Chapter III: Part 3

Shortly after, leaving his countess in the castle of Ligny, he advanced through Luxembourg, to Thionville, and to others of the principal towns in that duchy, of which he had been appointed governor, as well as of the county of Chigny, by duke Anthony of Brabant, his son-in-law, then sovereign of it, by right of the duchess his mother. After visiting the chief towns and fortresses in that country, he made preparations, about St Andrew's day, to lay siege to the town of Neufville on the Meuse, in which were some vainglorious and overbearing persons, posted there by John d'Authe, lord of Orchimont, who were constantly making inroads and plundering the duchy of Luxembourg and the county of Chigny. They were consequently besieged by the count, who had in his company some notable warriors, namely, Garnot de Bournouville, sir Colart de Fiennes, Allain de Vaudonne, and several others. However, although the besieged were sorely harrassed by the engines of the count, and their bulwark had been taken by storm, they refused to surrender, and he remained for six weeks before the place.

Other matters demanding his presence elsewhere, he fortified a church, within cross-bow shot of the castle, in which he posted a certain number of soldiers, under the command of a gentleman of that country, called Vatier Disque, in conjunction with Robinet Ogier; and they were for another six weeks skirmishing and fighting with their enemies, who at the end of that time submitted themselves to the obedience of the count de St de Pol.

The count, on quitting the siege of Neufville, went to Dampvilliers[16], and thence to Yvoix[17], where he passed the whole of Lent with his nephew, sir John de Luxembourg, who had come a little before to visit him at the siege. When sir John had remained about a month, he took leave of his uncle, who never saw him afterwards, and went to Avignon, to visit and pay reverence to the holy Peter of Luxembourg, his uncle, who had formerly been a cardinal.

At this period, the duke of Acquitaine, leaving Paris, travelled through Melun, and Montargis in Berry, to Bourges, where he arrived on the night of All-Saints, and was magnificently received and feasted by the burghers and inhabitants of that town in the palace of the duke of Berry. On the morrow he departed, unknown to the inhabitants, and went to the castle of Mehun-sur-Yevre[18], which the duke of Berry had given to him at Paris, and was the cause of his journey into Berry. The castle pleased him very much, and, having taken possession of it, he did not return to Paris until near the feast of St Nicholas.

This sudden expedition of the duke of Acquitaine, with only seven persons, surprised many; but he was instantly overtaken by the counts de Vertus and de Richemont, who accompanied him as he went and returned.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 16: Dampvilliers,--a town in Luxembourg, diocese of Verdun.]

[Footnote 17: Yvoix,--now called Carignan, a town in Luxembourg.]

[Footnote 18: Mehun-sur-Yevre,--four leagues from Bourges.]

CHAP. XVI.

THE EARL OF WARWICK AND OTHERS FROM ENGLAND ATTEND THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE.--THE KING OF FRANCE HAS SOLEMN OBSEQUIES PERFORMED FOR HIS BROTHER, THE DUKE OF ORLEANS.

The earl of Warwick, three bishops, four abbots, and other noble knights, clerks and doctors in theology, to the number of about eight hundred, travelled from Calais, through Flanders, with a handsome retinue, as commissioners from the king of England, his realm, and the university of Oxford, to the council of Constance. They were well received by the new emperor, whose coronation some of them had attended as ambassadors from the king of England, the pope and the whole council.

As the day was drawing near when the countess of Hainault and her brother, the duke of Brabant, with the deputies from Flanders, were to meet to ratify the late peace at Senlis, between the duke of Burgundy and the king of France; and as the grand council was then very much engaged in business, Louis duke of Bavaria, sir Colart de Calville and others were sent as ambassadors from the king to prolong the day.

On Saturday, the eve of the Epiphany, the king ordered a solemn service to be performed in the cathedral church of Nôtre Dame in Paris, for his late brother the duke of Orleans, which had not been as yet done. It was celebrated with a multitude of wax lights and torches, and attended by the duke of Orleans and the count de Vertus, the dukes of Berry, of Bourbon, Louis of Bavaria, the counts d'Alençon, de Richemont, d'Eu, de la Marche, and many more, all dressed in deep mourning. The duke of Acquitaine was not present, he had gone the preceding day to visit the queen his mother, and his sister the duchess of Brittany at Melun.

At these obsequies the sermon was preached by the chancellor of the cathedral, doctor John Gerson, much renowned for his theological learning; and it was so strong and bold that many doctors and others present were astonished thereat. When he praised the manners of the deceased duke and his government of the realm, he declared that it had been by far better administered by him than it had ever been since his death. He seemed, in this discourse, more desirous of exciting a war against the duke of Burgundy than of appeasing it; for he said, he did not recommend the death of the duke of Burgundy, or his destruction, but that he ought to be humiliated, to make him sensible of the wickedness he had committed, that by a sufficient atonement he might save his soul. He added, that the burning, last Lent, of the propositions advanced by the duke's advocate, John Petit, against the duke of Orleans, before the gates of the cathedral, as wicked doctrines, had been well done; but that all that was necessary had not yet been executed. He concluded by declaring, that he was ready to maintain and defend what he had said against the whole world.

