dressed, excepting his lieutenant-general
and the marshal de Jalognes, who were already in the town. He was
preceded by his two hundred archers, heralds and trumpets,--and when he
was near the gates, the count de Dunois came out to meet him, followed
by crowds of the townsmen: after making their obeisances, they most
humbly presented the keys of the place to the king, who, graciously
received them. Then came the clergy in procession, as is usual in such
cases. After which, the king entered the gates, four of the principal
inhabitants holding a canopy over his head,--and thus the king rode
through streets hung with tapestry, and in some places covered over,
canopy-like, amidst the shouts of the people, unto the great church
of St Peter, where he dismounted at the porch, to offer up his
thanksgivings. He thence went to his lodgings, at the house of one of
the burghers of the town, and remained there some days to settle with
his lieutenant-general and ministers the future government and police
of the place.
The lord de Croy, sir John de Croy his brother, and the lord d'Arsy,
came to the king while at Caen, on an embassy from the duke of
Burgundy, to treat of a marriage with one of the king's daughters and
the lord Charles, son to the duke, and on other weighty matters with
which they were charged.
On this same 6th of July, the town of Falaise was besieged by Poton de
Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry. He was joined on the Monday by Master
John Bureau, treasurer of France, with the franc archers, to serve the
artillery, of which he was grand master. When the English heard of his
approach, they sallied out and sharply attacked him; but he defended
himself and his artillery well until the lord de Saintrailles came to
his assistance,--and the English were repulsed to the gates.
The king left Caen to attend this siege, and halted at an abbey
called St Andrew's, within a league of Falaise. The king of Sicily,
the duke of Calabria, the counts of Maine, of St Pol, of Tancarville,
the viscount of Loumaigne, and others, were with him. The town was
now surrounded on all sides; but as the king had a greater body of
chivalry than necessary for the gaining such a place, the counts of
Richemont and of Clermont were ordered to besiege Cherbourg.
The garrison in Falaise consisted of fifteen hundred English, the
very best of that nation that now remained in Normandy, under the
command of two english gentlemen, named Andrew Troslet[101] and Thomas
Cathon[102], lieutenants to the governor the lord Talbot. When they
saw the multitude of men at arms, archers, and cross-bowmen, that were
drawn up before them, they demanded a parley with the count de Dunois,
who, by the king's orders, sent them passports, that they might explain
what they required. They met on the 10th, and asked to capitulate,
which the king granted; when they appointed the 22nd day of July to
surrender the place, unless they should, before that day, receive
reinforcements to enable them to offer battle,--and on condition that
the lord Talbot, who was their governor for the king of England, and
who at that moment was the king of France's prisoner in the castle of
Dreux, should be set at liberty, on making certain promises to the king
of France.
A truce was now proclaimed, to last from the 10th to the 22nd, and
twelve hostages were delivered for its observance. The English were to
march away with arms and baggage, in safety, for England, in case they
should not be relieved on the day appointed. As no succours came to
them they departed, according to the tenour of the capitulation, and
delivered up the town and castle to the king, who made governor thereof
Poton de Saintrailles, his master of the horse and bailiff of Berry.
On the 24th of July, after the reduction of Falaise, the lord Charles
de Culant, grand master of the household, the lord de Blainville, the
lord John Bureau, treasurer of France, who always had the command of
the artillery, with fifteen hundred franc archers, marched to lay siege
to the town and castle of Domfront. The english garrison amounted to
seven or eight hundred; but when they heard of the great body of
chivalry and archers that were then in Normandy, they surrendered the
place on the 2d day of August, on condition that they might depart
in safety, with arms and baggage, for England, as, I have already
recounted, many of their countrymen had before done from different
towns and castles.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 99: Falaise,--nine leagues from Caen.]
[Footnote 100: Domfront,--twelve leagues from Mayenne, eight from
Alençon.]
[Footnote 101: Andrew Troslet. Q. Truslow.]
[Footnote 102: Thomas Cathon. Q. Cawthorn.]
CHAP. XXII.
THE DECEASE OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,--AND OF THE LORD GILES
HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAD CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH BEFORE HIS
DECEASE.--CHERBOURG IS BESIEGED BY SEA AND LAND, AND IS TAKEN BY THE
FRENCH.
About the end of July, Francis duke of Brittany, nephew and vassal to
the king of France, died of a natural death. He was a great loss to
the kingdom; for he was an active prince, prudent and valiant, and had
greatly exerted himself, personally and with money, in the service
of the king in the conquest of Normandy, as has been related. This
prince was naturally attached to the king of France, as was apparent
by his making war on those whom he knew to be enemies to his crown. He
carried his affection so far that he quarrelled with one of his own
brothers, the lord Giles, because, in prejudice to the king of France,
and without asking his permission, he had accepted of the order of the
Garter, and also the appointment of constable, from the king of England.
When the duke first heard of this, he had his brother arrested and
confined in one of his castles, where he was a long time closely
guarded. He had been often admonished by the duke and his other
relations and friends, wellwishers to France, to abandon the quarrel
of the English, whom he supported against all reason, justice and
right. When gentle means had been thus used in vain, other measures
were resorted to; but he would not, on any account, agree to their
proposals. The duke, therefore conceived a mortal hatred against him,
and ordered him to be put to death. The duke was frequently summoned,
by heralds from the king of England, to deliver up his constable,
whom he detained prisoner under the guard of Arthur of Montauban: on
his refusal, the english monarch sent him his challenge, which made
sir Giles's case worse than before,--and the duke's hatred so much
increased that, it was commonly said, he was strangled by two twisted
towels. Thus ended the days of sir Giles miserably and pitifully, which
will be a great example to all others.
Of this sad transaction, however, there are different accounts in
Brittany. Some say, that from a quarrel between de Montauban and his
accomplices, it has been discovered that they got him put to death by
giving false information to the duke, expecting to gain by his decease;
for sir Giles was very willing to renounce his connections with the
English, and to act as his brother pleased; but that they sent the duke
information quite the reverse, as has been confessed by some of his
murderers, and declared to be the truth, for which they have been tried
and suffered death: some indeed escaped, and, for very good reasons,
dare not again show themselves in that country.
The siege of Cherbourg, having been commenced by the count de Richemont
and the other lords before mentioned, was carried on with great vigour;
and the garrison was hard pressed by their mines and batteries, when a
knight and esquire of Brittany were there killed. The knight was sir
Pregent de Coitivy, lord of Rais[103], slain by a cannon ball, to the
great loss of the king,--for he was one of the most valorous knights of
the realm, renowned for prudence and abilities. The esquire was Tuddual
le Bourgeois, bailiff of Troyes, killed by a shot from a culverine,--a
man of good reputation, and well acquainted with the art of war. The
walls of the town were battered in such wise, from sea and land, as was
never before seen; for there were batteries of bombards erected on the
shore that threw immense stones, although they were overflowed by the
sea at high water,--but as they were covered with greased skins, in
which they were wrapped, the water did no damage to the powder they
were charged with, and, as soon as the tide turned, the cannoneers took
away their coverings and fired into the town, to the great astonishment
of the English, who had never seen such an invention.
Four bombards and one cannon were burst when firing against the
walls,--and many gallant deeds were done on sea and land, but more to
the loss than profit of the English. This caused the governor, Thomas
Gouvel[104], esquire, who had under him one thousand combatants, to
demand a capitulation from the constable, which he obtained. The terms
were, that Gouvel should surrender the town and castle to the king of
France, on condition that his son should be set at liberty, who was
an hostage, on his part, for the payment of the sums of money due to
the king of France and to the inhabitants of Rouen. On his son being
restored, he delivered up the place to the king's commissioners on the
12th of August, and marched away with his son and soldiers, with their
arms and baggage, in safety to England. The king appointed the lord de
Bueil governor of Cherbourg, with four score lances and archers for its
defence.
Thus was conquered the whole duchy of Normandy; and its towns and
castles were reduced to the obedience of the king of France in the
space of one year and six days, which was a marvellous event,--for
never was so large an extent of country conquered in so little time,
and with less shedding of blood, or damage done to the inhabitants.
This was very honourable to the king of France, and to the nobles and
others who had accompanied him on this expedition,--and they ought to
render thanks to God, to whom alone the praise and glory are due.
The time of this expedition was also very favourable, and part of the
success might be owing to it,--for it was the year of a general pardon
of sins at Rome, called the Jubilee year.
The duchy of Normandy[105], is in length six days journey, and four
wide, containing six bishopricks and one archbishopric, and one hundred
towns and castles, not including those which have been destroyed by the
fortune of war.
The king ordered six hundred lances, with a proper proportion of
archers, to remain in the duchy for its defence, and sent the remainder
into Guienne. He then set out for Tours, where he arrived in the
month of September, and there resolved in council that a general
thanksgiving, with processions, should take place in all the churches
throughout the realm on the 14th day of the ensuing October, and every
year afterwards on the 12th day of August, for the happy success of his
arms, and the expulsion of his ancient enemies the English from his
duchy of Normandy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 103: Rais. Q. Retz?]
[Footnote 104: Thomas Gouvel. Q.]
[Footnote 105: Normandy,--is bounded on the east by Picardy and the
Isle of France,--on the south, by Maine and Perche,--on the west, by
the ocean,--on the north, by the Channel, which separates it from
England.
It contains seven dioceses, or bishopricks,--Rouen, Bayeux, Avranches,
Evreux, Sées, Lisieux, and Coutances,--in which are computed 4189
parishes, and 80 abbies, &c.--_Gazetteer._]
CHAP. XXIII.
THE AUTHOR PARTICULARISES THE VALOUR OF SEVERAL OF THE NOBLES IN
THE CONQUEST OF NORMANDY.--THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS THE COUNT DE
PENTHIEVRE, AS HIS LIEUTENANT, INTO GUIENNE.
Were I to attempt particularising every valiant man, and his gallant
deeds, on the reconquering of the duchy of Normandy, it would tire my
reader's patience; but still I must mention some of the most renowned,
for the benefit of those who, in future times, may peruse this account
of the reduction of that duchy.
In the first place, the king of France had placed his army on a most
excellent establishment,--and, as it was a novelty, it is worth
describing. He had supplied all the men at arms and archers with good
and secure habiliments,--namely, the men at arms with cuirasses,
greaves, salades[106], and swords mounted with silver, as well as
the lances which their pages bore; each man at arms had three horses,
for himself, his page, and his varlet,--which last was armed with a
light helmet, a brigandine[107], jacket or haubergeon[108], battle-axe
or guisarme. Every man at arms had attached to him two archers on
horseback, dressed in brigandines, greaves and salades; the greater
part of which were ornamented with silver; or wanting these, they had
strong leathern jackets and haubergeons. The soldiers, when on service,
were always paid monthly, and under such strict discipline that none
dared to seize any thing unpaid for,--nor to make prisoners, or ransom
man or beast unless they belonged to the English or to their friends.
It was lawful to make plunder of whatever was their property, but not
otherwise.
The chief captains on this expedition were the count de Dunois,
lieutenant-general for the king, the counts de Nevers, de Castres,
d'Eu, de St Pol, the lord de Culant, grand master of the household, the
lords d'Orval, de Touteville, de Blainville, de Beauveau, de Bueil,
de Beaunoir, de Moy in the Beauvoisis, the marshal de Jalognes, the
seneschal de Poitou, John of Lorraine, Poton de Saintrailles, the
bailiff of Evreux, Robert Conigan[109], and very many other great
lords, knights and esquires, who most valiantly conducted themselves,
regardless of all the pains and discomforts they were bodily put to on
several occasions.
In like manner, the king had made ample provision of all sorts of
artillery for his defence, and for the attack of towns and castles. He
had the greatest number and variety of battering cannon and bombards,
veuglaires, serpentines, crapaudines, culverines and ribaudequins[110],
that had ever been collected in the memory of man; and never king
had such a train so well supplied with ammunition and every implement
for battering towns, nor so numerous a body of men and horses to draw
them. These received their pay daily, and were under the command of
master John Bureau, treasurer of France, and of his brother Jasper
Bureau,--both of whom suffered many difficulties during the sieges
of the different towns and castles, for they were very active and
attentive to their duty. It was wonderful to see their diligence in
planning and forming the trenches and mines that were opened at almost
every siege during this expedition; for, to say the truth, there was
scarcely any place that surrendered on capitulation but what might have
been won by storm, had not the king, out of his benign nature, insisted
on the contrary, to prevent the effusion of blood and the total ruin of
such places and their inhabitants.
The late duke of Brittany was the leader of the conquest of lower
Normandy, having with him his uncle the count de Richemont, constable
of France, the late Pregent de Coictivy, lord of Retz and admiral of
France, who laboured hard at the business, the count de Laval, the
lord de Lohéac, marshal of France, his brother de Montauban, marshal
of Brittany, Geoffry de Couvran, James de Tilly, bailiff of the
Vermandois. Tuddual le Bourgeois was of this party during his life.
To find supplies for the support of the king's armies, and for the
better government of this duchy of Normandy, the lord de Trainel,
chancellor of France, the lord de Gaucourt, sir Thibaut de Vaulpergue,
bailiff of Lyon, sir James Cœur, counsellor, and master of the king's
wardrobe, exerted themselves greatly: the last, in particular, employed
every means in his power to prevent the soldiers, who were daily
increasing, from being disappointed of their regular monthly payment.
Sir John du Bar, lord of Baugey, and sir John Harduyn, treasurer of
France, gained great credit,--and all others who laboured at this time
in the service of the king.
When king Charles of France, the seventh of the name, had thus, by
the Divine grace, and his puissant chivalry, made the conquest of
the duchy of Normandy, which had been occupied about thirty years
by his ancient enemies the English, and had replaced all the strong
castles and principal towns with sufficient garrisons, and regulated
the government of each,--confiding always in the grace and mercy of
the King of kings, who wills that every one should have his own, as is
declared in that chapter of St Matthew's gospel, where our Lord says
to the pharisee, 'Render unto Cæsar the things that be Cæsar's and
unto God the things that be God's;' he consequently resolved to march
an army into Guienne against Bordeaux, which had been occupied by the
English time immemorial, contrary to all reason and justice, and in
direct contradiction to the said gospel. The nobles and people of this
country have ever been rebellious against the french kings, at least
for two hundred years, which is a long lapse of time, although it forms
part of the realm of France.
The king, desirous to act with prudence and circumspection, summoned
a council of his principal barons and knights on the 5th day of
September, in the year 1450, in the city of Tours, where the matter
was fully discussed in their presence, and also in the presence of
the princes of his blood and the chief prelates of the realm. It was
then determined to send a force into Guienne, after proper provision
had been made for the defence of Normandy, which was intrusted to the
constable, having under him some norman knights and esquires, together
with six hundred spears and a body of archers, paid monthly,--and a
great number of franc archers were likewise ordered thither by the
king. The government of the city of Rouen and the country of Caux was
given to sir Pierre de Brézé, grand seneschal of Normandy.
The king then arranged the army that was to invade Guienne and
besiege Bergerac[111], situated in the county of Perigord, on the
river Dordogne. He appointed the count de Penthievre and de Perigord,
viscount de Limoges, his lieutenant-general in those parts, who
accepted the command of this siege, and departed thither, accompanied
by sir Charles de Culant lord de Jalognes, marshal of France, Poton de
Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry and master of the horse to the king,
with many other knights, esquires, and others, to the amount of five
hundred lances, and archers in proportion.
They commenced the siege with great vigour, insomuch that, on the
arrival of master John Bureau with his train of artillery, the
garrison, alarmed at their numbers and activity, surrendered Bergerac
to the king of France. The English marched away with their horses,
arms and baggage,--and the inhabitants that chose to remain were, on
taking the oaths of allegiance, to remain unmolested in their different
occupations as before.
The count de Penthievre then marched his army into the winter quarters
that had been allotted him,--and sir Philip de Culant remained governor
of Bergerac, with a garrison of one hundred lances and a body of
archers. On their march, they came before a castle called Jansac[112],
situated on the Dordogne, with the intent of besieging it; but they
won it by storm, with the loss of seven or eight of their men killed
and wounded: about thirty-five of the English were slain, and the rest
made prisoners: the castle remained under the obedience of the king of
France. The army advanced thence without delay to the town of St Foy,
on the same river, which surrendered without hesitation. Pursuing their
good fortune, they came before the town of Chalais[113], and besieged
it for some time; but the english garrison, amounting to fifty lances,
alarmed at seeing so large an army before it, delivered up the place,
on condition that they should march away in safety, with arms and
baggage. On their departure, Pierre de Louvain was made governor of it.
On the 26th day of October, in this year, master John de Xancoins,
receiver-general of the royal finances, was arrested, and confined
prisoner in the castle of Tours, for having, as it was currently
reported, wickedly employed for his own use the king's finances;
so that his majesty was greatly distressed to pay the troops in
Guienne,--and had he not found extraordinary means of raising money
for this purpose, his plans against that country would have failed.
During his imprisonment, he was examined by some of the great council
and others skilled in matters of finance, and convicted, on his own
confession, of high treason. He owned having taken very large sums of
money from the king's treasury, and that he had made many erasures
in his accounts which convicted him guilty of forgery,--a capital
offence! and he would have suffered the penalty, had not the king's
mercy converted the matter into a civil suit,--following in this the
example of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who declared, that 'he wished
not for the death of a sinner, but would rather that he should turn
from his wickedness and live.' The capital part of the offence being
thus done away, he was sentenced, by the mouth of the chancellor, to
be imprisoned for a certain time, and his property confiscated to the
king; from which, the king gave to the count de Dunois a handsome house
that he had built at Tours.
Xancoins was also condemned to pay to the king the sum of sixty
thousand gold crowns, which seemed but a trifling fine for the immense
sums he owned to have pillaged from the treasury for his own pleasures.
James Carrier, his clerk, was confined at the same time with him, but
in a separate prison, for having been an accomplice in the crimes of
his master,--and for having erased numerous articles in the account
of receipts, through the instigation of the enemy of mankind, and
converted many sums from the king's profit to his own; for all of
which, he would have suffered the sentence due to such capital crimes,
had not the king's mercy been extended also to him.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 106: Salades,--light helmets or head-pieces.]
[Footnote 107: Brigandine,--armour consisting of many-jointed and
scale-like plates, very pliant and easy for the body.]
[Footnote 108: Haubergeon,--a little coat of mail, or only sleeves and
gorget of mail.]
[Footnote 109: Conigan. Q. Cuningham? commander of the scots
auxiliaries.]
[Footnote 110: Ribaudequins,--huge cross-bows, fourteen feet in length.
Veuglaires, serpentines and crapaudines,--different sorts of fire arms,
greater or less.]
[Footnote 111: Bergerac,--seven leagues from Perigueux.]
[Footnote 112: Jansac. Gensac. Several villages in Gascony of that
name.]
[Footnote 113: Chalais,--a town in Perigord, near La Grolle.]
CHAP. XXIV.
THE LORD D'ORVAL DEFEATS THE MEN OF BORDEAUX.--DUKE PETER OF BRITTANY
DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING OF FRANCE.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ATTEMPTS TO
LAY A TAX ON SALT THROUGHOUT FLANDERS.
On the last day of October in this year, the lord d'Orval, third son
to the lord d'Albreth, set out from Bazas[114] with his companions,
and from four to five hundred combatants, to invade the peninsula of
Medoc[115]; and they halted for the night, to refresh themselves, in a
forest within two leagues of Bordeaux. On the morrow, All-saints-day,
they were early mounted, thinking to enter the peninsula, when they
received information from Bordeaux, that from eight to nine thousand
persons, on horseback and on foot, as well soldiers as others, were on
their march to combat them.
The lord d'Orval did not for this abandon his enterprise, but drew up
his men in order of battle, although so greatly inferior in numbers to
the English, who were under the command of the mayor of Bordeaux. His
light troops showed a good countenance, advancing in battle-array, and
made prisoner a gentleman from Bordeaux, near to a coppice. The battle
now commenced, and was so well fought by the French that eighteen
hundred English and Bordelois were slain on the spot or in the pursuit.
The first runaway was the mayor, who, being on horseback, abandoned
his van, who were on foot, and whom he had advanced as a frontier to
his main division. The French made twelve hundred prisoners, which was
very honourable and profitable to them, considering how few they were
in comparison with their enemies. At the conclusion of this business,
the lord d'Orval marched his men back, with their prisoners, to Bazas,
much rejoiced at their good success.
On the morrow of the feast of All-saints, duke Peter of Brittany waited
on the king of France, as his sovereign lord, to do him homage for his
duchy of Brittany, and took the accustomed oaths before the count de
Dunois and de Longueville; when the king's great chamberlain took his
baudrick, sword and buckler, for his fee. After he had taken the oaths,
the chancellor of France said, that he was liege man to the king of
France on account of this duchy, but the duke's chancellor replied,
that, saving his respect to the king, he was not liege man to his
majesty on account of this duchy,--which caused a long altercation.
At length, the king accepted his homage according to the usages and
manner that his predecessors, the dukes of Brittany, had done. Shortly
after, he did another homage for his county of Montfort, for which he
acknowledged himself the king's liege man and vassal. He was grandly
entertained by the king and his chivalry, at the small town and castle
of Montbazon[116], where the court then resided,--and also by the
ladies and damsels, to whom he acquitted himself handsomely.
Many sports and pastimes of wrestling and other amusements took
place during the fortnight the duke staid with the king, who was in
high spirits and health. He had with him the count de Richemont his
constable, and many barons, knights and esquires, to the number of from
four to five hundred horses.
In the same year, according to the chronicles of Arras, Philip, then
aged about fifty-four years, duke of Burgundy, Lotriche[117], Brabant,
Limbourg and Luxembourg, count of Flanders, Artois, Burgundy, Hainault,
Holland, Zealand and Namur, marquis of the holy roman empire, lord of
Frizeland, Salins and Mechlin, required from the states of Flanders
(whom he had assembled for this purpose) that they would allow him to
lay a tax of twenty-four groats, flemish money, on each sack of salt
that should be used in that country; promising, in return, that, during
his life, he would not lay any additional impositions, by taxes on land
or otherwise.
The deputies from Ghent, having heard this proposal, demanded time to
consider of it. These deputies took the lead; and having fully weighed
the matter, and considering that the principal food of the commonalty
was salted meats and fish, absolutely refused their consent; adding,
that they would never, while alive, suffer such a tax to be laid on
their country. The deputies from Bruges, Ypres, and the Franc, in
conformity to what the ghent men had said, declared that they would act
in unison with Ghent, and refused their assent.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 114: Bazas,--a city of Gascony, on a rock, two leagues from
the Garonne, capital of the Bazadois, 12 leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 115: Medoc,--a country of Guienne, near the sea, in the
Bordelois: it is not fertile. Esparre is the capital.]
[Footnote 116: Montbazon,--in Touraine, five leagues from Tours.]
[Footnote 117: Lotriche. Q. Does this mean Austria? 'de l'Autriche.']
[A.D. 1451.]
CHAP. XXV.
THE KING APPOINTS THE COUNT DE DUNOIS HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL IN
GUIENNE, WHO BESIEGES MONT-GUYON.--IT SURRENDERS TO HIM.--HE LAYS
SIEGE TO TOWN OF BLAYE, WHICH IS TAKEN BY STORM.--THE CASTLE
CAPITULATES.
In the month of May, of the year 1451, according to the Chronicles
of St Denis, during the king's residence at Tours, he appointed the
count de Dunois and de Longueville, who had come thither for that
purpose, his lieutenant-general in Guienne, to reduce that duchy
to his obedience. Early in May, the king had issued his summons to
several knights and esquires, that they might prepare themselves for
accompanying the count on this expedition.
The lieutenant-general left Tours with a noble company, and marched to
lay siege to a castle called Mont-Guyon, where he was joined by the
count d'Angoulême, legitimate brother to the duke of Orleans, master
John Bureau, treasurer of France, Pierre de Louvain, and others, to the
amount of four hundred spears, with archers and guisarmes, and four
thousand franc archers, who instantly commenced the siege, without
waiting for the other great barons who were to come thither. This siege
lasted eight days; but the governor for the English, Regnault de St
Jean, esquire, and attached to the captal de Buch, and a few men at
arms, seeing the inutility of defence, against such an army, entered
into a capitulation, by which the place was yielded up to the king of
France.
On the 16th day of May, after the reduction of Mont-Guyon, the
lieutenant-general laid siege to one of the gates of Blaye[118]. He was
there joined by sir Pierre de Beauveau lord of la Bessiere, lieutenant
to the count du Maine and captain of his men at arms, and by sir
Geoffry de St Belin, having in their company about eight score spears,
guisarmes and archers. Thither came also sir James de Chabannes, grand
master of the household, and Joachim Rohault, who posted themselves
opposite the castle, and took their quarters at the hospital: they
had with them two hundred lances and archers, and two thousand franc
archers. At the same time, a large fleet arrived under the command of
sir John le Boucher, general of France, in which were numbers of men
at arms and archers, with great stores of provision for the supply
of the besieging army. This fleet, as it came near to Blaye, found
anchored in the port five large vessels well armed, which had arrived
from Bordeaux with stores for the relief of those in the town of Blaye.
An engagement took place, when the French fought valiantly, and killed
so many of the enemy that they were forced to weigh anchor and fly to
Bordeaux, whither they were chaced into the harbour. The french fleet
then returned to Blaye, where they anchored before the port, to prevent
any supplies from being thrown into the town.
Thus was Blaye besieged on all sides, by land and water; and as this
was completed, the count de Penthievre arrived, with one hundred
lances and three hundred cross-bows, and was quartered near to the
count de Dunois. Many gallant deeds were done, and deep trenches and
mines made,--and the walls were so much battered, by heavy cannon and
bombards, that there were breaches in several places. The most valiant
warriors on the part of the king of England, in Guyenne, were then in
the town; but a little before sunset, on the 28th day of May, at the
hour of sounding to mount the guard, some franc archers of the company
of John de Meauze, called the lord of Maugouverne, captain of the
franc archers of Touraine, mounted the walls of the town, and a storm
regularly followed,--when the place was won, and the English lost, in
killed and prisoners, full two hundred men.
The mayor of Bordeaux, together with the lord de l'Esparre, the lord de
Montferrant, and others--in all, about two hundred--hastily retreated
into the castle; but, consulting together, they thought further
resistance would be vain against such members, without hope of being
succoured, and surrendered the castle on capitulation.
Instantly on the reduction of the castle of Blaye, the count de Dunois
marched his forces to besiege the town and castle of Le Bourg[119].
The siege did not, however, continue more than five or six days; for
the garrison, observing the preparations for such large batteries of
cannon and bombards, and the great strength of the besiegers, offered
to surrender on being allowed to march away in safety with arms and
baggage. There were from four to five hundred combatants in the place,
under the command of sir Beraud de Montferrant, who departed with
them for Bordeaux; and sir James de Chabannes, grand master of the
household, remained governor of it for the king of France.
In this same month of May, the count d'Albreth, with his two sons the
lords of Tartas and of Orval, three hundred lances and two thousand
cross-bows, laid siege to Dax[120], on the side toward Bordeaux, and
at the end of the bridge over the Adour. About ten or twelve hours
after the siege had commenced, the count de Foix came thither, attended
by the viscount de Lautrec his legitimate brother, sir Bernard de
Béarn his natural brother, the barons of Nouailles, of Lausun, of
Rez, of Couraze, sir Martin Gratian captain of the Spaniards, Robin
Petit-Lot captain of the Scots, and many other knights and esquires;
in the whole, amounting to five hundred lances and archers, and two
thousand cross-bows. They besieged the town on the side of Navarre
and Béarn, and several gallant actions were performed on both sides.
The besieged kept up a stout resistance, until they heard that those
in Bordeaux had intentions of treating with the lieutenant-general or
his commissioners; and a promise was made them, at the request of the
count de Foix that they should be comprehended in whatever treaty the
Bordelois should conclude. Dax was thus delivered up to the king of
France,--and the counts de Foix and d'Albreth, with four barons of
Béarn, were appointed for the defence of the town and castle.
In the same month, siege was laid to Castillon[121], in Perigord, by
the count de Penthievre, the lord de Jalognes marshal of France, and
master John Bureau treasurer of France.
At this time, St Emilion[122], surrendered,--for the garrison saw
resistance would be vain,--and it was placed under the guard of the
count de Penthievre.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 118: Blaye,--on the Garonne, 13 leagues and a half from
Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 119: Le Bourg,--a village near Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 120: Dax,--an ancient city of Gascony, on the Adour.]
[Footnote 121: Castillon,--near Perigueux.]
[Footnote 122: St Emilion,--near the Dordogne, six leagues from
Bordeaux.]
CHAP. XXVI.
THE GREATER PART OF THE TOWNS AND CASTLES IN THE DUCHY OF GUIENNE
ENTER INTO TREATIES FOR THEIR SURRENDER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
BAYONNE.--BORDEAUX SURRENDERS.
On the 2d of June, the count de Dunois sent a detachment to lay siege
to a town called Fronsac[123], while he remained in le Bourg to settle
the future government of the country for the king's advantage. Having
done this, he went in person against Fronsac, and sent a herald to
summon Libourne[124] to surrender to the king. The inhabitants sent a
deputation back with the herald to conclude a treaty with the count
which being done, the care of the place was given to the count of
Angoulême.
To return to the castle of Fronsac, which was the strongest in
all Guienne, and has been always guarded by a garrison of native
Englishmen, because it has a chambre royalle[125], and is the key to
Guienne and the Bordelois. The English, therefore, necessarily made
the greatest possible exertions in its defence, during a severe and
well-conducted siege of a fortnight. The English, then, seeing the
prodigious force brought against them, which was not a fourth part of
the chivalry the king had in those parts, with the numerous train of
battering cannon, and other artillery, and that the franc archers were
then besieging four places at once, without a possibility of any one
succouring the other, from the inundations of the Gironde and Dordogne,
caused by the melting of the snows among the mountains, and also that
the french army in Guienne was much superior to any the king of England
could then bring against it: having considered all these things, the
garrison in Fronsac demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and
concluded a treaty on the terms that if they were not reinforced, so
as to be able to offer battle to the French on or before the eve of St
John Baptist's day, they would surrender the place. In like manner were
the barons of the country, and even the town, bounden to surrender; for
the French depended on being powerful enough to reduce all the places
in the duchy of Guienne, held by king Henry, to the obedience of the
king of France,--and, for greater security, hostages were demanded and
given.
The counts de Penthievre, de Nevers, de Castres, de Clermont, de
Vendôme, grandly accompanied with many knights and esquires, came
toward Fronsac about St John's day, to be present at the battle,--and
the whole made a most magnificent appearance. There were made
knights the count de Vendôme, the viscount de Turenne, the lord
de la Rochefoucault, the son to the lord de Commercy, sir John de
Rochedrouard, the lord de Grimaux, sir Pierre des Barres, sir Pierre de
Montingrin, sir Ferry de Gransy, sir John de Bordeilles, the lord de
Fontenelles, the bastard de Vendôme, sir John de la Haye, sir Tristan
l'Hermite, sir John de l'Estrange, sir Pierre de Louvain, and others,
to the amount of forty knights.
On the morrow, which was the eve of St John's day, the English,
receiving no succour, delivered Fronsac into the hands of the count
de Dunois, who appointed Joachim Rohault to the government of it.
The lieutenant-general then sent a herald with letters to the count
d'Armagnac, who was besieging Rions[126], and a duplicate of the
treaty of Bordeaux; in consequence of which Rions surrendered, and was
given to the guard of the lord d'Albreth. The herald then continued
his road to the count de Foix, with another copy of this treaty, and
letters,--and the city of Dax submitted to the obedience of the king of
France.
When the commissioners from the count de Dunois had settled every thing
for the surrender of Bordeaux, they returned to him, the chancellor,
and other members of the king's council, with the articles of the
capitulation mutually signed and sealed by each party. These lords and
their companions were much rejoiced at this event,--and the surrender
was delayed for eight days after the time fixed, for troops to arrive
from England. Nevertheless those in Bordeaux, contrary to their
engagements, in the full hope of succours arriving, demanded that a day
should be appointed for the combat, which was granted by the count; and
the 22d of June was fixed on for the battle, should succours arrive,
otherwise they were to deliver up the town on that day.
The French, in expectation of a combat, or a surrender of the town,
were drawn up in battle-array before it until sunset; when the men of
Bordeaux, seeing no appearance of succour, ordered a herald to cry
aloud for assistance from England for Bordeaux. No one making any
answer, nor any reinforcements appearing, each party retired to their
quarters, without more being then done.
The next morning, the chancellor and treasurer of France, with some
others, came before the gates,--when it was agreed, that on the
following Wednesday, the townsmen were to be prepared to deliver up
the keys of all the towers, havens, gates and barriers of the said
town, and to take the oaths of allegiance to the king of France, and
become henceforward his loyal subjects, according to the promises they
had made. The treasurer, John Bureau, in reward for the great diligence
he had shown in the recovery of the duchy of Guienne, was made mayor of
Bordeaux. For similar causes was Joachim Rohault made constable of the
place, and he directly took the oaths at the hand of the chancellor;
and the mayor did the same in the hands of the chancellor and constable
on the following Wednesday, the day fixed on for the delivery of the
town.
The inhabitants of Bordeaux and the neighbouring barons made great
preparations for the honourable reception of the count de Dunois
and his company. By orders from the lieutenant-general, sir Thibaut
de Valpergue bailiff of Lyon, and John Bureau, the new mayor, first
entered the city, to take possession of it in the king's name,--and all
the different keys of the strong holds were presented to them. The
franc archers were not permitted to join in this entry, as it was said,
by desire of the inhabitants, but sent to quarter themselves in and
about Libourne.
The entry commenced at sunrise by the gate, where were stationed the
lords de l'Esparre, de Montferrant, and some nobles of the town and
country. All the churchmen, as well monks as others, dressed in their
copes and robes, came out to meet the lieutenant-general, and gave
him a most honourable welcome. The archers of the van guard commenced
the march, estimated at a thousand or twelve hundred men, under the
command of Joachim Rohault, constable of Bordeaux, and the lord de
Pavansac, seneschal of Toulouse. Then came the men at arms of the van
on foot, estimated at three hundred, under their proper commanders, the
marshals of Lohéac and de Jalognes, superbly mounted: then the counts
de Nevers and d'Armagnac, and the viscount de Lautrec, brother to the
count de Foix, with three hundred men on foot also. These were followed
by the archers of the lord de la Bessiere, lieutenant to the count du
Maine, in number, three or four hundred: then a whole battalion of
archers, estimated at three thousand, under the command of the lords
de la Bessiere and de la Rochefoucault: then three of the lords of the
king's great council, namely, the bishop of Aleth[127], master Guy
Bernard, archdeacon of Tours, and the bishop duke of Langres[128],--the
chancellor de la Marche, and others the king's secretaries, who were
followed by sir Tristan de l'Hermite, provost to the marshals, on
horseback, with all his sergeants.
Four trumpeters of the king, with heralds and pursuivants dressed in
the royal tabards, and in the coats of arms of the lords present, next
entered the town, followed by a white hackney, covered with housings
of crimson velvet, and on his crupper a cloth of azure velvet, with
flowers de luce embroidered thereon: a small coffer, covered with azure
velvet, with flowers de luce of solid silver in raised work was placed
on the saddle, containing the great seal of the king. This hackney was
led by a valet on foot, having two archers on each side in the king's
livery. The chancellor followed on horseback, armed in a corslet of
steel, over which was a jacket of crimson velvet.
The lord de Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry and master of the horse to
the king, came next, mounted on a large war-horse covered with silk
trappings. He was in full armour, and held one of the royal banners:
the other was displayed on his left hand by the lord de Montagu,
mounted also on a richly-dressed war-horse. They rode immediately
before the lieutenant general, who was mounted on a white courser with
trappings of blue velvet, loaded with raised work of solid gold. He was
alone, and in full armour, but followed by the counts of Angoulême and
Clermont in armour, and their horses and pages most richly dressed.
Then came the counts de Vendôme and de Castres, with numbers of other
barons and great lords, splendidly equipped. After them came the
battalion of the men at arms, amounting to fifteen hundred lances,
under the orders of sir James de Chabannes, grand master of the
household, in complete armour, and his horse covered with rich housings.
Then entered the men at arms of the count du Maine,--in number, one
hundred and fifty spears,--under the command of Geoffry de St Belin,
bailiff of Claumont in Bassigny. The March was closed by the rear
guard, consisting of the men of Joachim Rohault and the men at arms of
the lord de Saintrailles.
The whole advanced unto the cathedral, where the lieutenant-general,
the counts of Angoulême, of Vendôme, of Armagnac, of Castres, the
chancellor, and several others, dismounted. The archbishop of Bordeaux
met them at the gate of the church, clad in his pontificial robes,
and attended by the canons of the cathedral. The archbishop, having
sanctified the count with incense, and presented him with some relics
and the cross, took him by the hand, and led him through the choir to
the great altar, to perform his prayers. With the lieutenant-general,
two of the king's heralds entered the church, dressed in tabards of the
royal arms. All the nobles then followed,--and they left the king's
banners in the church.
