administered to their wants as long as they were able. The foremost in
this act of mercy was the city of Cambray. This dearth lasted until
the year 1439, and was the cause of many strict regulations respecting
corn, which by many lords and towns was forbidden to be carried out of
their jurisdictions under the most severe penalties.
A proclamation was made in Ghent ordering a stop to be put to the
brewing of beer, and other liquors, from corn, and all the dogs of poor
people to be killed, and that no one should keep a bitch-dog unless
splayed. Such and other like ordinances were issued in several parts,
that the poor, and beggars, might be supplied with a sufficiency to
support nature.
CHAP. XIV.
THE POPULACE OF GHENT AGAIN TAKE UP ARMS, EXCITED THERETO BY THE
ARTISANS.
At this time, the ghent men, in great numbers rose in arms, through
the instigation of the artisans. The reason they gave for this was,
that the garrison of Sluys had plundered the flat country round,--the
inhabitants of which had made their complaints to them, at the same
time requesting them to punish the pillagers.
They had also taken up arms against Bruges, to know whether they would
peaceably separate from those of the Franc[15], and allow them to
become one of the four departments of Ghent. They wanted likewise to
march against Sluys, and carry away the posts that had been placed in
the bed of the river Lieve, to prevent merchandise from passing up or
down. They had further designs of visiting all Flanders, to see who
were their friends and willing to support them in the maintenance of
peace in the country, that the poor might have work in all the towns.
Should the sheriffs and inhabitants of Ghent refuse to co-operate with
them, they had resolved to undertake the matter themselves, with the
aid of their allies. They declared, they would not lay down their arms
until they should have accomplished their undertaking. The deacon of
these artisans, at this time, was one Pierre Hemubloc. The sheriffs
explained the whole of this business to the townsmen, to the deacon
of the weavers, and to those of the other trades, at the usual place,
before the town-house, that they might fully consider it, each with
their brother-tradesmen, and lay the whole of their deliberations, on
the morrow, before the magistracy. Each trade, in consequence, had
a meeting at their different halls; and the deacons waited on the
magistrates on the 9th day of October.
After many debates, the demands of the artisans were acceded to, owing
to their own importunities, and those of their supporters, but not
without great murmurings on the part of the principal inhabitants,
because Bruges was at that time treating for peace with the duke of
Burgundy at Lille, whither Ghent had sent ambassadors, and because they
thought that this was only a pretext to seize the properties of the
rich.
The artisans, having carried their point, immediately hastened to the
corn-market, with displayed banners, and were instantly joined by the
tailors, old clothes-sellers, and all the inferior tradesmen. They were
followed by the twenty-seven banners of weavers, the bailiff with the
magistracy, preceded by the banner of Flanders, and crowds of common
people, so that, in the whole there were eighty-two banners.
The magistrates soon departed, and the other banners after them in
the usual procession; but the artisans and their friends withdrew to
the friday market-place, in front of the hall of appeals where they
remained all night, in the resolution of taking the field on the morrow.
The better part of the weavers, however, and the more substantial
inhabitants were of a contrary opinion, and left the artisans, being
averse to go to war. Upon this, a quarrel arose between them, which
nearly caused a battle, the artisans retired to one side of the
market-place from the others, telling those to follow them who were of
the same opinion.
Several joined them,--and they then all marched away in handsome array
for Marienkirk, on the road to Bruges, were they encamped under tents
and pavilions. At this time also, there were great riots in several
places, on account of the debasements of the new coinage of 1433 as
well as the old coinage, and for the heavy taxes which had been imposed
for the expedition to Calais.
No english wool was now exported to Flanders, which threw very many
out of work and bread: more especially the town of Ypres suffered
from this, as their principal manufacture was working up these wools
into cloth. On the other hand, corn and every necessary of life were
extravagantly dear; and provision became more scarce in Flanders from
the war carrying on by those of Bruges: moreover, the townsmen of Sluys
had fixed stakes in the bed of the Lieve, so that a stop was put to the
transport of merchandise on that river.
