who resided in the castle of Mailly, near to Beauvais, which he had
repaired, set out with about eight score combatants, as well horse as
foot, to forage the country round Abbeville. He took the castle of
Yancourt[69], and the lord within it, whence he carried away every
thing that was portable.
Intelligence of this was soon carried to Abbeville, wherein were the
lord d'Auxi, Guillaume de Thiembrone, Philip de Vaucourt[70], Guy
Gourle[71], and other captains, who no sooner heard it than they armed
themselves and their men, and sallied out horse and foot, to the
amount of more than three hundred, with the intent of overtaking the
marauders and recovering the plunder they had made from the castle of
Yancourt.
Pierre de Regnault, having had notice of this assembly, sent to the
lord d'Auxi to excuse himself for what he had done, saying, it was only
provisions he was seeking,--but this excuse was not admitted. Great
discord now arose on the meeting of the two parties,--but Pierre de
Regnault, observing that most of those who had come from Abbeville were
only common men, charged them furiously; and breaking through them with
little resistance, he turned on their rear, and, with great slaughter,
totally defeated them.
Twenty or thirty were killed on the spot, and nine were drowned in
attempting to cross the Somme,--in which last number was Guy de
Gourlay,--and upward of sixty were made prisoners; the principal of
whom were sir John de Fay knight of Rhodes, sir Philip de Jaucourt, and
sir William de Thiembrone.
After this defeat, Pierre de Regnault returned with his prisoners and
booty, unmolested, to his castle of Mailly, and ransomed his prisoners
as if they had been Englishmen. He made, during this year, frequent
excursions on the territories of the duke of Burgundy, who was very
much displeased thereat, and in consequence sent information thereof
to king Charles, and complained that those of his party were daily
robbing and pillaging his country and subjects, and committing such
devastations as were not to be endured, considering that peace had been
concluded between them.
The king made answer, that he was equally vexed at such misconduct, and
offered many excuses; adding, that he would provide as speedy a remedy
for it as he could,--but that he should be no way displeased at the
duke if he could arrest any of these marauders and put them to death,
or punish them by any other method he might choose.
Notwithstanding this, the same inroads and plundering were continued,
to the ruin of the poorer ranks of people.
At the same time, La Hire's companions, who resided in the castle of
Bonne near Laon, began to make inroads on Hainault, the Cambresis, and
other places dependant on the lord de St Pol, who, dissatisfied with
their proceedings, placed a strong garrison in the town of Marle[72] to
oppose them.
This garrison one day marched toward Rheims,--and, to secure a passage
over the river, took the fort of Bac-a-Bery[73], of no great value, but
possessed by La Hire's men. They left about thirty combatants to guard
it, under the command of a captain; but within a few days the men of
La Hire returned, having been joined by some from the garrisons in the
Valois, who had been lately beaten by sir John de Luxembourg, amounting
in the whole to full three hundred fighting men.
They instantly attacked the fort, which was soon won, and all within it
put to the sword, or forced into the river and drowned,--after which,
the French left a stronger garrison in the fort.
Within sixteen days, the vassals of the count de St Pol, and of his
uncle sir John de Luxembourg, again assembled in great numbers, with
the intent of attacking this garrison in the fort of Bac-a-Bery; but
they, having had notice of their coming, abandoned the place before
they arrived. The fort was now demolished and razed to the ground.
Thus were the countries about Rheims, Laon, and other parts, sorely
oppressed by the inroads of both parties; and this was done by one
side, as it has been said, because sir John de Luxembourg would not
take the oaths of allegiance to king Charles, and had kept all his
garrisons on a war establishment, to prevent them being insulted.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 69: Yancourt,--in Picardy, near Peronne.]
[Footnote 70: Vaucourt. Jaucourt.--MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 71: Gourle. De Gourlay.--MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 72: Marle,--a town in Picardy, five leagues from Laon.]
[Footnote 73: Bac-a-Berry. Q. Berru? a village in Champagne, diocese of
Rheims.]
CHAP. XL.
AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND BURGUNDY, MEET AT CALAIS TO
TREAT OF A GENERAL PEACE.
In these days, several ambassadors of note were sent by king Charles to
St Omer to treat of a peace with the English, who were to come to that
town according to their promise of last year. The principal of these
were the archbishop of Rheims and of Narbonne, and the count de Dunois
bastard of Orleans. On their arrival at St Omer, they were grandly
feasted by the duke of Burgundy, and soon after heard that the duke of
Orleans was come to Calais, being brought thither by the English: on
which they sent to Calais, to know at what place it would be agreeable
to them to hold their convention.