When the count and the other lords had ended their devotions, the
archbishop took a missal, and made them swear, that the king would
faithfully preserve and maintain them in their ancient rights and
privileges. Having taken this oath, the count de Dunois made the
archbishop swear that the count de l'Esparre, and the other lords
having authority within the town, would behave always loyally and
submissively to the king of France and to his government. In this oath
he made all the commonalty present join, which they did, by extending
their hands toward heaven, as is usual in such cases.
From this oath the captal of Buch was excepted, as he was then a
knight-companion of the Garter, the order of the king of England.
When the lieutenant-general had devoutly heard mass, which was
celebrated by the archbishop, and the 'Veni Creator,' &c. and 'Te Deum
laudamus,' &c. that preceded it, to the ringing of all the bells at the
different churches, he retired to his lodgings (as did the other lords
to theirs) to partake of some refreshments, excepting the chancellor
of France, the grand master of the household, and the chancellor de
la Marche, who remained, to administer the oath to sir Olivier de
Coictivy, seneschal of Guienne. The seneschal made a grand appearance,
as he was attended by many of the king's officers, the barons and
knights of Guienne, and the burghers of Bordeaux. He presented his
commission to the chancellor of France, who, after reading it, made him
swear that he would strictly administer justice, without partiality to
poor or rich, as well in the said city of Bordeaux as throughout the
whole duchy of Guienne. When this was done, the chancellor commanded
all persons to obey the seneschal, in all things respecting his office,
as they would the king in person.
When the lieutenant-general had regarrisoned Fronsac, he had the king's
banner displayed on the castle,--and another was placed on the highest
towers of the said town. He then issued a proclamation in the king's
name, and in his own, to forbid any persons from taking the smallest
article from the inhabitants without paying its full value, prior to
the quartering of his troops, which was then done by persons appointed
for that purpose. Scarcely was the dinner hour passed, when great
murmurings were heard in the city against one of the king's troopers
who had transgressed the proclamation. He was soon arrested and brought
before a court of law to be examined; and when the lieutenant-general
heard of it, and that he had confessed himself guilty, he ordered him
instantly to be hanged. This act of justice gave great pleasure to the
inhabitants of Bordeaux and the country round.
The count de Dunois had also a new gallows erected, to hang thereon
five troopers, who, instigated by William de Flavy, had wounded sir
Pierre de Louvain while on the king's service. They had watched him
several days with the intent to murder him, in consequence of a quarrel
that had taken place between the said Louvain and Flavy. Thus did the
lieutenant-general deal strict justice to all,--and the execution
of these malefactors was a good example, of great comfort to the
burghers; for during the time they were under the English, they were
kept so much in awe that they only received blows when they complained
against any of them.
The count de Dunois remained in Bordeaux fifteen days, to regulate its
future government; and those whom he appointed for the purpose acted
with such prudence and moderation that not the smallest extortion or
mischief was done to the city. Thus was the whole duchy of Guienne
subdued, with the exception of the city of Bayonne. During this
conquest, the count and all his officers, military and civil, showed
the utmost activity and courage.
The count de Clermont was made governor of Bordeaux, and sir Olivier de
Coictivy his lieutenant, who commanded the men at arms of his brother,
Pregent de Coictivy, then admiral of France.
On the reduction of Bordeaux, the counts de Nevers, de Clermont, and de
Castres were ordered to wait on the king at the castle of Taillebourg,
and then to march to the cantonments that had been assigned them. The
counts d'Armagnac, d'Angoulême, and de Penthievre were to return with
their men to their own countries. The franc archers were also ordered
home,--so that of the whole of this army, estimated at twenty thousand
combatants, which had conquered Guienne, there only remained a small
part in the duchy for the king's service.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 123: Fronsac,--on the Dordogne, six leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 124: Libourne,--a city of Guienne on the Dordogne, 10 leagues
from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 125: Chambre royalle,--Cotgrave says, is a court for
the examination and inquiry into the conduct of financiers and
exchequer-men.]
[Footnote 126: Rions,--a town in Guienne, three leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 127: Aleth,--a small city in upper Languedoc.]
[Footnote 128: Langres,--a large city of Champagne, and one of the six
ecclesiastical peerages of France.]
CHAP. XXVII.
THE CITY OF BAYONNE IS BESIEGED BY THE COUNTS DE FOIX AND DE DUNOIS,
LIEUTENANTS-GENERAL TO THE KING.--IT SURRENDERS.--THE REGULATIONS
MADE IN CONSEQUENCE.--POPE NICHOLAS MARRIES THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY TO
THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL.--THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN
ENGLAND.
At this period, the king determined in council to lay siege to Bayonne,
which was still held by the English, and for this purpose issued his
orders from the castle of Taillebourg[129] to his lieutenants-general,
the counts de Foix and de Dunois, to march thither with a large body
of lances, archers and guisarmes. Of these, four hundred lances were
supplied by the king, and four hundred were attached to the count
de Foix and his vassals: it was a fine sight to see their handsome
equipment in horses, armour, and splendid helmets. The count had also
with him two thousand cross-bows and targeteers from his own country.
When the count de Foix had commenced the siege, he created several
knights; such as the son to the master of the king's household, the
lord de Tessac, brother to the lord de Noailles, Bertrand de l'Espagne,
seneschal of Foix, Roger de l'Espagne, the lord de Benac, and others,
to the number of fifteen. About the middle of this day, the count de
Dunois and de Longueville arrived, and posted his men on the side
toward Béarn, between the rivers Adour and Nive, which are so wide that
the two divisions could not succour each other. The count de Dunois
had under him six hundred lances, archers, and guisarmes, who commenced
the siege gallantly.
On the morrow, which was the 6th day of the month, the garrison of
Bayonne destroyed the suburbs of St Léon, on the side opposite to the
count de Foix, which were very strongly fortified with ditches and
mounds of earth; but the continued fire from the batteries of French
made them abandon them,--not, however, before they had set fire to the
houses and churches, especially when they saw that the besiegers were
advancing to attack them. The French gained this suburb, and pursued
them so closely that had there been one hundred men with scaling
ladders, the town would have been won, as they would have entered the
gates with the enemy; but the ditches were deep, and they could not
mount the walls from want of ladders.
The besiegers took possession of this suburb, having extinguished the
fires. The count de Foix fixed his quarters in the convent of the
Augustins, for it had been little burnt. Six days afterward, the count
d'Albreth and the viscount de Tartas, his son, came from Bordeaux,
and quartered themselves at St Esprit[130], at the end of the wooden
bridge, which was broken down the following night by the men of the
lord d'Albreth, who had in his company two hundred lances, and three
thousand archers and cross-bows. The next day the besieged made a sally
by a bulwark on the sea-side, intending to fall on the enemy unawares.
At this same moment, sir Bernard de Béarn led his men to skirmish
almost within the town; but when returning he was struck by a ball from
a culverin, which pierced his shield, and entered his leg between the
two bones: it was extracted, and, by the care of the surgeons, he was
soon out of danger.
The next morning, a church was won that was strongly fortified with
ditches and palisadoes, by this same sir Bernard. When those within
found they could not hold out, they retreated to the town, with the
loss of five or six in killed and wounded: a garrison was posted in
this church,--and the town was blockaded on all sides.
The count de Dunois pushed forward his approaches with vigour, to bring
his batteries to bear on the walls, without waiting for the heavy
artillery: had he waited for its arrival, the place must have been
won by storm, considering the numbers and eagerness of the besieging
army. The garrison, understanding that the battering train was near at
hand, proposed a parley which took effect on the 26th day of August.
The counts de Foix and de Dunois, with some of the king's counsellors,
met the deputation from the city; and after several adjournments, the
following articles were agreed to,--namely, that the governor, don
John de Beaumont, brother to the constable of Navarre, of the order of
St John of Jerusalem, should be delivered up to the king, and remain
his prisoner, together with all the men at arms, so long as it might
please him, and that the inhabitants should submit themselves to the
king's will; and for their disobedience in not complying with his
former summons, they should pay forty thousand golden crowns. The
same day, they gave up their governor, who, in the presence of all the
commissioners and many of the inhabitants, took the oaths of allegiance
in the hands of the grand master of the king's household.
Thus was a treaty concluded with the city of Bayonne. While the siege
lasted, the king's army was amply supplied with all sorts of provision
from Biscay, for the king had written to the inhabitants for this
purpose. Some provisions came from Béarn and Navarre,--but it was with
difficulty, from the numbers of robbers that infested those parts. The
army, however, was never in any want for man or horse. The Biscayners
equipped a fleet of twelve vessels, called pinnaces, and a large ship
manned with six hundred combatants, which they stationed half a league
from Bayonne, to cut off the escape of the garrison by sea.
On Friday the 20th day of August[131] (a little before sunrise, the
sky bright and clear), a white cross was seen in the heavens by the
king's army, and even by the English in Bayonne, for half an hour.
Those in the town, who were desirous of returning to the French, took
the red crosses from their banners and pennons, saying, that since it
pleased God they should become Frenchmen, they would all wear white
crosses. This cross in the heavens was seen on a Friday, the day our
Lord and Saviour was crucified. On the same day, at ten o'clock, the
lord de la Bessiere entered the town, accompanied by the bishop, to
take possession of the town and castle. The king's banners were hoisted
on the citadel by his heralds, to the great joy of the people; and the
fleet of Biscayners at the same time entered the harbour of Bayonne,
which was a fine spectacle.
On Saturday, the 21st of August, the lieutenants-general made their
public entry into Bayonne accompanied by the grand master of the
household, the count de Lautrec, brother to the count de Foix, the lord
de Noailles, the lord de la Bessiere, and others, in the following
procession: first, a thousand archers, who had manned the pinnaces
from Biscay; then two heralds, followed by others bearing their
coats of arms; sir Bertrand de l'Espagne, seneschal of Foix, in full
armour, bearing the king's banner, mounted on a horse covered with
crimson-velvet housings. The count de Foix came next, completely
armed, and mounted on a horse very richly caparisoned: he had near
him his seneschal of Béarn, as splendidly dressed and mounted: the
head-piece of his horse was steel, ornamented with gold and precious
stones, estimated at fifteen thousand crowns. A number of attendants
followed,--and then six hundred lances on foot closed the march.
The count de Dunois entered from another quarter, preceded by twelve
hundred archers,--then two of the king's heralds, and others, bearing
different banners of arms. After them came sir Jeannet de Saveuses,
mounted on a courser bearing one of the king's banners. At this entry,
the count de Dunois created the said Jeannet a knight, together with
the lord de Mont-Guyon, Jean de Montmorin, and the lord de Boussey.
After the royal banner came the count de Dunois in complete armour, and
his horse covered with crimson velvet; then the lord de Lohéac marshal
of France, the lord d'Orval, and many more great lords: the whole
procession closed by six hundred lances.
Both parties met at the great portal of the church, where the bishop
and his clergy, dressed in their pontificals and copes, were waiting to
receive them. The lords dismounted; and having kissed the holy relics,
which the clergy had brought for that purpose, they offered up their
prayers at the great altar, and thence returned to their lodgings. The
count de Foix sent the trappings of his horse, which were of golden
tissue, and valued at four hundred golden crowns, to the church of our
Lady in Bayonne, to make copes of for the priests.
On the morrow, which was Sunday, these lords, accompanied by the lord
d'Albreth, who had entered the town on Saturday evening, heard mass in
the same church, and afterwards received the oaths of the inhabitants.
Sir John le Boursier, general of France, was appointed the mayor, and
sir Martin Gracien captain, who remained in Bayonne for its government
and defence. On the ensuing day, the troops were dismissed to the
countries assigned them for cantonments; and the barons, knights, and
principal burghers of the three estates, as well from Bordeaux, the
Bordelois, Bayonne, Bazadois, and the countries round, went to the king
at Taillebourg, to receive the ratification of the articles of the
treaties that had been agreed on by his commissioners, and to do homage
to the king for their lordships.
The king, at the request of those from Bayonne, remitted one half
of their fine of forty thousand crowns, on which they returned very
well pleased with the king and his ministers. The king was attended
at Taillebourg by the counts of Maine, of Nevers, of Clermont, of
Vendôme, of Castres, of Tancarville, and very many other lords. Thither
came also the counts of Foix and of Dunois, the lord d'Albreth, the
lord of Lohéac, and other barons, who shortly after returned to their
winter-quarters, and the king went to pass his winter in Touraine.
Thus, by the grace of God, was the whole of Guienne and Normandy
reduced to the obedience of the king of France, and all the
possessions the English had in that realm, excepting the town of
Calais, which still remains in their hands; but God grant that it may
soon share a similar fate, and then will the saying be accomplished,
'Melior est obedientia quam sacrificium.'
In this same year, the emperor Frederick, duke of Austria, was crowned,
and married at Rome, by pope Nicholas, to the daughter of the king of
Portugal,--and the feasts and entertainments were suitable to the rank
of the parties. Shortly after, the emperor returned to Germany with his
empress, where they were most honourably received, according to the
customs of that country.
In this year also, there were great discords in England between the
dukes of York and Somerset, for the government of the kingdom. The
king supported the latter, who raised a large army, and took the
field in handsome array. The duke of York did the same, and a general
engagement was expected; but the prelates and great lords, dreading the
consequences, interfered and brought about an accommodation,--when
the duke of York promised never to arm again or collect forces in
opposition to his king,[132]--and each army separated to the places
they had come from.
In this same year, the cardinal de Touteville was sent by pope Nicholas
to the king of France, as his legate, and to require that he would
make peace with England,--for the continuation of the war was of
great prejudice to the catholic faith. The legate pressed as speedy a
conclusion as possible between the two kingdoms, for the infidels were
daily making conquests from the Christians.
When the cardinal had explained the object of his mission, the king
replied, that he was as desirous as ever to prevent further effusion
of blood, and to promote the general welfare of Christendom: that he
was ready to listen to any reasonable proposals, and had frequently
made offers to that effect in vain: that he was willing to agree to any
proper terms, and to employ his arms and finances, as much as should
be in his power, to repulse the Saracens.
While the legate was employed on this business in France, the pope,
having the matter much at heart, sent the archbishop of Ravenna, of the
Ursini-family at Rome, to England, to make similar remonstrances with
king Henry, and to press him earnestly to conclude a peace with France,
for the reasons stated by the legate,--and that a further prolongation
of the war would probably entail contempt on Christendom, as the
infidels had already made great conquests in Hungary and Germany. The
king's ministers made answer to the archbishop, that when they should
have reconquered from the king of France what he had won from them, it
would be time enough to talk of these matters. This answer was a bad
precedent; and the cardinal and archbishop returned to pope Nicholas
without having done any thing, in regard to the mission he had sent
them on.
According to the chronicles of Arras, the inhabitants of Ghent, at
this season, finding their lord was indignant against them for the
opposition which their deputies had made to his laying a tax on salt,
began to murmur,--and, puffed up with pride, they rose in rebellion
against his authority, and seized many of the duke's officers, whom
they beheaded without mercy. They chose from among themselves three
leaders, called in their language Hoguemens, whom they appointed to the
government. The principal was called Lieuvin Seve, a poor mason, and
the other two were of low degree.
When news of this was brought to the duke, he instantly issued his
summons, throughout Picardy and Hainault, for the assembling a body of
men at arms; and sent a valiant knight, a gentleman born in Hainault,
called sir Simon de Lalain, as governor of Oudenarde, and with him
another knight, named the lord des Cornets. In the holy week of this
same year, three of the states of Flanders, namely, Brussels, Ypres,
and the Franc, sent a deputation to the duke of Burgundy at Brussels,
accompanied by a Carthusian of the convent at Ghent. They were admitted
to an audience on Good Friday, and, by the mouth of the Carthusian,
entreated him, on their knees, and with the utmost humility, to pardon
the people of Ghent for their ill conduct,--and to have pity on his
country of Flanders for the love of God, and in respect to the sacred
day on which they made their petition. They offered, on the part of the
men of Ghent, that if he would pardon them, they would make whatever
reparation his ministers should think expedient.
The good prince replied, that from his reverence to God and respect to
the day, he would grant their request, provided the men of Ghent would
abide by the decision of his ministers as to the reparation they were
to make for their bad conduct.
It happened, in the mean time, that some of the peasantry and farmers
had placed their effects in the town of Oudenarde, as a security
against the war which they thought was about to commence; and they
assembled, in number about twelve hundred, and came to the gates of
Oudenarde, to demand back their effects; but when sir Simon de Lalain
was informed of their numbers, he refused them admittance, or to
restore their goods, until he should have informed their prince. The
peasants, dissatisfied with this answer, went to make their complaints
at Ghent, and to supplicate their assistance in the recovery of their
goods from Oudenarde,--when, without considering the consequences,
the Hoguemens instantly displayed their banners, and marched fifteen
thousand men of all sorts out of the town.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 129: Taillebourg,--a town of Saintonge, on the Charante,
three leagues from Saintes.]
[Footnote 130: St Esprit,--a town on the Nive, opposite to Bayonne, to
which it is considered as a suburb.]
[Footnote 131: Twentieth day of August. There seems a confusion of
dates here.]
[Footnote 132: Monstrelet, or his continuator, seems to have been
miserably informed respecting these quarrels in England.]
[A.D. 1452.]
CHAP. XXVIII.
JACQUES COEUR IS ARRESTED AND CONFINED.--THE REASONS OF IT.--THE KING
OF FRANCE DECLARES WAR AGAINST THE DUKE OF SAVOY,--BUT PEACE IS MADE,
BY THE MEDIATION OF THE CARDINAL DE TOUTEVILLE.--LORD SHREWSBURY
REGAINS BORDEAUX FROM THE FRENCH.
In the year 1452, Jacques Coeur was arrested by the king's orders, and
confined close prisoner. He was charged with various acts contrary to
the catholic faith, with high treason, and with having sent armour and
all sorts of military stores to the Saracens, enemies to the Christian
faith,--and likewise with providing them with workmen to teach them
the art of fabricating arms, to the prejudice of all Christendom. He
was confined for having, by the instigations of the enemy of mankind,
through avarice or other irregular passions, sent back by force a
Christian prisoner who had escaped from the hands of the Saracens,
(with whom he had long suffered martyrdom for the love of JESUS
CHRIST), in contempt of the faith of our Redeemer. He was likewise
charged with very many extortions in different parts of the realm, and
of having pillaged immense sums from the king's finances, of which
he had the management. The said extortions had caused several of the
inhabitants of those parts to quit the country, to the great loss of
the king and the realm.
The damsel de Mortaigne was at the same time imprisoned for certain
offences against the king, and for having charged Jacques Coeur and
others, through malice, with crimes of which they were innocent. She
was therefore confined for thus lying, to receive the punishment that
those whom she had accused would have suffered, had they been found
guilty, unless pardoned by the king's mercy.
In the month of May of this year, the king of France left Tours,
and went to the castle of Tuché[133], to celebrate the feast of
Whitsunside, where he staid until July following, and thence went
to Mehun sur Yevre[134]. He there declared war against the duke of
Savoy, for certain acts done by him to the prejudice of his crown and
kingdom. In the month of August, the king departed from Mehun with a
large army, and a noble company of knights and men at arms, until he
came to the country of Forez[135], intending to invade Savoy; but the
cardinal de Touteville, hearing of this on his road to Rome, moved by
charity, returned to the duke of Savoy,--and, having learnt the cause
of offence, he thence went to the king, and managed the matter so well
that the duke waited on the king, and promised to make every amends for
what had given offence, according to the king's good pleasure. Peace
being restored, the french army retreated to Feurs[136] in Forez, and
the cardinal continued his road to Rome[137].
In the beginning of September, the lord de l'Esparre and others of the
inhabitants of Bordeaux, by the advice of the lord de Montferrant,
the lord de Rosem, the lord de Lane, and the lord d'Anglades, found
means to embark secretly for England. On their arrival, they had
several conferences with king Henry's ministers, and offered to return
to their obedience if they would send a sufficient force to support
them. The king assembled his parliament, and summoned to it his peers
and captains, when it was determined to send the earl of Shrewsbury
to the country of Bordelois in the ensuing month of October. On this
being settled, the lord de l'Esparre and his companions, who might be
compared to Judas, returned to Bordeaux; for they had sworn, on the
holy evangelists, to be true and loyal subjects to the king and crown
of France, and had conspired this wicked treason in direct violation of
their oaths.
In consequence of the arrangements made between them and the English,
the earl of Shrewsbury set sail from England with four or five thousand
men, whom he landed in Medoc, and conquered some small places to serve
them as quarters. He thence made inroads over that part of the country,
and subdued it,--which was not difficult, for the king's army was
withdrawn, and few remained in the garrisons. When their arrival was
known in Bordeaux, the townsmen held several meetings to consider of
the manner of their surrender to the English,--and the majority were
desirous that the French within the town should be allowed to depart
in safety with their effects. At this time, the lord de Coictivy,
seneschal of Guienne, was the governor for the king of France, the lord
du Pin mayor, and Jean du Foue, knight, his deputy.
While they were debating on this matter, some of the inhabitants
opened one of the gates to the English, who entered the town on the
23d of October, and made the greater part of the French, soldiers or
not, prisoners. This news grieved much the king of France; and he
hastily dispatched the marshals of France, the lord d'Orval, Joachim
Rohault, and other experienced captains, with six hundred lances and
archers, to guard the places round Bordeaux, as the lord de Clermont,
his lieutenant-general in those parts, should see expedient, until he
could, at a proper season, send a greater force.
However, before this army could arrive, the earl of Shrewsbury and the
barons of the Bordelois had subjected most of the places near Bordeaux
to the government of the English. The town and castle of Châtillon,
in Perigord, then occupied by the French, were surrendered by the
garrison, on having their lives and fortunes spared, notwithstanding
the count de Clermont did all in his power to resist the English before
his reinforcement arrived.
The lord Camus, the bastard of Somerset, the lord Lisle, son to the
earl of Shrewsbury, the lord Molins, now arrived from England, to
reinforce the earl of Shrewsbury with four thousand combatants, and
eighty transports, great and small, laden with flour and bacon to
victual the city of Bordeaux.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 133: Tuché. MS. Du Cange, Chiré.]
[Footnote 134: Mehun sur Yevre,--two leagues from Beaugency, four from
Orleans.]
[Footnote 135: Forez,--a small fertile province, bounded on the east by
the Lyonnois, on the south by Languedoc.]
[Footnote 136: Feurs,--a town in Forez, four leagues from Boen, 16 from
Lyon.]
[Footnote 137: Charles VII. was discontented with the duke of Savoy
for having married his daughter Charlotte to the dauphin without his
consent, but on his submissions was appeased.]
CHAP. XXIX.
THE MEN OF GHENT BESIEGE OUDENARDE.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AN
ARMY AGAINST THEM.--THE PICARDS CONQUER THE PONT D'ESPIERES FROM THE
GHENT MEN, AND KILL MANY OF THEM.
On the 14th day of April, after Easter, the ghent men took the
field in great numbers, followed by a large train of artillery and
provision-carts, to lay siege to Oudenarde, which was but five leagues
from Ghent. On their appearance, sir Simon de Lalain issued out, and
a skirmish took place; but he was forced to return to the town by
reason of the very great numbers of ghent men, who attacked him on all
sides,--and in his retreat, he burnt the suburbs on that quarter. The
ghent army blockaded the place so closely that nothing could enter it
by land, or by the river Scheld that ran through it.
The noble duke of Burgundy, when told of this siege, was greatly vexed,
considering that the ghent men had so lately sent to solicit pardon for
their offences. He consequently issued a special summons throughout
Picardy and Hainault,--and in obedience thereto, John count d'Estampes,
his cousin-german and at that time governor of Picardy, assembled the
gentlemen of that country, and with a numerous body, marched toward
Oudenarde by the road of the Pont d'Espieres. Near to this bridge was
a small castle, called Helchin, occupied by the ghent men under a
captain, a peasant called Beuterman, which means one who sells butter.
They having fortified the bridge, the Picards declined attempting to
pass it, on account of the numbers of the enemy; but a company of
Picards found means to cross the river at a place named Waterbos, and
fell on the rear of those who guarded the bridge, at the same time that
the other body of Picards made an attack on the bridge. The ghent
men, finding themselves attacked in front and rear, retreated into a
church hard by. The Picards crossed the bridge, and pursued them to the
church,--when the ghent men, in their defence, killed three archers,
and wounded several more. This so enraged the count d'Estampes that he
set fire to the church, and forced the ghent men to sally forth,--but
they were all put to death: none escaped save their captain, Beuterman,
who had fled, by another road, to Ghent. Ninety remained dead on the
spot for three days before they were buried!
While this was passing, the duke of Burgundy advanced toward Ghent, and
fixed his quarters at Grammont, a small town five leagues distant. He
was there joined by the count de St Pol, his two brothers Thibaut and
James, Adolphus of Cleves, nephew to the duke Cornille, the bastard of
Burgundy and sir John de Croy, all grandly attended, and with a very
numerous body of men at arms and archers.
CHAP. XXX.
THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES, WITH THE AID OF THE PICARDS ALONE, RAISES THE
SIEGE OF OUDENARDE, AND DEFEATS THE GHENT MEN, WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
The count d'Estampes accompanied by the lords of Picardy and their
vassals, halted at Waterbos and Launoy after their conquest of the
Pont d'Espieres, and there resolved to attempt to raise the siege of
Oudenarde before the duke of Burgundy should know any thing of the
matter.
To accomplish their plan, it was necessary that the governor, sir Simon
de Lalain, should be informed of it; and on the 25th day of April,
three of their men offered to carry thither letters, on paying them
fifty crowns each. These letters were to inform him of the hour on
which they intended to make the attempt, that he might co-operate with
them. The messengers, on approaching Oudenarde, found it so closely
blockaded that they had no chance of gaining admittance on the land
side; they therefore stripped themselves naked and plunged into the
Scheld, which is there wide and deep, swam into the town, and delivered
their letters.
Sir Simon was much pleased with the intelligence. In the mean time,
the count advanced with his Picards in three battalions: the van under
the command of Anthony bastard of Burgundy, the lord de Saveuses, and
others: the center under the count himself, grandly accompanied,--and
in the rear division were very many valiant men at arms and archers.
When they were nearly approached to the enemy, the lord de Saveuses
knighted, with his own hand, the lord d'Estampes, who had not before
received that honour; and then the count instantly made fifty-two more
knights, the first of whom was Anthony bastard of Burgundy.
When arrived within a quarter of a league from Oudenarde, they fell in
with a body of four or five hundred ghent men, posted there to defend
a narrow pass. The Picards advanced to attack them, but came to a
hollow way, of difficult descent, which forced them to make a circuit.
Their leaders were sir James de Lalain, the lords de Bauf-segnies, de
Crevecœur, de Bosqueaux, and du Bos,--and one called le Bourgognon was
with them. Having passed the hollow way, they pushed through the ghent
men, who were drawn up; and wheeling round, sir James de Lalain charged
them sword in hand. He was instantly surrounded by the enemy,--and had
it not been for the timely succour of the Bourgognon, who extricated
him from this danger, he must have been killed.
When the ghent men perceived that the main body of the Picards had
passed the hollow way, they fled for a church near Oudenarde, where
they were almost all put to death. This done, the count d'Estampes
ordered the archers to dismount,--but the blockade was so complete
that no sally was attempted from the town. However, the ghent men on
the other side of the Scheld were cut off, for want of a bridge, from
succouring the division on this side, which, as it afterward turned
out, proved their destruction.
The ghent men, on seeing the Picards, advanced from their
intrenchments in handsome array, well furnished with pikes and cannons,
to give them battle; but they no sooner felt the arrows of the Picards,
which, by reason of their being badly armed, pierced their bellies and
backs, than they instantly gave way and fled. The Picards pursued them,
and slaughtered so many that few escaped. It was commonly reported that
upwards of three thousand were killed, while the count d'Estampes lost
only one man, called Jean d'Athies, a man at arms, and a native of
Arras, who was slain through his own breach of duty.
During this time, the noble duke of Burgundy had left Grammont grandly
accompanied, as I have said, to raise the siege of Oudenarde. He had
learnt that the ghent men had, on the opposite side of the river, been
forced to raise the siege, and that the division on this, through fear,
were on their march back to Ghent. In consequence of this intelligence,
he pushed forward, and soon overtook them,--and the pursuit lasted to
the gates of Ghent, killing and wounding all that came in his way,
until the night forced him to give it over. The duke lay on the field
this night, and on the morrow, early, entered Oudenarde, where great
rejoicings and feasts took place between the duke, the count, and their
companions. The artillery the men of Ghent had left behind them was
secured in the town of Oudenarde, and their baggage plundered. Among
those who escaped to Ghent were their three Hoguemans[138],--but they
had scarcely entered the town when the populace seized them, beheaded
them without mercy, and elected five new ones.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 138: Hogueman--should be, according to du Cange's glossary,
Hocquemant, Hoga, captain, governor.]
CHAP. XXXI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ESTABLISHES GARRISONS ROUND GHENT.--HE MAKES
SEVERAL INROADS INTO THE COUNTRY OF WAES[139].
The siege of Oudenarde being raised, the duke of Burgundy, nobly
attended, went to Dendermonde,--the count d'Estampes remained in
Oudenarde,--the count de St Pol was sent to Alost, and the marshal of
Burgundy, with some picardy gentlemen, to Courtray. Shortly after, the
count d'Estampes sallied out of Oudenarde, with the intent of advancing
to Ghent; and passing by the castle of Gave, he attacked it, but was
forced to retire, as it was too strong, and the garrison outnumbered
his force. He then continued his march toward Ghent, where a sharp
skirmish took effect, but without much loss on either side--the ghent
men re-entered the town--except, indeed, that sir John de Miraumont
was struck so severely with a cross-bow bolt that he died of it soon
after: the Picards marched back to Oudenarde.
The count de St Pol, on another day, advanced from Alost to before the
walls of Ghent, and gallantly repulsed those who sallied out against
him; and this he did repeatedly. The count d'Estampes returned thither
also, and not only repulsed them back into Ghent but slew upwards of
forty: he lost, however, seven of his archers.
Between Ghent and Antwerp lies a fertile country, called the country
of Waes: it is very strong from its bogs and ditches, and has several
rich towns and villages dependant on Ghent, and would not own any other
superior lord than the municipality of Ghent. During the different wars
that had taken place, this country had never been overrun or pillaged,
and therefore was plentifully supplied with all things. The ghent men
had likewise strongly fortified it with ditches and bulwarks, so that
it was of difficult entrance, more especially as those of Ghent were
very assiduous in guarding it.
The duke, being anxious to possess this country, had a strong bridge
thrown over the Scheld, before Dendermonde; and when it was finished,
a valiant knight called sir James de Lalain, with leave of the duke,
was the first who passed over, accompanied by the archers of the duke's
body-guard and a few men at arms. This was on the 18th day of May; and
he had not advanced far when he was met by a large body of ghent men,
who instantly attacked and surrounded him on all sides. He behaved
himself most valorously: no knight could have done better: but sir John
bastard of Renty, captain of these archers, did not do the same,--for
he let fall the duke's banner which he bore, and saved himself as fast
as his horse could carry him. In this encounter, seven or eight archers
were slain, three of whom were of the duke's guard. The horse of a
gallant young knight, sir Philip de Lalain, was killed under him in a
bog, while he defended himself like a wild boar at bay: had it not been
for the exertions of his brother sir James, who dashed into the midst
of those that held him in such peril, he could not have escaped alive;
but sir James, by his valour, remounted his brother in spite of them,
and having collected around him the few men he had, he marched off,
himself closing their rear, to withstand all attempts of the enemy to
hurt them. The archers who had remained with him, throwing off their
jackets, made such excellent use of their bows that they forced the
ghent men to retreat to a respectable distance,--and sir James carried
his men and archers safely back to Dendermonde.
In another quarter, the count de St Pol, accompanied by his two
brothers, Adolphus of Cleves, the bastard de Cornille, and many men at
arms and archers, with those from Dendermonde, under the command of
John de Croy, set off to enter the country of Waes. They gained two
bulwarks which the ghent men occupied at Overmeer, a large village in
that country, after a sharp attack, when the ghent men fled, as many
as could save themselves, to Ghent. The duke's army then advanced to
Lokeren, another large village, in which were three thousand men, who
had promised assistance to those at Overmeer, and were preparing to
march thither when it was too late.
The ghent men, seeing their enemies coming, advanced boldly to meet
them; but before they were approached near enough for battle, the count
de St Pol, who led the van, made some new knights, namely, Adolphus
of Cleves, Thibault lord de Fiennes, brother to the count, Cornille
bastard of Burgundy, at that time governor of Luxembourg, a prudent
and valiant youth, universally beloved by all who knew him, and a few
more. The count marched the van on the flank of the ghent men, while
they continued to advance in front against the body under the command
of sir John de Croy, who pushed forward to meet them: they were so
roughly attacked on two sides that they were almost all slain or made
prisoners. In this engagement, four or five of the duke's body-archers
did wonders in arms, more especially Hoste le Sur and le Martre. This
army now returned to their quarters.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 139: Waes,--a district in Flanders, on the Scheld, between
Ghent and Ysendic.]
CHAP. XXXII.
THE GHENT MEN FORTIFY NIENEVE.--THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES DEFEATS THEM
THERE.--THE MEN OF GHENT ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A DYKE, TO DROWN THE
COUNTRY OF WAES, BUT ARE AGAIN DEFEATED BY THE COUNT DE ST POL.
Between Ghent and Oudenarde is a large village called Nieneve, which
the ghent men had strongly fortified with intrenchments and bulwarks,
and had posted there a numerous garrison to harrass the Picards in
Oudenarde. The count d'Estampes, having summoned the garrison of
Courtray to join him, advanced to gain this village, and on the 25th
of May he won by storm the outworks and the village, putting the ghent
men to the rout without much difficulty. The count then took the field,
and, while a party of his men were pursuing the runaways, others
had dismounted in the village to refresh themselves. They had not
been there long, before a large body of ghent men, who had assembled
unobserved, suddenly entered the village, and immediately put to death
all they could find, for they were far from suspecting such an attempt.
Among the slain were the lord de Herin, knight, Ciboy Boucly, Jennequin
le Prevost, Jean Dinde, and some others, to the amount of thirteen, all
valiant men at arms of the count's household, and full fifty archers.
The whole would have perished, had not the lord de Saveuses hastened
to their succour and behaved with great valour. The count instantly
returned with the army, and a dreadful slaughter ensued: the men of
Ghent were a second time defeated, and twelve hundred killed on the
spot: the rest saved themselves in the woods and hedges. After this
defeat, the count caused those of his men who had been slain to be
carried to a house hard by, and then set fire to the village,--after
which he returned to Oudenarde.
The duke of Burgundy, during his residence at Dendermonde, was very
desirous of marching a great force to conquer the country of Waes,
and had sent to Picardy for reinforcements of archers and cross-bows,
which the towns had readily complied with. He ordered the garrisons
of Courtray, Oudenarde, and Alost to join him, and sent thither the
reinforcements from Picardy to supply the place of these garrisons
during the time he should be in the country of Waes. When the ghent
men heard of this great force being assembled, they ordered a strong
detachment to break down a sea dyke, which, being done, would drown the
whole of that country; but the duke, having timely notice of this, sent
thither the count de St Pol with a large body, who made such diligence
that he came up with the enemy before they could effect their purpose,
and discomfited them, with the loss of more than five hundred men: the
rest saved themselves by flight: and what damage had been done to the
dyke was repaired.
The count marched back to the duke, and found that the duke's nephew,
John duke of Cleves, had arrived during his absence with a handsome
body of german men at arms and cross-bows, at which the duke was
exceedingly well pleased. Charles count de Charolois, legitimate son to
the duke, had also arrived when he was absent on the last expedition.
CHAP. XXXIII.
THE BATTLE OF RUPELMONDE, WHERE THE GHENT MEN ARE DEFEATED BY THE DUKE
OF BURGUNDY.
On the 6th day of June, in this same year 1452, the duke of Burgundy
marched from Dendermonde with his whole army, to invade the country of
Waes. He formed his army into three divisions: the van he gave to the
count de St Pol, who was accompanied by his two brothers, sir Cornille
the bastard, the lord de Saveuses, sir James de Lalain, and others.
The duke commanded the center, having with him his son, the knights
and esquires of his household, and a part of the Picards: the count
d'Estampes and the duke of Cleves, his son-in-law, had the command of
the rear division.
This arrangement being made, he marched toward Rupelmonde, which the
ghent men had strongly fortified, and were there waiting his coming
with plenty of artillery and warlike stores, to defend a bulwark they
had cast up in front of the place.
When the duke was near to Rupelmonde, he was fearful that if the
ghent men should discover his whole strength they would not issue out
of their intrenchments; and to deceive them as to his numbers, he
detached a considerable body to observe the countenance of the enemy,
to skirmish with them, and to draw them out into the plain. In the
mean time, he advanced his whole army in three divisions, but in close
order, for greater security, so that the ghent men could not see more
than the first division, or at least what appeared to be such.