The rich took every care of their money, for they perceived that the
poorer sort, now having arms, would probably live by plunder, and that
few of them would return to their trades or cultivate the fields. They
also made as little show of wealth from expecting daily that a general
war would take place in one quarter or another.
The men of Ghent next issued a summons to all the inhabitants of
towns and villages throughout their jurisdictions, to appear there
immediately in arms, and the same number as when ordered to march
to Calais. The sheriffs laid this summons before the commonalty and
inhabitants, for them to advise thereon. As this was not willingly
attended to, some went to the sheriffs to obtain a delay, or that they
might send fewer in number,--but the sheriffs told them they must
immediately obey.
During this time, the ghent men chosen a commander named Rasse Rouven,
a citizen of Ghent, of about thirty years old; to assist whom they
appointed a council of twelve persons, who had never been in the
magistracy of that town. Four of these councellors were selected from
the citizens at large, four from the weaver's company, and four from
the artisans; but the person whom they had chosen for commander
refused to take the office.
Item, on the 9th day of October, it had been proclaimed in the
sheriff's court, that all foreign merchants must appear within three
days in the town of Ghent sufficiently well armed, under pain of
corporal punishment and confiscation of effects. Several did appear
within the time prescribed; but others sent excuses that urgent and
lawful business prevented them, and entered into a treaty to pay a sum
of money to be excused.
Those who had, in obedience to the summons, gone to Ghent, after
remaining there three days without being any way employed, returned to
their homes. On the 27th day of this same month of October, they were
again summoned to appear under pain of losing their citizenship, and
paying the forfeiture. On this same day, eight soldiers from Sluys were
taken prisoners, who, under pretence of making war on the bruges men,
had pillaged the country.
The men of St Laurence-au-bloc had taken them, under the proclamation
that had been made, that all pillagers should be arrested and
brought to justice, and that when they could not be taken alive they
should be put to death. These they disarmed, and, retaining their
armour and clothes, led them to the ghent army at Marienkirk in their
pourpoints,--and, the ensuing day, they were beheaded, according to
the sentence of the sheriffs. Their bodies, at the request of the head
deacon, were given to the Austin-friars, who buried them. Four men were
expelled the army of Ghent for having robbed some villages.
The before-mentioned Rasse, who had been elected commander in chief,
went to the duke of Burgundy at Arras for his commission, provided
his appointment were agreeable to the duke. He left behind him in
Ghent three lieutenants: one chosen from the burghers, called Jean
l'Estauble,--one from the trades, called Jean Cacialle,--and the third
from the company of weavers, called Jean de Sterque.
On Monday, the 4th day of November, Rasse returned with his commission,
as captain-general of the ghent men, signed by the duke of Burgundy.
He had taken the oaths of allegiance before the lords of the council
at Lille, and took similar oaths in the presence of the army in the
hands of the bailiff and sheriffs of Ghent, to be true and loyal to
the prince, to preserve his rights as well as those of the town,--to
observe law and justice, and to keep the people in peace and union. The
twelve councellors took the same oaths.
On the 5th of November, the captain-general Rasse, with two deputies
from each banner and from the municipality, went from Marienkirk to
Ghent, at the request of those who had taken up arms, and arrested
several persons who had principally governed that town,--namely, Louis
de Holle, who had been first sheriff, Lievin de Jagre, who had often
served that office and been treasurer, Gilles le Clerc, advocate, Jean
l'Apothicaire, who had been treasurer and sheriff of Ghent and Jacques
la Jaschere, formerly deacon of the trades.
These they confined together, as prisoners, in the palace of the
prince, calling them traitors, and would have done the same to others,
but they had fled.
The commander in chief ordered proclamation to be made for all who had
served any offices in Ghent for the last ten years to join, without
delay, the army at Marienkirk. It was now greatly augmented, for those
within their jurisdictions came handsomely equipped and attended, with
the exception of those from Courtray,--and their tents and pavilions
had, at a distance, the appearance of a large town.
