Chapter V: Part 5

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.