The ghent men observing the detachment, and the van of the army, which
was not far behind, not imagining there were any more, insolently
issued forth from their intrenchments to attack them; but, in pursuance
of the duke's orders, his men immediately wheeled round and fled. The
ghent men pursued until they fell in with the duke's army, drawn up
in battle-array, and the archers dismounted. The battle now raged, and
the ghent men made good use of their culverins; but they could not
withstand the arrows of the Picards, and, turning about, fled. The men
at arms followed, and the slaughter was dreadful. It happened in the
pursuit, that sir Cornille, the bastard, was attacked by a Fleming,
who thrust his pike into his throat, which unluckily was unguarded,
and killed him on the spot: it was a great loss, from the promising
expectations he had given of his future worth.
The ghent men were defeated, and two thousand five hundred were left
dead on the field: the rest retreated to a large village called Acre,
which they had strongly fortified with trenches and ramparts. The duke,
having collected his men together, began his march back, but not before
he had his son, the bastard, raised from the ground, and sent off, with
many honours to Brussels, where he was interred in the church of St
Goule.
CHAP. XXXIV.
THE GHENT MEN WHO HAD FLED TO ACRE ABANDON THE PLACE: IT IS BURNT BY
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.--THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AMBASSADORS TO THE
DUKE IN FLANDERS, TO RESTORE PEACE TO THAT COUNTRY.
On the morrow of the battle of Rupelmonde, the lord de la Vere, a
Hollander, and knight-companion of the Golden Fleece, and the lord de
Launoy, then governor of Holland, came to offer their services to the
duke of Burgundy, bringing with them three thousand combatants, mostly
cross-bowmen. The duke was well pleased with them; but remembering the
death of his son the bastard, whom he greatly lamented, he commanded
all the villages in the country of Waes to be set on fire, and, in
consequence, very many villages were burnt; but as several of them
contained only poor people, the inhabitants came in great numbers to
beseech their lord's mercy, barefooted, and in all humility. The good
duke had pity on them, and ordered the fires to cease.
The duke then marched to Acre, where the ghent men were in great force;
but they were afraid to wait his coming, and abandoned the place, on
which the duke had it burnt to the ground.
While these things were going forward, the king of France sent an
embassy to the duke, and appointed the count de St Pol, then with the
duke, as the head of it, who went to meet the other members at Tournay,
where they were grandly feasted. The count returned to the duke, to
know when and where it would be agreeable for him to see them: he
appointed Dendermonde, whither he went for the purpose, leaving his
army in the country of Waes.
The ambassadors remonstrated with the duke on his present conduct,--and
added, that the king was astonished that he could thus destroy
Flanders, which was a dependance on his crown, for that the ghent men
out of revenge, and through pride, might ally themselves with the
English, and admit them into Ghent, to the great prejudice of his
kingdom. They exhorted him to make peace with Ghent, if possible, and
ordered him, in the king's name, to put an end to the war.
The duke made answer, in person, that he was no way afraid of the
English being admitted into Ghent,--and that for no man living would
he make peace with his rebellious subjects until they had submitted
themselves to his will; for, by the aid of God and of his good friends,
he would force them to submission, if they would not submit by fair
means. The ambassadors, on hearing this answer, did not make any reply
for the present; but they obtained from the duke, at their entreaties,
and out of respect to the king, that he would consent to a truce for
three days, and give passports to such of the ghent men as might choose
to come to him and treat of a peace.
This being done, the ambassadors, with the exception of the count de
St Pol, went to Ghent, where they were received most honourably. They
informed the townsmen, assembled in numbers at the town-hall, of the
commission they had been intrusted with by the king of France, and the
remonstrances they had in consequence made to the duke of Burgundy,
and his answer. The ghent men, on hearing this, said, that indeed their
lord was too hard and merciless to them; that he wanted to deprive them
of their privileges, which they would never suffer to be done; and told
the ambassadors, that if they had nothing more to say, they might leave
the town instantly. They therefore immediately departed, and returned
to the duke of Burgundy.
CHAP. XXXV.
THE CUTLER OF GHENT IS MADE PRISONER IN BATTLE.--THE GHENT MEN ARE
DEFEATED.--THEY ARE AGAIN DEFEATED AT HULST AND MOERBEKE.
The french ambassadors had scarcely left Ghent, when upward of five
thousand men in arms issued forth to combat the duke's army wherever
they could meet it. They had chosen for their leader a cutler of Ghent,
a large heavy man, who had boasted that he would overcome the duke;
and his townsmen promised, that if he should succeed, they would make
him lord of Waes, and indeed of all Flanders.
They marched for Hulst, a large village, in which was Anthony bastard
of Burgundy with a strong force of well-tried men at arms, thinking to
surprise him: but he had received intelligence of their coming, and
advanced out to meet them. A sharp engagement took place, when they
were defeated, with the loss of full three thousand men, and the cutler
and several of the ghent men were taken. The bastard sent them to his
father, the duke, who had them all hanged, or strangled, because they
would not ask his pardon; and such was their obstinate hatred to him
that, although they were promised mercy if they would ask it, they
refused. This was surely a wonderful sign of obstinacy!
Those who had escaped from this battle, to the amount of two thousand,
fled to Moerbeke, wherein was a large company of their townsmen, then
besieged by the Hollanders, ignorant of this defeat at Hulst. On seeing
such numbers approach, the Hollanders drew up in battle-array, and
attacked them with such effect with their cross-bows that many were
slain. In the mean time, the bastard, who had pursued them, now came
up; and they were so severely handled that, of the two thousand, few,
if any, escaped death or being made prisoners.
The garrison of Moerbeke, witnessing the discomfiture of their
countrymen, abandoned the town and fled to Ghent; so that when sir
Anthony de Bourgogne and the Hollanders were preparing to attack the
intrenchments, they found them empty, and entered the place without
resistance, which they plundered of every thing worth taking away, and
then set the town on fire.
The duke of Burgundy was, at this time, at a large village called
Hoiguemustre[140], in the country of Waes. The french ambassadors found
him there on their return from Ghent, and told him all they had seen
and heard in that town: on which the duke swore, that he would never
make peace with them until they should submit unconditionally; and that
if they would not do so by fair means, he would force them to it, or
die in the attempt.
Without longer delay, he departed for Axel, which he conquered, and
the whole of the country of Waes,--and thence he approached Ghent, and
fixed his quarters at a place called Longpont, not far from the town.
When those in Ghent saw this, they sent to the French ambassadors to
request them to obtain passports from the duke, for a deputation to
wait on him, to propose articles for a peace.
The good duke at the request of the ambassadors, and in compliment to
the king of France, granted passports, but told the messengers from
Ghent, that he would never conclude any treaty with them until they
had submitted themselves and their town to his will. While this was
passing, the duke's army made daily excursions to the gates of Ghent,
burning and destroying houses, mills, and farms around, without mercy.
In addition to these miseries, there raged in Ghent an epidemical
disorder, which carried off such numbers that it was terrible to hear
of it; insomuch, that those who remained, fearful of worse happening to
them, sent to solicit the ambassadors to return to their town, which
they did,--and, having assembled in the market-place, displayed the
passports from their lord, and desired that all who wished for peace
would stand apart, and the others on the contrary side. This was done,
and the party for peace amounted to only seven thousand, while those on
the opposite side were upwards of twelve thousand.
The ambassadors, observing so great a difference, desired them to
assemble again on the morrow, when they would endeavour to bring about
an agreement between them; but on the morrow, only those who wished
for peace appeared. They desired that the ambassadors would return to
the duke, with a deputation from them, to endeavour to mediate a peace
by any possible means. The ambassadors so far prevailed that the duke
consented to a truce of six weeks, on condition that the men of Ghent
would deliver to him good and sufficient hostages (if during this term
peace could not be effected), to indemnify him for the loss he should
incur by disbanding his army and the expense of raising another, and,
for the due payment of the garrisons he should leave round Ghent, and
in Courtray, Oudenarde, Alost, and Dendermonde during these six weeks.
It was also stipulated, that no provision should enter Ghent in the
mean time, but that what was already therein must supply their wants;
nor was any thing to enter the principal towns of Flanders, without
leave first had at the gates.
It was agreed, that the conferences for peace should be holden at
Lille, and that the deputies from Ghent should not amount to more than
fifty. These preliminaries being settled, the truce was proclaimed
throughout the duke's army; and he then gave permission for his men at
arms to return to the places they had come from, excepting such as he
had left in garrison in the towns aforesaid. The duke went to Brussels,
and his ministers to Lille. The ambassadors from France sent a herald
to proclaim the truce in Ghent; but as his attendant was dressed in a
surcoat of the arms of the duke, namely, the cross of St Andrew, he
was seized by the populace, as he was leading his horses to water, and
instantly hanged, out of pique to the duke, and by way of revenge for
the death of the cutler. The herald returned in safety, but very much
frightened.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 140: Hoiguemustre. Q. Waesmustre?]
CHAP. XXXVI.
THE ARTICLES PROPOSED BY THE AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE AS THE
GROUND-WORK FOR A TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE MEN OF GHENT AND THEIR
LORD,--BUT WHICH ARE NOT AGREED TO BY THOSE IN GHENT.
On the 22d day of July in the year 1452, the men of Ghent sent a
deputation of fifty commissioners to Lille, to treat of a peace with
the ministers of the duke of Burgundy and the ambassadors from France:
they were also accompanied by master John de Poupincourt, advocate in
the parliament. The duke refused at first to attend the conferences,
and each party delivered in writing to the ambassadors their separate
proposals; but at the entreaty of the ambassadors and his ministers,
the duke set out from Brussels, and arrived at Lille on the 27th of
August.
When the deputies saw that the time for the expiration of the truce was
near at hand, they were afraid to remain longer, and returned to Ghent,
leaving behind only two heralds and an interpreter. Notwithstanding
the departure of the deputies, the French ambassadors soon after gave
judgment respecting their dissensions with the duke, and sentenced the
men of Ghent to perform the following articles before they obtained
peace.
They were ordered, in the first place, to close up the gate by which
they had marched out to besiege Oudenarde, once every week, on the same
day they passed it.
Item, the gate by which they had marched to the battle of Rupelmonde
was to be shut up for ever.
Item, they were to lay aside their white hoods, as having been their
badge of rebellion.
Item, foreign merchants should no longer be amenable to the bye laws
of Ghent, but only to those of the town and ban lieu.
Item, no one should be in future banished the town without the cause
being specified, which had not been done before.
Item, as to the new regulation of the laws, four noble persons,
officers of the duke, and four of the municipality, shall be selected
for this purpose; and whereas formerly four-and-twenty persons formed
the municipality, twelve of whom were always chosen from the company of
weavers,--this shall now be abolished.
Item, whereas, when any troubles existed in the town, the banners
of the trades were displayed, and the populace assembled in the
market-place: it is ordained, that such proceedings be abolished, and
that the banners be placed in a coffer fastened with five locks,--one
key shall be delivered to the bailiff of Ghent,--the first sheriff
shall have another,--the high deacon of trades the third,--and the
other two shall be given in charge to two discreet persons elected
by the townsmen,--and there shall be no more assembling in the
market-place.
Item, neither the sheriffs nor any gentleman in Ghent shall issue
public mandates in their names.
Item, the whole of the municipality, the deacons, governors, and two
thousand of the commonalty shall advance half a league out of the town,
clad only in their shirts, and humbly on their knees, beg pardon of
their lord, saying, that they had wickedly and wrongfully made war
against him their lord, for which they crave his mercy.
Item, should any of the duke's officers henceforth misbehave, his
offence was not to be cognizable by the municipality,--but it must be
referred to their lord and his council.
Item, whereas formerly the municipality of Ghent had usually extended
their government over the country of Waes, Alost, Dendermonde and
Oudenarde,--it was ordered, that the said ambassadors should, within
the year, make a reformation, either by new ordinances or by resigning
their jurisdiction altogether.
Item, to satisfy their lord for his expenses in this war, they were to
pay him two hundred and fifty thousand riddes[141].
Such was the sentence of the ambassadors on those of Ghent,--who,
however, notwithstanding their promises, refused absolutely to abide by
it.
CHAP. XXXVII.
THE GHENT MEN RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THEIR LORD, AND BURN
HULST.--A FRENCH HERALD ESCAPES FROM GHENT.
The two heralds and their interpreter returned from Lille to
Ghent,--and the proposed articles for a peace with the duke of Burgundy
were publicly read to the people. Great murmurings arose; and they said
that their lord was too hard upon them, and that the conditions were
not to be borne. They separated, however, without declaring positively
against them, nor yet assenting to them,--and in this state they
remained for about a fortnight.
During this time, some of the most turbulent assembled in numbers,
and chose for their captain a wicked fellow, called the bastard of
Blanc-Estain,--and they styled themselves Companions of the Verde Tente.
Having well armed themselves, they sallied forth out of Ghent one
night, and advanced to Hulst, a large village that had surrendered to
the duke. On their arrival, they lighted torches and brands to deceive
the inhabitants, and make them believe they intended to storm the
place on that side, who indeed hastened thither in a body to defend
themselves; but, in the mean time, these cunning rogues gained an
entrance, without opposition, on the opposite side, and put to death
all they met. They plundered the town completely, set it on fire, and
returned with their booty to Ghent.
The ambassadors from the king of France were impatiently waiting at
Lille, to know whether the ghent men would abide by the articles of
peace. Wondering they received no intelligence from Ghent, they sent
thither a herald, with letters to the principal inhabitants, to learn
their will. The herald, on coming to his lodgings, entreated his
host to assist him in the delivering of his letters; but the host had
compassion on him, and told him, if he valued his life, not to mention
to any one the cause of his coming,--for, were it known, he would
infallibly be put to death. He would not suffer him to quit his chamber
the whole day, and, on the morrow, gave him his servant to escort him
to the gates,--bidding him say to the porters, if any questions were
asked him, that he was a french merchant returning to Antwerp,--and,
for better security, made him put on his coat the wrong side outward.
The herald, very much alarmed, believed all his host had said, and
set out very early, before the gates were opened. On coming to them,
he was asked who he was, and replied, a french merchant returning to
Antwerp. They asked for something to drink; and as he was untying his
purse, the gates were opened; on seeing this, he put spurs to his
horse, and galloped through without paying any thing,--but he did not
think himself safe until he was arrived at Lille. He related to the
ambassadors all that had passed, who, finding that the ghent men would
not adhere to their promises, took leave of the duke and returned to
king Charles, carrying with them six thousand golden riddes, which the
noble duke Philip had presented to them for their trouble.
The duke was ignorant of the capture of Hulst, until the ghent men
had taken and burnt Axel. They would have gained Alost, had not sir
Anthony de Wissoc, the governor for the duke, made so gallant a defence
that they were repulsed. On their return to Ghent, they burnt all the
villages that acknowledged the duke's government, and put men, women,
and children, to death without mercy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 141: Riddes,--worth 5s. in Flanders, 3s. in Gueldres.]
CHAP. XXXVIII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RAISES A LARGE ARMY TO COMBAT THE GHENT MEN, WHO
BURN HARLEBECK[142], A LARGE VILLAGE NEAR COURTRAY.--OTHER EVENTS OF
THIS WAR.
While the duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders, was waiting at Lille
the answer from Ghent, he was informed of the loss of Hulst and
Axel, and instantly assembled his army, with the addition of a large
reinforcement from Burgundy; for he had ordered the lord de Beaumont,
marshal of Burgundy, to join him. Before this army could be ready
to take the field, a large body sallied out of Ghent, on the 23d of
September, for Harlebeck, a considerable village near to Courtray,
which they set on fire, killing the inhabitants indiscriminately,
without regard to sex or age.
The duke, on hearing this, instantly dispatched his nephew, Adolphus
of Cleves, with a handsome force of men at arms and archers, to
Courtray. On his arrival, he found every one in the utmost alarm,
although the ghent men were returned home. When the duke's army was
ready, he sent to Courtray the marshal of Burgundy as commander in
chief. Sir Anthony, the bastard, was ordered to Dendermonde,--sir Simon
and sir James de Lalain were sent to Oudenarde,--sir Anthony de Wissoc
to Alost,--and sir Adolphus of Cleves returned to the duke at Lille.
The marshal, on his arrival at Courtray, caused it to be proclaimed
throughout the flat countries, that all who were inclined to the duke's
party should carry their effects to strong places for their security,
and more especially those who were within five leagues of Ghent. The
consequence was, that the greater part withdrew with their effects to
Ghent. The marshal then ordered all the prisoners from Ghent to be
hanged. On the other hand, the ghent men showed mercy to none, nor
would they accept of any ransom, however great the sum offered, so
deadly was this warfare now become,--but more on the side of Ghent
than on that of the duke.
The marshal, learning that all the provision and wealth of the low
countries had been carried into Ghent, gave orders for all the villages
within five leagues of Ghent, and even as far as that town, to be
burnt, more particularly such as were on the roads leading to or from
it; and if the Picards and Burgundians left any undestroyed, the ghent
men burnt them, so that the greatest desolation afflicted all Flanders.
Among other acts, sir James de Lalain made an inroad to the walls of
Ghent, burnt two of their mills, and carried off to Oudenarde fifteen
waggons laden with corn, that were going to Ghent, for this time no
sally was made against him. At another time, the marshal of Burgundy
marched to Ghent, with the intent of combating the ghent men, if they
would come out, but they refused. He then returned to Poulcres, a
strong castle, took the lower court by storm, and then set it on fire,
because the garrison had retreated into the castle, which was too
strong to be then attempted, and returned to Courtray.
On the 25th of October, sir Anthony bastard of Burgundy marched from
Dendermonde, together with the garrison of Alost, which he had summoned
to join him, toward Ghent, having dispatched thirty of his best-mounted
horsemen to show themselves before the gates and endeavour to entice
the garrison to come out. The ghent men, having had intelligence of sir
Anthony's coming, were ready to sally forth, and attacked these thirty
men so hardly that they were astonished. With the ghent men were some
english adventurers, who had come thither to seek fame and wealth, and
were on horseback: the men of Ghent, in great numbers, were on foot,
and pushed forward with such speed that the bastard was surprised at
seeing them so near him. In this difficulty, he earnestly entreated his
men to dismount; but, in spite of his orders and entreaties, only two
men at arms dismounted, and three archers. I know not how it happened,
but they were panicstruck, and all fled, so that with great difficulty
the two men at arms were remounted, but the three archers were killed.
The bastard, vexed to the soul, collected twenty of his men, and
remained in the rear of his runaways, and saved them from further loss.
It is, however, possible that this flight saved all their lives; for
the ghent men, informed, as I have said, of their intent, had assembled
another body of men, who were to sally from a different gate, and
destroy all the bridges the Picards would have to repass, and thus
inclose them between the two divisions so that none could escape. Thus
did this misfortune preserve from death sir Anthony and all his men,
excepting the three archers.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 142: Harlebeck,--on the Lys, four leagues NE. from Courtray.]
CHAP. XXXIX.
THE MARSHAL OF BURGUNDY BURNS THE SMALL TOWN OF ECKELOO.--THE GHENT
MEN ARE DEFEATED BEFORE ALOST, WHICH THEY INTENDED TO BESIEGE.
The garrisons in Courtray and Oudenarde, knowing that there was a
strong company of ghent men in Eckeloo, which is a considerable
village, three leagues from Ghent, assembled under the command of the
marshal and sir James de Lalain, and marched thither in handsome array.
The ghent men no sooner saw them approach than they fled into the
wood that was hard by. All could not escape, so that upwards of forty
were left dead in the village. The place was then burnt, because the
inhabitants would not desist from carrying provisions to Ghent, nor
from ringing the alarm bell whenever they perceived any Burgundians
appear. It was for this that all the villages five leagues round
were set on fire,--and such as the Picards left, the ghent men burnt
themselves.
On the 13th of November, the ghent men, having heard that sir Anthony
de Wissoc, governor of Alost, was gone into Artois, assembled to the
amount of twenty thousand on foot, under the conduct of a few English
on horseback, and marched to lay siege to Alost. Sir Anthony the
bastard and sir Francis the Arragonian had early intelligence of this
at Dendermonde; and by orders of the bastard, sir Francis threw himself
into Alost with three hundred hardy combatants.
Soon afterward, the ghent men appeared to commence their siege; but
sir Francis, like a valiant knight, sallied forth with all he could
collect, leaving a sufficient garrison in the town, and fell on the
ghent men so vigorously that he soon threw them into disorder,--and
they wheeled about and fled toward Ghent. All were not so fortunate,
for there remained dead on the field eighteen English and seventeen
ghent men; and had it not been for night coming on so soon, many more
would have been slain.
On the ensuing Saturday, the marshal of Burgundy advanced to the gates
of Ghent, but none issued forth to combat him. On his return, twelve
picardy archers remained in his rear, with the intent of plundering
whatever they could find. Having crossed a small bridge, they saw
no one; but they had not advanced far before they perceived, right
before them, a large body of the enemy, and some English with them.
They turned about, intending to retreat, but they saw the bridge
covered with a number of peasants waiting for them. On this they took
heart, thinking it better to die honourably than be taken and hanged:
dismounting, they fastened their horses together, and then made such
good use of their bows that no ghent man was bold enough to approach
them. One of the English couched his lance, and advanced to the charge,
thinking to put them into disorder; but they instantly opened their
ranks for him to pass through, and then shot so briskly that his horse
was wounded in several places,--and he was very glad to get out of
their reach.
The Picards now blew their horns, as if their friends were within
hearing, which frightened the ghent men so much that they instantly
ran off for their town; and the twelve archers, looking toward the
bridge, saw no one, for the peasants had fled to the woods. They then
remounted their horses, and returned to their companions in safety,
having gained much honour by their defence against such numbers.
Another company of Picards made an excursion to Ghent, and took some
of the Companions of the Verde Tente, and one of their captains, whose
body was quartered, and the rest hanged.
CHAP. XL.
MENTION MADE OF DIFFERENT ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE PICARDS AND GHENT
MEN.--THE LATTER ATTEMPT TO SET FIRE TO SOME PARTS OF HAINAULT.--THEY
ARE MET BY THE PICARDS SOON AFTERWARD.
On the 2d day of December, sir Philip de Lalain, a young, bold and
enterprising knight, made an excursion to the walls of Ghent with the
garrison of Oudenarde. Two hundred men on horseback sallied forth out
of Ghent, and a combat commenced; when one of the principal townsmen
was killed at the onset, who had, a little before, taken a youth of the
duke's party prisoner, and made him his page.
The page, seeing his master dead, hastened to surrender himself to
sir Philip, and assured him that upwards of four thousand men had
sallied out at different gates to surround and make him and his party
prisoners: it therefore behoved him to secure a retreat. At this
moment, full three hundred men on horseback issued out of the gates,
on which sir Philip began to retreat, often wheeling round to skirmish
and check the enemy. Sir Philip de Lalain, his brother, having heard
of his danger, hastened out of Oudenarde, with all he could collect at
the moment, to his succour: he was then within a league of Oudenarde,
skirmishing all the time with the ghent men, who pursued him with
great caution, that their other divisions might arrive to their
support; but the Picards, noticing this, made their retreat good into
Oudenarde,--and the ghent men took up their quarters for the night at
an abbey half a league from that town, and on the morrow returned to
Ghent.
Not long afterward, the Companions of the Verde Tente, to the amount of
ten thousand, advanced into Hainault, killed many of the peasantry, and
burnt from sixteen to seventeen villages without any molestation. A few
days prior to this excursion, about fifty English marched out of Ghent
on pretence of attacking the Picards, but they went to Dendermonde and
surrendered themselves to sir Anthony, the bastard, who received them
very graciously, and enrolled them among his own men.
One of the duke's commanders, hearing that the ghent men were marching
back from Hainault, hastened toward Ghent to meet them on their
return,--and, being in great force, attacked them, and slew more than
two hundred: the rest saved themselves in Ghent, except some prisoners
the Picards had made and carried to Dendermonde.
CHAP. XLI.
THE GHENT MEN SEND A DEPUTATION TO THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES, TO MEDIATE
A PEACE.--IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY BESIEGE COURTRAY, BUT WITHOUT
SUCCESS.--THEY ARE NEAR TAKING PRISONER THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY, ON
HER ROAD TO BRUGES.
While the Companions of the Verde Tente were thus employed in the
field, the municipality of Ghent sent to entreat the count d'Estampes
to procure passports from the duke their lord, that a deputation might
wait on him respecting a peace. The count succeeded in obtaining them
passports,--and the place of conference was fixed at Bruges, whither
the duke sent some of his ministers, and the count d'Estampes as his
representative.
The ghent men sent thither a deputation, with a carthusian friar, and
an ancient knight called sir Baudouin de Bos, whom they had long kept
prisoner on account of their suspicions of his fidelity to them, he
having declared an opinion contrary to their proceedings; and they even
had him carried, with his eyes banded, to the scaffold to behead him:
he would have suffered death, had not some steady friends, by their
exertions, prevented it. These ghent commissioners behaved with the
greatest insolence and pride on their arrival at Bruges, as if they
had no way acted wrong toward their prince; and on their departure,
they received no answer. They all returned except the knight and the
Carthusian, who refused to accompany them back and remained in Bruges.
The other commissioners staid so long on their road to Ghent that
the term of their passports expired, and, falling in with a body of
Picards, they were made prisoners and carried back to Bruges: among
them were two of the greatest enemies the duke had in Ghent.
When the men of Ghent learnt that their deputies were prisoners, they
sallied forth, on the 17th of February, in great numbers, and in three
divisions. In this array they came before Courtray, the marshal of
Burgundy being then absent with the duke at Lille. There was at this
time in the town a very valiant and adventurous knight from Picardy,
called Gauvain Quieret, who, fearless of their numbers, issued out with
the few people he had, and began a sharp skirmish; but he was soon
forced to retreat into the town, as the ghent men were too many: he
could not, however, retire without the loss of two of his men at arms
and one archer. The ghent men then attacked the suburbs; but they were
so well defended that they gained nothing, except killing one man at
arms: they now returned to Ghent.
On the 2d of March following, sir Anthony, the bastard, on his advance
toward Ghent, fell in with a considerable body of the enemy, and
charged them so rapidly that he slew more than fifty, and took many
prisoners, whom he carried to Dendermonde.
On the 5th day of this same month, the duchess of Burgundy left
Lille, by orders from the duke, to go to Bruges. The ghent men soon
had intelligence of this,--and, supposing that she would travel the
strait road, they posted a strong ambuscade near that road, intending
to overpower her escort, and put those who composed it to death. The
duchess was informed of their plan, and consequently took a different
road, and arrived safely at Bruges.
Sir Simon de Lalain, governor of Sluys, hearing that the duchess was
to travel from Lille to Bruges, set out with two hundred combatants to
escort her thither, and followed the main road, ignorant of the ghent
men being there. In his company was the lord de Maldeghen, a flemish
knight, well acquainted with all the roads and passes. Happening
to ride at some little distance from the great road, he espied the
ambush of ghent men, who were watching the coming of the duchess, and
also of sir Simon, whom they had perceived. The lord de Maldeghen
instantly sounded his trumpets, as loudly as he could, that sir Simon,
on hearing them, might retire,--but he was too far advanced for this,
being already in the midst of his enemies without perceiving it. He
was sharply attacked on all sides, his banner beaten down,--and he
and his men were forced to show all their courage, to save their
lives. They exerted themselves so manfully that, with the aid of
the lord de Maldeghen, who hastened to their succour, the ghent men
were repulsed,--and they continued their march in safety to Bruges,
having only lost three or four men at arms, and from twelve to sixteen
archers, which was not much, considering how severe the attack had been.
Three or four days before this skirmish took place, the ghent men in
Poulcres burnt Englemonstier, a considerable village belonging to the
count d'Estampes, in right of his countess. They could do no harm to
the castle, for it was strong and well garrisoned. A few days after
this, the ghent men again demanded passports from the duke for twenty
commissioners to meet his ministers any where he should appoint, to
consider if they could find means to put an end to this disastrous war.
The good duke complied with their request, and fixed on Seclin[143] as
the place of conference, whither he sent the count d'Estampes as his
representative, and some of his ministers,--but nothing was done, by
reason of the insolent pride of the ghent deputies.
Not long after the return of the deputies from Seclin, a french man at
arms, who had offered his services to Ghent for gain, called Pierre
Moreau, who also was one of their captains, collected a large company,
and marched to attack Dendermonde, wherein was sir Anthony of Burgundy.
The knight, having had notice of their coming, issued out to meet them,
and, after killing several, forced them to retreat to Ghent.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 143: Seclin,--an ancient town in Flanders, four miles south
of Lille.]
[A.D. 1453.]
CHAP. XLII.
PIERRE MOREAU MAKES ANOTHER ATTACK ON DENDERMONDE.--THE GHENT MEN
INVADE HAINAULT, AND COMMIT GREAT RAVAGES THERE.
On the 3d day of April, in the year 1453, immediately after Easter,
Pierre Moreau collected a greater force than before, and made another
attempt on Dendermonde, but with no better success than formerly, and,
having lost from nine to ten of his men, returned to Ghent.
On the 14th of the same month, the ghent men made another irruption
into Hainault, with a very numerous army, as far as Tournay and
Enghien, setting fire to all the villages, and slaying every one they
met without opposition. To this they were incited, as it was said, by
the duke's not having paid his soldiers, on which account very many had
refused to serve him.
When this came to the knowledge of the duke, he issued his summons for
greater levies of men than he had raised during the war, every vassal
was summoned, and all who had been used to arms,--for he was determined
to put an end to the war,--and all were to be ready by the 15th day of
May. The artillery which the duke meant to carry with him to Flanders
was kept in the great hall of the town-house at Lille. It happened,
but it was never known how, that fire was thrown through a crack in a
tower, the cellar of which served as the magazine of powder for this
artillery; but mischief was prevented by a person going accidentally
into the cellar, and putting it out, as it was burning the hoops of a
barrel of powder. Had not this person fortunately gone thither, the
town-house, artillery, and probably the whole town would have been
destroyed.
CHAP. XLIII.
THE GHENT MEN WOULD HAVE TAKEN ALOST BY STORM, HAD IT NOT BEEN WELL
DEFENDED.--THE THREE ESTATES OF FLANDERS ARE URGENT FOR PEACE.
On the 8th day of May, upwards of fourteen thousand infantry, and two
hundred cavalry, marched out of Ghent to besiege Alost, wherein were
no more than three hundred fighting men, commanded by sir Louis de la
Viefville, as lieutenant to the governor, sir Anthony de Wissoc, who
had that day gone to Dendermonde.
Sir Louis sallied forth to meet the cavalry of Ghent, which had
advanced before the infantry: a combat ensued, when some were killed,
and the cavalry forced to fall back on their main body,--after which
the Picards retreated into the town, and the ghent men encamped before
it. When day broke, they attacked the town at four different places,
and made so severe an attempt on one of the bulwarks that six men at
arms were killed; but sir Louis hastening to its relief, he fought
so valiantly that the enemy were obliged to retire, with the loss of
twenty of their men. These attacks lasted full three hours,--and many
were killed on each side; but the ghent men found it prudent to return
to their encampment of the preceding night.
When sir Anthony de Wissoc heard of this attack at Dendermonde, he
collected about six hundred Picards, and marched to offer battle to
the ghent men; but on perceiving their superior numbers and order of
battle, he dissembled his intentions, and lodged his army near them for
the night, intending to combat them on the morrow if he should see it
advantageous for him. This same night, however, the ghent men decamped
and returned with all their baggage in safety to their town.
While these things were passing, a deputation of the three estates
of Flanders, in conjunction with those of Bruges, waited on the duke
at Lille, to request passports for certain of the ghent men to come
to him, and treat of putting an end to the war. The noble duke, from
his affection to them, granted their request; and soon after, twenty
commissioners arrived at Lille from Ghent, who laboured so earnestly
in the business that it was imagined peace must now be concluded. In
this expectation, the ambassadors returned to Ghent; but when they had
reported the preliminary terms, the commonalty refused to abide by
them, and thus was the treaty broken off.
While this negotiation was going forward, the men at arms whom the
duke had raised were doing all possible mischiefs to his country,--and
no person could venture abroad without being robbed, even to the very
gates of the principal towns; and this plague lasted for upwards of six
weeks.
CHAP. XLIV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AN ARMY INTO LUXEMBOURG AGAINST SOME
GERMANS, WHO, FROM THIONVILLE[144], WERE WASTING THAT COUNTRY.--THE
DUKE ENTERS FLANDERS WITH A LARGE FORCE, TO MAKE WAR ON GHENT.
About Easter, in this year, some Germans, who had possessed themselves
of the strong town of Thionville, overran, at different times, the
duchy of Luxembourg, which was under obedience to the duke, and all
its towns, excepting this town of Thionville. These Germans continuing
their incessant inroads, the duke was constrained to send thither the
lord de Rubempré, a Picard, with one hundred men at arms and four
hundred archers: but he found the enemy in such strength that he was
unable to oppose them. The duke, although hard pressed to find men to
carry on his war against Ghent, was forced to send reinforcements into
Luxembourg. He therefore ordered thither the lord de Croy, his first
chamberlain, and governor of Luxembourg, with one hundred lances and
eight hundred archers, whose principal captains were the lord of Hames,
the lord of Mareuil, the lord of Dommarcq[145], and others.
The ghent men, on the other hand, did not cease from carrying fire
and sword into Hainault and the defenceless parts of Flanders. On the
15th day of June, they advanced toward Ath[146], to burn that part of
the country; but sir John de Croy lord of Chimay, having had early
notice of their intentions, defeated them completely, killing three
hundred, and taking numbers of prisoners, whom he carried off without
molestation.
The duke of Burgundy marched from Lille on the 20th day of June, with
a most numerous army to Courtray: he had a large train of artillery,
and plenty of pioneers to open the woods and clear the roads, and
numbers of carpenters to construct warlike engines. These pioneers and
carpenters had been sent thither at the expense of the countries under
the duke's obedience.
The principal nobles in this army were the count d'Estampes, sir James
de St Pol, brother to the count de St Pol, who was then employed by the
king of France in the Bordelois against the English. The marshal of
Burgundy was also with the duke, having with him three hundred men at
arms, whom he had brought from Burgundy, and many other great lords and
esquires from the territories of the duke.
The duke marched his whole army from Oudenarde the 25th day of June, to
besiege the castle of Helsebecque, and a strong monastery hard by. The
monastery was instantly won by storm, and thirty-two ghent men taken
within it, whom the duke caused to be hanged. The castle surrendered
unconditionally the second day afterward, when about one hundred and
fifty men, that were made prisoners, suffered a similar fate, by
command of the duke.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 144: Thionville,--a strong town of Luxembourg on the Moselle,
12 leagues from Treves.]
[Footnote 145: Dommarcq.----DU CANGE, Dormnast.]
[Footnote 146: Ath,--a town in Hainault, nine miles north-west of
Mons.]
CHAP. XLV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TAKES THE CASTLE OF POULCRES,--BUT THAT FLOWER
OF CHIVALRY SIR JAMES DE LALAIN IS SLAIN BEFORE IT.--HE BESIEGES THE
CASTLE OF GAVERE[147], TAKES IT, AND HANGS ALL WITHIN, BEFORE THE
GHENT MEN ADVANCE TO OFFER HIM BATTLE,--THEY ARE DEFEATED.
After the capture of the castle of Helsebecque, the duke advanced
to besiege the castle of Poulcres, which the ghent men obstinately
defended. It happened, that during the time the artillery men were
pointing a bombard against the wall, in the presence of sir James de
Lalain and other lords, sir James was hit on the head by a stone from
a veuglaire in the castle, which carried away part of his skull, and
he fell down dead. It was a great loss, for he was renowned as not
having his equal in all France,--witness his many deeds of chivalry
in Scotland, Spain, and in other parts, where he had displayed his
gallantry. He was also the most modest, the most prudent, most
courteous, and most liberal of mankind, fearing and serving God
above all things. He was but thirty-two years of age when death so
unfortunately seized him; and this same shot from the veuglaire killed
also a man at arms and four archers.
The duke of Burgundy was very much affected by the death of sir
James, for he loved him more than any other of his household for his
numberless virtues, and had the place attacked with such violence
that the garrison were forced to submit to his will. He had the whole
hanged, excepting five or six, one of whom was a leper, and the rest
boys. He then had the place razed to the ground, and the body of sir
James de Lalain most honourably interred at his church of Lalain[148].
After the surrender of Poulcres, the duke returned to Courtray, and
left his army to live on the country, where the men at arms did
innumerable mischiefs; for he had not money sufficient to pay them
until his revenues were paid, and he had borrowed as much as he could
from the rich merchants and burghers of his territories, the war
having totally exhausted his treasury. He resided at Courtray twelve
days,--and during that time his finances were recruited, and he paid
his army one month in advance; so that, on the 16th day of July, he
departed from Courtray to besiege the castle of Gaveren, which was
strongly fortified and held by the ghent men. It is situated between
Ghent and Oudenarde.