The king was present, but not in mourning, in an oratory on the right hand of the altar; and near him was the duke of Orleans, who took precedence of all others, on account of this service that was performed for his late father; then the duke of Berry, the count de Vertus, and several princes seated according to their rank, listening to the words of the preacher. Two cardinals, namely, those of Rheims and of Pisa, many bishops, and such crowds of clergy, knights and common people assisted, that the church could scarcely contain them. When the sermon was ended, the dukes of Orleans and Berry, and the count de Vertus, recommended the preacher to the king's notice.

On the ensuing Monday, the king had similar obsequies performed for the late duke of Orleans, in the church of the Celestins in Paris, where he had been buried. They were attended by all who had assisted at the former ceremony. Master John Courbecuisse, doctor of divinity, preached the sermon, and pursued the same course of arguments as doctor Gerson.

The king likewise had vigils, funeral orations and masses, said for his late brother, in the chapel of the college of Navarre in Paris, at which he and the other relations of the deceased assisted.

CHAP. XVII.

THE KING AND HIS GRAND COUNCIL SEND FORCES TO ATTACK THE BURGUNDIANS.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED.

True it is, that after the destruction of the castle of Tonnerre, as has been mentioned, many men at arms and archers, who had been there employed, formed themselves into a company of full seven thousand horse, and committed much mischief on the country around, as well on the territories of the king in the Auxerrois as elsewhere.

In consequence, the king and council ordered the lord de Gaucourt, and Gassilin du Bos, to march against and conquer them. They obeyed, and so vigorously pursued them that from two to three hundred were killed or made prisoners. These last were carried to Paris, and confined in the prisons of the Châtelet, whence, after a short time, they were brought to trial, and some of them executed, but not before the king had paid their ransoms to those who had taken them.

The commanders of these marauders were Jacqueville, Fierbourg, and some others, who, when they heard that the king was sending a force against them, retired into the duchy of Burgundy.

Not long after, Sir Jeninet de Pois, nephew to sir James de Châtillon, lord de Dampierre, and admiral of France, going to the duke of Burgundy, attended by only two hundred lances or thereabout, was attacked, killed and robbed of every thing. Only one man, named Tambullan, of his whole company, escaped, and he saved himself by flight: all the rest were slain or taken. This action was very displeasing to the duke of Burgundy.

In like manner Hector de Saveuses, who had made a successful war on the king's forces, when before Arras, was captured when on a pilgrimage to Liance[19], and carried to Paris: had it not been for the earnest solicitations of the countess of Hainault, he would have been executed. Philip de Saveuses, his brother, had also made prisoners of Henry de Boissy, lord de Chaulle, and Eustace Dayne, lord de Sarton, who had warm friends among the king's ministers; and they exerted themselves so effectually for their liberty, that Hector was given in exchange for them.

These, and many similar facts, shewed that, notwithstanding the peace of Arras, there was very little security in the kingdom for travellers or others: for the Orleans party had so surrounded the persons of the king and the duke of Acquitaine, that those attached to the duke of Burgundy or his allies were deprived of all share in the government, and treated very harshly. This treatment, however, was but a retaliation for what the Orleans party had suffered when the Burgundians were in power.

Peace was somehow or other preserved; and the countess of Hainault came, with a noble attendance, through the Vermandois, Noyon and Compiegne to Senlis: the deputies from Flanders followed her, handsomely escorted; and last came the duke of Brabant, with the chief ministers of the duke of Burgundy, namely, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, master Thierry du Roy, and some others.

The council of the king of France requested them to proceed to Paris, for the purpose of more conveniently discussing the subject, which was complied with by all except the countess of Hainault, who had been forbidden by her lord and husband to go farther than Senlis, where she had been very honourably received by the dukes of Acquitaine and Berry, who had come from Paris to meet her. She was visited by other princes of the blood, and even by the duchess of Bourbon, who with the consent of her duke, had come from Clermont to entertain her, and remained in her company until she quitted Senlis.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 19: Q. if not Liannes, a village in Picardy.]

CHAP. XVIII.

AMBASSADORS ARRIVE AT PARIS FROM ENGLAND.--THE KING OF FRANCE HOLDS A GRAND FESTIVAL.--THE PEACE IS EVERY WHERE PRESERVED.

At this period, there came to Paris the earl of Dorset, uncle to the king of England, the lord Guy, admiral of England, the bishops of Durham and Norwich, and others, amounting, in the whole, to six hundred horse, as ambassadors to treat of a marriage between the king of France's daughter and the king of England[20]. They were lodged on their arrival at the Temple, and they carried themselves so magnificently, as well at home as when they rode abroad, that the French, and particularly the Parisians, were very much astonished.

On the 10th day of February, the king of France gave at Paris a very grand festival of eating, drinking, tilting and dancing, at which the english ambassadors were present. The king tilted with the duke d'Alençon, whom he had lately raised to that dignity. The duke of Brabant tilted in great cordiality with the duke of Orleans; and during this festival, which lasted three days, the princes of the blood conducted themselves kindly and honourably toward each other. The queen of France, the duchess of Acquitaine, and many other noble ladies and damsels, assisted at the feast.