The answer returned was, that the English would not quit Calais with
the duke of Orleans,--but that, if the french ambassadors would come
thither, they would be ready to enter upon the business. Having
considered the proposal, the archbishop of Rheims, the count de Dunois,
and others, went thither under passports, together with the lord de
Crevecœur and the envoys from the duke of Burgundy. On their arrival at
Calais, the count de Dunois was conducted to the duke of Orleans his
brother who received him with much joy,--and most courteously thanked
him for the attentions he had paid to his property during the time of
his imprisonment.
After this, the parties met on business several times,--and divers
proposals were made respecting the deliverance of the duke of Orleans,
and for a general peace; but as they could not agree as to several
articles, they appointed another meeting, before which each was to
inform his sovereign of the grounds they had laid for a negotiation to
establish peace between the two kingdoms.
The French and Burgundians returned to St Omer, and, shortly after, the
duke of Orleans was carried back to England.
CHAP. XLI.
THE BARROIS AND LORRAINERS OVERRUN THE COUNTY OF VAUDEMONT, WHERE THEY
COMMIT GREAT WASTE AND DESTRUCTION.
While these things were passing, the Barrois and Lorrainers collected a
large force, together with some Frenchmen, and marched for the county
of Vaudemont, where they carried destruction with fire and sword,
committing sacrilege on many churches and doing inestimable mischiefs.
The count de Vaudemont, to avenge himself, not having sufficient forces
of his own, sent to demand succour from the duke of Burgundy, and
from his son-in-law the lord de Croy, and to beg of them not to delay
sending him reinforcements of men at arms. In consequence, sir John de
Croy was dispatched to him, accompanied by sir Simon de Lalain, the
lords de Launoy and de Maingoual, nephews to the lord de Croy, sir
John bastard de Reuly[74], sir Anthony de Wissoch, and other nobles,
with a body of one thousand combatants, who fixed their rendezvous
at Aubanton[75], and thence marched toward the duchy of Bar, for the
Barrois had evacuated the county of Vaudemont.
They continued advancing until they came before the town of
Bar-le-Duc[76], in which were the marquis du Pont, son to the king of
Sicily, duke of Bar, and others of the nobility of that country. They
summoned the marquis to come out and give them battle, for that they
were ready and anxious to meet him in the field.
The marquis, by advice of his council, made answer, that he would not
combat them at their request and pleasure; but he had that intention
in proper time and place, when he should judge most fitting. The
Burgundians, on hearing this answer departed thence for a large
village, called Longueville[77], where they were met by the count de
Vaudemont with all the forces he could muster.
On the morrow, they advanced farther into the duchy of Bar, destroying
every thing with fire and sword; and thence into Lorraine, where they
despoiled all all that was not secured in the fortified towns and
castles; and what was worse, they took by force some churches and
committed divers sacrileges. In truth, the count de Vaudemont was so
determined on his revenge that he would have continued this cruel
treatment throughout the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, had not the lords
who had come to his aid been dissatisfied with it.
He could not keep them longer with him, nor indeed his own men; so
that after they had been employed on this business for the space
of twenty-six days, without meeting with any force to combat, they
returned whence they had come, but by another road, after having
suffered greatly from want of provision for themselves and their horses.
Such was the mode in which war was carried on between these two great
lords, to the ruin and destruction of the poorer people.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 74: Reuly. Rely.--Du Cange.]
[Footnote 75: Aubanton,--a town in Picardy, near Vervins, diocese of
Laon.]
[Footnote 76: Bar-le-Duc,--a strong town of Lorraine, on the confines
of Champagne.]
[Footnote 77: Longueville,--three leagues north from Faquemont.]
CHAP. XLII.
THE DUKE OF ORLEANS OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY BY MEANS OF THE DUKE OF
BURGUNDY, AND MARRIES THE LADY OF CLEVES, NIECE TO THE SAID DUKE.
Several embassies, as you have seen, took place between the kings
of France and of England, and the duke of Burgundy, to endeavour to
bring about a general peace, and also to obtain the deliverance of the
duke of Orleans from his confinement in England. They had, however,
been attended with little success for the English held out no hopes
of peace, but to the prejudice and loss of the king of France and his
realm.
They would not condescend to treat in earnest but on condition that
all the conquests they had made in France should remain freely to
them, with any dependance whatever on the crown of France, and they
particularly insisted on holding the duchies of Guienne and Normandy on
these terms. This had prevented the conclusion of a general peace, for
neither the king of France nor his council would submit to them.