In marching thither, he formed his army into three battalions. The
marshal of Burgundy, as commander in chief, sir Anthony the bastard,
the lord de Chimay bailiff of Hainault, with a numerous company of men
at arms and archers, led the van. In the center was the duke, the most
fearless, courageous, and gallant of men: with him were his son the
count de Charolois, the count d'Estampes, sir Adolphus of Cleves, and
almost all the knights and esquires of Picardy. In the rear division
were sir James de St Pol, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, and the whole
chivalry of the Boulonois.
This army was in truth very strong; and there was need that it should
be so, for the men of Ghent had boasted, that this time, they would
fairly meet the duke in battle. When they learnt that the duke intended
to besiege Gaveren, they sent thither an Englishman, called John de
Voz, a very able man at arms, with sixteen others, and swore to him, on
his departure, that the duke should not remain four-and-twenty hours
unfought with. Nevertheless, the duke's army posted themselves around
the place,--and the batteries were erected without any molestation.
There was at this time in the place a trumpeter, who had formerly
served one of the lords in the duke's army, but had turned to the ghent
men: he mounted the highest rampart,--and, having sounded his trumpet
as loudly as he could, he abused the duke in the grossest manner,
calling him a tyrant, and threatening him that the men of Ghent would
soon lower his pride. The duke, when told of this, like a good prince,
laughed at it, and turned the trumpeter's folly into ridicule.
Although the place was unfavourably situated for the batteries to
have their full effect, they alarmed the garrison so much that they
offered to surrender on having their lives spared, seeing also that
the ghent men did not fulfil their promises when they left that town;
but the duke refused their offer. When the Englishman heard this, and
found that the men of Ghent had deceived him, it is said that he had a
communication with some of the English in the duke's army, and promised
to deliver up to them one of the towers of the castle; but this he
could not accomplish,--for the ghent men had no confidence in him, nor
in any of the English. A vessel happened to be lying in the river, near
to the castle, and during the night John de Voz, and fourteen others,
embarked on board and went to Ghent.
When those in Gaveren saw the next morning that their captain had
deserted them, they abandoned all hope of succour, and surrendered
themselves to the duke's will before twelve of the clock. His will
was that they should be all hanged or strangled, together with two
cordelier friars that were in the place, and the trumpeter who had
abused the duke.
John de Voz and his companions, on their arrival in Ghent, remonstrated
sharply with the leaders in the town, how greatly they had deceived
those in Gaveren, and how weakly they had acted; for they never would
again have so favourable an opportunity of combating the duke, since
he had not now with him more than four thousand fighting men, the rest
having disbanded from want of pay; and he concluded by exhorting them
strongly to sally forth and offer the duke battle.
In the mean time, sir John de Hout, an Englishman, who had surrendered
himself to sir Anthony the bastard, as I have mentioned, had a secret
communication with the duke, on the means of enticing the ghent men out
of their town, for he was extremely anxious to meet their whole force
in the field. Soon afterward, John de Hout returned to Ghent, under
pretence of repenting of his having left them, and told them that the
duke's army was daily wasting away from default of payment. The men of
Ghent, however, doubting his fidelity, ordered him to prison, lest he
should betray them: he was there confined until John de Voz had pressed
them so earnestly to attack the duke, with their whole force, when
they released him and made him one of their captains. They commanded
all the gates to be kept closed, that no one might carry to the duke
information of their intentions, and gave orders that every person
capable of bearing arms should provide himself, and appear properly
armed and accoutred, under pain of death. It was necessary for all to
obey this order, or suffer the consequences; but many did obey very
much against their will.
They mustered upward of four-and-twenty thousand men under arms,
and appointed as leaders the said English and their companions, who
amounted to full two hundred on horseback. When they saw their numbers,
and that all was ready, they issued out of Ghent to combat their lord.
Three days before this event, the good duke expecting daily an attack
from Ghent, and desirous that his son the count de Charolois might
not be present at the battle, on account of the dangers that are
incident to such affairs, gave him to understand that the duchess was
dangerously ill at Lille, and that he would do well to go thither and
see how she was. The count, like a good son, hastened to Lille, but
found the duchess recovered, and in good health. He then knew that the
reason why the duke had sent him on this errand was to prevent him
from being present at the battle. He told his attendants that it was
absolutely necessary he should be present to aid his father, for that
he was fighting to preserve his inheritance,--and, said he, 'I vow
to God that I will be there, if possible.' When the duchess heard of
this vow, she tried all she could to detain him, but in vain, for he
instantly set off and joined the duke before Gaveren.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 147: Gavere,--Gaveren, a town on the Scheld, seven miles from
Ghent.]
[Footnote 148: Lalain,--a village in Flanders, near Bouchain.]
CHAP. XLVI.
THE BATTLE OF GAVEREN, WHERE THE GHENT MEN ARE COMPLETELY DEFEATED,
WITH THE LOSS OF UPWARD OF TWENTY THOUSAND MEN SLAIN AND DROWNED.
On the same day the castle of Gaveren was yielded up, and when all
the garrison were not yet hanged, news was brought to the duke while
sitting at dinner, that the ghent men were in full march to offer him
battle. The duke ordered the trumpets to sound to horse, and the army
was drawn up in three battalions as before. When it was done, the duke
rode from one battalion to another to show himself, and to encourage
his men, telling them, that if it pleased God, they should all that day
be made rich.
The army now moved, the three battalions near to each other, when sir
James de St Pol and many others from Burgundy, Picardy, and other
territories of the duke, were knighted, and several that day displayed
their banners for the first time. This mortal battle took place on the
22nd day of July, in the year 1453.
The duke had scarcely advanced before the van perceived the ghent men
drawn up in battle-array, with their culverins and other artillery
placed in their front. This manœuvre alarmed the marshal of Burgundy,
who commanded the van, lest too many of his men should suffer at the
onset; and he ordered his division to retire a little, which the ghent
men mistaking for an intention to fly, hastened forward leaving their
artillery in the rear.
John de Voz and John de Hout, with their english companions led them
on, but soon, sticking spurs into their horses, galloped to surrender
themselves to the duke, saying, 'My lord, here are the ghent men, whom
we have brought to you, and we leave them to your mercy.' The archers
now shot fiercely on the ghent men, who defended themselves for a time
very valiantly; but no sooner did the three battalions of the duke make
a uniform charge than their ranks were broken, and they instantly fled
for Ghent.
The duke's army pursued them closely, and it was marvellous the numbers
they slew. It chanced that a division of the ghent men, to the number
of fourteen or fifteen hundred, had retreated into a meadow under cover
of a coppice, where they regained courage and put themselves on their
defence. This meadow was surrounded with ditches, so that neither the
duke nor his men at arms could enter it by reason of their depth. Among
those with the duke was a man at arms from Bruges, who thrice leaped
the ditch to skirmish with those in the field; but at the third leap,
his horse fell dead under him, from the severe blows received from the
enemy's pikes.
The duke had not any archers with him, for they had all dismounted, and
could not easily overtake the runaways on horseback, to put them to
death; for the duke hated them mortally, and was more vexed than can
be imagined to see those who had leaped the ditches forced back again
by the resistance they met with. Then this valiant prince, seizing his
lance from the page who bore it by his side, raging like a lion, made
his horse leap the ditch, and charged the thickest of the ghent men.
He was followed by many men at arms,--and in the number was Bertrandon
de la Brocquiere, who bore his pennon. The duke's horse was so badly
wounded in several places that he was obliged to leap back again over
the ditch and wait the return of the archers. On their arrival, he
again crossed the ditch, followed by his son the count of Charolois,
and numbers of others, who charged the ghent men so courageously that
they were defeated, and all found in the meadow were slain. It was
difficult for them to escape, as it was surrounded by ditches on three
sides, and by the Scheld on the other: many leaped into the river, and
were drowned,--but a few of the most active and lighter armed made
such good use of their legs that they saved themselves in Ghent. It
is certain, that had the duke marched thither instantly, he must have
entered without opposition, so much were those in the town frightened
and cast down,--but his guides were unacquainted with the roads.
When the battle was over, some few escaped into Ghent; and the duke,
having recalled his men, lay that night on the field of battle in
his tent,--where, casting himself on his knees, he offered his
thanksgivings to God for the great and decisive victory he had that day
given him over his bitterest enemies.
Upward of twenty thousand of the ghent men lost their lives this day,
by the sword or by drowning. The bastard de Blanc-Estain, however,
saved himself by swimming across the Scheld. On the side of the duke,
not more than sixteen men were killed from the commencement of the
battle!
CHAP. XLVII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, MOVED BY PITY, SENDS HIS HERALD TO GHENT TO KNOW
IF THE TOWNSMEN WOULD SUBMIT TO HIS WILL, AND HE WOULD HAVE COMPASSION
ON THEM.--THE MEN OF GHENT SEND HIM A DEPUTATION TO BEG HIS MERCY.
On the morrow after the defeat of the ghent men, the noble duke, moved
by compassion, and his own virtuous nature, for his poor subjects,
who, through pride and insolence, had rebelled against him, sent his
herald, clad in his coat of arms, with letters to Ghent, signifying,
that notwithstanding the victory which God had given him the preceding
day, he would show them mercy if they would submit to his will, and had
transmitted them passports for a deputation to come to him, should they
be so inclined, to arrange articles for a general peace.
The ghent men were very sensible of the duke's kindness in thus
graciously recalling them to his affection, and of the mildness of
the expressions in his letter. They handsomely feasted the herald;
and on the letter being publicly read, the whole town were unanimous
for begging pardon of their lord, and, without further delay, sent a
deputation back with the herald.
On their appearing before the duke, they, with the utmost humility,
requested pardon for their offences, and besought him that he would
have the goodness to restore them to his favour, offering, at the
same time, to submit themselves and their town to his will. They also
requested that he would retire to Gaveren, and dismiss his men at arms,
and they would there wait on him to hear and do his will.
The good duke granted their requests; but, on returning to Gaveren,
over the field of the late battle, he was so shocked at the multitudes
of dead bodies that he wept bitterly, as it was said. As he saw
several women searching for the bodies of their friends, to bury them,
he caused proclamation to be made, that no one should molest them,
whatever might be his rank, under pain of death.
On the 25th day of July, the abbot of St Bavon, in Ghent, the prior
of the Carthusians, and many persons of note, waited on the duke at
Gaveren, and, falling on their knees, begged mercy for the inhabitants
of Ghent, who offered to surrender every thing up to him, saving their
lives. The duke replied, that, from love to God, he pardoned all their
misdeeds, provided they would agree to the preliminaries proposed at
Seclin, and concluded at Lille by the three estates of Flanders and the
burghers of Bruges. They promised, in the name of their townsmen, to
abide wholly by this treaty, and most humbly thanked the duke for his
great benignity and kindness.
CHAP. XLVIII.
HERE FOLLOW THE ARTICLES OF THE TREATY BETWEEN PHILIP THE GOOD, AND
THE TOWN OF GHENT.
The treaty of Ghent consisted of the following articles. In the first
place, the inhabitants of Ghent, to the number of two thousand men,
shall come out, to the distance of one league from that town, to
wherever their prince may appoint, barefooted and bareheaded, to beg
his mercy. They were to be headed by all the counsellors, sheriffs,
and hoguemans of the town, naked, excepting their shirts and small
clothes. They were to fall on their knees before the duke, his son, or
any other person whom the duke should please to send thither as his
representative, saying,--that that they had wickedly and traitorously
rebelled against him in arms,--that they had insolently contemned him,
and begged his pardon for all their evil deeds.
Item, on every Thursday throughout the year, the gate leading to
Oudenarde shall be closed, because it was through that gate they
marched to besiege Oudenarde, and that it may remind them thereof.
Item, the gate leading toward Rupelmonde shall be closed for ever, in
remembrance of their having issued out of it to offer battle to their
lord at Rupelmonde.
Item, they shall pay to the duke, for the losses he may have sustained
by this war, two hundred thousand riddes of gold, seventy to the marc.
Item, they shall pay for the restoration of the countries which have
been burnt, whatever sums the three estates of Flanders shall determine
on; but if the three estates shall decline this arbitration the sum
shall be fixed at one hundred thousand riddes.
Item, for the reparation of churches destroyed, they shall pay fifty
thousand riddes.
Item, in recompense for the revenue of the prince's domain in Flanders,
which has been unpaid by reason of the war, such an imposition shall be
laid as the three estates of Flanders shall determine.
Item, there shall be a complete reformation of the laws of Ghent, in
the form and manner that has been lately proposed by the ambassadors
from king Charles of France, namely, that the commonalty shall elect
four magistrates, and the duke, or his officers four others,--and these
shall select twenty-six sheriffs before they quit the chamber in which
they have been assembled for this purpose.
Item, in regard to the burghers, they will act toward them according to
their privileges, without paying attention to the customs or usages of
former times.
Item, no one in future shall be banished Ghent without an appeal first
had to the bailiff, nor without the cause of his banishment being
declared.
Item, they shall no longer issue ordinances or edicts without the
knowledge and consent of their lord,--and such as may have been thus
issued shall be declared null and void.
Item, the officers of the prince shall no longer acknowledge any
obedience to the magistrates in respect to their official capacities.
Item, they shall no longer, in their writings or proclamations, sign
themselves lords of Ghent, but give them such title as the magistrates
of other towns use.
Item, they shall not in future take any cognizance of the crimes of
foreign merchants,--but they shall be decided on by the judges of the
places wherein such merchants shall reside.
Item, they shall deliver up all their banners to their lord, for him to
do with them as he may please,--and they shall not hereafter make any
others in their stead.
Item, white hoods shall no more be worn,--and whoever wears them shall
be punished according to the will of their lord.
Item, they shall have no cognizance of any law-causes that may arise
in the country of Waes, or in the respective towns of Biervlict[149],
Dendermonde, Oudenarde, Courtray or Alost,--but these shall be tried in
those places where they have had their origin.
Item, they shall be bounden to keep all the articles of a former
treaty concluded by them in the presence of the bishop of Tournay, and
others of the great council of the duke.
All these articles, having been declared in the presence of the duke,
his son, and great numbers of the nobility, were sworn to, and promised
to be observed by the magistrates and commonalty of Ghent, and some
notaries called in to witness the act. The deputation then returned to
Ghent with the treaty, which, when read to the public, was so joyfully
accepted that it astonished every one: they lighted bonfires in all
the streets, and gave permission for such of the duke's men as pleased
to enter the town, and entertained those who accepted of it most
handsomely.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 149: Biervlict,--a town on the west side of the Scheld, 20
miles from Ghent.]
CHAP. XLIX.
THE MANNER IN WHICH THE GHENT MEN HUMBLE THEMSELVES TO THEIR LORD, THE
DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
On the last day of July, the noble duke of Burgundy departed from
Gaveren, with his whole army, in handsome array, as if marching to
battle, and thus advanced until within a league of Ghent. He then drew
up his archers in ranks, as two wings, with bended bows, and they
extended full half a league: the men at arms were on the rear of the
archers, in close order, so that it was a handsome sight to view. In
the center was the duke, mounted on the same horse he had rode on the
day of battle, which was apparent from the many wounds plaistered over,
that he had received in the meadow, when he himself, his son, and other
knights, attacked the body of ghent men.
At this time, the men of Ghent issued out of their town, in numbers and
dress conformable to the terms of the treaty, led by the abbot of St
Bavon and the prior of the Carthusians, and followed by the twenty-five
sheriffs, counsellors, and hoguemans, naked to their shirts and under
garments, and bareheaded. Then came two thousand of the burghers
dressed, but barefooted, without girdles, and without hoods, and thus
passed through the line of archers. When they came within sight of the
duke, they all fell on their knees, and cried with a loud voice, 'Have
mercy on the town of Ghent!'
The chancellor of Burgundy now advanced toward them, and remonstrated
sharply on their rebellious and wicked conduct, in opposing their legal
lord, and taking up arms against him; adding, that their wickedness
had been so enormous that he was doubtful whether their prince would
pardon them. On hearing this, they again fell on their knees, and
repeated their cries of 'Mercy on the town of Ghent!' They then rose,
and proceeded until they came in front of the duke, who was on his
war-horse, magnificently dressed, when, falling on their knees, most
humbly, and with many tears, they besought him to have compassion on
them, and forgive them their evil deeds.
The town-council now approached the duke, and, in the name of the whole
town, supplicated his pity and benign grace that he would pardon his
subjects of Ghent, now prostrate before him, although they had wickedly
rebelled against him, elected hoguemans, and done numberless wicked
acts, of which they now repented, and promised that if he would, in his
mercy, receive them into favour, the like should never again happen,
and that henceforward they would remain the most loyal and faithful of
his subjects.
At the conclusion of this speech, the duke, and his son the count de
Charolois, there present, pardoned them their evil deeds. The men
of Ghent returned to their town more happy and rejoiced than can be
expressed; and the duke departed for Lille, having disbanded his army
that every one might return to their several homes.
CHAP. L.
WHILE THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY IS CARRYING ON HIS WARFARE AGAINST THE
GHENT MEN, THE LORD DE CROY IS VERY ACTIVE IN OPPOSING THE GERMANS IN
THE DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, WHERE THEY HAD DONE MUCH MISCHIEF.
I have before mentioned, that while the duke of Burgundy was engaged
in his war on Ghent, he had sent the lord de Croy to the duchy of
Luxembourg to oppose the Germans, who were making frequent inroads on
that duchy, and had gained possession of places that appertained to the
duke.
The Germans, whenever they intended any inroad, amounted from eight to
nine hundred men; and their main garrison was in Thionville, a small
but very strong town. The lord de Croy, with the aid of those under
the obedience of the duke, conducted himself with such prudence and
courage that he regained all the places the Germans had conquered. He
had frequent encounters with them, in which several were killed on both
sides. In short, he pressed them so hard that they demanded a truce for
ten months, offering to leave the country unmolested during that term,
and also to surrender Thionville to the duke, unless in the interim
they should conquer him or his troops in open battle. This was agreed
to by the duke, and the truce signed to continue until Ascension-day,
in the year 1454. War therefore ceased in that country, and the army
under the lord de Croy was disbanded.
CHAP. LI.
KING CHARLES OF FRANCE CONQUERS BORDEAUX AND THE BORDELOIS A SECOND
TIME.
During the time of the war in Flanders, the king of France was with a
large army in the Bordelois, which the English had lately reconquered.
The commander of the English was a most valiant knight and long
renowned in arms, called sir John Talbot earl of Shrewsbury, who had
made war on France upward of twenty-four years. He had been the king's
prisoner when he regained Rouen; and out of his generosity, and respect
for such valour, the king had remitted his ransom. The king also made
him very rich presents in gold, silver, and horses, when he learnt that
Talbot intended visiting Rome in the jubilee year, namely, 1450.
Nevertheless, on his return from Rome to England, he again engaged in
war, and found means to recover from the king of France the city of
Bordeaux, which had shown him such honour, and the country round. It
was indeed commonly reported at the time, that the inhabitants of the
Bordelois most willingly surrendered to the English from their disgust
at king Charles, who, since his conquest, had imposed upon them heavier
taxes, and that his officers had treated them with more harshness than
they had been accustomed to when under the government of the English.
CHAP. LII.
POPE NICHOLAS NOTIFIES TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY A CRUSADE AGAINST THE
TURKS.--THE DUKE VOWS TO UNDERTAKE AN EXPEDITION TO TURKEY, ON CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.
On the eve of Martinmas-day in this year, a knight sent by pope
Nicholas arrived at Lille, with letters addressed to the duke,
containing intelligence that the grand Turk, with a numerous army
of Saracens, had invaded Christendom; that he had already conquered
the noble city of Constantinople, and almost all Greece; that he
had captured the emperor of Greece, had caused him to be inhumanly
beheaded, had violated the empress, and had dragged through the
streets of Constantinople the precious body of our Lord, had burnt the
magnificent church of St Sophia, and murdered men, women, and children
of the Christians without number, and was daily adding to his conquests
in Christendom.
For these causes the holy father required of the duke, whom he knew
to be a pious and catholic prince, as well as the most puissant in
Christendom, that he would make dispositions to afford succour to his
distressed brethren, and to oppose the enemy of the faith. When the
duke had read this letter from the pope, the knight presented him
with others that the Turk had written and sent to our holy father.
After the perusal of all these letters, the duke grandly feasted the
knight who had brought them, at the same time giving him many rich
presents, and saying that, should it please God, he would speedily
afford good assistance to the Christians against the Turk. In fact, he
soon afterwards dispatched four galleys well filled with men at arms,
artillery and stores, as a beginning of what he intended, writing, at
the same time, to the pope an answer to his letter, explanatory of his
future intentions.
Shortly after the departure of the knight, the duke of Cleves came
to Lille on a visit to his uncle duke Philip of Burgundy, and staid
until the beginning of Lent. Many great feasts and banquets were
given alternately by the different great lords, which were begun by
the count d'Estampes with a very handsome one, that was marvellously
well supplied with every delicacy. At the end of the banquet, a most
beautiful young girl, well accompanied, entered the hall, bearing a
chaplet of flowers, when, mounting the table, she gracefully placed it
on the head of duke Philip, who received it with joy. This ceremony of
the chaplet signified that he was to give the next entertainment, which
he did most magnificently, about twelve days after, in the manner I
shall now describe.
About one hour after midday, a knight, sprung from the race of the
celebrated knights of the Swan, issued out of the duke's palace
brilliantly armed. This was sir Adolphus of Cleves, nephew to the duke,
who held a justing in the market-place of Lille, that day, against all
comers, with one course of a lance. He was preceded by the figure of a
swan as large as a horse, having on his neck a chain of fine gold, with
which he led the knight: on each side of the swan was a savage,--and
the knight was surrounded by little angels. The knight was immediately
followed by the duke, so sumptuously dressed it was delightful to see
him. When they had escorted the knight to the market-place, he tilted
with all that chose to encounter with him, namely, Charles count de
Charolois, Louis count de Saint Pol, his brother the lord de Fiennes,
sir Anthony bastard of Burgundy, and many more.
After the justing, the company returned to the duke's palace, and he
escorted thither himself those ladies and damsels who had been present
at the tilt: the principal of whom were the lady Isabella of Portugal,
the duchess, and the lady Isabella of Bourbon, niece to the duke, the
lady of Ravestein, and numbers of others most richly dressed.
The banquet was quite ready on their return; and when the company were
seated, three large carriages, splendidly ornamented, descended from
the ceiling, full of every delicacy in meats and liquors: each carriage
contained a service. In front of the upper table was a fountain playing
water; and in the middle of the hall was a live lion, before whom a
man was beating a little dog,--and near the lion, in an arbour, was
a savage. In another part of the hall was the figure of a damsel,
from whose breasts spouted hippocras in great abundance: beside the
damsel was an infant that pissed rose water. There were so many other
pageants it would be tiresome to mention them all. Opposite to the
duke's table was a representation of a church, whence issued a friar
seated on a dromedary, led by a living giant. The friar addressed
his speech to the duke, remonstrating, in eloquent language, how the
church was daily losing its inheritances, and Christendom trampled
under foot by the enemies of the faith. He called to his remembrance
the valour of deceased princes: how in their time they had, by their
courage, supported and defended the church. As he was thus littering
his complaints, in the name of the holy church, Golden Fleece, the
duke's herald of the order, entered with a pheasant finely roasted
and adorned, and presented it to the duke as an _entremets_, saying
such a dish was appropriate to making vows. The duke replied, that
he was right; and in the presence of the whole company vowed to GOD
the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the blessed Holy Ghost, three
persons in one GOD, to the glorious Virgin Mary, mother of GOD, and
the whole court of paradise, that if the king of France would engage,
during his absence, to maintain his estates in tranquility, he would,
himself, march his whole army into Turkey, and combat army with army,
or personally, with the grand Turk, until death, at the choice of the
Turk. The company before they heard this vow had been all joy, but they
now began to weep and groan.
The pheasant was presented to each of the great lords present, who all
made vows to the same effect, but under different conditions. To relate
the whole would take up too much time,--so I shall pass them over, and
say, that the banquet was succeeded by dancings and mummeries, after
which every one retired to his home[150].
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 150: For further particulars of this banquet, I refer the
reader to a note in the Travels of Bertrandon de la Brocquiere.]
CHAP. LIII.
CHARLES COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, SON TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, IS BETROTHED
TO HIS COUSIN-GERMAN THE LADY ISABELLA OF BOURBON.--THE DUKE GOES
INTO GERMANY,--AND SOON AFTER HIS RETURN, THE COUNT MARRIES HIS
COUSIN-GERMAN.
About eight days after this banquet, and in the first week of March, in
the same year, the count de Charolois was betrothed, by order of his
father the duke of Burgundy, to his cousin-german the lady Isabella of
Bourbon, daughter to the duke of Bourbon,--and the duke sent to Rome
for the dispensations necessary for their marriage. After this, he
dismissed his household for twelve months, as he intended to remain so
long in Germany.
On the 15th of March, the duke left Lille privately attended, and
passed through Burgundy on his road to Germany, where he was to meet
the Emperor Frederic and other princes of Germany, to learn whether
they would join him in a war against the Turk, or suffer his army to
pass through their territories without molestation or hinderance.
He was grandly feasted by many of the german princes,--but the
emperor, who loved ease more than exertion, and preferred peace to
war, pretended to be ill, and sent word to the duke that it would
not be worth his while to proceed farther in the country, giving him
hopes that at the end of six months he would meet him to conclude the
business he was so urgent upon. The duke was now forced to abandon his
expedition,--and he returned to his country of Burgundy, where he staid
some time.
CHAP. LIV.
THE KING OF FRANCE GOES TO HIS CASTLE OF LUSIGNAN.--THE EARL OF
SHREWSBURY TAKES FRONSAC.--THE FRENCH BESIEGE CHASTILLON.--LORD
SHREWSBURY ASSEMBLES A LARGE FORCE TO RAISE THIS SIEGE.--HE IS THERE
SLAIN.
In this same year of 1454, the king of France left Tours, and fixed
his residence at the castle of Lusignan; and in the mean time, lord
Shrewsbury laid siege to the castle of Fronsac. The governor for king
Charles was Joachim Rohault, who was forced to surrender to the English
because the king's army was not ready,--but the garrison marched away
with arms and baggage.
On the 2d of June, the king departed from Lusignan for St Jean
d'Angely[151]; and on the 7th, Challais[152] was besieged by sir
John de Chabannes grand master of the king's household, the count de
Penthievre, the lords de St Severe and de Boussac. On the 18th, it was
won by storm by the above lords and their men, amounting to four or
five hundred lances, archers, and some franc archers, although eight
score[153] combatants were there in garrison. From sixty to eighty
were killed, and the rest retreated to a tower, wherein they held
out for a time expecting to be relieved; but as no succours came,
they surrendered to the king's pleasure: in consequence, they were
all beheaded for having broken their oaths of allegiance. The lord
d'Anglades had indeed left Bordeaux for their relief,--but when he
heard what had passed, he returned back as speedily as he could.
The French laid siege to Châtillon in Perigord, the 13th day of July:
it is situated on the river Dordogne, and was occupied by the English.
The lords de Lohéac and de Jalognes, marshals of France, were ordered
to conduct the siege, having with them many great barons, knights and
esquires, and from sixteen to eighteen hundred men at arms and archers.
In the above number are included the men at arms of the count du Maine,
under the command of sir Pierre de Beauveau lord de la Bessiere: those
of the count de Nevers, commanded by sir Ferry de Grancey: those of
the count de Castres, son to the lord de la Marche, under sir Louis du
Puy, seneschal of la Marche, Guillaume de Lusac and Jean de Messignac:
those of the duke of Brittany having for chief his nephew the count
d'Estampes, but commanded by the lord de la Hunodaie and the lord de
Montauban, because the count d'Estampes had remained with the king. The
royal artillery, both small and great, was also sent thither, under
the direction of master John Bureau and his brother Jasper Bureau,
master of the artillery. They had with them seven hundred labourers,
to work the guns and bombards. The two brothers first ordered the park
of artillery to be strongly surrounded with ditches, and made secure
against the enemy, before they attended to the siege.
The earl of Shrewsbury, hearing of this, hastily set off from
Bordeaux, with eight hundred or a thousand horse, attended by his son
lord Lisle, the lord Molyns, and many others, the most valiant of the
english captains, as well lords as knights and esquires, from the
Bordelois and from England. He was followed by four or six thousand
English on foot. The earl and his companions arrived at the siege
on the 17th of July, about day-break; and when the French saw him
advancing, they retreated into the field wherein the artillery had been
placed, and which had been fortified with ditches,--but he fell in with
some of the franc archers, who had been unable to effect their retreat,
and killed from one hundred to six score of them.
The French made great exertions to retire within the inclosure, for the
English were advancing fast on them, thinking that they were flying,
having abandoned their siege. The earl, in the mean time, as he was
waiting for the infantry, had a pipe of wine set on its end, and drawn
off to refresh his men. The French had now nearly all gained the park,
and were forming in handsome order: the cannoneers had also brought
their guns to the ditches, and pointed them against the English.
Those in Châtillon had found means to send information to lord
Shrewsbury at Bordeaux, that if he would hastily march to their
relief, the French would fly: he was therefore exceedingly surprised,
on his arrival, to see the manner in which the French had intrenched
themselves, and how well they had posted their artillery. The
commanders to oppose the English were the lords marshals, the grand
master of the household, the count de Penthievre, the seneschal of
Poitou, the lord de la Bessiere, sir John Bureau, and others having the
conduct of the siege, besides several great lords who had taken the
field against the king's enemies.
Lord Shrewsbury and his companions advanced boldly to the barriers,
thinking to force an entrance into the park; but he found there such
valiant opposers, who seemed eager to display their courage, as
astonished him, after the intelligence he had received from those
in Châtillon. The earl was mounted on a small hackney, and did not
dismount on account of his age[154]; but he ordered all others so to
do. The English had eight banners displayed, namely, that of the king
of England, of St George, of the Trinity, of the earl of Shrewsbury,
and others, with the standards of the nobility skilfully arranged.
The attack commenced with great valour, and each party fought manfully,
so that the business lasted a full hour,--at the end of which, the men
at arms of the duke of Brittany, under the command of the lords de
Montauban and de la Hunodaie, were sent for to relieve the French who
had been thus long engaged at the barriers. On their arrival, by the
aid of God and their own prowess, the English were forced to turn their
backs, and were beaten down, with all their banners, by these Bretons.
The artillery played so well that the English were constrained to fly,
but not without numbers being left dead on the spot. The hackney of
lord Shrewsbury was struck down by a culverin-ball, and he was put to
death by the French, as he lay under him[155].
Among the slain were the lord l'Isle, sir Hedoual Haul, Thomas Aurigan,
the lord de Pingulan, a gascon knight, and thirty of the most valiant
knights, as it was said, from England. Lord Molyns was made prisoner.
As the French were much fatigued, and on foot, they could not pursue
the enemy, so that numbers of English and Gascons escaped; and about
eight hundred or a thousand retreated into Châtillon, among whom
were the count de Candale, son to the captal de Buch, the lords de
Montferrant, de Rosem, and d'Anglades: the lord de l'Esparre escaped
also, who had been the principal author of this rebellion. Those who
could not enter the town fled by land or water,--but in regard to the
last, they were mostly all drowned.
The count de Penthievre, the bailiff of Touraine, and several French,
having at length mounted their horses, pursued the runaways as far
as the walls of St Emilion[157], killing all they could overtake.
When the French were recovered from their fatigues, they buried the
dead, consisting of four or five hundred on the side of the English.
On the morrow, the french marshals ordered all their artillery to be
brought to bear on the walls of Châtillon, to rejoice those within
it; but when the townsmen saw these vast preparations, they began to
humble themselves, and to lower the pride with which they were filled,
by surrendering themselves to the king's will; they were estimated
at fifteen hundred combatants: and the chief lords were constituted
prisoners to the king.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 151: St Jean d'Angely,--an ancient town in Saintonge, 38
leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 152: Challais,--in Saintonge near Saintes.]
[Footnote 153: Eight score,--probably eight hundred.]
[Footnote 154: His age. He was then 86 or 87 years old.]
[Footnote 155: 'He fell gloriously, together with his gallant son the
lord l'Isle, who, though entreated to escape by the dying hero, chose
to share his father's fate rather than quit the field[156].'
_Andrews' Hist. of Great Britain_, A.D. 1453, 4, 5.]
[Footnote 156: 'The herald of this glorious veteran sought out the body
amongst the heaps of slain, wept over it, and embraced it with these
pathetic words: 'Alas! my lord, and is it you? I pray God pardon all
your misdoings! I have been your officer of arms 40 years and more: it
is time that I should surrender to you the ensigns of my office.'--Thus
saying, with the tears gushing from his eyes, he threw his coat of arms
over the corpse, thus performing one of the ancient rites of sepulture.'
_Registre de Wyrkson_, apud _Anstis_.]
[Footnote 157: St Emilion,--on the Dordogne, near Libourne, six leagues
from Bordeaux.]
CHAP. LV.
AFTER THE REDUCTION OF CHÂTILLON, THE FRENCH TAKE ST EMILION AND
LIBOURNE.--THE KING JOINS HIS ARMY BEFORE BORDEAUX, IN WHICH WERE
GREAT NUMBERS OF ENGLISH.--THAT TOWN SURRENDERS ON CAPITULATION.
After the surrender of Châtillon, the french commanders marched the
army and artillery to St Emilion, the garrison of which instantly
submitted, as it was impossible to make any resistance, and were
mercifully received. Thence the army advanced toward Libourne, which
had not willingly turned to the English when lord Shrewsbury first
arrived at Bordeaux; but the french garrison, hearing of his coming,
had fled: the townsmen were, therefore, forced to submit,--and, on
this account, they were admitted into favour with the king.
At this time, the count de Clermont, as lieutenant-general for the king
of France in Guienne and the Bordelois, kept his army on the other side
of the Gironde. He had with him the count de Foix, the count d'Albreth,
the lord d'Orval his son, sir Theaulde de Valpergue bailiff of Lyon,
the lord de Saintrailles master of the horse to the king, sir Bernard
de Béarn, the viscount de Turenne, the lord de Lavedan, and many other
captains, to the number of eight hundred lances and archers, who acted
so prudently that the english forces in that country, and in Bordeaux,
to the amount of eight thousand combatants, never offered them battle,
nor prevented them making prisoners, or destroying convoys of provision
and wine. On the 14th day of July, the counts de Clermont, de Foix, and
d'Albreth, laid siege to the new castle in Medoc, and remained before
it fourteen days. The governor for the king of England was a knight of
Gascony, called the lord de l'Isle, who, seeing the impracticability
of defending it with success, surrendered it to these lords.
The french army was thence marched to besiege Blanquefort[158]; and the
count de Foix, with his brother the viscount de Lautrec, separated from
it to lay siege to Cadillac[159], while the lord de Saintrailles went
before St Macaire[160], and reduced it to the king's obedience. The
lord d'Albreth likewise left the siege of Blanquefort, and reduced the
towns of Langon[161] and Villendras to obedience,--so that two or three
sieges were going on at the same time. To regarrison their conquests,
these lords had with them about a thousand lances, and a sufficiency
of archers, comprehending the men of the count d'Armagnac, under the
command of an esquire called L'ainé de Lange, seneschal of Rouergue.
During the siege of Cadillac, the count de Clermont never quitted that
of Blanquefort until it had surrendered to him.
On the 16th day of July, the king left the city of Angoulême, to
join his army in the Bordelois: he was accompanied by the counts of
Angoulême, of Maine, of Nevers, of Estampes, of Castres, of Vendôme,
and many other barons, knights and esquires, to the town of Libourne.
His army was then before Fronsac, which was held by the English, who
afterward surrendered it on capitulation of being allowed to go to
England,--and they marched out with only staves in their hands. The
army then crossed the Dordogne, to subdue the country within the two
rivers, and captured many towns from the English.
The king advanced to Montferrant, and ordered a blockhouse to be
erected against Lormond, near Bordeaux, by a part of his army, while
another division was employed on the siege of the town and castle of
Cadillac.
On the other hand, the counts de Clermont, de Foix, d'Albreth, d'Orval,
and the bailiff of Lyon, with others to the amount of one thousand
lances and archers, had posted themselves near to Bordeaux, on the side
of the moors, to destroy all the corn and provision, that those within
Bordeaux might not reap any advantage or profit by them.
On the 18th day of July, the king, in person, led his army against
Cadillac, when it was taken by storm. The first who entered was
an esquire named Gonfroy de St Hellin, bailiff of Chaumont in
Bassigny,--but the English retired into the castle, which was very
strong. Notwithstanding the strength of the place, the English, alarmed
at the great power and good order of the king's army, which consisted
of a thousand spears and a proportionate number of archers, were
forced to submit. They surrendered themselves, in the month of October
following, prisoners to the king, when their captain, called Gaillard,
was beheaded.