On the 24th day of February, after many conferences with the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, as well at Paris as at Senlis, and with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy, the peace was finally concluded, and proclaimed with sound of trumpet through Paris, according to royal letters of the following tenor:

'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to all present and to come. Whereas many acts have been done since the conclusion of the peace at Pontoise, to our very great displeasure, and damage to our subjects and kingdom; for which cause we have held our beloved cousin, the duke of Burgundy in our indignation and disfavour, and have marched a considerable body of men at arms and archers against the town of Arras. During the time, we lay before that town, our well-beloved and dear cousins the duke of Brabant and countess of Hainault came thither, accompanied by our dearly-beloved the deputies from the three estates of Flanders, as commissioners, and having full powers to treat on the part of our said cousin of Burgundy, with so much humility and obedience that we were contented therewith.

'In confirmation of the duke of Burgundy's willingness to submit himself to our obedience, they offered on the part of the town of Arras to display our banner on the walls and towers thereof, and also to place under our subjection all the towns and castles which our said cousin of Burgundy held from us. We therefore, in our abundance of affection, have received him back into our good graces.

'Our said cousins the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, and the deputies from Flanders, engaged to deliver to us, or to any person whom we might depute, the castle of Crotoy, as well as the castle of Chinon; and that they would, to the utmost of their power, see that they were fully restored to us, or to any person whom we should commission to receive them. Many other matters relative to the restoring of peace were then discussed, and, in consequence, we ourselves withdrew with our army from before Arras. For the further consolidation of this agreement for peace, our said cousins of Brabant, Hainault, and the deputies from Flanders have again come to us, as ambassadors from our cousin of Burgundy, with whom, in the presence of our dearly beloved son the duke of Acquitaine, dauphin of Vienne, the preliminaries before mentioned have been confirmed.

'Know ye, that from the pity and compassion which we must feel for all who have suffered oppressions and vexations which ever ensue during a state of warfare, and which our faithful and beloved subjects have lately undergone; and that they may cease, so that tranquillity, justice, and legal government may take place within our realm; that labourers may do their work, and tradesfolk travel throughout the kingdom unmolested wherever they shall judge proper, without let or hindrance whatever. Considering also the value of peace, which is inestimable, and the great evils that ensue from war, of which we have lately had such bitter experience; and that all creatures may have better opportunities to amend their lives and turn toward their Creator, we of our own knowledge, and with full power and royal authority, by the advice of our council, and after the mature consideration of our eldest son, of many of the princes of our blood, prelates, barons and knights of our council and courts of parliament, so will, order and command, that a firm peace be established within our realm, between our subjects, and that all rancour and malice cease, forbidding all persons, whatever may be their rank or condition, under pain of our highest displeasure, to bear arms or to proceed against any one otherwise than by legal means.

'For the better preservation of this peace, and out of reverence to God, wishing to prefer mercy to rigorous justice, we from the plenitude of our power and by our full royal authority, do grant a general and free amnesty to all persons whether natives or foreigners, of whatever rank or condition they be, who shall have aided, abetted, counselled or supported our said cousin, the duke of Burgundy, contrary to our royal will and pleasure, since the said peace of Pontois until this day,--excepting, however, from this amnesty five persons, who are not noble, nor subjects nor vassals to our said cousin of Burgundy, and whose names shall be given to our cousins of Brabant and Hainault before the feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist next ensuing. We likewise except from this general pardon all who may have been banished by our courts of justice by legal processes, with the usual ceremonies and solemnities.

'For the further preservation of this peace, and to avoid all causes of sedition and dispute hereafter, we will and ordain that all persons who may have quitted their dwellings in Paris for the space of two years, shall not return nearer than within four or five leagues of our said town of Paris, reserving to ourself any favours which we may be inclined to show to the contrary. We will, however, that the said absentees may go any where throughout our realm, excepting to our town of Paris, without any molestation whatever, either in body or goods.

'To maintain our subjects in peace and to obviate any disputes of office, which, having formerly happened, may do so again, we will and order, that all offices given by us since the said peace of Pontoise, shall remain in our full disposition and power, without those who may have been deprived of them having any claim or pretence of being restored to them. With regard to the prisoners, we will do strict justice; for it is our pleasure that no lord, baron, knight, esquire, or other persons, under pretence of services not performed to us, or for services done to our said cousin of Burgundy, shall be prosecuted or molested in body or goods, but that all lands, castles, or any territories whatever, that may have been taken possession of, and held by our officers for us, on account of the late war, shall be fully and completely restored to their true and lawful owners, without any fees or charges claimed in regard to us; and we now impose silence on our attorney-general, although the different cases be not specified particularly by us, in order more effectually to put an end to all disputes and suits at law that may have arisen from the events of the late war.

'We will, order and enjoin, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do forbear, by himself or others for him, to disturb or any way molest, either by open or secret means, such of our subjects and vassals of every degree, as shall have served us in our warfare against him; and such of his subjects and vassals as, through fear of offending us, have not served him in conformity to the different ordinances issued by us; and that he be particularly cautious, under pain of incurring our displeasure, that this article be truly attended to, for we positively forbid our said cousin of Burgundy to take any cognizance whatever of the above acts.