In regard to the duke of Orleans, the English (as I heard from one who
pretended to be acquainted with the secrets of their government) were
not desirous that he should gain his liberty; for many persons about
the court received very large sums to defray his expenses, and this was
the cause why he had been so long detained prisoner. In truth had the
king of France, or those who had the management of the duke of Orleans'
estates, refused to send over any more money, it is to be supposed
that his deliverance would have been sooner effected. Nevertheless, I
believe that every thing was done honourably, and with good intentions.
While these negotiations were pending, and afterward, the duke
of Burgundy had a great desire to aid the duke of Orleans in his
deliverance, as well from their near connexion by blood, as that, on
his return to France, they might remain good friends, forgetting all
former feuds that had existed between their houses.
In consequence, he caused frequent overtures to be made to the duke
of Orleans, and to those who governed him, to learn in what manner he
could best assist him for the accomplishment of this purpose; and at
the same time, he caused him to be sounded, whether he would be willing
to marry his niece, a daughter of the duchess of Cleves his sister,
then with him; and also, in case of his deliverance, if he would agree
to ally himself with the duke of Burgundy, without taking any measures
in times to come against him or his family, in consequence of the
former quarrels between their fathers, against their mutual enemies,
the king of France and the dauphin alway excepted. The duke of Orleans,
considering the long imprisonment he had suffered and might still
undergo, readily assented to these propositions.
He gave his promise, on the word of a prince, that if the duke of
Burgundy should obtain his liberty, he would instantly espouse his
niece, the lady of Cleves, and satisfy the duke completely as to his
other proposals. In consequence of this engagement, measures were taken
in earnest, for the ransom of the duke of Orleans, with the king of
England and his council; when after many delays, it was agreed to by
the king of England, on condition that the duke of Burgundy would give
security, under his seal, for the due payment of his ransom.
By the conclusion of this treaty, the duke of Orleans obtained his full
liberty; and after he had solemnly promised to employ himself earnestly
to bring about a general peace, and taken his leave of the king of
England and some of the nobility, he set out from London, and arrived
at Calais, furnished with ample passports, and thence was conducted to
Gravelines, escorted by the lord de Cornewall[78] and sir Robert de
Roix[79], and other gentlemen.
The duchess of Burgundy, attended by many great lords and gentlemen,
came out of Gravelines to meet him; and both expressed much pleasure
on the occasion,--the duke of Orleans for his liberty, and the duchess
for his arrival. Within a few days, the duke of Burgundy came thither
to see him, when, as before, great joy was testified on each side, and
many and frequent embracings took place: indeed their pleasure was so
great, on this meeting, that neither could for some time utter a word.
The duke of Orleans broke silence first, and said, 'On my faith, fair
brother and cousin, I ought to love you more than all the princes
on earth, and my fair cousin the duchess also; for had it not been
for you and her, I should have remained for ever in the power of my
adversaries,--and I have never found a better friend than you.'
The duke of Burgundy replied, that the not having done it sooner had
weighed much on his mind,--for that he had for a considerable time,
been desirous of exerting himself for his deliverance. Such was the
conversation, often renewed, between these two princes, which rejoiced
all that heard it; and every one was glad of the return of the duke
of Orleans who had been a prisoner in England since the Friday before
All-saints-day in the year of grace 1415, until the month of November
in the year 1440.
The ambassadors from the king of France were present at this meeting;
the principal of whom were the archbishop of Rheims, lord chancellor
of France, the archbishop of Narbonne, the count de Dunois, bastard of
Orleans, and some others,--to each of whom, in his turn, the duke of
Orleans gave a most gracious reception, but particularly to his brother.
The company thence went by water to St Omer, and were lodged in the
abbey of St Bertin, where grand preparations had been made for the
reception of the duke of Orleans, who was accompanied by the english
lords. He was there received most honourably by the duke of Burgundy
and the lords of his household. Great presents were made him by the
municipality; and he was daily visited by persons from France and
Picardy,--but more from his own territories than elsewhere, who were
very much rejoiced at his return.
After some days, the duke of Orleans was requested, on the part of the
duke of Burgundy, that he would be pleased to swear to the observance
of the treaty of Arras, and take to wife the lady of Cleves, niece
to the duke of Burgundy, as had been before treated of and the duke
replied, that he was perfectly ready and willing to confirm all that he
had promised when a prisoner.
This business being settled, the two dukes entered the choir of the
church of St Bertin, with their attendants, whither the treaty of
Arras was brought, written in Latin and in French. It was read aloud,
first in Latin, then in French, by master James Trançon, archdeacon of
Brussels, in the presence of the two dukes the archbishops, bishops,
and a great number of knights, esquires, burghers, and officers of each
party.