In the blockhouse before Lormond were posted the lord de Lohéac marshal
of France, with many other lords, knights, and captains, to the amount
of fifteen or sixteen hundred spears, archers, and artillery,--and
near to it were anchored the king's fleet of victuallers from Brittany,
Poitou, Spain, Holland, Zealand and Flanders, which remained in the
river Gironde, until Bordeaux surrendered to the king.
In like manner had victuallers been sent from England; and on their
arrival the lord Cameise[162] had ordered their sails and stores to be
landed and secured in the town, that they might not depart _hospite
insalutato_; that is to say, without taking leave of their hosts. The
English also constructed another blockhouse opposite to and higher than
that of the French, although it profited them little, notwithstanding
so many in the town were attached to the king of England, namely, the
lord Cameise, the lord Clinton, the bastard of Somerset, the lord de
l'Esparre, the lord de Rosem, and from three to four thousand English,
and as many or more Gascons, one half of whom were quartered in the
town, and the other half in the blockhouse, to guard their fleet.
Thus were these powers employed on the same duty in their separate
blockhouses from the first day of August until the 17th of October,
annoying each other by every possible means. Provision began at length
to fail in Bordeaux, to the great alarm of the English, as was natural;
and as they daily heard of towns in all directions submitting, by
force of arms, to the king, they made offers of a surrender on a fair
capitulation. The king consented, for two reasons: first, because he
was ready to render good for evil: secondly, considering the mortality
that was to be dreaded, if matters were pushed to extremities, he was
glad to compound for the departure of the English on the following
terms.
The city of Bordeaux was to be yielded up to him, and the inhabitants
were to remain his true and loyal subjects,--they taking an oath never
to rebel again, but to acknowledge the king of France as their true and
legal lord. The English were to be allowed to transport themselves
in their own vessels to England, or to Calais, as they should please.
But because some of the lords of that country and city had maliciously
and traitorously sought the alliance of England, and had gone thither
for that purpose, contrary to their oaths and declarations made to the
king in the preceding year, who, at a very great expense and loss of
men, had conquered them, the king would reserve to himself the power
of banishing from the country of Bordelois twenty persons, according
to his pleasure, such as had gone to England to seek the aid of the
English, and particularly the lord de Duras, the lord de l'Esparre, and
others. This capitulation was signed on the 17th day of October, in the
year 1453.
In truth, the king laboured greatly in these matters, both in body and
mind; for, after the aid of God, he was indebted for the peaceable
recovery of this country to his own prudent conduct, and to the
gracious manner with which he received those who returned to their
obedience. He was also supported by his vassals and subjects with the
same earnestness as if the recovery of his kingdom had personally
concerned themselves.
Sir Pierre de Beauveau, lord de la Bessiere, died of his wounds three
days after the taking of Châtillon, which was a great loss. Sir James
de Chabannes, grand master of the household, was likewise slain there:
he was much lamented, as he was a most valorous knight.
The country being thus recovered, the king determined on going to
Tours, after leaving, for its defence, the count de Clermont his
lieutenant general, sir Theaulde de Valpergue, and sir John de
Bureau, treasurer of France and mayor of the city of Bordeaux, with
a sufficient force of men at arms, archers, and cross-bows. This
was become absolutely necessary by reason of their late treacherous
conduct, for, according to a maxim of law, 'Semul malus, semper
præsumitur malus.' It was therefore expedient to keep a heavy hand on
them, that they might be under greater subjection and prevented from
rebelling again.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 158: Blanquefort,--a town in Guienne near Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 159: Cadillac en Fransadois,--seven leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 160: St Macaire,--on the Garonne, nine leagues from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 161: Langon,--one league from Cadillac from Bordeaux.]
[Footnote 162: Camus,--or Cameise. See Dugdale.]
CHAP. LVI.
THE GRAND TURK BESIEGES CONSTANTINOPLE, AND BATTERS THE CITY WITH
HEAVY ARTILLERY.--IT IS TAKEN BY STORM.--THE CRUELTIES COMMITTED
THERE.--A REMEDY PROPOSED TO RESIST THE TURK[163].
On the 4th of April, after Easter, in this same year 1453,
Morbesan[164], son of Orestes, great lords in Achaia, advanced near to
Constantinople, and, on the 5th day of this month, besieged that city
all round with two hundred thousand men,--sixty thousand of whom were
archers, and from thirty to forty thousand cavalry. About a fourth part
of them were armed with haubergeons and coats of mail, others after
the french manner,--some in the bulgarian manner, and in different
fashions. Many had helmets of iron, and others were armed with bows
and cross-bows. The greater part, however, of the sixty thousand were
without any other armour than targets and turkish blades. The remaining
hundred were composed of merchants, artisans, followers of the army,
pillagers, and destroyers of the country.
There were very many bombards and culverins made use of at this
siege,--and one particularly large bombard, that shot stones twelve
spans and four fingers in circumference, weighing eighteen hundred
pounds. These bombards shot daily from one hundred to six score
times,--and this thundering lasted for fifty-five days, expending
a thousand weight of powder each day, which was necessary for the
numerous culverins that were employed.
The Turk had likewise a fleet of sixteen or eighteen galleys, and
from sixty to eighty galiots, having each eighteen or twenty oars,
and from sixteen to twenty small barks, called Palendrins[165], to
transport horses in, and plenty of gun-carriages. When the siege had
been regularly formed, Sangombassa[166] principal minister to the Turk,
and who had the greatest credit and authority with him, had transported
over land, the distance of two or three miles, from sixty to eighty
galleys, and other armed vessels, into the Melse Mondagarin[167], near
to Pera, and between the two cities. The Turks could not by any other
means enter the harbour of Constantinople, as the Bosphorus and the
straits of the Dardanelles were strongly guarded by the Christians, who
were so posted that they could relieve each other when attacked.
The commander of this expedition was a Turk called Albitangoth[168],
who broke through four of the genoese ships. The Turk appointed
another commander to surround the city by sea and land. Constantinople
is a very strong city, of a triangular form, twenty miles in circuit
on the land side, and five miles wide from the land boundary to the
harbour and gulf. The walls on the land side are very strong and
high, having barbicans and loop holes on the top, well fortified
without by the ditches and ramparts. The principal walls are from
fifteen to twenty-two fathoms high: in some places six, and in others
eight fathoms wide: the outworks are twenty fathoms high and three
in thickness, and the ditches ten deep. The city contained from
twenty-five to thirty thousand persons, and six thousand combatants.
In the harbour were thirty ships and nine galleys, to defend the chain
that had been thrown across it: of this number were two armed vessels,
and three merchant ships, from the Venetians; three belonging to the
emperor,--and one to sir John Justinian, a Genoese in the pay of the
emperor.
Constantinople, although besieged by sea and land, and strongly
battered by bombards and cannon, held out for fifty days, during which
a captain of one of the galleys, in conjunction with others ordered
on this service, attempted to set fire to the turkish fleet; but the
galley was sunk by a heavy stone from a bombard, and the others ran on
the sharp stakes with which the Turks had fortified the van division of
their fleet.
On the land side, Sangombassa, king of the Albanians, had in his army
many who had been accustomed to work in gold and silver mines,--and
he ordered them to open fourteen mines under the walls of the city,
to throw them down. As these mines were opened at a distance from the
walls, the Christians countermined them, and at times stifled the Turks
in their mine with smoke, or suffocated them with stinks: at other
times they drowned them, by introducing water suddenly on them, or
destroyed them by fighting hand to hand. Sangombassa constructed a high
and strong tower of wood that overtopped the walls, and threw across
an arm of the sea a bridge of boats one thousand fathoms in length
and seven wide, for the army to cross, besides erecting other smaller
towers that were both light and strong, and could be moved from one
place to another when wanted. There were daily skirmishes, in which
many were slain on each side,--but for one that was killed in the town
one hundred were destroyed of the besiegers.
At this siege were many greek Christians, and others from different
parts, who, although subjects to the Turk, are not constrained to
renounce their religion: they therefore pray to and adore God at their
pleasure. There were beside several captains and powerful Turks,
who, out of spite to Sangombassa, as he oppressed them much, gave
information to those in the town, by letters fastened to arrows and
by all other possible means, of what was going forward in the camp.
Among other things, the Christians were informed of the grand Turk
having held a council of his ministers and principal persons for four
whole days; and that in this council a captain, called Colombassa[169],
had advised the raising of the siege, saying to the Turk, 'Thou hast
done thy duty: thou hast already given many great battles to the
Christians, and at each time numbers of thy people have fallen. Thou
seest from the fortifications and defence of the city that it is
impregnable,--insomuch that the more thou sendest to attack it, so many
more are left dead before it. Those who have mounted the walls have
been repulsed or slain,--and thy ancestors never had the power nor the
inclination to advance so far as thou hast done, which ought to satisfy
thy ambition, without wishing the total destruction of thy people.'
So much was said by others, in consequence of this harangue, that the
Turk doubted within his own breast whether he should return, and erect
two columns on the spot where he then was, to proclaim to the world
that he had done more than any of his predecessors had ever undertaken,
and to inform posterity that no Turk had ever before dared to approach
so near to Constantinople.
Sangombassa was of a contrary opinion, and thus addressed the Turk:
'Thou hast shown thyself the strongest. Thou hast overthrown part of
the walls; we will completely destroy the remainder. Only let us give
one more determined attack,--and, if we then fail of conquest, we will
submit to act according to thy pleasure.' He expressed himself with so
much warmth and earnestness that the Turk consented to his proposal;
and intelligence thereof was conveyed into the town, with exhortations
to hold out with courage for a few days longer, and the siege would
assuredly be raised.
The Turk, being resolved to storm the city, ordered a solemn fast to
take place three days before the time fixed on, in honour of the God of
Heaven, whom alone he adores. It was kept very strictly for the three
days, none of the army eating any thing during the day-time; but at
night they feasted, and their camp and fleet were then illuminated with
a multitude of torches, so that land and sea seemed on fire: they added
loud music with drums and other instruments, for with trumpets they
were ill provided.
When the time arrived for the storming, both parties seemed
determined on victory or death. The attack began very slowly in the
evening, and the Turk had made the following arrangement of his
forces:--Siglardy[170], captain-general of Turkey, was posted, with
twenty thousand men, at the gate of Pucchi, where was the heat of
the battle: Sangombassa, with about a third of the army, was posted
at the gate St Romain, about a mile distant from Pucchi. Ebbigabeth,
governor-general of Greece, was placed on the side of Galigaria[171],
near to the emperor's palace. The greater part of the mines were two
miles distant from St Romain. The renegade Albanian, Sangombassa, was
posted on the other side of the canal near to Pera, with other renegade
Christians; for, in these countries, many daily recant from their
religion.
At the commencement of the attack, the Christians defended themselves
well, particularly at St Romain, which was the weakest part of the
walls; for lately good part had been damaged, and even thrown down. The
heavy cannon and the culverins kept up so brisk a fire that breaches
were made of many fathoms wide in several places; and the firing was so
incessant that the sky could scarcely be seen for the thickness of the
smoke.
The besieged instantly repaired the breaches with old casks and bags of
earth, and defended themselves as well as they could. At this spot was
sir John Justinian, who behaved with great courage: indeed, the whole
city placed their dependance on his abilities.
As a last effort, the grand Turk now advanced thither in person, with
two banners and ten thousand chosen men for his guard, beside an
infinity of Turks, with scaling ladders, moveable wooden castles, and
other engines. The attack was become very bloody: the ditches were
filled, and the walls scaled. At this critical moment was sir John
Justinian wounded by a ball from a culverin, and carried off to be
dressed, after he had resigned his command to two genoese gentlemen.
The Turks pursued their success,--and the Christians, seeing themselves
overpowered, and that sir John Justinian had quitted his command, which
they mistook for his having fled, abandoned the walls, and ran away.
Thus did the Turks enter Constantinople, the 28th day of May, in the
year aforesaid, putting all to the sword who made any resistance[172].
No attack was made on Pera, for the greater part of the inhabitants
were in Constantinople assisting in its defence. Those who had
remained did not attempt to carry away any of their effects, but
deliberated to send the keys of their town to the Turk, and offer him
the city, in which were six thousand men, and throw themselves on the
mercy of God. A good many of both sexes, however, embarked on board a
genoese vessel to escape, and one ship laden with women was seized by
the Turks.
The emperor of Constantinople died there. Some say that he was
beheaded,--others, that he was squeezed to death by the crowd as he
was attempting to escape by one of the gates: both may perchance be
true,--as he may have been pressed to death, and the Turks may have cut
off his head afterwards.
This was a melancholy event for the Christians; for after the Turks
had gained peaceable possession of the city, they entered the churches,
more especially the cathedral of St Sophia, which is a very large and
magnificent building,--and finding it full of ladies, damsels, and
others of high rank, they ravished them all without any distinction,
and in contempt of God our Creator and of the catholic faith. The Turk
even violated the empress in this church, made her his concubine,
and carried her with him when he departed from the city. His troops
indulged themselves with impunity in every luxury and detestable vice.
The large galleys of the Venetians, and from Trebisonde, waited until
the middle of the ensuing day to save some of the Christians, and about
four hundred embarked on board. In the number was Jacques Totaldi[173],
who had been on guard at a part of the wall distant from where the
Turks had entered: perceiving that all was lost, he made for the shore,
and by swimming saved himself on board one of these galleys.
Had the venetian fleet, under the command of John la Rendour[174],
arrived the preceding day with his troops, most assuredly the city
would have been relieved,--for it consisted of nine galleys and twenty
other vessels. It arrived the day after the conquest at Negropont.
It has been estimated, that the plunder the Turks made in
Constantinople amounted to four thousand millions of ducats: the loss
of the Venetians alone was said to be fifty thousand ducats. The
Genoese saved on board their galleys twenty thousand: the Florentines
lost twenty thousand,--the merchants of Ancona fifteen thousand. From
conversations with different Turks, we have heard that the grand Turk,
when only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, was more cruel than
Nero, and delighted in shedding blood: he was bold and ambitious,
and more ardent to conquer the world than Alexander or Cæsar. It is
alleged that he possesses larger territories, and greater power,
than any other monarch whatever. He has different histories read out
to him,--and demands the reason why such and such things have been
done. He holds it an easy matter to throw a bridge from Megara[175]
to Venice, for a passage to march his army thither. He inquires where
Rome is situated,--and after the duke of Milan, of his valiant deeds,
and other affairs. He can talk of nothing but war; and declares that
he will make Constantinople his seat of empire, for that he is able
and desirous to establish a large navy. He imagines that there is not
a prince on earth but will bring him the keys of his towns before he
calls for them, considering that he has taken by storm Constantinople,
the strongest city in Europe, and so powerful that it was thought no
army, however great, could accomplish it, and that he and his troops
are bold in arms, holding their lives of no value to gain an object.
It is supposed that the Turk will not this summer attempt any other
warlike enterprise, but attend to his new settlement in Constantinople,
unless some places he may wish for should surrender quietly. His
soldiers want to return to their homes to enjoy and repose themselves,
but he keeps them strictly to good discipline, that he may be prepared
to resist any attacks that shall be made upon him. However, if the
Christians would firmly unite, and act promptly, they would drive him
out of Europe, never to return again.
This would be the plan I would offer for so desirable an object:
First, an universal peace must be established in Christendom; then the
Venetians, the duke of Milan, the Florentines, and the other princes of
Italy, should raise an army of twenty thousand horse, well appointed,
and under able captains, who should lead them to Pera, through Albania,
as far as the possessions of the Christians, where they should halt in
a country well supplied with all kinds of provision. They will be there
secure, and instantly joined by the Albanians, Sciavonians, and other
Christian nations, who will unite in the defence of the catholic faith.
In addition to this army, another should be formed at sea by the king
of Arragon, the Venetians, the Genoese, the Florentines, and other
maritime nations, whose fleets will be fully sufficient to conquer
that of the Turk if it be not greatly increased to what it is at
present. This fleet should sail for the port of Negropont, and take
Sagripoch[176], and other places, from the Turk: it should likewise
blockade the passage of the Dardanelles, and prevent any intercourse
between Turkey and Greece.
The emperor of Hungary, the Bohemians, the Poles, the Walachians, and
other nations in that quarter, should raise an army under the command
of John Waiwoda[177], who is much feared by the Turks, and enter
Turkey by Adrianople; and all these armies should so manage that their
invasions take place at the same time, and that good intelligence reign
among them that the success may not be doubtful.
The Turk, with all his efforts, cannot raise a greater army than two
hundred thousand men, including bad and good; and it must be added,
that among the number are many Christians, and others of his subjects,
that follow him unwillingly, who on the approach of a sufficient army
of Christians will desert and join them.
The Turks, by nature and custom, will not wait to be besieged, but
continually keep the field, which will the more easily encourage
desertions. The Christians from Russia must join this division of the
united forces.
The Caramanian, who is a great prince, and a bitter enemy to the Turks,
should he be informed of this intended warfare against the Turk, he
will harrass him much, and, with some inducements, may probably become
a Christian. In Greece, there will not be a common peasant but will
exert himself to bring provisions to the Christian army. On the other
hand, the Turks will be straitened for provision, as their resources
from Greece will be cut off by sea; and it may be supposed that the
Greeks will be anxious to recover their lands by the sword,--and the
moment that the two armies shall approach Turkey, the whole of the
unbelievers' army must be nearly famished and defeated.
Should the Christians, however, delay their exertions, and allow the
Turk time to strengthen himself by sea and land, there can be no doubt
but that he will cause great damage to the Christians, which God forbid!
In the venetian galley, eight citizens of Venice returned, who had been
settled at Constantinople; but thirty-eight gentlemen and forty others
remained behind. May God speedily assist them in their deliverance.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 163: M. du Cange says, that this chapter must be compared
with Phrantzes.
This chapter, containing the hearsay account of transactions which took
place at a considerable distance from the kingdom of France abounds,
as it might be expected, with errors, the correction of which, as they
occur, would be a task equally laborious and unprofitable. Whoever
wishes to make himself acquainted with the details of the siege and
capture of Constantinople by Mahomet II. may peruse the 68th chapter of
Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.]
[Footnote 164: Morbesan. Mahomet II. son to Amurath or Morad II.]
[Footnote 165: Palendrins,--Palendric,--a flat boat.----Du Cange's
Glossary.]
[Footnote 166: Sangombassa. Q.]
[Footnote 167: Melse Mondagarin. Q, the sea of Marmora?]
[Footnote 168: Albitangoth. Q.]
[Footnote 169: Colombassa. Q.]
[Footnote 170: Siglardy. Q.]
[Footnote 171: Galigaria. Q. Galata?]
[Footnote 172: 'Constantinople had long been aimed at by the turkish
power; but the diversions formed by Huniades and George Castriot had
retarded an event, which the effeminacy and profligacy of both rulers
and people had rendered inevitable. Constantine Drakoses, the last
emperor, merited a better fate, if there could be a better, than dying
for his country. When he found Mohammed determined to besiege his city,
he raised what force he could, which amounted to no more than three or
four thousand men; nor could the imperial treasury afford to continue
in its pay a celebrated german engineer, who, on his stipend being
lessened, went in disgust to the Turks, and cast those immense pieces
of cannon which are still the wonder of the Dardanelles.
'To Giustiniani, a Genoese, who, with five hundred men, came to defend
the city, Constantine gave the chief command, promising to make him
prince of Lemnos if he drove off the Turks. Meanwhile the citizens sat
like ideots determined to suffer the extremities of war, and expose
their wives and children to violation and slaughter, rather than
support an emperor who they knew wished to unite the greek with the
latin church.
'Mohammed had four hundred thousand men in arms around the city; but
though his fleet was large, he could not approach the walls by the
harbour, and had even been witness to the success of five ships from
Genoa, who had forced their way through his numerous navy. To remedy
this, he contrived by engines, and an immense strength of hands, to
draw a vast detachment of galleys over a peninsula into the harbour,
and then the blockade was complete. The cannoneers, too, of the Turks
were instructed by an hungarian ambassador (moved by a foolish prophecy
that Christendom would never thrive until Constantinople was taken,)
how to do the most damage to the old and ruinous fortifications of the
devoted city.
'When all was ready for an assault, Mohammed sent to offer lives,
liberty, and goods, to the emperor and people, with settlements in
Greece, if they would give up the place,--but in vain. The Turks were
at first gallantly repulsed, Constantine defending the breach, and
Giustiniani bravely seconding his efforts: unhappily the latter being
seized with a panic, on receiving a slight wound, and quitting his
post, the Italians, who were the strength of the besieged, followed,
and the enemy burst in with hardly any opposition. The wretched emperor
saw that all was lost,--and was only heard to say, 'Alas! is no
Christian here to strike off my head?' A Turk performed that office;
and Mohammed with his army rushing in, every bar to slaughter, rapine,
and violence, gave way.
'Meanwhile numbers of the Greeks stood calmly around the church of
Santa Sophia, while others coolly employed themselves in a solemn
procession, deluded by a fanatic, who had foretold, that as soon as
the infidels should force their way to a certain part of Europe, and
enriched every province, but particularly Italy, with their science.
'The whimsically superstitious are fond of a silly remark, that as the
western empire began and ended with an Augustus so did that of the east
begin and end with a Constantine; but a much more useful speculation
from the dreadful fate of this metropolis, and still more from that of
Rome in 1527, presents itself to the rich and indolent citizen, viz.
that opulence, far from securing its owners, only holds out a bait to
the destroyer; and that no wealthy city should think itself secure
without union, good government, and military exertions, among its
inhabitants.'
_Andrews' Hist. of Great Britain._]
[Footnote 173: Totaldi. Q.]
[Footnote 174: John la Rendour. Q. Giacopo Loredan? He sailed from
Venice with only five galleys, and was to take up five more in the
ports of Dalmatia and Candia.
_Storia della Repubblica di Venezia.--Laugier._--Tom. vii. p. 63.]
[Footnote 175: Megara. This must be a mistake: indeed, the whole
chapter is exceedingly confused.]
[Footnote 176: Sagripoch. Q.]
[Footnote 177: John Waiwoda. Q.]
CHAP. LVII.
THE TURK SENDS LETTERS TO THE POPE, WHO, IN CONSEQUENCE, WISHES TO
FORM A CROISADE AGAINST HIM.--LE BLANC[178], KNIGHT-MARSAL OF HUNGARY,
DEFEATS THE TURKS NEAR THE PORT OF SAMBRINE[179].
The grand Turk, moved by presumption at his unexpected success and
prosperity, and through his great pride, sent two letters to pope
Nicholas, of similar contents,--the one in Latin, the other in French.
The tenour of the last was as follows: 'Morbesan lord of Achaia, son
to Orestes, with his brothers,--to the high priest of Rome, health,
according to his deserts. Whereas it has lately come to our ears that,
at the request and prayers of the people of Venice, you have publicly
preached in your churches, that whoever shall take up arms against us
shall receive in this life a remission of his sins, with a promise
of life eternal hereafter. This we did not hear of until the arrival
of some pilgrims, who have crossed the sea in venetian vessels,--and
it has caused in us the utmost astonishment. Although you may perhaps
have received powers from the God of thunders to absolve and release
souls, so much the more prudently and discreetly should you exercise
this power, nor by such means induce the Christians to act hostilely
against us, and more especially the Italians; for we have lately had
information that our fathers have declared the turkish nation was
innocent of the death of your CHRIST crucified,--and that they neither
possess nor have any knowledge of those places which are by you held
sacred, and that we have always had the jewish nation in hatred,
who, from what we have read in histories and chronicles, did most
treacherously betray and deliver up the CHRIST to the roman judge in
Jerusalem, to suffer death on the cross.
'We marvel, therefore, and grieve, that the Italians should be our
enemies,--for we are naturally inclined to be attached to them, as
being, like to ourselves, of the issue of the trojan race, and of
ancient birth. We are sprung from the same blood, and regularly
descended from king Priam and his line; and it is our intention to
advance with our armies to those parts of Europe that have been
promised to us by the gods of our forefathers. We have also the
intention of restoring Troy the great, and to avenge the blood of
Hector and the queen Ixion[180], by subjecting to our government the
empire of Greece and punishing the descendants of the transgressors.
We also intend subjugating the island of Crete, and the others in that
sea, of which the Venetians have robbed us by violence.
'We require, therefore, that you act with more discretion, and that
you impose silence on your preachers in Italy, that they may no longer
comply with the requests before mentioned of these Venetians, and
provoke the Christians to wage war against us, as we have no cause of
warfare against them from any difference in our creeds. It is of no
importance that we do not put our whole faith in your CHRIST, since we
allow him to have been a very great prophet; and as we do not follow
his law, we are not to be compelled to believe in him.
'If any dispute has arisen between us and the Venetians, it is
without colour of justice, or of authority from Cæsar or from any
other prince. Through their pride and ambition, they have possessed
themselves of many islands and other places that formed part of our
government,--which usurpations we cannot and will not longer suffer,
for the time of repossession is near at hand.
'For these and other reasons you ought therefore to be silent, and
desist from your enterprises, especially as we know the Venetians to be
a distinct people, in their manners and laws, from the Romans, although
they think themselves superior to all the world; but, by the aid of our
great god Jupiter, we will bring their pride and insolence to an end.
Should you not prudently desist from your intentions, we shall march
our whole force against you, aided by the numberless kings of the east,
who seem now to be slumbering; and we will bring an irresistible force
by sea and land, not only against you and your walking pilgrims bearing
the cross, but also against Germany and France, should you excite them
to war upon us.
'With the aid of Neptune, god of the sea, we intend to cross the
Hellespont, into Dalmatia, with numberless armies, and to visit the
northern regions as far as Thrace.
'Given at our triumphal palace in June, in the 840th year of Mohammed,
sealed and enregistered.'
About this time, the chevalier le Blanc, who was not of a noble family,
but originally a smith in Hungary, before he commenced captain in the
wars under the king of Hungary, took the field to combat the Turks,
having with him from twenty to twenty-four thousand combatants, and
had gained the port of Sambrine, where were full eighty thousand
Turks. They had waited at this port fifteen days, to see if any
reinforcements would arrive, which coming to the knowledge of the
knight, he departed from Mortune[181], and came up with the Turks
two hours before day-break, and attacked them with such courage that
twenty-four thousand were slain: the rest fled to their shipping and
escaped,--for the Hungarians had no vessels to pursue them. The Turks,
however, fought valiantly,--and the knight with many of his companions
were wounded. He returned back with fifty Turks his prisoners: six of
whom he sent to pope Nicholas: six to the king of France, and six to
the duke of Burgundy. In the number was the first cousin of the grand
Turk.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 178: Q. Le Blanc?]
[Footnote 179: Q. 'Le Port de Sambrine?']
[Footnote 180: Hecuba.]
[Footnote 181: Mortune. Q.]
CHAP. LVIII.
JUDGMENT GIVEN AGAINST JACQUES COEUR AND THE DAMSEL OF
MORTAIGNE.--MASTER WILLIAM EDELIN, DOCTOR OF DIVINITY, IS PUBLICLY
REPRIMANDED AT EVREUX.
On the 29th of May, in the year 1453, judgment was pronounced by the
chancellor of France, in the presence of the king, against Jacques
Coeur, for the crimes he had been charged with, and for which he had
been imprisoned.
In consequence of the charges made out against him, he was condemned to
death and confiscation of effects; but as the king inclined to mercy,
and would rather sinners should repent than die, out of his especial
grace, he remitted the first part of the sentence, on condition that
he redeemed, at any price, the Christian whom he had restored to the
Saracens,--or if that could not be done, then he was to redeem some
other Christian slave from their power.
In regard to the money which he had unjustly wrung from the king's
subjects, to the amount of incalculable sums, he was adjudged to repay
one hundred thousand crowns; and for the many and various offences
that he had committed against the king, he was sentenced to pay a fine
of four hundred thousand crowns, and the overplus of his effects,
wheresoever they might be placed, was confiscated to the crown. He was
also deprived of his offices, both public and private, and declared
incapable of ever again holding them, and was likewise banished France.
He was also adjudged to make _amende honorable_[182] to the king, in
the person of his attorney, bareheaded and ungirdled, having a lighted
link of ten pounds weight in his hands; and he was to declare, that
he had falsely and disloyally restored the Christian to the Saracens,
and supplied them with arms and ammunition, requesting pardon from God,
from the king, and from Justice.
It was also declared, that the bonds of the lords de la Fayette and de
Cadillac were void, and of none effect; and that neither Jacques Coeur
nor any of his heirs should receive any advantage from them, as they
were now annulled.
When the chancellor had passed this sentence, he added, by command of
the king, that his majesty reserved to himself the ultimate decision of
the banishment and other graces.
In regard to the damsel of Mortaigne, although her body and effects had
been condemned, yet in consideration of the great services which her
ancestors and husband had rendered the king, his majesty remits the
capital part of the sentence, and restores to her the effects that had
been confiscated; but she is strictly forbidden, on pain of suffering
the above penalties, to approach, within two leagues, the persons
of the king or queen,--and is likewise condemned to make _amende
honorable_ to the king, by proxy in her attorney, who is to declare
that she had falsely and wickedly accused Jacques Coeur, Jacques
Colone, and Martin Prendoux, and to ask pardon for the same of God,
the king, and Justice. She was condemned to pay to the said Martin the
sum of four hundred livres of the current coin; and to the wife and
two daughters of Jacques Colone, one hundred livres each, amounting to
three hundred livres more.
On the Sunday preceding Christmas-day in this year, master Guillaume
Edelin, doctor of divinity, prior of St Germain en Laye, formerly a
monk of the order of St Augustin, and of other orders, was publicly
reprimanded on a scaffold in the city of Evreux, and condemned to
perpetual imprisonment in the prisons of the bishoprick, for having
given himself up to the temptations and power of the enemy of mankind,
that he might accomplish his carnal desires. He was particularly
charged with cohabiting with a lady of birth, and, to accomplish
this, had bound himself in such servitude to Satan that he was
obliged to attend him whenever called upon by him. When such meetings
were appointed he had only to bestride a broom, and was instantly
transported to their consistorial meeting.
Master Guillaume frankly confessed that he had done homage to the
enemy, under the form of a sheep, by kissing his posteriors,--and that
he had persevered for many years in this damnable debasement, and had
been aided by the enemy whenever he required it of him, until the time
of his arrest; when, having been duly convicted by the law, he was
detained prisoner, and the power of the enemy was without effect. He
therefore remained, according to his sentence, closely confined in a
dungeon, fed on bread and water. The inquisitor of the faith frequently
remonstrated with him on the degeneracy of his conduct from what it was
formerly, when he went about preaching so well to the people the faith
of JESUS CHRIST.
During the reprimands of the inquisitor, the prisoner was placed on a
scaffold, in the presence of great crowds of people.
At the end of these remonstrances, master Guillaume, knowing how
infamously he had relinquished our Creator and Redeemer, began to groan
and repent aloud of his sins, asking mercy of God, the bishop, and
Justice, and recommending himself to the prayers of the audience. He
was then chained, and conducted to his dungeon to do penance for the
horrible sins he had committed.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 182: _Amende honorable_,--'A most ignominious punishment
inflicted on great offenders, who were led through the streets
barefooted and bareheaded (with a burning link in their hands)
unto the seat of justice, or some public place, and there to
confess their offences, and ask forgiveness of the party they had
wronged.'----Cotgrave.]
[A.D. 1454.]
CHAP. LIX.
THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF SPAIN.--HE BUILDS
TWO CASTLES AT BORDEAUX TO KEEP THE INHABITANTS IN SUBJECTION.--THE
DUKE OF YORK IMPRISONS THE DUKES OF SOMERSET AND GLOCESTER.--OTHER
EVENTS.
In the year 1454, the reverend father in God master John Bernard,
archbishop of Tours, and sir Guillot Destan, knight, seneschal of
Rouergue, set out on an embassy from the king of France to the king of
Castille, to confirm the alliances between France and Spain.
In this same year, the king of France sent a large body of men at arms
and franc archers to Bordeaux, with orders to erect two castles to keep
that people under better subjection: one was placed on the bank of the
river, and the other at the opposite end of the town toward Béarn.
The count de Clermont, the lord de Saintrailles bailiff of Lyon, the
governor of la Rochelle, sir John Bureau mayor of Bordeaux, and sir
Guichart le Boursier, were appointed to superintend the erection of
these castles. They exerted great diligence to complete them,--and
they were so strong that they were thought impregnable, so that the
inhabitants were kept in more subjection than they had ever before been.
At this time, the duke of York seized the government of England, and
imprisoned the dukes of Somerset and Glocester[183],--the first in the
tower of London, and Glocester in Pomfret-castle.
In this year also, the count de Charolois, son to the duke of Burgundy
married the daughter of duke Charles of Bourbon.
The king of Spain deceased, at the age of fifty years. It was a pity,
for he was a good, wise, and handsome prince.
In this same year died pope Nicholas, who was but in his prime[184];
and it was found, when the physicians opened his body, that he had been
poisoned. Pope Calixtus was chosen in his stead.[185]
The king of England called a meeting of some of his lords in the month
of February, and remonstrated with them on the imprisonment of the
dukes of Somerset and Glocester, his relatives, and wished that, if
they were not too heavily charged with high treason, they might be
released. They consented to this; and the mayor of London even said,
that he would instantly deliver them from prison, on receiving good
security for their re-appearance. Soon after, these lords appeared
before the tower in great force, and took therefrom the duke of
Somerset, who soon after gained the complete government of the king.
The duke of York, seeing this, and dreading the effects of Somerset's
anger, left the court as secretly as he could, and retired into his
duchy.
About this time, the lord de l'Esparre was arrested, for having,
contrary to his oath, gone to England, and induced king Henry to send
over troops to reconquer the Bordelois. Although his treason had been
manifest, nevertheless the king, at the last capture of Bordeaux,
being alway full of mercy, had pardoned him, on condition of his being
banished Guienne and the Bordelois. However, by the instigation of the
devil in hell, he had attempted, under colour of a passport, to restore
those countries to the English, as a more false and wicked traitor than
before. But as the Scripture says, that every thing wicked, however
secretly done, is at length discovered and punished, so this came to
the king's knowledge, and, as I have said, he was arrested and carried
prisoner to Poitiers, where, on being tortured, he confessed his guilt,
and was judicially condemned. He was then delivered to the executioner,
who smote off his head and quartered his body, which was hung up at
different places, as is usual in such cases, to serve for an example to
all others.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 183: There must be a mistake here: the duke of York did
imprison Somerset, but Glocester was a Yorkist.]
[Footnote 184: Pope Nicholas was said to have died of grief for the
capture of Constantinople. He had reigned eight years nineteen days.]
[Footnote 185: Alfonso Borgio, cardinal-bishop of Valencia in Spain,
his native country. He took the title of Calixtus III.]
CHAP. LX.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS WITH THE LADY ISABELLA OF
BOURBON.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RETURNS FROM GERMANY, AND IS MOST
HONOURABLY RECEIVED IN THE TOWNS OF LILLE AND ARRAS.
On the last day of October, in this same year, and when the duke of
Burgundy was returned from Germany, his son, the count de Charolois,
espoused, in the town of Lille, his cousin-german the lady Isabella of
Bourbon, by dispensations from the holy church, on account of their
nearness of kindred. The duke, being in Burgundy, was not present at
the wedding, but the duchess was. The marriage was so sudden that many
said the count knew nothing of it until the preceding day: his father
would have it so, and strictly ordered him to comply, which he did like
a good and obedient son. Some said, that it was against his conscience
to marry so near a relative; but others, that he would rather have
married the daughter of the duke of York, and, by this alliance with
England, have some claim to that crown.
Whatever truth may be in these reports, he married to please his
father, and behaved to his cousin in so honourable a manner that no
married couple could behave better; and it was currently said, that
after his marriage, he knew not any other woman.
During the absence of his father in Germany, he had the regency of
his states, and governed them with equity: he was only too prompt to
believe the first reports that were made to him, which is a misfortune
generally attached to great lords.
About the middle of February, the noble duke of Burgundy came to Lille,
where he was received by his subjects with every honour. On the 24th
of the same month, he went to Arras, where he was likewise honourably
and joyfully received,--for he had been long absent, and God had now
permitted him to return from Germany in good health, and without any
hinderance.
CHAP. LXI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS HEAVY TAXES ON HIS ESTATES, TO DEFRAY HIS
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TURKS.
Five days after the arrival of the duke in Arras, and when the feasts
of his coming were over, he assembled the three estates of Artois, and
declared to them the vow he had made of undertaking a war against the
Turks, and of marching thither in person with his whole force, provided
the king his lord would promise to keep and guard for him his estates
during his absence. To accomplish this vow, he said, that it would be
necessary for him to call for the aid of his good vassals and subjects;
and he required that they would grant him supplies, amounting, in the
whole, to the sum of fifty-six thousand francs, royal money.
The three estates having consulted together, agreed to grant him three
aides, instead of four, which he had demanded, amounting to forty-two
thousand francs,--but on condition, that if this expedition was not
undertaken, they should not be paid. The good duke replied, that in
truth, if the expedition failed, he should not want any thing.
The duke then visited Flanders, Hainault, and Brabant, where he made
similar requests; and those countries granted him very great supplies
to carry on the war against the infidels.