'We likewise forbid all others of our blood and lineage to commit, or cause to be committed by others for them, any acts of hostility against our said vassals and subjects, as well as against those of our said cousin the duke of Burgundy; for we strictly ordain, that they do not take any cognizance of offences that may have been caused by the late warfare.

'We will and command, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do punctually restore all castles, lands, or fiefs that he may have taken from our vassals and subjects, as well as from his own, on account of services performed to us or neglected to have been done to him, and that he order away from him all who may be inclined to disturb the lawful owner in the possession of them.

'We in like manner enjoin all those of our blood and lineage who may have possessed themselves of any castles, lands, or other effects of any lord, baron, knight, esquire, or others, under cover of the late warfare, to restore them instantly to their proper owners, without further molestation, or making them pay any fees or charges for their restitution, in order that this said peace may be faithfully and religiously maintained.

'We likewise will and command, that all the articles of the peace concluded at Chartres, and of others which have since been made, be most particularly observed; and we strictly enjoin all those of our blood and lineage, that they do not, on any pretence whatever, form any alliances with the English, or with others, to our prejudice or to the prejudice of this peace; and should any such have been formed, we positively command that all treaties be returned and annulled, and that any person who may have concluded them do deliver to us sufficient security for the due performance of these our orders.

'And we further enjoin, for the better security of this peace, that our said cousin of Brabant, the ambassadors from our cousin of Burgundy, and the deputies before named from Flanders, in the name of themselves, the three estates in that country, and in behalf of our said cousin of Burgundy, our very dear and well-beloved cousins the counts de Charolois and de Nevers, do each of them swear and promise,--those who are now present in our hands, and those absent in the hands of our deputies,--on their faith and oath, and on the cross and holy evangelists of God, that they will loyally and honestly observe this peace, and all the articles of it; and that they will not, by open or other means any way violate or infringe the same, under pain of incurring our highest displeasure and indignation.

'And should it happen that any person, whether noble or not, do interrupt this peace, or act contrary thereto, they shall promise not to give them any encouragement, aid or advice, but shall endeavour to stifle all such attempts before they gain any head.

'Copies of these oaths and engagements shall be delivered into our chancery, signed by each party, and sealed with their seals, that a perfect remembrance may be had of this transaction.

'Similar oaths and promises shall be taken and made, under the like penalty, by our very dear and well-beloved cousins, uncle, son and nephew, the cardinal de Bar, the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry, de Tours, d'Orleans, de Bretagne, de Bourbon, d'Alençon, and de Bar; the counts de Vertus, d'Eu, Richemont, de Dreux constable of France, de la Marche, de Vendôme grand master of the household, de Marle, le Bouteiller de France, d'Armagnac, de St Pol, de Penthievre, and de Tancarville, with all others of our blood and lineage, and the members of the three estates in their countries. Those present will take the oath in our hands, and the absent in the hands of our deputies: they will each deliver into our chancery copies of their oath and promise, signed and sealed by them, that the remembrance of it may endure for ever.

'We also ordain, that the aforesaid oath and engagement shall be taken before our commissioners, under pain of the above-mentioned penalties, by all prelates, knights, barons, captains, bailiffs, seneschals, provosts, and others our officers, vassals and subjects of all ranks, ecclesiastical and secular, noble and not noble, who shall each of them sign and seal his separate engagement, which shall be transmitted to our chancery for the aforesaid purpose.

'Item, our said cousin of Burgundy, and all the afore-mentioned princes of our blood, shall send letters to their subjects and vassals, requiring them to take their oaths in like manner. And for the better security of this peace, our said cousin of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, and the deputies aforesaid, shall exert their utmost power to prevail on our very dear and well-beloved cousins duke William of Bavaria, count of Hainault, the duke of Lorraine, the count of Savoy, the bishop of Liege, the count of Namur, and such others as they think proper, to take a similar oath and promise to observe all the articles of the peace.

'We also will and command, that should any excesses be committed which might endanger the aforesaid peace, it shall not therefore be broken; but the party who shall feel himself injured shall appeal to our courts of justice, when such reparation shall be made him as the case may legally require.

'We consequently, give it strictly in charge to our dear and loyal the constable, the chancellor, the members of our courts of parliament, the marshals of France, the master of the cross-bows, the high admiral, the provost of Paris, to all our seneschals, bailiffs, governors, mayors, sheriffs, and all others our officers whatever, to each and to all of them, that they do pay attention to the articles of of the said peace, and that they do not suffer the smallest of them to be in any wise violated or infringed; and should any thing be done contrary to their true tenour and meaning, they will cause such persons to be instantly arrested as disturbers of the public peace, and punish them as guilty of high treason toward us and toward the state, so that they may serve for examples to all others who may be inclined to act in the same way.

'We ordain that these presents be proclaimed in the most public manner in the usual places, that no one may pretend ignorance thereof; and we enjoin all persons who may hear or know of any one that shall utter words in public or otherwise against the honour of the aforesaid persons of our blood and lineage, or to the disgrace of this said peace, that they do denounce him or them to our officers of justice, that punishment may ensue according to the exigence of the case, and that they may be proceeded against as rebels to our commands and ordinances.