The army appeared under arms on the 6th instant, and wanted to go
to Ghent, and bring back with them the prisoners; but their captain
restrained them, saying, that it had been ordered that they should
remain in prison until the army were returned home, when ample justice
would be done on them according to the evidence that a general
investigation of their deeds through Flanders should produce.
Their commander would have been glad that his army had been
diminished, saying, that he would establish peace and justice every
where, with but a fourth part of the present numbers. The troops,
however, would not be separated, but declared they would remain
together in brotherly love.
They wanted to march and post themselves between Bruges and Sluys,
and take possession of the Franc according to the judgement of their
prince, and, subject the inhabitants, for their outrages and misdeeds,
to the obedience of the duke and the other three members of the states
of Flanders, saving their lives and privileges.
The burghers of Bruges, they said, must submit themselves and
supplicate their prince to receive them in mercy, and likewise put
an end to all disputes between them and Sluys, so that passengers
and merchants, might travel the country unmolested. Should those
of Bruges refuse compliance, they would exert themselves to force
them to obedience. This was told to the forty-two deputies sent by
Bruges, from the different trades, to treat with the ghent army at
Marienkirk. After some debating, these deputies agreed to the terms
proposed, and on the 12th day of November drew up, and presented to the
captain-general, the following articles of agreement.
'We, the burgomasters, sheriffs, principal burghers, deacons,
corporators and commonalty of the town of Bruges, make known to all to
whom these presents shall come, that we, from respect to our redoubted
lord and prince, the duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders, &c. and at
the entreaty of the three departments of the town of Ghent, and of all
the free towns within its jurisdictions, have consented, and by these
presents do consent, for ourselves and successors, to keep firm and
stable the judgment given by our said lord and his council, in his town
of Ghent, the 11th day of February in the year 1436, constituting those
of the Franc a fourth department of Ghent, without fraud, and according
to the literal meaning of the said judgement. In testimony whereof, we
have sealed these presents with the obligatory seal of our said town of
Bruges.'
When the deputies was returned to Bruges with this treaty, the
magistrates assembled the commonalty before the sheriff's court, and
demanded if they were willing to ratify this treaty. There were present
upwards of twenty thousand persons, who, after a moment's silence,
unanimously replied, 'Yes.' Then stepped forth one called Coppin de
Mesinacre, who had been lately banished Ghent for his misdeeds, and
said, 'All goes wrong: how are ye such cowards as to fear the ghent
men? You certainly ought to suffer for your folly and want of firmness.'
In consequence of this speech the deacon of the artisans, a tailor,
and some others, began to murmur, and to oppose the confirmation of
the treaty, more especially to putting their assent on paper; and at
last, by their tumultuous behaviour, the treaty was destroyed. Some
time afterward by a legal sentence, the said Coppin, the deacon of the
artisans, the tailor, and one other, were beheaded for this conduct:
seventeen of their accomplices were also banished.
The negotiations for peace between Bruges and Ghent were put an end to,
although seventeen hostages had been left with the army by the deputies
from Bruges. The ghent men afterward set them at liberty without
ransom, because they had assured them that they had done all in their
power to get it ratified.
In this treaty it had been agreed, that the inhabitants of the Franc
might take up their rights of burghership at Ghent or Bruges at their
pleasure. The towns of Ghent and Ypres were to send ambassadors to
the duke of Burgundy, to request that he would withdraw all foreign
soldiers from Sluys, and order the stakes to be removed from the bed
of the river Lieve, that vessels might freely pass and repass with
merchandise, or permit them to take away these obstructions.
The army of Ghent now marched to fix its quarters at Ardembourg; and
because Bruges persisted in refusing to ratify the treaty to which
their deputies had agreed, and would not yield up their claims on the
Franc, the duke's ordinance of last year, forbidding all kinds of
provision to be carried to Bruges, was again proclaimed in Ghent, and
throughout its jurisdictions; and also, that all debts and effects
belonging to those of Bruges should be delivered up to the magistrates.