[A.D. 1455.]
CHAP. LXII.
THE BISHOP OF UTRECHT DIES.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY GOES TO HOLLAND TO
PROCURE THE ELECTION TO THE BISHOPRICK FOR HIS BASTARD SON DAVID, THEN
BISHOP OF THEROUENNE.
In the year 1455, died the bishop of Utrecht, which is in Holland,
bordering on Germany. Duke Philip of Burgundy had for a long time
thought of obtaining this bishoprick for his bastard son David, then
bishop of Therouenne, and had even during the life-time of the late
bishop solicited the canons to elect this his son on the first vacancy.
They, however, paid no attention to his solicitations, but elected the
provost of their church, brother to the lord de Brederode, a great
baron in Holland, and a relative to duke Philip.
The duke was much dissatisfied at this conduct, and sent to Rome, and
managed so well with the pope that he gave this bishoprick to his
bastard son: he had even promised him the succession before the death
of the last bishop. The duke went, therefore, to the Hague in Holland,
where he endeavoured, but in vain, to gain over to his interest the
chapter of Utrecht by every kind means, that they might receive his son
for their bishop; and for this purpose he remained in Holland from the
feast of St Remy[186], in the year 1455, until St John Baptist's day in
the ensuing year.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 186: St Remy. This feast is on the first day of October, and
St John's the 24th June.]
CHAP. LXIII.
THE COUNT DE CLERMONT, THE LORD DE LOHÉAC MARSHAL OF FRANCE, AND
OTHER CAPTAINS, ARREST THE COUNT D'ARMAGNAC, AND DELIVER HIM UP TO
THE KING.--THEY PUT THE ARCHBISHOP OF AUCH IN POSSESSION OF HIS
ARCHBISHOPRIC.--OTHER EVENTS.
In the month of May of this year, the king of France sent the count de
Clermont, the lord de Lohéac marshal of France, and other captains,
into the county of Armagnac; and likewise the count de Dammartin, the
bailiff of Evreux, and several others, against the count d'Armagnac,
into Rouergue, because he had refused to put the archbishop of Auch in
possession of his archbishopric, to which he had been duly elected, and
had received his bulls from the pope. The count had wished, contrary
to all right, to place therein one called de l'Estin, and had given
him admittance into the city, and possession of the archbishopric,
contrary to the will and orders of the king.
The king, much angered at de l'Estin having been installed by the count
by force, ordered his men at arms to besiege his city of Lectoure[187],
whither the before-named captains had marched, as well as into other
parts of his possessions in Armagnac and Rouergue. Thus did the count
lose all his territories for his rebellion against the king; for, as
the Scripture saith, it is hard to kick against the pricks. When this
was done, these captains returned to the king according to his orders.
In this same year, king Henry of England, by the advice of the duke of
Somerset, summoned a parliament of his great lords, to consider the
present state of affairs. For this purpose, very many came to London;
and the duke of York thought it would be advisable for him to make
his appearance also,--and in fact he set out, accompanied by about a
thousand armed retainers. He was, however, joined on his road by four
or five thousand more, of which the king and the duke of Somerset were
ignorant, they having knowledge of the duke being attended by only one
thousand men. The king and the duke of Somerset held a council with the
earl of Northumberland, and other lords, and determined to collect as
large a force as they could in and about London, and march out to meet
the duke of York, in the expectation of defeating him, as they were
astonished he should come in arms to attend the parliament.
The two armies soon met, and instantly came to blows, when numbers
were slain,--but victory remained with the duke of York. Among the
slain were the duke of Somerset, the earl of Northumberland, and many
other lords, and from four to five hundred common men. The king was
wounded by an arrow in the neck, and was for some time in great danger.
The duke of York made many prisoners, nobles and others, whom he led
to London with the king,--where some were set at liberty, and others
punished according to their deserts. The late government was entirely
overthrown, and the whole power remained with the duke of York as
regent of the king and kingdom.
At this time, the count d'Armagnac, having lost all his possessions,
retired into the kingdoms of Navarre and Arragon.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 187: Lectoure,--a city in Armagnac, of which Auch is the
capital, ten leagues from Auch.]
[A.D. 1456.]
CHAP. LXIV.
THE KING OF FRANCE IS DISCONTENTED WITH THE DAUPHIN, FOR GOING TO THE
DUKE OF BURGUNDY WITHOUT HIS CONSENT.--POPE CALIXTUS MAKES REGULATIONS
RESPECTING THE CROISADE AGAINST THE TURKS.
In the year 1456, the king of France, learning that his eldest son had
left Dauphiny, and gone to the territories of the duke of Burgundy
to consult with him, was very much displeased that he should have
done this without previously informing him thereof. And because he
doubted his being led away by bad advice, and acting imprudently, he
determined to take possession of Dauphiny, to avoid the inconveniences
that might ensue, and also to reduce him to that obedience a son owes a
father.
In consequence, he marched a powerful army into Dauphiny, and took full
possession of all its rents and revenues, together with the castles and
strong holds, to prevent his son from receiving any advantages from
them, and to induce him the more speedily to return. The king sent also
men at arms to guard the passages at Pontoise, Compiègne, in Brie, and
other parts, and forbade the great towns to admit the dauphin or any of
his partisans, unless they should be forced thereto. He did all this,
from his opinion how headstrong and obstinate the dauphin was: as a
convincing proof of which, when he left the king, he had asked leave to
be absent only four months, and had remained nearly ten years, to the
great vexation of his father.
About this time, pope Calixtus III. made certain regulations respecting
a croisade, and issued indulgences to all who should carry into
execution the contents of the bulls that had been published by him, and
had been promulgated by different preachers throughout Christendom.
Certain proposals were now sent by the duke of Burgundy to the king of
France respecting the dauphin, and were laid before him by the duke's
ambassadors.
In this season, the Hungarians made a great destruction of the infidels
in Hungary, by the counsel of sir John Capestrian[188], an ancient
disciple of St Bernard, in conjunction with the aid of a wise and
valiant knight called sir Guillaume Blanc[189]. By their means, the
Turks, who were very numerous in Belgrade, were driven out of that
city, and more than fifteen thousand were slain: indeed, none escaped
being put to death. On the morrow, great armies of Turks advanced, and
were valiantly fought with by the Christians, who again gained the
victory, and slew one hundred thousand Turks between sunrise and sunset.
The soldan of Persia[190], commander in chief of the Turks, was there
in person; and seeing the discomfiture of his army, he fled with a few
of his men to a city called Boibe[191], and thence into Greece. The
chevalier Blanc pursued him, and won the city of Boibe, putting to
death two thousand Turks; and by the aid of God, following up their
success, the Christians won very many towns and strong castles, namely,
the city of Bastiliance, Ulgaria, Fastigia, Emere, and a very handsome
town called Angasta[192]: in the latter, fifteen thousand Turks were
destroyed. The Christians lost, at this last attack, five thousand
men, whom may God receive in paradise! 'Quia dignus operarius mercede
sua.'
The Christians afterwards gained St Vincent[193], and the town and
castle of Valence[194]; and as they proceeded, the inhabitants were
converted to the Christian faith. They continued successful, and won
the town and castle of Flagis and Gaunaldalo, and Porrus, Stavengier
and Chastouen[195], where four thousand Turks were put to death, with
the loss of one hundred Christians, whose souls may God pardon! The
Christians now entered Greece with a large army, and conquered a great
city called Glotuase[196], where they slew ten thousand infidels.
They then left behind them all walled towns, and advanced to the
province of Culdée[197], which is near to Constantinople, having gained
possession of the greater part of the lands in Greece, and to the
westward of it, and also of the cities of Latheris and Glamus[198],
with many other castles and towns.
The Turks that had been slain in these different battles were estimated
at two hundred thousand, with the loss of eight score cities and
walled towns, four hundred castles, great and small. These victories
have been thus detailed for insertion in the chronicles of the times,
and asserted for truth on the holy evangelists, on the oath of their
priesthood, by the following venerable persons, namely, sir John
Valate, priest, sir Patrick Tournaille, priest also, and Andrew Valate,
a layman,--all three inhabiting the diocese of Umblanum in Dacia.
The chevalier Blanc was grievously wounded by a lance in the last
battle, so that he was constrained to retire into the city of Angasta,
where he died. God have mercy on his soul! he being well deserving
thereof. In like manner was the Turk severely wounded, and forced to
withdraw to Constantinople, where he remained for a long time very ill.
These three persons having been interrogated by the chronicler of
France on their oaths, how they knew what they had told to be true,
deposed, that they had been personally present in arms at all these
battles and sieges, and had fought at them, and, in consideration
of the very great perils they had escaped from, had vowed to make
pilgrimages to the shrine of St Denis, and to other places, which they
intended to fulfil before they returned to their own country. They
appeared to be well affected to the Christian faith. They said, that
the Turk, when recovered, left Constantinople for Asia.
On Saturday, the 4th day of December in this year, and about three
hours before day, such an earthquake happened at Naples, in Puglia,
and Calabria, as the oldest persons did not remember to have seen,
from which great and numberless evils ensued,--a few of which shall be
mentioned. In the first place, the small city of Ariano[199], in the
kingdom of Naples, was so completely destroyed that eight thousand
persons perished. Another city called Padula[200] was destroyed, with
its three thousand inhabitants, for not one escaped. Item, another
town, called Bouchery[201], was overwhelmed,--and no one who had not
seen these places before this unfortunate event would have supposed
they could have existed, so thoroughly changed was the whole face of
the country.
One half of the town of Troia[202] was thrown down, and many people
perished. The greater part of the castle of Canosa[203] fell, with some
of the town. The cities of Ascoli[204] and Santa Agatha[205] shared the
same fate, as did the castle of Arpi[206] and several others.
In the country of Molise[207], the cities of Campo Basso[208],
Laurentino[209], the castle of St Julian[210], Macona[211], the castles
of St Lou[212], Castine[213], and La Rippe[214], were swallowed up by
the earthquake, and many lands near to Altavilla[215], when upwards of
twenty-eight thousand persons perished. The city of Naples suffered
some damage, but more in the churches than in the other buildings. The
earthquake lasted for three days, and in some places more, namely, from
the 4th of the month until the 7th inclusive; when, as reported by men
of truth, more than one hundred thousand persons of both sexes were
destroyed.
This earthquake ruined in one night the castles of Sanguine[216],
Presole[217], and la Roche Capoa[218], where neither walls nor houses
were left standing. One half of the city of Sermone[219] and the castle
of Oliveto[220] were destroyed: in which last five hundred persons were
killed, and in the castle of Pesolo[221] six hundred. In like manner,
when the castle of Thoco[222] was overthrown, its lord and all within
perished. This accident ruined also part of the port of Ancona, and
such damages were done to the buildings of Capua[223], Aversa[224], and
Benevento[225], and to the castle of Lusano[226], as would have been
incredible but to those who saw it.
The account of this unfortunate disaster was sent in writing to the
marquis of Ferrara by his brother Hercules[227], then in the kingdom
of Naples with the king of Arragon, and written at Rougia[228], the 7th
day of December, in the year 1456.
On the first day of this same year, while the king of France was at St
Prier, near to Lyon, Otho Castellan, a Florentine and treasurer of the
king's household, was arrested on the bridge at Lyon by the provost
of the palace, from informations the king had received that the said
Otho had formed certain devices prejudicial to his personal safety.
He had made certain images that, by diabolical arts, would assure him
the government of the king, and cause him to do whatever the said Otho
should please. Guillaume Gouffier was his accomplice, and was long
detained in prison to obtain from him the truth of these charges. Otho
was carried prisoner before the parliament of Tholouse, where he had
long acted as the king's treasurer; and Gouffier was sent to Tours. In
the ensuing year, Otho was condemned by the chancellor to banishment
and confiscation of his effects; but the king pardoned him, so that he
only lost the places he had held, and was banished to twenty leagues
distant from wherever the king should be, and was compelled to pay a
fine of a thousand crowns for the expenses of his suit. But Otho was
then accused of sodomy, and brought back to Tours for trial, and thence
sent to Paris, as it was said that he had appealed to the parliament;
but I cannot say how this matter ended, for he was transported from one
prison to another, so that I am ignorant of the conclusion.
This was a great year of rain. The duke and duchess of Savoy came this
year to the king of France and the prince of Piedmont, eldest son to
the duke, was married to Yolande, daughter to the king of France.
An embassy now arrived in France from Spain, to confirm the alliances
between the two kingdoms; and at the same time, the prince of Navarre
came to demand from the king the duchy of Nemours,--and also the
cardinal of Avignon from Brittany, on his return from canonising St
Vincent at Vannes. Shortly after, the cardinal waited on the king, to
require a tenth from the clergy of his realm, to carry on the war, as
he said, against the Turks.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 188: Sir John Capestrian. John Capistrian, a celebrated
franciscan monk. Nicholas V. made him apostolic commissary in Hungary.
He was greatly successful in assembling the army, which, under the
command of the great Huniades, raised the siege of Belgrade in 1456.
He died three months after. He was canonised, in 1690, by Alexander
VIII.--See Aikin's General Biography, Moreri, &c.]
[Footnote 189: Sir Guillaume Blanc. I should suppose this must be meant
for John Corvin Huniades,--the greatest captain of the age, and the
bitterest enemy of the Turks. See more of him in the biographical works
above mentioned.]
[Footnote 190: The soldan of Persia. A mistake. It was Mohammed II. who
was wounded at this battle.]
[Footnote 191: Boibe. Q.]
[Footnote 192: Bastiliance, Ulgaria, Fastigia, Emere, Angasta. Q.]
[Footnote 193: St Vincent. Q.]
[Footnote 194: Valence. Q.]
[Footnote 195: Flagis, Gaunaldalo, Porrus, Stavengier, Chastouen. Q.]
[Footnote 196: Glotuase. Q.]
[Footnote 197: Culdée. Q.]
[Footnote 198: Latheris, Glamus. Q.]
[Footnote 199: Ariano,--in the Principato Ultra of Naples. It never
recovered the desolation caused by an earthquake 1456. Another more
destructive happened in 1732.----_Crutwell's Gazetteer._]
[Footnote 200: Padula,--a town of Naples, in the Principato Citra.]
[Footnote 201: Bouchery. Q. Bocchianico? a town of Naples in Abruzzo
Citra.]
[Footnote 202: Troia,--a town of Naples in the Capitinata.]
[Footnote 203: Canosa,--a town in the country of Bari. It was destroyed
by an earthquake in 1694.]
[Footnote 204: Ascoli,--in the Capitinata.]
[Footnote 205: Santa Agatha,--in the Principato Ultra.]
[Footnote 206: Arpi,--in the Capitinata.]
[Footnote 207: Molise,--a country of Naples.]
[Footnote 208: Campo Basso is the capital.]
[Footnote 209: Laurentino. Q.]
[Footnote 210: St Julian. St Guiliano in Molise.]
[Footnote 211: Macona. Q. Ancona?]
[Footnote 212: St Lou. St Lotiero in the Principato Ultra.]
[Footnote 213: Castine,--Castigluini, Principato Ultra.]
[Footnote 214: La Rippe. Ripa Limasara in Molise.]
[Footnote 215: Altavilla,--in the Principato Citra, 17 miles from
Salerno.]
[Footnote 216: Sanguine. Q.]
[Footnote 217: Presole. Q. Presciano. Principato Citra.]
[Footnote 218: La Roche de Capoa. Q. Rocca de Minolfa. Molise.]
[Footnote 219: Sermone. Q.]
[Footnote 220: Oliveto. Q.]
[Footnote 221: Pesolo. Pesol_a_ is a lake in the Basilicata.]
[Footnote 222: Thoco. Q.]
[Footnote 223: Capua,--fifteen miles from Naples.]
[Footnote 224: Aversa,--ten miles north from Naples.]
[Footnote 225: Benevento,--in the Principato Ultra.]
[Footnote 226: Lusano. Q.]
[Footnote 227: Borso d'Este, marquis of Ferrara, was succeeded by his
legitimate brother Hercules d'Este.]
[Footnote 228: Rougia. Q. Reggio? a sea-port of Naples in Calabria
Ultra.]
CHAP. LXV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, WITH A LARGE ARMY, ESCORTS HIS BASTARD SON INTO
HOLLAND, AND PUTS HIM IN PEACEABLE POSSESSION OF THE BISHOPRICK OF
UTRECHT.--HE BESIEGES DEVENTER[229], AND FORCES ITS INHABITANTS TO
OBEY THE NEW BISHOP, WHICH THEY HAD BEFORE REFUSED.
When duke Philip saw that he could not prevail by love and entreaties
to make his son be accepted for bishop by the chapter of Utrecht, he
sent to Picardy and Hainault for a body of troops, and he was soon
joined by full thirteen thousand combatants. The chapter now changed
their tone, and admitted his son as their bishop, under certain
conditions, namely, that the brother of the lord de Brederode, who had
been elected, should receive for his life an annual pension, from the
bishoprick of Utrecht, of four thousand francs, from the bishoprick
of Therouenne two thousand francs,--and, for the expenses he had been
put to, fifty thousand lyons once paid. He was also to be made first
counsellor to the duke in the affairs of Holland, with a salary of a
thousand florins of the Rhine. In consideration of this arrangement,
he resigned the bishoprick, which was commonly said to be worth yearly
fifty thousand mailles of the Rhine.
When this had been settled, duke Philip entered Utrecht, with his
company on the 5th of August, and was most honourably received. On the
morrow, his son entered in arms, grandly accompanied; and on the Sunday
following, he said mass in the cathedral.
Soon after, the duke left Utrecht, with his whole army, to besiege
a considerable town in the diocese, called Deventer, because it had
refused to acknowledge the new bishop. Those of the town sallied out
against him; and a smart skirmish ensued, in which many were killed
on both sides. In the end, they were repulsed and driven back into
the town; and on the fourth day, a strong bulwark they had erected in
front of the gate was so much battered with cannon that those within,
foreseeing it must be taken, set in on fire, and burnt it during the
night. The siege, however, lasted until the end of September, when the
townsmen sent offers to the duke to obey the bishop, as the other towns
within his diocese had done.
While this treaty was carrying on, the duke of Gueldres, who had
married the niece of duke Philip, by whom he had a fair son about
sixteen years of age, after having promised his aid to the duke
of Burgundy, quitted his country, and abandoned his places,--but
nevertheless made an hasty alliance with the Frizelanders, when they
assembled a great army with the intent of overthrowing duke Philip.
The duke of Burgundy would have remained in perfect ignorance of this
treachery, had not his niece been told of the wicked designs of her
husband against her uncle; and instantly quitting the place she was
in with her son, attended by her servants, she hastened to the duke,
then besieging Deventer, and told him of the plots against him. This
caused the duke to lose no time in closing with the offers of those in
Deventer, so that the treaty was immediately concluded, and hostages
were given for its performance. The duke raised the siege the 27th day
of September, and returned to Utrecht, and thence to the Hague, where
he disbanded his army, leaving his son David in peaceable possession of
the bishoprick of Utrecht.
He was under great obligations to his niece for the information she
had given him; for if he had remained two days longer at the siege, he
would have been attacked by the duke of Gueldres and the Frizelanders
before he knew any thing of their intentions, and it would probably
have been unfortunate to him by reason of his being totally unprepared
to receive them.
The duke of Gueldres was much reproached for this conduct, considering
that he had married the duke of Burgundy's niece, and that the good
duke had sent their daughter to marry the king of Scotland, at his own
expense, and had done many and very great kindnesses to the duke of
Gueldres.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 229: Deventer,--on the Issel, the capital of Overissel.]
CHAP. LXVI.
THE DUKE OF ALENÇON IS ARRESTED AND THROWN INTO PRISON.--THE TURKS ARE
MIRACULOUSLY DEFEATED IN HUNGARY.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS
YEAR OF MCCCCLVI.
Soon after the feast of Pentecost, the duke of Alençon was arrested
in Paris, by orders from the king and the count de Dunois, bastard of
Orleans, and sent to Melun. From Melun he was carried before the king,
and convicted, as it was said, of having intrigued with the English to
accomplish a marriage between his eldest son and the eldest daughter of
the duke of York, unknown to the king, and of having engaged to deliver
up to the English his strong places, to the prejudice of the king,
and particularly the duchy of Normandy. Having confessed his guilt, he
was closely confined until after the death of king Charles. When he
was arrested, it was currently reported that the duke of Burgundy was
implicated in these intrigues of the duke of Alençon with the English,
which so much displeased the king that he had it proclaimed throughout
the realm, that no one, under pain of death, should make such charges
against his good brother of Burgundy, nor any way speak disrespectfully
of his honour.
In the month of June in this year, a comet with a prodigious tail
appeared in the west, having its tail pointed toward England: it
continued visible for three months. The new wines of this season were
so sour that the old ones were in greater request for their superior
goodness and flavour.
In this year also, the great emperor of the Turks, called
Morbesan[230], besieged the strong town and castle of Belgrade,
situated on the confines of Hungary. He was upwards of four months
and a half before it, which vexed him so much that he swore, in the
presence of his army, to win it by force or perish in the attempt.
There were some in the turkish army who gave information of this to
those in the town, that they might be prepared; and Ovidianus[231],
one of the noblest and most powerful princes of Hungary, hearing also
of this intention, instantly assembled nine hundred cavalry and forty
thousand infantry of all sorts, and entered the town by the Danube,
without the Turk knowing any thing thereof,--for he had only besieged
the place on the land side, and had neglected to post any guards on
that great river the Danube.
Ovidianus entered the town on the eve of Magdalen-day, which was the
day fixed on by the Turk to storm the place; and so eager was he to
fulfil his vow that he ordered one third of his army to commence
the attack at midnight, which was done with much courage,--but the
besieged made so gallant a defence that they were repulsed. The attack
lasted until eight o'clock in the morning, when another division, equal
in numbers to the first, advanced to renew the combat, but they also
were forced to retreat.
The emperor of the Turks now advanced in person, accompanied by the
boldest of his captains, and continued the combat with such obstinacy
and courage that, from its commencement, at four in the afternoon, it
lasted until the middle of the following day, which made twenty hours
in the whole: a terrible fatigue to those in the town thus to support
three renewed attacks without any respite or repose. They were at
length so worn down that they could not longer help each other, and the
Turks were beginning to enter the town in large bodies.
Among the Christians in this town was a very devout cordelier friar,
called John Capistran, who, seeing the Turks enter the breach, seized a
crucifix, and, ascending the highest part of the castle, cried aloud,
'O Deus meus, Deus meus! O altissime Pater! veni in adjutorium, veni
et libera populum quem redemisti pretioso sanguine tuo. Veni noli
tardare. Deus meus ubi sunt misericordiæ tuæ antiquæ, veni ne Turci
et increduli dicant ubi est Deus eorum.' The cordelier, in uttering
these words, wept bitterly; and when the Christians heard them, they
felt quite refreshed, and as if they were new men, without feeling any
fatigue, and instantly fell on the Turks who were entering the town
with such courage that they slew all they met, and put the rest to
flight. They pursued them upwards of eight leagues, killing or wounding
all they overtook, so that more than one hundred thousand were slain
in the whole. They gained all the artillery of the Turks, and such
quantities of riches, in tents, money, and effects, as it would seem
marvellous to relate.
Among other things won were eleven large bombards, six of which were
of prodigious length, and of a great bore, and more than two hundred
smaller bombards and cannons. When news of this important victory
was carried to the pope then reigning, he ordered processions and
thanksgivings to be made in all the churches of Christendom, to render
thanks to God for this great victory,--and, among other things, to ring
the Ave Maria between two and three o'clock on the anniversary of the
day this miracle happened, as it is usual to ring it every evening in
all churches; and this manner of ringing it after dinner is continued
in several churches in France.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 230: Morbesan. Mohammed II. surnamed the Victorious.]
[Footnote 231: Ovidianus. Probably Huniades,--John Corvin.]
CHAP. LXVII.
THE DAUPHIN OF FRANCE TAKES REFUGE WITH DUKE PHILIP OF
BURGUNDY.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS YEAR.
Louis de Valois, eldest son to the king of France, and dauphin of
Vienne, had resided for ten or twelve years in Dauphiny, because the
king was displeased with him. Some said, this was owing to his ill
treatment of his subjects in Dauphiny, more particularly the bishops
and churchmen, whose revenues he seized against their wills, for
the support of his state: others, however, excused him for so doing,
because his father had stopped the allowance he had formerly given him.
It was also reported, that the king's anger arose from the death of the
fair Agnes being caused by poison, of which the dauphin was suspected,
as he had frequently blamed and murmured against his father for his
attachment to her. In truth, Agnes Sorel was the handsomest woman of
her age, and in more favour with the king than the queen: the great
lords also paid more court to her than to the queen, who was a very
good and honourable lady, which had vexed the dauphin much,--and he had
hastened her death.
However, after the decease of the fair Agnes, the damsel de Villequier,
her niece, succeeded her in the affections of the king, who, in his
latter days, would have about him the finest and handsomest women of
his realm.
Whatever may have been the real cause of the quarrel between the king
and the dauphin, the king ordered sir Anthony de Chabannes count de
Dammartin, to proceed into Dauphiny with a sufficient body of men at
arms to arrest the dauphin and bring him to his presence by force
or otherwise; but the dauphin fortunately escaped,--for it was then
commonly believed that, had he been arrested, the king would have
treated him very harshly, and would have made king his younger son
Charles.
The dauphin having had intimation of the orders to arrest him, gave
public notice for a hunting party on the morrow, and ordered his dinner
to be prepared at the place of rendezvous. Intelligence of this was
carried to the count de Dammartin, who posted ambushes to seize the
dauphin the moment he should arrive at the place; but, as he suspected
their machinations, early on the morrow, when it was thought he was
gone to the hunt he with six of his most confidential attendants,
mounted their fleetest horses, and set off, as fast as they could
travel, for Burgundy, and never stopped until they arrived at St
Claude, a town in Burgundy. It was well for them that they made this
haste, or they would have been overtaken by the count de Dammartin, who
followed very closely at their heels.
Shortly after the dauphin's arrival at St Claude, he went to the prince
of Orange at Nasere[232], who received him most honourably: and on
hearing him declare that he feared he should be pursued, and that he
was desirous of going to the duke of Burgundy, the prince sent off in
haste for the marshal of Burgundy, who came to him with a handsome
escort of men at arms,--and they instantly departed for Brabant.
This conduct was truly extraordinary,--for the prince of Orange and
the duke of Burgundy were the two men in the world whom the dauphin
hated the most, for having several times repulsed, with loss, his own
and the king's men, whenever they made any excursions on the duke's
territories, which he was determined to preserve from inroads; but
necessity, which owns no law, forced him to seek an asylum among those
he hated, and to make use of them in his time of need.
The marshal of Burgundy conducted him with such prudence through the
territories of the duke of Burgundy that he arrived safely at Louvain,
whence he went to Brussels, and thence he sent one of his attendants
with information to the duke, at that time in Holland, of his arrival.
The good duke, anxious to receive and entertain him as the eldest son
of his sovereign lord, hastened as much as possible the treaty of
Deventer, that he might return to Brabant.
Immediately on his arrival at Brussels, he went to the dauphin,
and paid him every respect in honour to the king, and to himself
personally,--and no prince knew better how to do these honours. He
instantly assigned him three thousand francs monthly to maintain his
estate, and begged of him to make choice of what place he should please
for his residence, and he would give orders for its being immediately
delivered up to him. The dauphin asked for Geneppe[233], a castle in
Brabant, pleasantly situated, and a handsome residence, where he lived
for a long time.
In the course of this year, sir Thibault de Luxembourg, lord of
Fiennes, brother to the count of St Pol, and widower of the daughter of
the lord of Antoing, by whom he had several children, became a monk of
the order of Cistercians, notwithstanding that in his youth he had been
a very free liver.
Toward the end of October, soon after the arrival of the dauphin in
Brabant, the duke of Burgundy sent a handsome embassy to the king of
France, the chief of which was the lord de Chimay high bailiff of
Hainault, to satisfy him as to his son's coming to his territories,
and to say that he would show him every possible honour in his power.
The ambassadors waited long for an audience; and while they were thus
delayed, the king of France sent a body of men at arms to Compiègne
and Soissons, two towns on the frontiers of the duke of Burgundy's
possessions. The duke, hearing of this, suspected that the king
intended to make war on him, as indeed did many others, and issued a
summons throughout Picardy, Flanders, and Hainault, for all men capable
of bearing arms to be ready in his defence in case the king should
attack him.
About Christmas in this year, Charles duke of Bourbon departed this
life, and was succeeded by his eldest son, who, by his mother, was
nephew to the duke of Burgundy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 232: Nasere. Q. Nazey? a village near Besançon.]
[Footnote 233: Geneppe,--on the Dyle, six leagues from Brussels. Louis
XI. resided here, when dauphin, with the dauphiness, upwards of five
years.]
CHAP. LXVIII.
A QUARREL TAKES PLACE BETWEEN DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY AND HIS SON THE
COUNT OF CHAROLOIS, BUT IS APPEASED BY THE DAUPHIN.--THE COUNTESS OF
CHAROLOIS IS BROUGHT TO BED OF A DAUGHTER.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED
IN DIVERS PARTS.
On the 17th of January, of this same year, while the duke of Burgundy
resided at Brussels, a dispute arose between the lord de Quievrain and
the lord d'Aymeries, both chamberlains to the count de Charolois, each
of whom, during the absence of the lord d'Auxy his first chamberlain,
would take the precedency of the other. The count was desirous that
the lord d'Aymeries should have the preference,--which coming to the
knowledge of the duke, he sent for his son, and commanded him to prefer
the lord de Quievrain. The count replied, that he would do no such
thing, and that the house of Croy should not govern him, as he had
suffered them to do in regard to himself.
The duke was so exceedingly irritated at this answer of his son that
he would have struck him, and commanded him to quit his territories
instantly. The count, therefore, departed, much angered and grieved.
When night came, the duke, equally troubled, called for a horse, and,
having mounted it, rode alone into the fields, although it was then
raining very hard. He soon after entered a forest, and lost his road,
so that he knew not whither to direct his horse: luckily he came to the
house of a poor man, who received him, and he lay there that night. On
the morrow, at the earliest dawn, he made his host conduct him strait
to Geneppe,--and on his departure gave him eight florins of the Rhine.
The attendants of the duke sought him during the night, so that on the
morrow he was grandly accompanied, and thus returned to Brussels. He
shortly after pardoned his son, at the request and entreaties of the
principal lords of his household, and especially at the entreaties of
the dauphin; but he banished from his territories two of the count's
attendants, because he suspected them of having advised his son to act
in the manner he had done, respecting the two chamberlains.
It happened, that not long after, as the dauphin and the count de
Charolois were hunting in a forest, toward evening they separated, and
the dauphin, with only two attendants, lost his way in the thickest
part of the forest. The count, imagining that he was returned to
Brussels, came home without him. The duke, seeing him return without
the dauphin, was much angered, and ordered him to remount, and sent
him, with many others, with torches and lights, charging them withal to
seek diligently and find him. They made such haste that they met him
full eight leagues from Brussels under the guidance of a peasant, to
whom he had given a golden crown: by this means they had so soon found
him, and were much rejoiced thereat,--as was the duke, when he saw him
arrive in safety.
On the 13th of February, in this year, the countess of Charolois
was brought to bed of a daughter in the town of Brussels. At her
christening, the dauphin, the duchess of Burgundy, and the lady of
Ravestein were sponsors. The dauphin named her Mary, in honour of the
queen his mother, who bore that name. Great feasts took place on this
occasion throughout the duke's territories,--and in the great towns
there were illuminations, and thanksgivings were offered up to God.
A short time after this event, the duke of Burgundy sent again the same
embassy, namely, the lord de Chimay and sir Simon de Lalain, to assure
the king of France, that the dauphin had come to him of his own accord,
and to find means of satisfying the king on this subject.
About this time died the patriarch of Antioch, brother to the
chancellor of France, Juvenel des Ursins, to the archbishop of Rheims,
and to another knight at arms, who were four brothers much in the good
graces of the king of France.
[A.D. 1457.]
CHAP. LXIX.
AN EMBASSY FROM THE KING OF HUNGARY ARRIVES AT TOURS, AND IS
HONOURABLY RECEIVED BY THE KING OF FRANCE.--THE KING OF HUNGARY
DIES.--THE FRENCH TAKE THE SEAPORT OF SANDWICH BY STORM.
In the year 1457, the king of France, anxious to attack his enemies,
more particularly the Saracens and other unbelievers in the catholic
faith, made an alliance with the potent king of Hungary, who was
sovereign of three kingdoms, namely, Hungary, Poland, and Bohemia.
In consequence of this alliance, the king of Hungary was to espouse
the princess Magdalen, the king of France's daughter; and very many
great barons, knights, and lords of the three kingdoms were sent as
ambassadors to France to be present at the betrothing: even churchmen
were of this embassy, such as the archbishop of Cologne and the bishop
of Passau,--to the amount, in all, of six hundred horse.
When they arrived at Tours in their various dresses, the king was at
Montils le Tours, a place hard by,--but the queen and princess were
in Tours. The ambassadors presented to the queen a rich robe of cloth
of gold, embroidered with pearls and jewels, and another, equally
sumptuous, to the princess, together with a splendid waggon hung on
springs[234]. Many of the principal lords of the king's household went
about a league from Tours to meet them.
They were handsomely received by the king and his court, and great
entertainments were made for them, especially by the count de Foix,
who gave a grand feast on Thursday before Christmas, in the abbey of
St Julian at Tours, where all the princes and lords of the court were
present. The tables were served, in the utmost abundance, with all
sorts of delicacies, such as pheasants, partridges, bustards, cranes,
wild geese, rabbits without number, fat capons, six score quarts of
hypocras, as well white as red, removes,--morrice dances of children
dressed as savages issuing from a rock, singers, trumpets, clarions,
and various devices,--insomuch that this dinner cost eighteen hundred
crowns, besides the rich presents to the guests.
These feasts were continued to the ambassadors waiting for the
betrothing of the princess to the king of Hungary, by procuration, soon
after Christmas. But it has been truly said, that often man proposes,
and God disposes; for on the morrow of Christmas-day, the melancholy
news of the king of Hungary's death was brought to the king of France,
which caused great sorrow to him and his whole court.
The king ordered a general mourning, and a grand funeral service to be
performed, in honour of the potent king of Hungary, in the metropolitan
church of St Gratien in Tours, with ringing of bells, illuminations of
wax tapers in the greatest profusion, befitting the obsequies of so
noble a prince.
The hungarian ambassadors took their leave of the king of France on the
morrow after new-year's-day[235], and departed for their own country,
taking their road through Paris, where they were grandly received,--and
all the nobility then in the town went out to meet them as far as
the windmill beyond the gate of St James. They had people appointed,
however cold the weather was, to lie upon their carriages, which were
chained up with great chains. This was a novel sight,--and the chains
were fastened with a lock, the key of which one of their governors
carried with him when he went to sleep. A grand funeral service was
performed in the church of Nôtre Dame, with a great display of torches
and wax lights.
During the stay of the Hungarians in Paris, the frost was so intense
that they could not walk or ride by reason of the slipperiness of the
streets, but went about in a traineau, made of wood, square and without
wheels, wherever business or pleasure led them. They visited the noble
and royal church of St Denis, and were received at the gate of the
church by the convent in their copes, but the abbot was absent. They
were presented to kiss a cross of gold set with precious stones, that
contained within it a part of the true cross, and they were besprinkled
with holy water and incense: in short, their reception was similar to
that which would have been given to the late king of Hungary, had he
been there in person. The treasures and sacred vestments of the church
were displayed to them,--and they saw the bodies of the saints that had
been interred in separate chapels, and the sepultures of the kings and
queens of France; all of which gave them much pleasure, for they had
for interpreter one of the king's pursuivants, who understood their
language, and had been ordered by the king to attend on them. After
their return from St Denis to Paris, they departed for Hungary.
On the 21st day of August, sir Pierre de Brézé, lord of Varenne and
count de Maulévrier, accompanied by Robert de Flocques, bailiff of
Evreux, with many other lords, men at arms and archers, sailed from
Honfleur, to the number of four thousand combatants. And on the 25th
of the said month, the lords de la Fosse and de l'Eure put to sea, and
sailed for several places without meeting any adventures, nor being
able to land from the roughness of the weather.
On the following Sunday, the 28th of the month, from sixteen to
eighteen hundred combatants made a descent, two leagues from Sandwich
in England, about six o'clock in the morning, and formed themselves
into three battalions. They marched on foot two long leagues through
very bad roads, until they came to a bulwark that had been lately
repaired, the ditches of which were full of water. This bulwark had two
towers full of archers, who were sharply attacked, and many wounded on
each side. Several of the English were killed,--and the bulwark was won
by storm, the English having retreated into the town.
The bailiff of Evreux, who commanded the rear-guard, remained at his
post during this attack, and, when the bulwark was won, kept his
position, as it had been ordered. A division came by sea before
Sandwich, to the great joy of their companions on foot, seeing their
handsome appearance, while the English were as much cast down. In
this division was a guidon of the count de Dunois, borne by Galiot de
Genouillac.