'That these presents may have their due weight, we have hereunto set our seal. Given at Paris in the month of February in the year of Grace 1414, and of our reign the 35th.' Signed by the king and his grand council. Countersigned, 'Estienne Mauregard.' As this peace was proclaimed throughout Paris, so was it published in divers parts of the kingdom of France.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 20: For particulars of this embassy, &c. see the Foedera.]

CHAP. XIX.

THREE PORTUGUESE PERFORM A DEED OF ARMS AGAINST THREE FRENCHMEN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.--THE PORTUGUESE ARE VANQUISHED.

At this period, there was a combat between three Portuguese and three Frenchmen, performed at the king's palace of St Ouen near to Paris. The names of the Portuguese were the lord d'Alenton, sir Jean Cousaille knight, and sir Peter Cousaille. The three Frenchmen were sir François de Grignaulx, Marigon, and la Rocque.

The Portuguese, as the challengers, were first introduced into the lists by the earl of Dorset and the other english lords. The French were conducted by Clugnet de Brabant, admiral of France, John brother to the duke de Bar, and several more.

After the accustomed proclamations had been made, in the king's name, the combat began, and was hard fought, but at length the Portuguese surrendered themselves as vanquished, to save their lives, to the great indignation and displeasure of the English, who had conducted them to the lists. The Portuguese were, by the king's command, put out of the lists, and the French honourably escorted home very much rejoiced at their victory.

When the business of the peace had been concluded, the countess of Hainault left Senlis, and returned to her country and to her lord duke William. The English, about the same time, departed from Paris, after having been magnificently feasted and honoured by the king and his princes, and having likewise been presented with rich gifts. They did not, however, succeed in the object of their mission, namely, the marriage of their king with the lady Catherine of France, because their demands for her portion were unreasonable and excessive, such as the duchy of Normandy, the county of Ponthieu, with the duchy of Acquitaine, to be held as inheritances for ever. The king of France, in reply, told them that he would shortly send ambassadors to England with his final answer to the request they had made.

CHAP. XX.

THE PEACE OF ARRAS SOLEMNLY SWORN TO IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.--IT IS AFTERWARDS SWORN TO IN DIVERS OTHER PLACES.

On the 13th day of March, in this year, the duke of Brabant, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, counsellors and ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, and the deputies from the three estates of Flanders, having full powers from the duke of Burgundy for this purpose, swore in the name of the said duke, and in his behalf in the presence of the king of France, on the true cross and holy evangelists of God; and in like manner the duke of Brabant and the others above mentioned, for themselves in their own private capacities, swore to the full observance and preservation of all the articles of the peace first treated of before Arras and confirmed at Paris.

The dukes of Berry, Orleans, Alençon and Bourbon, the counts d'Eu, de Vendôme, grand master of the household, the lord de Prayaux, the chancellor of France, the archbishops of Sens, Bourges, Rouen, the bishops of Laon, Lisieuz, Paris, Chartres, the chancellor of Acquitaine, the count de Tancarville and others, took the same oath in the presence of the king and the grand council.

Commissioners were then sent by the king from Paris, namely, the master of the cross-bows of France, the lord de Rambures, and master Jean de Vailly, first president of the parliament, to Tournay, where they arrived in the month of March. The duke of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, Philip of Burgundy count of Charolois, the nobles and prelates of Ghent, and other great towns in Flanders, there met them. When the king's letter had been read, the count de Charolois, and all present, took the oath required, in the hands of the said commissioners, and in the presence of the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, promising on their own behalf to keep the said peace, and to pay attention to the contents of the king's letter. In like manner did the prelates, nobility, and others of the town of Tournay and the adjacent countries, make oath, delivering their certificates signed and sealed by them, as the count de Charolois and the Flemings had done to the commissioners, to be carried to Estienne Mauregard, the master of the rolls, at Paris.

The count de Charolois, after the holy week, convoked, at Arras, all the nobility, clergy, and inhabitants of the country of Artois and its dependancies, who all swore, and delivered in certificates, as those of Tournay had done. Commissioners were afterward sent into Burgundy, to receive the oaths of the duke and of the estates of the duchy and its dependancies. These commissioners were the lord de Tynouville and master Symon de Vanterre, president, of the parliament, who received the oaths and certificates, and sent them to the master of the rolls at Paris; but the duke himself refused to swear, and said he must speak to the king and the duke of Acquitaine before he made oath to keep the peace, on certain causes that affected him.

[A.D. 1415.]

CHAP. XXI.

THE COMMONALTY AND CLERGY OF AMIENS ARE ASSEMBLED TO SWEAR TO THE OBSERVANCE OF THE PEACE OF ARRAS.

At the beginning of this year, those of Amiens wrote such letters as follow.

'The mayor, sheriffs, and commonalty of Amiens make known, that on the 18th day of the month of April, in the year 1415, by orders from master John de Vailly, president of the parliament and commissioner in these parts in the name of the king, the inhabitants of this town were collected in the market-place by sound of bell from house to house, when we being present, with the principal inhabitants, this said president caused to be read to us letters from the king of the following purport: 'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France,' &c. (and similar to what I have before detailed),--which being ended, we, and all the people assembled, made oath, and faithfully promised on the cross and holy evangelists of God, and we now by these presents do swear and promise punctually to observe and keep all the articles of the peace lately ratified, as far as it shall concern us, and conformably to the will and pleasure of the king our lord, as contained in these his said letters. In testimony whereof, we have to these presents affixed the common seal of the town of Amiens. Given on the day and year before mentioned.'