It was afterward proclaimed that, should the men of Bruges attempt to
make any inroads on the territories of Ghent, all the church and other
alarm bells should be instantly rung to collect a force sufficient to
oppose them. After this, Clarus Boye, a native of the town of Axel,
William le Boquelaire, a patten maker, and from the country of Waast,
and a man of Courtray, were beheaded, for having gone to Courtray at
the instigation of the artisans and petty traders of Ghent,--and for
having said that the ghent men were very desirous that those of Bruges
would join them in arms for the common good and union of the country of
Flanders, and to punish the inhabitants of Sluys.
The 16th day of November, the army resolved to send deputies to Ghent
and to the towns within its jurisdictions, to know how they would wish
them to proceed,--and to inform them, that if they advised marching
against Bruges, it would be necessary to send them reinforcements equal
to the present state of the army.
The council at Ghent thought, that as provisions were now so dear, and
winter at hand, it would be of more advantage not then to send any
supplies, but disband the army; for the greater number were of the same
opinion, and sought to diminish it.
The army, therefore, marched from Ardembourg to Ekeloo. While there,
one of the private men of that castlewick having on his shoulders some
stakes which he had taken from a hedge to dress his victuals, some
ghent men would take them from him by force, when he defended himself
and shouted out for aid to his countrymen,--and the ghent men shouted,
'Ghent!' both parties assembled with arms, and a grand battle would
have taken place, had not Pierre Simon, sheriff of Ghent, by gentle
words and with much courage, put an end to the affray. He suffered
a good deal by thus interfering, but was not seriously hurt from the
goodness of his armour. Many were much wounded, which caused loud
murmurings among the ghent men,--for one of them, a strong active
boatman of Ghent, died of his wounds. Two, who had first struck the
sheriff, were banished Ghent.
On the eve of St Andrew's day, the ghent army returned home: they
had taken up arms inconsiderately, and were come back with little
satisfaction. Those within their jurisdictions, who had marched against
their inclinations, returned cheerfully home. Shortly after, their
captain-general, Rasse Rouven, was deposed, and the six persons set at
liberty, on promise made to the magistracy that they would answer any
interrogations, and obey any sentences that might be passed on them,
within three days after they should be summoned to appear.
In the month of December, proclamations were made throughout Flanders,
by order of the prince, forbidding all persons to obey Rasse Rouven,
for that he had recalled his commission of captain-general.
On the eve of Christmas-day, it was ordered, by the magistracy of
Ghent in full assembly, that sir Roland de Hautekerque, sir Colart de
Comines, Jean de la Damme, Gilles de la Voustine, Girard de Mal-digen,
Jean de Papegen, Pierre Gougebur, Pierre Bris, Josse de Beys, Martin de
Sinimes and Jean de Crique, who had been banished Ghent and Flanders,
might return thither.
It was also agreed, that one Coppin Coppon, who had for five years
past absented himself from Ghent, and had robbed so many passengers on
the high roads in Flanders that travellers were afraid of him, might
return,--Coppin, thinking that every thing was pardoned, did come back;
but he was arrested and condemned to be beheaded, with two others who
had committed robberies on two persons near to the town of Dendermonde.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 15: Franc,--a part of the Low Countries, comprehending the
castlewicks of Bergues, Bourbourg, and Furnes. It was thus called from
being exempted from the jurisdiction of Bruges, on which it formerly
depended.]
CHAP. XV.
PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE TOWN OF BRUGES.
While these things were going on, the men of Bruges, perceiving that
a longer resistance to their lord would be the ruin of themselves and
their town, sought every means of concluding a treaty with him. At
length they succeeded, and submitted themselves to the duke and his
council, on terms concluded at Arras the 4th day of March, in the
presence of their lord and his council, and numbers of other people,
the principal articles of which were as follows.
It was, in the first place, ordered, that when the duke of Burgundy
should first visit Bruges, twenty of the chief burghers and magistracy
should come out of the town one league to meet him, bare-headed,
bare-legged, and bare-footed. On their approach to him, they were to
fall on their knees and beg his pardon, and entreat that he would be
pleased to enter their town.