There were in the port of Sandwich a large carrack and three ships of
war, into which many English had retreated, and would have continued
to do much mischief to the French, if the grand seneschal of Normandy
had not sent them orders to cease shooting or he would burn their
vessels. It was then agreed, that they should retire in safety from
these vessels, provided they ceased from hostilities, which was fully
complied with.
This same day the seneschal had it proclaimed through his army, that no
one, under pain of death, should touch the effects of the churches, or
violate the honour of any woman, or set any house on fire, or kill any
one in cold blood: all of which commands were most honourably observed.
The infantry now entered the town by the gates, and the division by
sea the harbour,--when the English gave them full employment, for they
attacked them in every square when they rallied after being defeated in
another place. However, the French, but with great difficulty, drove
them out of the town, and displayed their banners from the gates, under
which the French formed themselves in battle-array: indeed, they had
need so to do, for the English were increasing in strength from all
the adjacent parts. They had heard that the French intended to attack
Sandwich, but, from pride, they said they would not believe it until
they should see them.
The English, thus increased, kept up the skirmishes before the gates
for six hours without intermission, when many were killed and wounded
on each side. Thirty new knights were created on this occasion, namely,
Robert de Flocques, called Flocquet, bailiff of Evreux,--Thibault de
Termes, bailiff of Chartres,--John Charbonnel, lord of Chevreuses, and
others, who behaved very valiantly.
When it was about five o'clock in the afternoon, the French, perceiving
no end to skirmishing from the numbers of the enemy constantly
increasing, and that their own men were greatly fatigued from their
sufferings at sea, as the weather had been against them, determined on
making a retreat; for they thought they should be unable to continue
the engagement during the night, considering that they had many killed
and wounded, that their men had little or no refreshments during the
whole day, and that the English were hourly receiving reinforcements.
In this retreat, the French suffered no other loss than that of a boat,
in which were twelve men at arms, that sunk, and nine of them were
drowned: it was a pity, for they had that day well done their duty. May
God grant them his pardon, and show mercy to all the others who fell!
If it had not been for the great quantity of wine in Sandwich, of which
many archers took more than was necessary, the seneschal would have
tarried there with his whole company that night. They, however, carried
off much wealth, and numbers of vessels, of different sizes, that were
in the harbour: in the number were three large ships of war, which
cast anchor in the road, two leagues from Sandwich, and remained there
until the Wednesday following: the English all the time were drawn up
in battle-array, about a cannon-shot distant one division from another.
The seneschal departed with his fleet on the Thursday, with numbers of
prisoners and much wealth. On his arrival at Honfleur, the prisoners
were ransomed, and the plunder divided.
This was a year of great scarcity in France, and of great mortality in
other places.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 234: I have said 'a waggon hung on springs,' as it is in the
original _chariot branlant_.]
[Footnote 235: The commencement of the year seems _now_ to take place
seven days after Christmas.]
CHAP. LXX.
DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY CARRIES THE DAUPHIN TO BRUGES, WHERE HE IS
JOYFULLY RECEIVED WITH MANY HONOURS.--OTHER EVENTS MENTIONED AND
REPEATED.
Soon after Easter in this year, the duke of Burgundy, accompanied by
the dauphin, set out from Brussels for Bruges, passing through the
towns of Oudenarde and Courtray. In both these towns, the dauphin was
received most honourably. Thence they proceeded to Bruges,--and the
principal inhabitants, to the amount of eight hundred, very richly
dressed, came out to meet them, with a great concourse of common
people, to do honour to the dauphin, and to please their lord.
On the first day of July, in this year, a meeting was held between
St Omer and Gravelines, by the count d'Estampes and the bastard of
Burgundy, on the part of the duke of Burgundy, and the earl of Warwick
for the king of England, to repress and check the enterprises of the
English on several parts of the duke's territories. The matter was so
well managed that a truce was settled between them for eight years.
The 10th of this month, the lady Charlotte of Savoy, daughter to the
duke of Savoy, and married to the dauphin, was conducted to him in the
town of Namur by the lord de Montagu, whom he had sent to escort her;
and then the marriage was perfectly consummated,--for although they had
been married five years, it was said that they had never lain together.
Duke Philip was not then at Namur, but in Picardy, whither he had gone
to learn the intentions of the towns on the Somme, namely, St Quentin,
Corbie, Amiens, and Abbeville; for it had been rumoured that the king
of France had raised a large army, but no one knew how he intended to
employ it,--and it was also reported that the king was much displeased
with the duke of Burgundy, for detaining his son (as he thought)
against his will, and out of contempt to him. The duke had therefore
gone to these towns, which belonged to him by the treaty of Arras, to
put them on their guard, and to entreat them not to admit any men of
arms that the king might send to their towns. But should the king come
in person, they were to admit him with every honour, as their supreme
lord. These requests the several towns willingly complied with.
About the end of this month of July, upward of two thousand houses were
destroyed by fire in the town of Dordrecht in Holland: many persons
were also burnt to death, which was a most melancholy case.
The latter end of August, a large body of French sailed from Normandy,
giving out that they were going to aid the Scots against the English;
but they made a descent near to Sandwich, which they took by storm,
before the country could be raised to oppose them. They, however, only
staid there one tide; for had they remained longer, they would not
have returned, from the great numbers of English that were hastening
thither from all quarters. The commander in chief of the French was the
lord de Varennes, seneschal of Normandy; and new knights were made, to
the number of twenty gentlemen,--among whom were Flocquet, Charlot
de Mares, Porrus de Liques, and others. At this attack, three hundred
English were killed, and about thirty French. They sailed back to
Normandy with their plunder, which was very considerable.
Some short time before this, a party of Bretons had invaded the English
coast, and burnt and pillaged some villages: they made no long stay,
for the English assembled in force to destroy them, had they not
departed.
In the month of September, of this year, the king of France sent the
bishop of Constance and a few others, as his ambassadors to the duke of
Burgundy at Brussels, to remonstrate with the duke on several matters,
especially on the dauphin's remaining so long with him, to the great
displeasure of the king.
CHAP. LXXI.
A COOLNESS BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE COUNT OF ST
POL.--OTHER MATTERS.
In the preceding year, the duke of Burgundy, as earl of Hainault, had
taken possession of the lands of Enghien, belonging to the count de
Saint Pol, and situated in the country of Hainault, although he had
not touched any other lands of the count, situated in France or in the
other territories of the duke. The count de St Pol was much displeased
at this conduct; but, wishing to avoid an open rupture with the duke,
he sent to require, if it were his good pleasure, that he might appear
in his presence to hear what he had been guilty of, and to make such
answers and defence as became him,--and for this purpose he demanded a
passport from the duke. The duke replied, that he had no occasion to
require a passport, unless he reputed himself his enemy. The count,
in answer, said, that so far from reputing himself his enemy, he was
his true and loyal subject, but that he had demanded a passport for
the security of his person, to avoid the effects of the anger of his
prince; for that he was surrounded by counsellors who loved him little,
and who were seeking to create trouble between the duke and him,--and
he had, therefore, been advised not to appear before him without first
having a passport. The passport was at length sent him.
It was reported that the count de St Pol considered the lord de Croy,
first chamberlain and principal minister to the duke, as his chief
enemy, although, a long time before, a marriage had been agreed to
between the eldest son of the lord de Croy and the daughter of the
count de St Pol; and the lady of Croy had received the damsel, and had
educated her as her own child, because she was too young for marriage.
I know not whether the count repented of this match, but he wanted to
have his daughter again, probably to match her more nobly,--and he
sent secretly one of his sons to the place where she was, to bring
his sister back; but the lord de Croy, having had intimation of this,
managed matters so dexterously that the young couple were married and
bedded before the count de Saint Pol could provide a remedy. This was
the cause of their hatred.
The count, having received his passport from the duke, came to Brussels
grandly attended by noble men, and by more than two hundred horse. The
next day, which was about the middle of September, he had an audience
of the duke, and was accused of having slain, or caused to be slain,
certain persons, and of having taken, or caused to be taken, effects
wrongfully and contrary to justice. It was on these grounds the duke
had laid hands on the lands of Enghien; and he was told that he made
but a sorry return for the numerous acts of kindness that had been done
to him and to his family by the duke and his predecessors.
To these charges the count replied, that he always had been, and still
was, ready to serve and obey the duke in all things, whom he considered
so good and benevolent; that if there were none who had prejudiced the
duke's mind against him, he trusted he should satisfy him, as to these
accusations, if it were his pleasure to hear him in private, for that
he should submit himself wholly to his gracious mercy,--but that if
he would not hear him in private, he was ready to reply instantly and
publicly to the accusations that had been laid against him.
This was accepted; but, notwithstanding any defence or excuses that he
made, he could not obtain the repossession of the lands of Enghien, and
returned this time without effecting any thing.
In this year of 1457, a splendid embassy, consisting of upwards of
seven hundred horses, arrived at Tours from Lancelot king of Hungary
and Bohemia. Among them were an archbishop, twelve or thirteen great
barons, and more than thirty gentlemen, who were followed by twenty-six
waggons richly adorned and well equipped, to carry their baggage.
Before they entered the city, king Charles sent out the principal lords
of his household to meet and escort them into the town: the churchmen
and people went out also to do them honour; but the king then resided
at a favourite palace at Montils la Tours, where he had been ill, so
that the ambassadors were forced to remain ten days at Tours before
they could have an audience.
The ambassadors went to Montils les Tours on the 18th day of December,
where they were presented to the king, the queen, their youngest
son Charles, and the princess Magdalen. When the presentations were
performed, the archbishop of Bolisdastain[236] made an harangue
in Latin, in such terms as he had received from his sovereign,
and discoursed first on the love and friendship that had always
existed between the kings of France and the kings of Hungary and
Bohemia,--adding, that it was in consequence of their mutual affection
that the king of Hungary had sent this embassy. 'When,' continued he,
'peace and amity shall exist between you both, who in the world can
hurt you? Thy predecessors and our sovereigns, the kings of Hungary and
Bohemia, have been in alliance. Thou art the column of Christianity,
and my sovereign lord is the shield: thou art the house of
Christendom, and my sovereign is the wall.' Many other fine compliments
he addressed to the king, and, at the conclusion, formally demanded in
marriage the princess Magdalen for king Lancelot his lord, which had
been before done in a private manner.
As the king was well inclined to this marriage, he ordered his
ministers to confer on the subject with the ambassadors; but the first
days were employed in feasting the ambassadors, which was done by grand
and plentiful entertainments given them by one lord after another. At
these feasts, all the nobles of the court of France were present in the
most sumptuous dresses,--so that it was a splendid sight to view the
dukes, counts, barons, knights, esquires, ladies, damsels, heralds,
pursuivants, minstrels and trumpets out of number.
But above all these entertainments was the first given by the count de
Foix, which, in variety and magnificence surpassed them all. The first
ornament was a castle having four small towers at the corners, and in
the middle a larger one with four windows: in every window was seen the
fair countenance of a damsel with her yellow hair, like fine gold,
scattered over her shoulders, and no other parts of her form were seen.
On the summit of this tower was displayed the banner of king Lancelot,
having his arms properly emblazoned, and around the smaller towers
were attached the arms of the principal ambassadors. Within this large
tower, but unseen, were six boys singing so very melodiously that they
were supposed to be damsels.
The second pageant was the resemblance of a tyger, a horrible beast,
with a short thick body, two small pointed horns on his forehead, and
with tusks of a wild boar. A man was concealed within the beast, who
moved him at his pleasure, to appear as if alive; and he was borne by
four gentlemen dressed in the fashion of the country of Béarn, and
dancing after their manner.
The third was the resemblance of a great rock, on which were a fountain
and great plenty of rabbits and other animals. From the rock issued
five small children dressed as savages, who danced a morris-dance.
The fourth interlude was the appearance of a very able esquire as if
on horseback; but the head and housings only were fastened to him, with
which he pranced about the hall, holding in his hand a pot painted
in various colours. From this pot there sprang roses, daisies, and
other flowers; and, rising above all, was a handsome lily, loaded with
flowers de luce. Having placed this pot on the table, another gentleman
arrived with a live peacock in a dish, which he also put on the table,
in order that all who wished to make any vows might then do so. Upon
which, two knights of the embassy did make vows to perform a deed of
arms, and the other to hold a tourney.
At length, dishes full of spices and all kinds of sweatmeats were
brought to the great table, under the figures of stags, wild boars,
bears, monkeys, lions and other beasts; and on each dish were the arms
of those who were present at this dinner. When the dinner was ended,
the dancings began.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 236: Bolisdastain. Q. In the former account of this embassy,
the archbishop of Cologne and bishop of Passau, according to M. du
Cange, are mentioned.]
CHAP. LXXII.
THE DEATH OF LANCELOT KING OF HUNGARY, WHICH CAUSES GREAT MOURNING AT
THE COURT OF FRANCE.--THE DEATHS OF JOHN OF COIMBRA, KING OF CYPRUS,
AND OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,--WHICH LAST IS SUCCEEDED BY HIS BROTHER
ARTHUR COUNT DE RICHEMONT.
On Christmas-eve, in the year 1457, news arrived at Tours of the death
of Lancelot king of Hungary, while his ambassadors were feasting, as
has been said. This sad event changed their feastings into sorrow, and
their grief moved the compassion of all; for they well knew the ardent
desire their king had to marry the daughter of the king of France, not
through any wish of obtaining lands or money with her, but through a
strong passion to connect himself by marriage with the king of France,
as he was then but eighteen years old. They also perceived, from the
great respect and attentions that had been shown them in France, that
the king was equally desirous of this match: you may therefore suppose
that their grief was very great.
This event was concealed six days from king Charles, lest it might
increase his disorder, and in order to afford time for its being broken
gently to him. Funeral obsequies were performed in the church of St
Martin at Tours, before the king was made acquainted with it; but on
that day it was told him, and he much lamented it. On the morrow, the
ambassadors set out on their return, very sorrowful at the unfortunate
issue of their embassy.
Intelligence of the king of Hungary's death was carried to the duke
of Burgundy on Christmas-day, for which he testified his grief; for
king Lancelot and he were nearly related; although he well knew
that the projected alliance between the two kings was meant for
his disadvantage, and particularly to deprive him of the duchy of
Luxembourg, which he had gained, as well by arms as by purchase. King
Lancelot, it was said, claimed this duchy; and it was reported, that
he had bequeathed it to the lady Magdalen of France, and had ordered
his executor, king Charles, to put her in the possession of it.
Notwithstanding that duke Philip had heard all this, he cared very
little about it. Soon after Christmas, the duke ordered a grand funeral
service to be performed in the cathedral church of Bruges for the soul
of the king of Hungary. It was rumoured, that he had died of poison
given him by some of his ministers, who feared, that should he marry
the princess of France, they would be dismissed from the government;
and it was said, that from the time he had swallowed the poison, he
only lived three hours.
In this year, died also John of Coimbra, a Portuguese, nephew to the
duchess of Burgundy. He had married the widowed queen of Cyprus, and in
her right became king of that island. It was a great loss, for he had
given great hopes of his being a good and virtuous prince.
The duke of Brittany departed this life without leaving any male heirs,
so that the duchy fell to his brother Arthur count de Richemont,
constable of France, who reigned as duke in his stead.
CHAP. LXXIII.
KING CHARLES IS DANGEROUSLY ILL.--ON HIS RECOVERY, HE SENDS TO INFORM
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY THAT HE SHALL TAKE UNDER HIS WARD THE ESTATES OF
THE YOUTH OF RODEMAC[237].--THE DUKE'S ANSWER.--OF THE STORMS OF WIND,
FROST, AND SNOW IN THIS SEASON.
At this period, king Charles of France was so grievously ill at Tours
that it was thought he could never recover, and processions and public
prayers were made and offered up in several parts of the kingdom for
the restoration of his health. He shortly after this recovered, and
then sent a gentleman of his household with credential letters to the
duke of Burgundy; and, having laid them before the duke, he said, that
the king of France signified to him by his mouth, that he had taken
under his wardship all the lands of the youth of Rodemac, as well
those in France as elsewhere.
The duke instantly replied, that the lands of that youth were not in
France but in the duchy of Luxembourg, and that, as he was his subject,
the king had nothing to do with it. 'I would wish to know,' added he,
'whether the king means to keep the peace of Arras, which I shall not
on my part infringe: tell him, I beg of you, to make me acquainted
with his will, and recommend me to him; for I know that he has some in
his council who are no friends of mine.' When the duke had given this
answer, he sent off on the morrow a secret embassy to the king.
This youth of Rodemac, whose estates lay in the duchy of Luxembourg,
had always been of the party of king Lancelot, in opposition to the
duke of Burgundy, and was still against him. On the other hand, the
count de St Pol, in the expectation of being constable of France, had
attached himself to king Charles,--so that, from these circumstances,
war rather than peace was looked for between the king of France and the
duke of Burgundy.
In this year, the winter was so severe and long that the frost lasted
from Michaelmas-day until the 18th of February, and the large rivers
were so hard frozen that carriages passed over them. At length, the
frost broke up with such falls of snow and rain that the country was
greatly damaged by the inundations. These miseries were increased by
storms of wind that blew down many houses and steeples, and chimnies
without number: great damage was done to the vessels all along the
coast.
Toward the end of this year, there were such numerous pilgrimages of
Germans and Brabanters, men, women and children, to St Michael's Mount,
that the like was never seen before; nor could any one divine the
reason of their being so numerous at this time, but from a sudden fit
of devotion that had seized them.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 237: Rodemac. Rodemacheron, or Rodemark,--a town in
Luxembourg.]
[A.D. 1458.]
CHAP. LXXIV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOWN OF GHENT, GOES
THITHER.--A GREAT FEAST IS MADE THERE.
On the 23d day of April, after Easter, in the year 1458, duke Philip
of Burgundy made his entry into the town of Ghent, at the request
of the inhabitants,--but not on their first soliciting it, for they
had frequently made this request through the dauphin and other great
lords. He would not, however, agree to go thither until that day, when
he made his entry with the dauphin; for he would not, for particular
reasons, take thither the count de Charolois, nor the lord de Croy his
first chamberlain. He was there received with greater honours than
any prince had ever obtained, for the whole town came out to meet
him,--the churchmen, in their robes and copes, as far as a quarter of
a league, followed by the officers of justice, as well those of the
town as of the prince,--then the deacons of the different trades, to
the number of seventy, each attended by ten of his trade, all variously
and appropriately dressed: after them came the knights, esquires, and
burghers of the town, to the amount of more than four hundred.
When they approached the duke, the bailiff of Ghent advanced and
addressed him, saying, that the inhabitants of the town of Ghent were
come out to meet him,--and he entreated that he would hear what they
had to say. The chief magistrate of the town then stept forth, and
made the following harangue: 'My most redoubted lord, behold your
subjects of Ghent, who request and supplicate (here they all fell on
their knees, with uplifted hands,) that you would be pleased to forget
and forgive all their former outrages and ill conduct, for they are
ready and willing to obey you in all things, to remain your faithful
servants, and, should need be, to die for you.' He added other words
nearly to the same purport.
With the duke were the count d'Estampes, the lord de Ravenstein, and
others, to the number of three hundred knights. When this harangue was
finished, the duke advanced to the town, the procession that had come
out to meet him taking the lead, and the duke following, preceded by
his heralds and trumpets in their tabards of arms. He was surrounded by
fifty archers of his body-guard, clothed in their jackets, each having
a hunting spear in his hand. When the duke approached the gates, he
found them open, for they had been thrown into the fields; and as he
passed, a virgin descended by machinery, who saluted him, and said,
'Inveni quem diligit anima mea.'
From this gate to the ducal palace, all the streets were hung with
rich cloths; and at the windows of the houses were numberless lighted
torches, and the people crying for joy at seeing their lord, and
conducting themselves with the utmost humility.
At each of the squares on his way were temporary stages erected,
whereon very magnificent historical pantomimes were acted, and great
bonfires were made in every street. So many fine shows were exhibited
that the whole seemed like a dream; and the duke was two hours before
he arrived at his palace, from the pleasure he took in looking at such
beautiful pageants.
At the entrance of his palace was a man dressed in skins to represent a
lion, who took his horse by the bridle and led him into the court-yard.
On the morrow, the town repeated these rejoicings, and placed tables
covered with all sorts of refreshments in the streets, for all to
partake of who would, showing the greatest joy and humility on the
occasion.
CHAP. LXXV.
THE DEATH OF THE KING OF ARRAGON.--HIS BASTARD FERNANDO SUCCEEDS TO
THE THRONE OF NAPLES.--OF POPE PIUS, AND THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED
ABOUT THAT TIME; SUCH AS THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, AND THE
EMBASSY FROM ENGLAND TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
About St John Baptist's day, in this year, Alphonso king of Arragon,
Naples and Sicily, departed this life in the city of Naples. He had
been in his time very powerful, redoubted, and rich, as was apparent
after his death; for it was commonly reported that he had left to his
bastard son Fernando, besides the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, six
millions of florins in coin, and his chapel, which was marvellously
rich, together with all his jewels, estimated at more than a million
of gold. He had formed the largest ship that had ever been seen at
sea, which returned to the port of Naples the very day of his decease.
It happened that in so doing she struck on a bank of gravel with such
force that she was dismasted, and the mainmast falling on the deck
split it into a thousand pieces, and the vessel sunk. The mast was so
thick that five men could not encircle it with their united arms,--and
the noise of its fall was horrible to hear.
Eight days after his death, a very richly gilt and painted tabernacle,
that was placed over the seat he usually sat on in his hall, fell down
just at the same hour that the king deceased.
King Alphonso had been brother in arms to the duke of Burgundy; and
although they had never seen each other, they were so strongly attached
that they wore their different orders.
Pope Calixtus, then on the papal throne, hearing that the kingdom of
Naples had escheated to him from the late king's dying without legal
heirs, claimed that kingdom from Fernando the bastard, and, because
he would not give it up, excommunicated him and all his adherents.
However, on the death of Calixtus, which happened soon after, his
successor, pope Pius, restored the kingdom to Fernando. It was
currently said, that Fernando had given to Pius a very large sum of
money for his absolution, and to remain peaceably king of Naples.
When pope Calixtus had held the papacy about four years, he departed
this life: the cardinal of Sienna, called Æneas[238], was elected
in his room. He had been secretary to the emperor Frederic, was an
eloquent man, and took the name of Pius II.
The summer of this year was so dry that it scarcely rained at all
from the month of April to the middle of October,--and never, in the
memory of man, was seen so dry a season. The wines of this year were
very good, and corn at a low price; yet, notwithstanding this, a fatal
pestilence reigned in many places, such as Paris, Abbeville, and in
other great towns.
About Martinmas of this year, an embassy from England to the duke of
Burgundy came to him at Mons in Hainault. It was reported, that the
object was to propose a treaty of alliance by a marriage, and that the
duke had replied, he could not agree to it, according to the articles
of the treaty of Arras, without the knowledge and consent of the king
of France, who was equally debarred from making any treaty with England
without the consent of the duke. After this answer, they went to the
king of France.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 238: Æneas. Æneas Silvius Piccolomini.]
CHAP. LXXVI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO GHENT, AND IS MAGNIFICENTLY
ENTERTAINED BY THE TOWN.--THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS TO SUMMON THE DUKE
OF BURGUNDY TO ATTEND THE TRIAL OF THE DUKE D'ALENÇON.
The most excellent and potent prince the duke of Burgundy made his
public entry into Ghent on Sunday after Easter, the 23d day of April,
in the year 1458, about four or five o'clock in the afternoon. It was
grandly conducted, and in the following order.
First, the churchmen led a procession out of the town, after paying
each their devotions in their respective churches. Then the bailiff
and sheriffs, with some of the burghers on horseback, clothed in
black, went out to meet their lord, and received him with the greatest
humility,--the other sheriffs remaining at the gate of the town. At
each place they paid him every reverence by kneeling on the ground,
offering him at the same time their persons and effects. Then the deans
of the guilds came forth in handsome array, each with a torch in his
hand, and a deputation from the different trades, amounting to upwards
of two hundred, clad in sky-coloured mantles, and as many in white
mantles, sweeping the ground. Without the gate, and on both sides of
the street on the other side of the river, were figures representing
the prophets: the one that looked toward the duke displayed a roll,
on which was written in large letters, _Ecce nomen Domini venit de
longinquo_, Isaiah xxx. The other figure pointed to the trumpets over
the gate, and on his roll was written, _Canite turba pariter omnes_,
&c. Near to the gate was a sort of orchard or garden, in which was a
young girl about ten years old, with her hair hanging down, and simply
dressed in a damask mantle: on the duke's approach, she flung herself
on her knees, and displayed a roll with uplifted hands, on which was
written, _Inveni quem diligit anima mea_, Cantic. iii. The portal and
inside of the gate were hung with black, grey, and crimson cloths: on
the cloth over the portal at the barrier, the following was written
in letters of gold, _Venit nobis pacificus Dominus, utere servitio
nostro sicut placuerit tibi_, Judic. iii. On the cloth over the great
gateway were the arms of the duke, emblazoned with helmet and crest.
The streets, from the gate to the palace of the duke, were hung on each
side with cloths of the before-mentioned colours, namely, black, grey,
and crimson. On the black was written, in letters of silver, _Venit
nobis pacificus Dominus_: on the grey, _Utere servitio nostro_,--and
on the crimson, _Sicut placuerit tibi_. Above these cloths were five
or six hundred torches, including those in the front of the houses, so
that, comprehending all that were illuminated in the streets and in
the boats on the river, there were from fifteen to sixteen thousand
torches.
Near the gate of entrance, and within the city, was a pageant
representing the prodigal son after he had been forgiven by his
father; and on a roll over it was written, _Pater peccavi in cœlum
et coram te_, Luc. xv. Not far distant was the figure of a prophet
holding a roll, on which was written, _Lex clementiæ in lingua
ejus_, Proverb. xxxi. A little farther was a scaffold, on which was
acted a representation of the emperor Caius in the midst of twelve
senators,--and before him stood Marcus Tullius, who harangued the
emperor on his clemency, in liberating many prisoners on his capture
of Rome, beginning, _Diuturni silentii_, &c. In this oration is the
following expression, among others, _Nulla de virtutibus tuis major
clementia est_. These words were written on the folds of the robes of
the figure.
The next pageant represented a black lion holding in his paw the banner
of the arms of the duke: before him was a white lioness humbly couched
on the ground, and between them lay three young lion cubs half dead;
but on the roaring of the lion, they recovered strength, life, and
activity. There was a roll over them, with these words, _Quasi leo
rugiens, et formidabunt filii ejus_, Hosea xi. Further on was another
prophet, displaying a roll with these words written thereon, _Ecce
venit desideratus cunctis gentibus et replebitur gloria ejus domus
Domini_, Haggai ii.
Near to this last pageant was a representation of David's indignation
against Nabal, which was appeased by Nabal's wife,--and over it was
written, _Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel quoniam te misit_, Sam. xx.
The second gate was hung with black and grey cloth, on which were
the arms of the duke properly emblazoned, with the arms of all the
knights-companions of the Golden Fleece. A scaffold was erected close
to this gate, having in the center a fountain, and surrounded by a
representation of the triumphant state of the church, with the figure
of a shepherd having recovered his lost sheep: he displayed a roll,
which had written on it, _Congratulamini mihi quia inveni ovem quam
perdideram_, Luc. xv.
Near the bridge was the figure of Pompey, governor of Rome, after
having made the king of Armenia prisoner for his rebellions against the
Romans; but, seeing his great submission and humility, he had restored
him to liberty, which showed that he thought he gained as much glory
by pardoning as by conquest. Over him was written, _Æque pulchrum est
vincere reges_, &c. Valerius, v. c. There was the representation of
another prophet near the bridge, pointing with one hand to the water,
and holding a roll in the other, whereon was written, _Respice Domine
in servos tuos_, Psalm. lxxxix.
In the river were the figures of six apostles, among whom was St John,
who addressed St Peter in writing, _Dominus est_, Matt. xiv. St Peter,
seeing our Lord walking to him on the water, and fearing to be drowned,
said also in the roll which he extended, _Domine salvum me fac_, Matt.
xiv. Our Saviour held out to him a roll, whereon was written, _Modice
fidei quare dubitasti?_ Matt. xiv. On this same river was a very large
boat full of burning torches, and adjoining it another figure as a
prophet, with a roll in his hand, pointing also to a large figure:
it was written on the roll, _Exultabunt omnia ligna silvarum a facie
Domini quoniam venit_, Psalm. xv.
Facing this last prophet was a large platform, on which was erected
a fortress with two small towers, on the battlements of which were
suspended shields, having emblazoned on them the arms of all the
countries under the dependance of the duke of Burgundy. At the gate of
this castle was the personage of a giant, called Mars, and surnamed
the Victorious, having a lion by his side. In front of this castle was
a wood, in which were dragons, wolves, foxes, and all sorts of wild
beasts, that attempted to enter the gate and gain the castle, but were
always repulsed. In the center of the gate was a man who represented
the three conditions of men in the states of the duke, and was dressed,
as to his head, like a priest: his right side was clothed with a long
robe of cloth of silk for the gentry, and the left side was attired as
the labourers in the field: there was written above him, _Diligam te
Domine fortitudo mea. Et nisi custodieris civitatem frustra vigilat
qui custodit eam_, Psalm. xxv. On each side were the figures of king
Solomon and the queen of Sheba, over whom was written, _Major est
gloria tua quam rumor quem audivi_, Reg. l. c. x.
On another part of the platform was a representation of Gideon after
he had obtained the victory, and the Israelites humbly addressing him
with these words, _Dominare nostri tu, hic est filius tuus et filii tui
quia liberasti nos_, Judic. viii. Not far off was an elephant bearing a
castle, in which were two men and four children who sang melodiously a
new song, the words of which were as follows.
'Long live the valiant Burgundy!
With heart and voice we loudly cry.
Henceforth no other lord we own;
But place our trust in him alone.
Long live the valiant Burgundy!
Who now from sorrow sets us free;
Whilst on his entrance thus we cry,
Long live the valiant Burgundy!'
This entry was more grand and magnificent than ever prince made before;
for by the side of the duke on horseback, with his hood thrown on his
shoulder, was the bastard d'Armagnac, marshal to the lord dauphin,--and
he was preceded by the ushers at arms, his first master of the horse
bearing his sword. Immediately before him, his kings at arms, heralds,
and pursuivants, clothed in their tabards of arms, were in great
numbers; and before these heralds were from twelve to fourteen clarions
and trumpets, who followed the count d'Estampes and sir Thibault de
Neufchâtel lord de Blancmont, marshal of Burgundy. These were preceded
by the lords and gentlemen of the dauphin, the two sons of the lord de
Croy, and the two sons of the marshal of Burgundy. Before them rode
the lord Adolphus of Cleves, the lord bastard of Burgundy and sir
Philip Pol, all richly dressed, themselves and their heralds: they
were preceded by the great lords of the court,--and before them other
lords and gentlemen, two and two, without varlet or page: before these
gentlemen were the principal burghers and gentlemen of the town in
great numbers, dressed in black.
Immediately after the duke were fifty archers of his body-guard on
foot, dressed in their jackets, each having a hunting spear in his
hand: behind the duke were fifteen pages and numbers of gentlemen. The
horses that were at this entry were estimated at more than two hundred,
without including those of the pages, varlets and other attendants,
which were already in the town. In short, it was the most triumphant
entry that ever lord made into a town for these five hundred years past.
The illuminations were continued on the following night; and the
townsmen acted many mysteries in the town-house, expressive of the
praise of their lord, and of their own ill conduct. They did the same
on the Tuesday evening, but without illuminations,--for it was said
that the duke had desired they might not be longer continued. One
of the burghers had covered the outside of his house with gold and
silver, and had placed a great number of torches and lanthorns before
it. In like manner did many others in the different streets ornament
their houses with rich hangings and splendid illuminations, at a great
expense, during the two days the feast lasted.
On the Tuesday, the municipal officers, and principal burghers, waited
on the duke at his palace, to thank him humbly for having come to his
good town of Ghent, and to make offer of their lives and fortunes,
for which he expressed his obligations. Then, on their knees, they
supplicated him that he would be pleased to sup with them, in the
manner of a banquet, at the town on the following Sunday, the last day
of April, which he granted.
It was rumoured that this banquet would be free to all comers, like an
open court, and that it would cost more than ten thousand crowns of
gold. On the morrow, the managers of the feast dispatched purveyors
nine leagues round Ghent, to collect every delicacy they could lay
hands on, so that a small chicken was sold for two patars[239].
Toward the end of April, the king of France sent ambassadors to the
duke of Burgundy, to signify to him that he intended to give judgement
on the duke of Alençon on the 10th of the ensuing month of June, in the
town of Montargis, and to summon him to attend at the above place and
time with the peers of France, of whom he was one, and dean of the said
peers, and also to consider on other matters touching the welfare of
the realm.
The duke instantly replied to these ambassadors,--'Although my lord
the king, by the treaty of Arras, has no right to command me in any
thing, and notwithstanding I am personally exempted from my dependance
on him, nevertheless, I will, if it please God, be personally present
at the time and place he has fixed on, to give sentence on the duke of
Alençon, and respecting the matters touching the welfare of the kingdom
of France.'
When the ambassadors, on receiving this answer, were departed, the
duke sent Golden Fleece, the king at arms of his order, to king
Charles, to deliver a certain message he charged him with. He then
had it proclaimed in all his great towns, that all who had been
accustomed to bear arms, and by their fiefs and oaths were bounden to
serve him, should prepare themselves to be in readiness to accompany
him, the first day of June, on his journey to the king of France at
Montargis, whither he had been by him summoned to attend; and it was
his intention, if it pleased God, to appear there with the greatest
possible force he could raise.
On the other hand, the king of France had ordered the arriere ban of
his realm to hold themselves in readiness the first of June,--which
made many suppose that a renewal of war was about to take place; and it
was currently reported in France that these preparations were made to
oppose the English, who were intending to invade France.
During this interval, those of Utrecht rebelled against their bishop,
which caused the duke of Burgundy, his father, to send sir Anthony
his bastard to Holland, with eight score lances, and from seven to
eight hundred archers. But the rebels, hearing of this, made up their
quarrel, and returned to their obedience to the bishop as before; and
this armament marched back to the duke of Burgundy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 239: Patart,--a low-country coin, worth about one penny
English.----_Cotgrave._]
END OF VOL. IX.
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, London.
NOTES AND EMENDATIONS.
Page 5. line 7. from the bottom. _Household._] Charles lord de Culant
and Chateauneuf, elder brother of the marshal de Jaloignes, mentioned
p. 335, was appointed grandmaster of France in 1449.
Page 5. line 8. from the bottom. _Combatants._] Florent, lord d'Illiers
d'Entragues, was distinguished for valour, and for his great retinue
at the siege of Orleans, and on several subsequent occasions. His
father Geoffrey lord d'Illiers was grandson of Philip one of the sons
of Bouchard lord of Vendôme, who married the heiress of the antient
house of Illiers, and assumed his wife's family name on account of a
stipulation in the marriage contract.
Page 18. last line. _Sir Thomas Hos._] _Q._ Hoo. Sir Thomas Hoo,
knight, in 1436 suppressed a rebellion in the Pays de Caux. In 1442
he obtained a grant of revenue from the crown in consideration of his
great services in war. In 1448 he was created lord Hoo and Hastings,
and knight of the Garter, and was summoned to parliament from 26 H.
6 to 31 H. 6 inclusive. Thomas, his only son, died in his life time
without issue.
Page 28. line 10. _Viscount de Longmaigne._] Should be Lomagne.
Page 28. line 13. _John lord of Lorraine._] John lord of Lorraine. Qu.
Page 31. line 12. _Roche-Guyon._] Guy VII, lord de la Roche-Guyon, son
of Guy VI, who was killed at Agincourt, and of Perette de la Riviere
died in 1460, leaving issue one daughter only, who by marriage,
conveyed Roche-Guyon to the house of Silli.
Page 35. last line. _Sir Richard Frongueval._] _Q._ Freschevill; Sir
Ralph Freschvill, who served under John of Gaunt in the wars of Edward
III. left descendants.
Page 43. line 10. _Counts de Comminges._] Matthiew, count of Comminges,
one of the uncles to the count de Foix. (See note to page 334. vol.
viii.)
Page 43. line 11. _Viscount de Lautrec._] Peter lord of Lautrec,
brother to the count of Foix (See note to vol. viii. p. 335.) married
Catherine daughter to John II. lord d'Estarac (or Astarac) by whom he
had one son, John afterwards lord de Lautrec. The house of Astarac is
derived from Garcia-Sanches, duke of the Gascons, who lived in the 10th
century, from whose youngest son, Arnaud _the unborn_ (so called by a
quibble similar to that of the witches respecting Macduff) they trace
18 descents to Martha the heiress of the family who married Gaston
II, count of Candale (or Kendal) in whose house the title afterwards
remained.