The substance of the above was copied by two apostolical notaries, who certified that the aforesaid ordinance had been published, and the colleges assembled in the chapter-house of the cathedral of Nôtre Dame of Amiens, who had sworn to the same. These were sealed with the seal of the bishop of Amiens, of the chapter, and of the other chapters and colleges, and given to the bailiff of Amiens to carry to master Estienne Mauregard, master of the rolls in Paris. The bailiff caused the king's proclamation to be published every where within his jurisdiction, except within the lands of the duke of Burgundy: he received the oaths of all ranks of persons to the due observance of the same, and the proper certificates from each prelate, noble, and others resident within his baliwick.

Thus were these ordinances respecting the peace proclaimed throughout all the bailiwicks and seneschalships in the realm, at the usual places; and then oaths and certificates were demanded by the commissioners from the clergy, nobles, and chief towns, and delivered at Paris in the same manner as the others had been.

CHAP. XXII.

THE COUNT WALERAN DE ST POL DIES AT YVOIX, IN THE COUNTY OF CHINY IN LUXEMBOURG.--THE PRINCES OF THE BLOOD GO TO MELUN, BY ORDERS FROM THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF ACQUITAINE.

On the 9th day of April, in this same year 1415, Waleran count de Saint Pol and de Ligny, calling himself constable of France, fell ill in the castle of Yvoix, in the county of Chiny. His disorder, as it was reported, was occasioned by his physician having administered to him too strong a clyster; and about twelve days after, he departed this life, and was buried in front of the great altar in the principal church in Yvoix, amidst the tears and lamentations of his attendants,--although he had ordered, by a will made in his lifetime, that his body should be carried to the abbey of Cercamp, of which his ancestors the counts de St Pol had been the founders.

In the course of his illness, he had sent for his countess, the sister to the duke of Bar, having an earnest desire to converse with her before his last hour; but, notwithstanding the diligence she made to comply with his request, she did not arrive, accompanied by a niece of the count's, sister to sir John Luxembourg, until about two hours after his decease, although they had rode a straddle, on hard-trotting horses, to make the more speed. They were much shocked on hearing of his death. When the countess had remained at Yvoix about eight hours, and disbanded the men at arms of her late lord, she returned to Ligny-en-Barrois, where she had the obsequies of the count celebrated in the cathedral church.

She publicly renounced, by her attorney, all the debts and estates of her late lord excepting her dower, by placing on his tomb his belt and purse, of which act she demanded from the public notaries present to have certificates drawn up. The count's heirs were the two sons of the duke of Brabant by the daughter of his first wife.

In this same month, the princes of the blood then at Paris went to Melun, by command of the queen and the duke of Acquitaine, who were there resident. While they were occupied on business with the queen, the duke of Acquitaine set off for Paris with few attendants; and thence he sent the princes word that they were not to return to Paris until ordered by the king or himself, and commanded them to retire to their estates, and to attend to their own affairs.

After this, the duke knowing that the queen his mother had deposited large sums in the hands of three persons in Paris, who were her confidents, namely, Michault de l'Allier, Guillaume Sanguin and Picquit de la Haye, suddenly entered their houses with his people, and seized all the money found therein and carried it to his hotel. He then summoned the provosts of Paris, the university, and the principal inhabitants to come to him at the Louvre, where he caused to be laid before them, by the bishop of Chartres, his chancellor, article by article, the whole history of the government of the kingdom, from the coronation of the king his father until that moment, showing how the duke of Anjou had seized the treasures of king Charles his grandfather, and wasted them in Italy, as well as the portions of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, last deceased; then mentioning the death of the late duke of Orleans and his government, and concluding with the administration of the present duke of Burgundy, who had consumed the whole of the finances, and despoiled the kingdom. He then declared, that as duke of Acquitaine, dauphin of Vienne, and presumptive heir to the crown, he would no longer suffer such waste to be committed on the public revenues, or on his father's demesnes.

To this end, therefore, and for the security and welfare of the king and realm, he had thus assembled them, to make known to them, and all the world, his resolution of taking on himself the government of the kingdom, with a firm determination to provide a remedy against such abuses in future.

When the above had been eloquently and elaborately explained to the assembly, it broke up, and every one returned to his home.

The princes of the blood, on receiving the orders from the duke of Acquitaine, took their leave of the queen, and separated from each other. The duke of Berry went to Dourdan[21], in his county of Estampes, the duke of Orleans to Orleans, and the duke of Bourbon to his duchy of Bourbon. The duke of Burgundy was before, as has been mentioned, in his duchy of Burgundy.

The king was very ill at his hotel of St Pol at Paris. The next step of the duke of Acquitaine was to take away his duchess from the company of the queen, which he did in person, accompanied by the count de Richemont, and had her placed at St Germain-en-Laye.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 21: Dourdan,--a town in Beauce, on the river Orge, four leagues from Estampes.]

CHAP. XXIII.

THE KING OF ENGLAND ASSEMBLES A LARGE ARMY TO INVADE FRANCE.--AMBASSADORS SENT HIM FROM THAT COUNTRY.--THE ANSWERS THEY RECEIVE.