Item, that the gate of the Bouverie[16] should be converted into a
chapel, wherein the seven masses should be daily celebrated.
Item, that henceforward, whenever the said lord and his successors,
earls and countesses of Flanders, should come to Bruges, the burghers
should meet them without the gates with the keys of the town, in
perpetual remembrance of their obedience.
Item, every year, on the day of their misconduct toward their prince,
there shall be celebrated a solemn mass in the church of St Donast
by the dean and sub-dean, attended by twenty-four of the principal
burghers, each holding in his hand a burning wax taper of the weight of
one pound, and of the value of four groats.
Item, all property of bastards shall no longer be free, but confiscated
to the duke on their deaths.
Item, a handsome cross shall be erected to commemorate their rebellion.
Item, the burghers shall buy up and discharge all fee-farm rents from
their said lord, due from the said demesnes.
Item, the burghers of Bruges shall have no further communication with
those of Sluys; that is to say, those of Bruges, shall not make Sluys
their principal quarters, nor join them in their disputes, nor in arms,
nor have any connexions with Sluys but in respect to their commerce.
Item, in regard to the trades carried on at Sluys, which has been a
matter of long quarrel between the towns of Ghent and Sluys, Bruges
must no longer interfere.
Item the inhabitants of Bruges shall not be permitted to raise an army,
on pain of forfeiting their lives and fortunes.
Item, whoever shall stop the workmen from continuing their trades, when
a riot may happen, shall incur similar penalties as in the foregoing
article.
Item, the persons of some of the burghers are to be reserved for the
will of the duke of Burgundy, as well as those who may have become
burghers during these dissentions.
Item, the town of Bruges shall pay to their said lord two hundred
thousand golden riddes[17].
Item, the magistracy of Bruges, and others hereafter to be named,
shall, within eight days, go out of the town to meet some deputies sent
thither by the said duke of Burgundy, and shall receive them with due
obedience.
Item, no foreigner shall be admitted henceforth a burgher of Bruges,
unless he shall have remained therein the space of one hundred and
twenty days.
Item, it was ordered, that the son of the lord de l'Isle-Adam should
receive for the death of his father ten thousand crowns, with other
honourable recompenses. In like manner shall the wife and children of
the blacksmith, who had given the hammers to open the gate, receive a
fine for his death, he having been put to death for so doing.
There were many other fines and reparations contained in this treaty,
but, for the sake of brevity, I pass them over.
This treaty was read at the hôtel of their prince at Arras, in the
presence of the four-and-twenty deputies from Bruges, on their knees,
who suffered much from the length of it, so that the duke, taking pity
on them, caused them to be seated to be more at their ease. When all
had been completed, the deputies returned to their town carrying a copy
of the treaty, which they read to the inhabitants assembled; and, from
their anxiety to have peace with their lord, the terms were agreeable
to the greater part of them.
Some persons of low estate, who had ruled the town during these
dissensions, were displeased and would willingly, by seditious
speeches, and other means have made the commonalty rise against those
of the upper ranks,--but their attempts were vain. They were afraid,
should peace be effected, that they would be punished for their
demerits, and their fears were realized; for, within a few days after,
ten or twelve of the principal ringleaders of the rebellion were
arrested and beheaded: several were banished, and some fled of their
own accord.
These acts of justice were done on the arrival of the heir of Cleves,
nephew to the duke of Burgundy, who had been sent thither by the duke,
accompanied by some of his council, to receive the fines, and see that
all the articles of the treaty at Arras were fulfilled. A little before
this, the town of Bruges had sent back to the duke at Arras sixty-three
of his men, who had been made prisoners when he was driven out of that
town, each of them clothed in a green robe at the expense of the town
of Bruges.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 16: Bouverie,--ox stables. It was here, probably, where the
principal engagement took place between the duke's men and the burghers
of Bruges.]
[Footnote 17: Ridde,--a flemish coin, worth about five shillings
sterling.]
CHAP. XVI.
WAR RECOMMENCES BETWEEN THE DUCHY OF BAR AND THE COUNTY OF VAUDEMONT.