Page 43. line 4. from the bottom. _Froissart._] D'Estract. D'Estarac.
See above.
Page 46. line 12. from the bottom. _Lord de Luce._] Luxe is the name
of a sovereign county in lower Navarre, which passed in 1593 into the
house of Montmorency Fosseux. It was Francois de Montmorency, count
of Luxe, of whom the court of Louis XIII. judged it proper to make
a memorable example by way of preventive to the epidemical rage for
duelling then prevalent. He was beheaded in 1627 for the honourable
murders of the count de Thorigny and the marquis de Bussy in two
successive rencontres.
Page 74. line 4. from the bottom. _Thomas Courson._] Thomas Curzon,
esq. captain of Harfleur. Stowe.
Page 77. line 13. _Chancellor of France._] Afterwards also viscount
of Troyes. He was chancellor from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1465 to
1472, when he died.
Page 94. line 10. _Thomas Aurmagan._] Sir Thomas Auringham (qu.
Erpingham?) Stowe. Captain of Harfleur in conjunction with Curzon.
Page 98. line 1. from the bottom. _Daughter._] Monstrelet is remarkably
tender of the reputation of the "fair Agnes." She had, as all other
historians allow, not _one_ only, but _three_ daughters by the king.
Margaret, married to Olivier de Coetivy, seneschal of Guyenne;
Charlotte, married to James de Brezè, seneschal of Normandy, and
Jane, to Antony de Bueil, count de Sancerre. Of these, Charlotte
unfortunately followed the example of her mother's incontinence without
the excuse of an illustrious lover. Her tragical history will be found
recorded in the next volume.
By a species of retributive justice, Louis the son of this James de
Brezè, submitted voluntarily to the same disgrace which his father
thought that blood only could remove. _His_ wife was the famous Diana
of Poîtiers. In these days, nobody of consequence could die in his bed
without the suspicion of poison. The death of Agnes was attributed
to that cause, and the dauphin is charged with having been the
perpetrator. Of this accusation all that Du Clos says is what follows:
"Le peu d'union qu'il y avoit entre Charles sept et le Dauphin, fut
cause que celui-ci fut soupconné d'avoir fait empoisonner Agnés Sorel
qui mourut, regrettée du Roi, de la Cour, et des Peuples. Elle n'abusa
jamais de sa faveur, et réunit les rares qualitès d'Amante tendre,
d'Amie sure, et de bonne Citoyenne." He adds, "I can't tell why Alain
Chartier (the court poet) is so strenuous in defending her chastity,
seeing that she died in child-bed." The dauphin was not the only person
charged with this imaginary crime. Jacques Coeur, superintendant of the
finances, was also accused of it; but his innocence was established by
public trial. See note to page 196. vol. ix.
Page 113. line 7. from the bottom. _Godfrey de Boulogne._] Lord of
Montgascon.
Page 113. line 4. from the bottom. _Lord de St Severe._] John de
Brosse, lord of St Severe, afterwards count of Penthievre, &c., son of
the marshal de Boussac. See before page 2.
Page 113. line 3. from the bottom. _Lord de Chalençon._] Louis Armand
de Chalençon, viscount of Polignac, married Isabel, second daughter of
Bertrand III. lord of la Tour and his wife Mary countess of Auvergne
and Boulogne.
Page 121. line 7. _Lord de Laval._] Guy XIV., lord, and in 1429 count
of Laval, son of John de Montford lord of Kergolay, who by his marriage
with the sister and heir of Guy XII, became lord of Laval, assumed the
name of Guy XIII, and died in his passage from the holy land in 1415.
Guy XIV. married first, Isabel daughter of John VI. duke of Brittany,
and secondly Frances the widow of the lord Giles, of whom see page 136.
vol. ix.
Page 121. line 9. _Lord de Touteville._] Qu. Estouteville. Louis, grand
butler of France.
Page 133. line 4 from the bottom. _Maine._] Charles of Anjou, count of
Maine and Provence, mentioned before.
Page 128. line 10. from the bottom. _Duke of Somerset._] Edmund
Beaufort, younger brother of John duke of Somerset, (who died in 1444,
leaving no male issue) was in 1431 made earl of Mortaigne (under which
title he is named in some preceding parts of this history) earl of
Dorset in 1442, marquis of Dorset the year following, and duke of
Somerset in 1448. He was the great support of the Lancastrian party,
and was beheaded after the fatal battle of Hexham in 1463.
Page 134. line 9. _Andrew Troslet._] Andrew Trollope and Thomas Cotton,
esquires, were captains of Falaise, for the earl of Shrewsbury,
according to Stowe.
Page 136. line 5 from the bottom. _Death._] Francis I. duke of
Brittany, left two daughters by his second wife Isabel, daughter of
James I. of Scotland. The eldest of these was Margaret, married to
Francis II, her cousin; the youngest Mary, married to the viscount de
Rohan. Francis I. was succeeded by his next brother, duke Peter II.
Page 133. line 3. _Arthur of Montauban._] Arthur of Montauban, bailiff
of the Cotentin, &c. second son of William lord of Montauban,
chancellor to queen Isabel of Bavaria. So far from being hanged, (which
must be a mistake of the chronicle from which the following account
has been taken) this Montauban having professed at the convent of
the Celestins, at Marcoussis, advanced himself in the church, became
archbishop of Bordeaux, and died in 1468. (See Moreri art. Montauban.)
Page 138. line 11. _Others._] This is perhaps, a more probable
statement, as well as more favourable to the memory of the duke, than
that given by some other chroniclers, and hinted at in the ensuing
paragraph. The lord Giles of Brittany, the youngest of the children of
John VI., was brought up in the court of England; and he was accused,
perhaps justly, of having imbibed prejudices contrary to the French
interest from his earliest years. On his return to Brittany in 1442,
his wife, (the beautiful heiress of Chateaubriant and Beaumanoir) is
said to have excited the desire of Arthur de Montauban, the wicked
favourite at court; who, finding all attempts to subdue her chastity
ineffectual, contrived by intrigues, insinuations, and at last by
open charges, to render the lord Giles suspected by his brother. On
the other hand, he stimulated that unfortunate prince to demand an
extension of revenue and of power, which he took care the duke should
deny him. The two brothers being by these arts alienated from each
other, an open rupture ensued, which the constable de Richemont, their
uncle, in vain endeavoured to heal. The lord Giles, apprehensive
for his personal safety, fled to the castle of Guildo; and most
imprudently trusted its defence to a company of English men at arms.
This circumstance was soon conveyed with all possible aggravation to
the king of France, who thereupon gave orders to the admiral de Coetivy
to arrest him. The admiral for some time neglected this order, but at
last was obliged to perform it; and the lord Giles was brought before
the parliament, or assembly of the states at Rennes, where his case
was fairly investigated, and himself about to be honourably acquitted,
when a letter to the king of England (said to be artfully forged by
Montauban himself) was found on his person, and he was immediately
committed to the castle of Moncontour. While a prisoner in this
place, his persecutor resorted to every wicked contrivance to remove
him without suspicion of violence. But his constitution resisted the
effects of repeated poisons, and a charitable old woman found means
long to preserve him from those of starvation. At length however
his health gave way to the continual assault of his enemies, and he
charged a priest (who attended privately to receive his confessions)
to repair to the duke his brother, and summon him within 40 days to
appear before the tribunal of God and answer for all his injustice
towards him. Still his gaolers thought the end of their charge too
slow in its approaches. They therefore strangled their unhappy victim,
already dying, and gave out to the world that he had died of a cold. He
was at that time not thirty years of age. The confessor executed his
commission as he met the duke returning from the siege of Avranches;
and Francis, struck to the heart by terror and repentance, actually
died on the 40th day from the date of the summons. Montauban and
Olivier de Mêele, his principal agent in the murder, fled upon the
duke's death, to a convent of Celestins; but they were both dragged
from their sanctuary by the orders of duke Peter, and of the constable,
and hanged at Vannes. Frances, the widow of the murdered prince, and
the innocent cause of his death, brought him no children and was
afterwards married again to Guy XIV, lord of Laval. Such is the account
of some chronicles, as abridged by Moreri in his dictionary, art.
Bretagne.
Page 139. line 10 from the bottom. _Sir Pregent de Coetivy, lord of
Rais._] Pregent de Coetivy, admiral of France, was lord of Retz in
right of his wife, Mary the daughter of the marshal de Retz. (See
before page 211. vol. viii.)
Page 140. line 12. _Thomas Gouvel._ _Q._ Thomas Gonville, esq. captain
of Cherbourg. Stowe.
Page 160. line 11 from the bottom. _Captal de Buch._] Gaston, count
of Longueville and Benanges, second son of Archambaud count of Foix,
enjoyed this title and transmitted it to his son John, who married a
niece of the great William de la Pole duke of Suffolk, and was created
by king Henry VI. earl of Kendal.
Page 160. line 6. _La Bessiere._] Descended from a younger son of
Matthew, lord of Beauvau, who died about 1400. He was killed soon
afterwards at the siege of Castillon.
Page 163. line 4 from the bottom. _Count d'Albreth._] Charles II.
count of Dreux, &c. of the house of Albret, son of the constable;
John viscount of Tartas, his eldest son, (who died before his father,
leaving Alan, lord Albret, his only son and heir) and Arnaud Amanjeu,
lord of Orval, his third son, afterwards lieutenant general for the
king in Roussillon. The second son of the count, was Louis cardinal
bishop of Cahors.
Page 168. line 7 from the bottom. _Viscount de Turenne._] Agne III. de
la Tour, lord of Oliergues, of a younger branch of the family of la
Tour counts of Auvergne, &c. became viscount of Turenne and count of
Beaufort, in 1444, by marriage with Anne, daughter of Peter count of
Beaufort, who possessed those dignities by the donation of his cousin
Eleanor, heiress of the famous marshal Boucicaut.
Page 168. line 21. _Lord de la Rochefoucault._] Foucault III, lord de
la Rochefoucault who married the sister of the lord of Rochechouart.
Page 168. line 23. _Sir John de Rochedrouard._] Rochedrouard. Q.
Rochechouart? Foucault, lord of Rochechouart was about this time
governor of la Rochelle.
Page 168. line 5 from the bottom. _Lord de Grimaux_] Grimaux. Qu.
Grimoard? Antoine du Roure lord of Grimoard, and Guige de Grimoard de
Roure, lord of Beauvoir in the Gevaudan, were the heads of two distant
branches of this family.
Page 168. line 4 from the bottom. _Sir Pierre de Montingrin._]
Montingrin. Q. Montmorin? Peter lord of Montmorin, bailiff of S. Pierre
le Moustier, and a chamberlain of the king, was one of the knights made
on his occasion.
Page 181. line 16. _Lord de Noailles._] Francis, lord of Noailles
and Noaillac, who died after the year 1472, had but one brother of
whom Moreri, makes mention, viz. John de Noailles lord of Chambres
and Montclar, who became also lord de Noailles after the death of his
nephew, the son of Francis, in 1479.
Page 190. line 8. _Emperor Frederic._] The emperor Frederic III.
married to Eleanor, eldest daughter of Edward king of Portugal. Their
only issue were Maximilian, afterwards emperor, and Cunegunda married
to Albert duke of Bavaria.
Page 197. line 12. _Realm._] Jacques Coeur son of a merchant at
Bourges, whose enterprising commercial genius raised for him within a
short time a prodigious fortune. The ignorance of the age attributed
his success to the discovery of the philosopher's stone. He was made
_Argentier_, that is to say, _superintendant of the finances_, to
Charles VII. and master of the mint at Bourges. Through his influence
his son obtained the archbishoprick of his native city, and his brother
the bishoprick of Luçon. The conquest of Normandy was atchieved, in
great measure, by the sums which he supplied out of his private purse.
All these services did not guard him against the consequences of
malevolence and envy. Besides the accusations here mentioned, he was
charged with having procured the death of Agnes Sorel by poison, but
although his principal accuser on this point, Jane de Vendôme, lady
of Mortagne, was condemned to perpetual banishment for her calumny,
which was fully proved, Jacques Coeur did not escape from the charges
of peculation, &c. which were probably equally unjust with the former.
He was condemned, chiefly, as was supposed, through the influence of
Anthony de Chabannes count of Dammartin, the court favourite of the
time, who certainly enriched himself considerably by his fall. By a
decree of the 19th of May, 1453, he was amerced in a sum of 400,000
crowns, equal, says Du Clos, to 4,228,360 livres tournois of his time.
"On prétend, peut-être sans fondement, que Jacques Coeur, après sa
condamnation, passa dans l'Isle de Chypre, où son crédit, son habileté,
et sa reputation, que ses malheurs n'avoient point ternie, lui firent
faire une fortune aussi considérable que celle qu'il venoit de perdre."
Du Clos.
Page 204. line 5 from the bottom. _Thibaut and James._] Thibaud, second
son of Peter, and brother of Louis, count of St Pol, was lord of
Fiennes, and married Philippa of the house of Melun. James, the third
brother, was lord of Richebourg, and married Isabel de Roubaix.
Page 204. line 4 from the bottom. _Duke Cornille._] This is falsely
stopped. It should run thus, "Adolphus of Cleves, nephew to the duke
Corneille, bastard of Burgundy; and sir John de Croy." Cornelius,
the eldest of the numerous illegitimate progeny of duke Philip, died
unmarried, but left a bastard son, John lord of Delverding. See the
genealogical tables affixed to Pontus Heuterus.
Page 212. line 3 from the bottom. _Sir Philip de Lalain._] Afterwards
killed at Montlehery.
Page 213. line 3. _Sir James._] Killed soon after at the siege of the
castle of Poulcres, p. 262.
Page 213. line 17. _Bastard de Cornille._] Not the bastard de
Cornille, but "Corneille the bastard." See before p. 204.
Page 214. line 11. _Lord de Fiennes._] Brother of the count of St Pol.
See before p. 204 note.
Page 244. line 7. _Sir Anthony the bastard._] Anthony, second of the
illegitimate sons of duke Philip, by Iolante de Presle, was lord of
Beveren, and married Mary de Viefville, by whom he had two sons the
lords of Vere and of Chapelle, and from these followed a long line of
descendants. See Pontus Heuterus, genealogical tables.
Page 259. line 16. _Lord de Rubempré._] Anthony, lord of Rubempré, a
great favourite of Philip duke of Burgundy, married Jacqueline de Croy
lady of Bievres, daughter of John lord de Croy, grand butler of France,
by whom he had issue John de Rubempré lord of Bievres, who was strongly
attached to duke Charles, and perished by his side at the battle of
Nancy.
Page 260. line 3 from the bottom. _Dormnast._] Qu. Dommart? Anthony
de Craon, lord of Dommart, son of James lord of Dommart and Jane des
Fosseux, was laid under confiscation by Louis XI, for his adherence to
the duke of Burgundy.
Page 262. line 4 from the bottom. _Dead._] See vol. vii. p. 130. James
lord of Lalain, killed at this siege, was the eldest son of William
lord de Lalain there mentioned. He was succeeded in his title and
estates by his next brother, John who sold Lalain to Josse the son of
Simon lord of Montigny, younger brother of the lord William. Philip,
the third son of William, was killed at the battle of Montlehery;
and Anthony, the 4th son, lost his life in Switzerland, both under
the command of duke Charles the bold, so that there is no want of
foundation for the honourable testimony given by Comines to the merits
of the family.
Page 267. line 17. _Sir John de Hout._] Q. Sir John Holt?
Page 291. line 17. _Sir Adolphus of Cleves._] Son of the duke of
Cleves, and often mentioned before. He was lord of Ravestein, and
not only nephew, but also son-in-law to the duke of Burgundy, having
married Anne, one of his bastard daughters, the lady of Ravestein
mentioned below.
Page 299. line 9. _La Marche._] Louis de Puy, lord of Coudraimorlin,
baron of Bellefaye, &c. son of Geoffry du Puy who was killed at
Agincourt. He married a daughter of Antoine de Prie, lord of Buzancais,
before mentioned.
Page 299. line 15. _Lord de Montauban._] See before, note to p. 133.
Page 303. line 4. _Sir Hedoual Haul._] Sir Edward Hull. Stowe.
Page 303. line 14. _The lord l'Isle._] The children of the great lord
Talbot were, by his first marriage with Maud Neville, three sons, viz.
Thomas, who died in his life time; John who succeeded him as earl of
Shrewsbury, &c.; and sir Christopher Talbot, knight. By his second
marriage with Margaret daughter of Richard Beauchamp earl of Warwick,
he had John (viscount l'Isle, so created in reference to the titles
of his mother's family), who being already signalized by his valour
on many great occasions, fell gloriously, together with his father on
this day. He served with two bannerets, 4 knights, 73 men at arms, and
800 archers. He left issue Thomas Viscount l'Isle who, in 1470, was
slain in a private feud with the lord Berkeley, at Wotton-under-edge in
Staffordshire.
Page 303. line 8. _Prisoner._] William lord Molyns, who was killed
before Orleans in 1429, left only a daughter, who was married to Robert
Hungerford, esq. grandson of Walter lord treasurer Hungerford, in 1441.
This Robert Hungerford, lord Molins in right of his wife, was eldest
son to Robert lord Hungerford, son of Walter, and served in this year
(1453) with one banneret, 2 knights, 56 men at arms, and 600 archers.
He remained a prisoner for seven years, after which, siding with the
Lancastrians, he was attainted 1 Edw. 4. and beheaded after the battle
of Hexham, two years afterwards.
Page 304. line 1. _Count de Candale._] John Captal de Buche, (see
before p. 160.) was created earl of Kendal by king Henry VI.; and his
descendants retained the title metamorphosed into that of _Candale_
for several generations after they had submitted to the crown of France.
Page 306. line 12. _Lord de Lavedan._] Probably, Raymon-Garcias, lord
of Lavedan, who married Bellegarde daughter of Arsien V, lord of
Montesquieu.
Page 310. line 10. _Lord Cameise._] Probably, Camois. The male line of
this _barony_ was extinct in the time of Henry V; but Dugdale adds,
"of this family (without doubt) was also sir Roger de Camoise knight,
who in 22 H. 6 (1444) was taken prisoner in the wars of France, and
there detained in great misery. Whereupon, Isabel his wife, had an
assignation of 40l. per annum for her life, to be paid by the mayor and
commonalty of the city of London." Qu. Is this the same sir Roger de
Camois, released from captivity?
Page 310. line 20. _Lord Clinton._] William, lord Clinton, (cousin and
heir of John lord Clinton, who distinguished himself, on the expedition
of Thomas Woodstock, 1380, and is noticed by Froissart) was in all the
wars of Henry IV, V, and VI; in 4 H. 6 he served in France with 25 men
at arms and 78 archers, in 9 H. 6 with one knight 38 men at arms and
300 archers. He died 10 H. 6 (1432) leaving his son and heir, John lord
Clinton, the nobleman here mentioned; who was made prisoner in the
year 1441, and after remaining in prison for six years, was ransomed
at the sum of 6000 marks. He afterwards took part with the house of
York during the civil wars and served king Edward in many of his
expeditions. Dugdale.
Page 332. last line. _Sagripoch._] Q. Salonichi.
Page 332. last line. _John Waiwoda._] Q. John Corvinus Hunniades,
Waivode of Transylvania; who is also, most probably the person meant by
"le Blanc, knight marshal of Hungary," in the following chapter.
Page 335. line 7. _Sambrine._] If in a narrative so full of confusion
and so crowded with errors, it is allowable to form a conjecture that
may tend to reconcile it any degree with fact, I should suppose this
knight marshal to be the great Hunniades, and the action to refer to
the famous siege of Belgrade which was raised by the exertions of that
heroic general. John Corvinus Hunniades was of ignoble birth, the
son of a Wallachian father by a Greek mother; so far the account of
Monstrelet tallies with the reality. He was appointed by king Ladislaus
to the government of upper Hungary, and the command in chief of his
armies. The operations for the relief of Belgrade were carried on by
a fleet on the Danube, as well as by land; so that the mistake is
natural enough, of calling the place a port; unless, from the greater
similitude of name, the reader should prefer _Zarna_, (to which
Mahomet afterwards retreated) as the representation of _Sambrina_. See
Bonfinius Rer. Ungar.
Page 337. last line. _Hecuba._] Rather I should imagine, Hesione.
Page 347. line 12. _Sir Guillot Destan._] This should be d'Esteing or
d'Estaing, the name of a very ancient and noble family in Rouergue.
William the second son of John I. viscount d'Esteing et de Cheilane,
was distinguished in the English wars, and rewarded by the government
of Rouergue, and by the posts of counsellor and chamberlain to king
Charles VII. His will bears date 1471. His grandson, William d'Estaing,
succeeded to the possessions of the elder branch of the family about
A.D. 1500, and became ancestor of the counts of Estaing of later date.
Page 348. line 14. from the bottom. _Gloucester._] There was _no_ duke
of Gloucester at this time; for Humphrey duke of Gloucester, the king's
uncle, died under arrest, in the year 1447, and Richard third son of
the duke of York, was not created till the 1st of Edw. IV. Stow in ann.
1454.--"The duke of Yorke with his friends wrought so effectually,
and handled his busines so politikly, that the duke of Somerset was
arrested in the queenes great chamber, and sent to the Tower, where
he kept his Christmas without great solemnity, against whom in open
parliament, were laid divers articles, beginning thus, &c."
Page 348. line 9 from the bottom. _Duke Charles of Bourbon._] On the
13th of November. She was already his first cousin, being daughter of
duke Charles by Agnes, sister of Philip the good. Her name was Isabella.
Page 348. line 4 from the bottom. _Prince._] John II. king of Castile,
&c. succeeded his father Henry III. in the year 1406, and died 1454.
By his first wife, Mary of Arragon, he had one son, Henry IV. his
successor. By his second marriage with Isabella of Portugal, he had a
son Alphonso, who died without issue, and a daughter, Isabella, who
succeeded her half brother, Henry, and, by her marriage with Ferdinand
of Arragon, united the two principal crowns of Spain.
Page 350. line 4. _Duchy._] "Whilest king Henry lay sick, Ric. d. of
Yorke bare all the rule, and governed as regent, and did now discover
the sparkes of his hatred hid under dissimulation, against the duke
of Somerset; but when the king had recovered his strength again, and
resumed to him his princely government, he caused the duke of Somerset
to be sett at libertye, and preferred him to be captain of Calais,
wherewith not only the commons, but many of the nobility, favorers of
Richard duke of Yorke, were greatly grieved and offended, saying, that
he had lost Normandy, and would lose also Calais."
_Stow_, ub. sup.
Page 355. line 6. _Bishop, of Utrecht._] Adolphus of Diepenholt. Upon
his death, the electors being solicited on one side by this duke for
his son David, and on the other by the duke of Gueldres for Stephen
of Bavaria, in order to offend neither exasperated both, by chusing
Guisbert, a brother of Reginald lord of Brederode, for their bishop.
But, upon endeavouring to get their election confirmed by the pope,
they found themselves anticipated by the duke, who had already obtained
the papal sanction in favour of his son. The matter was afterwards
compromised as related in chapter LXV. and David held the bishoprick of
Utrecht for forty years. [Heuterus.]
Page 360. line 3. _Kingdom._] This battle is called by the English
historians the first battle of St Alban's, and was fought on the 22d of
May 1455. Besides Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset, and Henry Percy,
earl of Northumberland, there were slain, on the king's side two lords,
five knights, and many gentlemen of good account. Humphrey duke of
Buckingham, and his son Humphrey earl of Stafford were wounded besides
the king. The victory, as appears by the text, was decisive in favour
of opposition.
The duke of Somerset left issue (by his wife Eleanor, daughter of
Richard Beauchamp earl of Warwick) Henry duke of Somerset, beheaded
in May 1464; Edward duke of Somerset after the death of his brother,
also beheaded 1472, and John, killed at Tewkesbury, but none of these
left any legitimate descendants. Henry alone left an illegitimate son,
Charles Somerset, who was afterwards created earl of Worcester, and is
the ancestor of the present duke of Beaufort.
Page 362. line 9. _Season._] The relation which follows, is evidently
that of the famous siege of Belgrade; at which Huniades commanded,
and Capistranus acted as his lieutenant. The soldan of Persia here
mentioned, may very possibly mean the bashaw of Asia Minor (Basseus
Asiaticus) who is spoken of by Bonfinius as having a high command in
the Turkish army. He was killed in the siege. Huniades was attacked
by a fever, the consequence of his exertions, and with difficulty
removed as far as Semlin, where he died on the 4th of September
1456. His faithful companion, Johannes Capistranus, attended at his
bed-side during his last illness, and supported him at the moment of
his dissolution. His affection followed him beyond the tomb, for from
that hour he was never seen to smile; and, not many weeks after, was
summoned from the world himself. The great Huniades left two sons,
Ladislaus and Matthias Corvinus. The first, though deserving of a
better fate, became the victim of state intrigues, and perished on a
scaffold. The second was elected king of Hungary in 1458.
Page 365. line 16. _Battle._] This does not appear to have been the
case. Bonfinius calls his disorder a fever brought on by excessive
fatigue. See before.
Page 368. line 2. _Laurentino._ _Q._] Perhaps Larina, the name of a
town in the Molise.
Page 368. line 8 from the bottom. _Ancona. 2._] This is hardly
probable, for all the others are names of places in the Molise or one
of the Principati. _Macchia_ has the nearest resemblance in sound of
any town in this neighbourhood.
Page 368. line 2 from the bottom. _Sanguine. 2._] Castel del Sangro, in
Abruzzo? The river on which it stands is also called the Sanguine.
Page 369. line 10 from the bottom. _Sermone. 2._] Isernia, a bishopric
in the Molise? or Sulmona, another city in Abruzzo?
Page 369. line 9. _Oliveto. 2._] Alifi, in the Terra di Lavoro?
Page 371. line 14. _Duke and Duchess of Savoy._] Lewis, duke of Savoy,
(son of Amadeus the first duke) and Anne de Lusignan, daughter of
James, king of Cyprus. The prince of Piedmont was their son, Amadeus
afterwards duke of Savoy, the second duke, and ninth count, of the
name. By this marriage with Yolande of France, he had a numerous issue,
but no descendants in the third generation.
Page 371. line 5 from the bottom. _Duchy of Nemours._] This claim of
Charles of Navarre, prince of Viana to the duchy of Nemours, must have
been grounded on a grant made by king Charles VII. to his grandfather
Charles the noble, king of Navarre; which grant was held to have been
only personal, and to have terminated with the death of the donee. The
prince was therefore unsuccessful in his application.
Page 371. line 2 from the bottom. _St Vincent._] This saint is not
the ancient deacon and martyr of that name, but St Vincent Ferrier a
Dominican, of Valencia in Spain, and a great converter of Saracens and
worker of miracles. He died in 1419, and was canonized by order of pope
Calixtus in 1455. He was buried at Vannes; the place of his death, and
the miracles which were _attested_ to have been wrought on his tomb,
were the occasion of the distinguished honours conferred on him.
Page 375. line 3 from the bottom. _Duke of Gueldres._] Arnold of Egmont
duke of Gueldres, was married to Catherine, daughter of Adolphus, duke
of Cleves, by Mary, a sister of the duke of Burgundy. In the note to
p. 355. a sufficient reason will be found for his hostility, of which,
however, Heuterus takes no notice, saying only, that the matters in
dispute with the Deventrians and Frieslanders were settled through the
intervention of the duke of Cleves.
Page 378. last line. _John Corvin._] If so, then le Chevalier Blanc
could not mean Huniades, since he is already disposed of in p. 362. The
truth is, that nothing can exceed the confusion and misrepresentation
with which Monstrelet's accounts from these distant countries abound;
and it is labour lost to attempt at finding a meaning where there
probably never was any. Capistran, who is mentioned in the next page,
died also immediately after, or very soon upon his friend Huniades. I
rather suspect that this is a mere repetition of the preceding account,
as the reader will find the relation of the embassy in chapter LXIX.
repeated again in chapter LXXI. Probably towards the conclusion of his
history Monstrelet set down events without order or method, as he heard
them in conversation or otherwise, and did not live to arrange the
unconnected notes.
Page 385. line 2 from the bottom. _Him_.] The motive assigned by
Heuterus for this extraordinary display of friendship in the duke
towards the dauphin, is the hope "that this young prince, bound by the
_immensity_ of the obligation, would, on his accession to the throne,
be the firm friend of his son Charles, and of the Belgian states.
But, adds the historian, it is in vain that benefits are heaped on men
of a depraved disposition, as king Charles himself prophecied in the
following words. You know not, duke Philip, the nature of this savage
animal. You cherish a wolf who will one day tear your sheep to pieces.
Remember the fable of the countryman, who in compassion to a viper
which he found half frozen in the fields, brought it to his house,
and warmed it by his fireside, till it turned round and hissed at its
preserver." (Heuterus.)
Page 386. line 6. _Count of St Pol._] Thibaut de Luxembourg, lord
of Fiennes, younger son of Peter I. count of Brienne and St Paul,
married Philippa of Melun, daughter of John lord of Antoing, by whom
he had issue James lord of Fiennes, and count of Gaure, &c. Philip,
cardinal, and bishop of Mans, Francis viscount of Martigues, and
several daughters. It may be doubtful from what motive he embraced the
ecclesiastical profession, since a life of poverty was certainly not
included in his intention. He was made bishop of Mans and abbot of Igni
and Orcan and was prevented by death from wearing the cardinal's hat,
which was designed for him by pope Sixtus IV. 1st September, 1477.
Page 387. line 13. _Duke of Burgundy._] Charles duke of Bourbon, by his
marriage with Agnes of Burgundy, daughter of John the Fearless, had a
numerous issue, of whom the eldest succeeded to his duchy by the title
of John the Second, and was surnamed the good. Of the other children,
Charles was archbishop of Clermont; Lewis, bishop of Liege; Peter was
duke of Bourbon after the death of his brother, John II. His five
daughters were married respectively to the dukes of Calabria, Burgundy,
Gueldres, Savoy, and the prince of Orange.
Page 388. line 12. _Lord de Quievrain._] Philip de Croy, lord of
Quievrain, eldest son of John count of Chimay.
Page 388. line 13. _Lord d'Aymeries._] Anthony de Rollin, lord of
Aymeries. A particular account of this dispute is given by Heuterus, by
which it appears that Monstrelet's statement is very correct.
Page 390. line 5 from the bottom. _Safety._] In vol. x. chapter XV. the
very same accident which is here made to befal the dauphin, is also
recorded to have happened to the count de Charolois when hunting with
the dauphin after his accession to the throne. Qu. Has not Monstrelet
made the two stories out of one?
Page 392. last line. _Horse._] Ant. Bonfinius, in his Decades, says
nothing of the archbishop of Cologne, but mentions, as at the head of
this embassy, the bishop of Passau. Udalricus Pataviensium Pontifex,
opibus, auctoritate, moribus, et doctrinâ præcellens. He says that
it was by far the most magnificent embassy remembered in his time,
and that out of Hungary, Bohemia and Austria, and the bishopric of
Passau, there were chosen seven hundred noblemen to attend it, such
as "qui formâ, habitu, nobilitate, apparatuque pollerent, et quisque
regno dignus videretur." The greatest expectations were entertained
on the subject of this projected alliance, and the preparations made
for celebrating it at the imperial court exceeded every thing of the
kind before known. In the midst of these preparations, Ladislaus, then
only twenty-two years of age, and a young man of the most promising
character and attainments, was taken suddenly ill while presiding at an
assembly of the states, with symptoms, as it is stated, of the plague,
according to others, of poison; and he lived but thirty-six hours
after. Dying without issue, George Podiebrad was elected by the states
of Bohemia, and the great Matthias Corvinus by those of Hungary, to
succeed him in his respective dominions.
Page 396. line 5 from the bottom. _Count de Maulévrier._] This nobleman
is called, by Stow, sir Pierce Bressy, captain of Dieppe. The same
historian mentions that a second division of this expedition sailed to
the coast of Cornwall and burned the town of Fowey, under the command
of William lord de Pomyars.
Page 398. line 7. _Galiot de Genouillac._] James Ricard de Genouillac,
called _Galiot_, lord of Brussac, &c. master of artillery in 1479,
seneschal of Beaucare in 1480, son of Peter Ricard lord of Gourdon,
and brother of John Ricard lord of Gourdon, and of John Ricard lord of
Acier en Quercy. This last lord had a son who was also called _Galiot_,
and distinguished himself at the battle of Fornova and upon other
occasions.
Page 402. last line. _Earl of Warwick._] This is Richard Nevil, the
kingmaker, who, and his father the earl of Salisbury, were now the
principal supports of the York, or opposition, party. Richard Nevil the
father was brother of Ralph Nevil, earl of Westmoreland, and became
earl of Salisbury by marriage with Alice, only daughter and heir of
Montacute earl of Salisbury, who was killed at the siege of Orleans.
Richard Nevil, the son, married Anne, sister of Henry Beauchamp duke of
Warwick, and king of the Isle of Wight, and heir by descent from her
father to the earldom, which was conveyed by marriage to her husband.
Page 408. line 14. _Together._] This marriage was contracted by the
dauphin without the consent of his father, who prevented the young
couple from coming together for five years after they were betrothed
to each other. Their union was at last brought about by the duke of
Burgundy, who sent the lord of Montagu into Savoy, to bring away the
princess. She, it is added, was very ready to obey the mandate, and the
solemnity was shortly after concluded with great pomp at Namur. This
transaction by no means tended to reconcile the king to his son. [See
Vanderburch, Hist. Principum Sabaudonum.]
Page 405. line 15. _Bishop of Constance._] Qu. Coutances?
Page 413. line 13. _So._] See a particular account of this strange
ceremony of swearing on the peacock, or pheasant, in M. de St. Palaye's
Memoires sur l'Ancienne Chivalerie.
Page 415. line 4 from the bottom. _Duchy._] In right of his mother,
Elizabeth duchess of Austria. See the genealogical table and note in
the present vol.
Page 416. line 15. _Duchess of Burgundy._] John duke of Coimbra, son
of Peter, brother of Edward king of Portugal. He married Charlotte,
only daughter and heir of John III. king of Cyprus; but it seems to be
a mistake of Monstrelet's, where he calls her the widowed queen. She
survived the duke of Coimbra, and married for her second husband Lewis
prince of Savoy. The crown of Cyprus was usurped by James; the bastard
son of John III, and never enjoyed either by Charlotte herself or by
either of her husbands. Isabella, duchess of Burgundy, was sister of
Edward king of Portugal and of Peter duke of Coimbra.
Page 424. line 11. _Naples._] This great prince was succeeded in his
hereditary dominions of Arragon and Sicily by his brother John, who was
already king of Navarre in right of his queen, Blanche the daughter of
Charles the third. Alphonso claimed the right of conquest in disposing
of his kingdom of Naples in favour of his bastard, Ferdinand. The
succession of Arragon and Castile, and union of crowns in the person of
Ferdinand, the catholic, will be easily comprehended by the following
table.
JOHN, king of Castile, = ELEANOR, daughter of
died in 1390. | Peter IV. k. of Arragon.
|
+--------------------------+---------------+
| |
Henry III. king of Castile, Ferdinand, king of Arragon and
eldest son, died 1406. Sicily, succeeded his uncle Martin
| in 1410, died 1416.
| |
| +---------+----------------------------------+
| | |
John II. k. John II. king of Navarre Alphonso, k. of Arragon
of Castile, in right of his first wife, & Sicily & (by conquest)
died 1454. king of Arragon and Sicily after of Naples, died 1458,
his elder brother Alphonso, d. 1479. s.p.1. :
| | :
| | :
+-----+-----------------------+ +------------------------- :
| | | :
Henry IV. king of Castile ISABELLA = FERDINAND, (son of John II. :
married Blanche of Navarre, d. 1504. by his second wife,) d. 1516. :
and died 1474, s. p. :
Ferdinand (bastard)
king of Naples.
Page 435. line 3. _Bastard d'Armagnac._] John d'Armagnac, lord of
Gourdon, bastard son of John IV. count of Armagnac, and brother by
the same mother of another John d'Armagnac, called also de Lescun
archbishop of Auch. He was advanced by the dauphin, after he became
king, to several high offices of trust and favour, and was made marshal
of France in 1461. He married Margaret, daughter of Louis I. marquis
de Saluces, by whom he had one daughter, married into the house of
Amboise, and died A.D. 1472.
Page 435. line 14 from the bottom. _Marshal of Burgundy._] Thibault
the ninth marshal of Burgundy and bailiff of Franche Comté. He died
in 1469, leaving by Bona of Chàteauvilain his wife, Thibault lord of
Hericourt, who died without issue, and Henry lord de Neufchâtel, who
was made prisoner at the battle of Nancy, and died in 1503, and he
was brother of John de Neufchâtel, lord of Montagu. This lordship of
Neufchâtel in Burgundy must be carefully distinguished from the county
of Neufchâtel in Switzerland, with which it had no connection whatever.
H. Bryer, Printer,
Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Volume IX (of 13) : containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy" ***
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