When the english ambassadors were returned to England, and had reported to the king their ill success, the king, princes, and country were much displeased thereat. After many councils had been holden, it was at length resolved, that the king should raise the greatest possible force to invade France, and so sorely despoil that kingdom that the present king and his successors should be driven from it.

To provide a sufficient fleet for the transport of his army, he sent commissioners[22] into Holland and Zealand, who, on proper security for good payment, made contracts for the number of vessels that would be wanted. The king of England had prepared all manner of stores and provisions necessary for war; and in regard to the payment of the forces, adequate sums were raised: indeed, there remained an overplus of five hundred thousand nobles, in money or plate. It was determined, that the king himself, attended by the princes and the whole army, should embark to invade France as early as possible.

Intelligence of this was speedily carried to France. The duke of Acquitaine, who now governed the realm in behalf and in the name of the king his father, in consequence, held many councils, and remanded to Paris the duke of Berry, and some other lords, with whom he had several consultations to know how he should act on this occasion, for the king was then confined by his disorder. It was determined, that men at arms and archers should be assembled in various parts of France ready to march against the English the moment it should be known they were landed; that garrisons should be placed in every town and castle on the coast, and that as large sums of money as possible should be raised with all speed.

It was likewise resolved to send a solemn embassy to the king of England, to make him other offers, in answer to the demands of his last ambassadors. Those appointed for this business were the count de Vendôme, master William Bouratier, archbishop of Bourges, master Peter Fennel, bishop of Lisieuz, the lords of Ivry and Bracquemont, master Gautier Col, secretary to the king, master John Andrieu, and some others of the great council[23]. Taking advantage of the existing truce, they set out from Paris, and travelling through Amiens, Montrieul and Boulogne, to Calais, they there crossed the sea to Dover. They were in all three hundred and fifty horsemen, and continued their journey from Dover to Canterbury, where they were met by the king's harbingers, who conducted them through Rochester to London, and thence to Winchester, where the king was.

The archbishop of Bourges explained to the king, in the hall of the bishop of Winchester, and in the presence of the dukes of Clarence, Bedford and Gloucester, brothers to the king, and of the lords of the council, clergy, chivalry and populace, the object of his embassy. The archbishop spoke first in Latin, and then in the Walloon language, so eloquently and wisely, that both the English and French who heard him were greatly surprised. At the conclusion of his harangue he made offers to the king of a great extent of country in France, with a large sum of ready money on his marriage with the princess Catherine, but on condition that he would disband the army he had collected at Southampton, and at the adjacent sea ports to invade France; and that by these means an eternal peace would be established between the two kingdoms.

The assembly broke up, when the archbishop had ended his speech; and the french ambassadors were kindly entertained at dinner by the king, who then appointed a day for them to receive his answer to their propositions, by the mouth of the archbishop of Canterbury.

In the course of the archbishop's speech, in which he replied, article by article, to what the archbishop of Bourges had offered, he added to some, and passed over others of them, so that he was sharply interrupted by the archbishop of Bourges, who exclaimed, 'I did not say so, but such were my words.' The conclusion, however, was, that unless the king of France would give, as a marriage-portion with his daughter, the duchies of Acquitaine, of Normandy, of Anjou, of Tours, the counties of Ponthieu, Mans and Poitou, and every other part that had formerly belonged to the english monarchs, the king would not desist from his intended invasion of France, but would despoil the whole of that kingdom, which had been unjustly detained from him,--and that he should depend on his sword for the accomplishment of the above, and for depriving king Charles of his crown.

The king avowed what the archbishop had said, and added, that thus, with God's aid, he would act,--and promised it on the word of a king. The archbishop of Bourges then, according to the custom in France, demanded permission to speak, and said, 'O king! how canst thou, consistently with honour and justice, thus wish to dethrone, and iniquitously destroy the most Christian king of the French, our very dear and most redoubted lord, the noblest and most excellent of all the kings in Christendom. O king! with all due reverence and respect, dost thou think that he has offered by me such extent of territory, and so large a sum of money with his daughter in marriage, through any fear of thee, thy subjects or allies? By no means; but, moved by pity and his love of peace, he has made these offers to avoid the shedding of innocent blood, and that Christian people may not be overwhelmed in the miseries of war; for whenever thou shalt make thy promised attempt, he will call upon God, the blessed virgin, and on all the saints, making his appeal to them for the justice of his cause,--and with their aid, and the support of his loyal subjects and faithful allies, thou wilt be driven out of his dominions, or thou wilt be made prisoner, or thou wilt there suffer death by orders of that just king whose ambassadors we are.

'We have now only to entreat of thee, that thou wouldst have us safely conducted out of thy realm; and that thou wouldst write to our said king, under thy hand and seal, the answer which thou hast had given to us.'

The king kindly granted their requests; and the ambassadors, having received handsome presents, returned by way of Dover to Calais, and thence to Paris. They reported to the duke of Acquitaine in the presence of the members of the grand council, many knights and other persons, the ill success of their embassy. At the same time, the duke of Acquitaine and the council received letters from the king of England, dated from Winchester, containing his final answer to the proposals that had been made him.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 22: The _commissioners_ were Richard Clitherow and Symon Flecte, esquires.--_Foedera._

I would refer the reader to this excellent work for the whole detail of the negotiations with France respecting the marriage of Catherine. The demands of the english ambassadors are detailed at length, with the handsome proposals on the part of France, in answer to such exorbitant and unjust pretensions.]

[Footnote 23: See the Foedera.]

CHAP. XXIV.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AMBASSADORS TO THE DUKE OF ACQUITAINE. THE ANSWER THEY RECEIVE.--HE TAKES THE OATH.

The duke of Burgundy, tormented by the clamours of those who had been banished from Paris and the kingdom France, and whom, as I have noticed, he had taken under his protection, was very desirous of alleviating their distress, and for this purpose sent ambassadors to Paris, to his son-in-law the duke of Acquitaine, and to the grand council of the king. These ambassadors were sir Regnier Pot and the lord d'Ancre, knights, the bishop of Tournay, and an advocate of Dijon: they were instructed to solicit the recal of those who had been banished the kingdom by royal authority, and that the five hundred who had been excepted by the articles of the peace should be fully pardoned, and that all which had passed should be forgotten. They were also to insist, that the duchess of Acquitaine, whom the duke had sent to reside at St Germain en laye, should inhabit the Louvre with him, and that he should put away a female friend who lived with him in place of his said wife.

If these things were complied with, he promised to take the prescribed oath to preserve the peace,--otherwise not.

The duke of Acquitaine was so much angered, when he first heard these proposals, that the ambassadors did not experience a very agreeable reception. They waited, therefore, on him another day, in hope of receiving more favourable answers; but finding that they could no way succeed in what had been ordered by their lord the duke of Burgundy, they addressed the duke of Acquitaine as follows: 'Most renowned prince, and very noble lord, with reverence be it known to you, that if you do not grant what our aforesaid lord requires of you, he will never swear to the observance of the late peace; and should the English invade France, neither he himself nor his vassals will bear arms in your service, or for the defence of the kingdom.'

The duke, hearing this, was more exasperated than before; but, dissembling his feelings, he replied, that he would advise with his council on the subject of their coming, and within a short time would send an answer to their lord by a confidential person. Upon this, the ambassadors returned to Burgundy.

The duke of Acquitaine consulted the grand council on the above; and in consequence, sir Guichard Daulphin, the lord de Viel-pont, and master John de Vailly, president of the parliament, were sent, in the king's name, to Burgundy, where they treated so effectually with the duke, whom they met at Dijon, that he took the same oaths the others had done; and they brought back his certificate under his seal, which was given to Estienne Mauregard, master of the rolls.

The duke of Burgundy, however, kept up a very large force of men at arms and archers, in the duchy and county of Burgundy, and the adjacent parts, to the great loss of the poor inhabitants, to aid and defend him, should there be occasion.

On the 23d day of July, those five hundred persons whose names had been excepted from the amnesty on the conclusion of the peace between the duke of Burgundy and the other princes of the blood, were publicly banished, by sound of trumpet, from France, in the presence of the ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, at that time in Paris.

CHAP. XXV.

HENRY KING OF ENGLAND MAKES GREAT PREPARATIONS TO INVADE FRANCE. HE SENDS LETTERS TO THE KING OF FRANCE AT PARIS.

It is proper that we now return to the king of England, who was making vast preparations of warlike stores, and every other necessary, to accomplish his projected invasion of France. He had marched his army to Southampton, and to the neighbouring sea-ports; and after the 2d day of August, when the truce between the two kingdoms expired, the garrisons of Calais and other places began to overrun and despoil the country of the Boulonois, and divers other parts.

The king of France instantly ordered thither, to oppose them, the lord de Rambures, master of the cross-bows, and the lord de Louroy, with five hundred combatants, for the defence of the country. Within a few days after the expiration of the truce, king Henry, whose preparations were now completed, sent one of his heralds called Glocester[24], to Paris to deliver letters to the king, of which the contents were as follows:

'To the very noble prince, Charles our cousin and adversary of France. Henry, by the grace of God, king England and of France. To give to every one what is their due, is a work of inspiration and wise council, very noble prince, our cousin and adversary. The noble kingdoms of England and France were formerly united, now they are divided. At that time it was customary for each person to exalt his name by glorious victories, and by this single virtue to extol the honour of God, to whom holiness belongs, and to give peace to his church, by subjecting in battle the enemies of the public weal. But alas! good faith among kindred and brotherly love have been perverted; and Lot persecutes Abraham by human impulsion, and Dissention, the mother of Anger, has been raised from the dead.

'We, however, appeal to the sovereign Judge, (who is neither swayed by prayers nor gifts from doing right), that we have, from pure affection, done every thing in our power to preserve the peace; and we must now rely on the sword for regaining what is justly our heritage, and those rights which have from old time belonged to us; and we feel such assurance in our courage that we will fight till death in the cause of justice.

'The written law in the book of Deuteronomy ordains, that before any person commences an attack on a city, he shall first offer terms of peace; and although violence has detained from us our rightful inheritances, charity, however, induces us to attempt, by fair means, their recovery; for should justice be denied us, we may then resort to arms.