When the reading of it was ended, the duke of Orleans promised and
swore on the book of the holy Evangelists, which the said archdeacon
held in his hand, faithfully to observe all the articles of the treaty
in general, excepting those articles that related to the death of the
late duke of Burgundy,--saying, that he was not bounden to exculpate
himself from this death, as his mind was no way consenting thereto;
that he was perfectly ignorant of the attempt, and had been very much
displeased and vexed when he heard of it, as this event had thrown the
kingdom of France into greater danger than it had ever experienced.
After this, the count de Dunois was called upon to take a similar oath,
who, delaying some little to comply, was instantly commanded by the
duke of Orleans to take it, which he then did. The duke then renewed
his promise to espouse the lady of Cleves,--and they were immediately
betrothed to each other by the archbishop of Narbonne.
Great feastings and every sort of amusement and entertainment now took
place; and the duke of Burgundy's purveyors were dispatched to distant
countries, to supply provision for the wedding-feast,--and also for
that of St Andrew, which the duke had not for some time kept. The duke
of Burgundy defrayed the whole of the expenses of the duke of Orleans
and of his train.
On the Saturday before St Andrew's day, the duke of Orleans was
married to the lady of Cleves; and on the ensuing day, the feast was
celebrated, when great crowds of the nobility came thither to view the
procession of the lords and ladies to the church. The duke of Burgundy
led his niece by her left hand: on the right, behind him, were sir John
bastard of St Pol and the lord de Hautbourdin, who held up the sleeve
of her robe. A lady supported her train, which was very rich. A little
behind came the duke of Orleans leading the duchess of Burgundy,
attended by the counts d'Eu, de Nevers, d'Estampes, de Saint Pol, de
Dunois, while others of the high nobility and ladies of rank, knights,
esquires, and damsels, followed the archbishop of Narbonne, who on what
day chaunted mass.
The archbishop was attended by a numerous body of clergy, who made
processions round the choir; and there were numbers of kings at arms,
heralds and pursuivants, as well as trumpeters, minstrels, and others
playing on a variety of musical instruments. All these heralds were
dressed in their tabards emblazoned with the arms of their respective
lords, and in the number was Garter king at arms from England.
The lord Fanhope and sir Robert Roos, with their attendants, were
present at all these ceremonies, to whom the highest honours were
paid, and the handsomest reception given: the duke of Burgundy showed
particular attention to lord Fanhope, and they went all over the town
without hindrance.
When mass was finished the company went to dinner, where the duchess
of Orleans was seated at the middle of the table in the great hall: on
her right was the archbishop who had celebrated mass, and on her left
the duchess of Burgundy. There were also the countesses d'Estampes
and de Namur. At other tables were seated ladies and damsels, each
according to her rank and degree.
With regard to the two dukes, the english lords, the counts before
named, and other chivalry, they all dined together like a troop, and
were well and abundantly served from various rich and curious dishes.
From dinner they proceeded to view the justs in the market-place, where
all the windows round were filled with ladies splendidly dressed. The
lord de Vaurin won the prize this day. After supper, justs were again
held in the great hall of the abbey of St Bertin, on small horses, when
many lances were broken, and it was a fine sight to view.
On the morrow, which was Monday, were divers joyous entertainments and
justings, in which the count de St Pol won the ladies' prize.
During these days, many presents were made by the princes to the
officers at arms, for which they cried out several times, with a loud
voice, 'Largesse!' naming such as had given them a present.
On Tuesday, which was the vigil of St Andrew's day, the duke of
Burgundy commenced his feast of the Golden Fleece, by hearing vespers
in the choir of the church of St Bertin, accompanied by his brother
knights clothed in their mantles, hoods, and in the full dress of the
order. Above each of the knights' seats in the choir was an emblazoned
tablet of his arms; but there were many knights, not present,--and six
had died since the last celebration of this feast.
On the morrow, St Andrew's day, the knights, in handsome array, went
to church in procession; and it was wonderous to see the very rich
ornaments of the altar, as well as of the choir, so that both English
and French marvelled at the great state and splendour of the duke of
Burgundy.
After the church service, the duke seated himself at table in the
midst of his knights, who were placed in the usual order on one side,
and were abundantly well served. In the procession to and from church
the oldest knight went last, according to the date of his knighthood.
On Thursday a chapter was held, for the filling up the vacant stalls,
of those who were dead, which lasted a considerable time. It was there
agreed on unanimously to offer a collar to the duke of Orleans,--and
the bishop of Tournay and master Nicholas Raoullin, chancellor of
Burgundy, were sent to him, to know if it would be agreeable to him to
accept of it. When they had declared the wish to the duke of Burgundy
and of his knights companions, the duke of Orleans replied, that he
would willingly wear the order, in honour of his fair cousin the duke
of Burgundy, and soon after entered the great hall,--whither came the
duke of Burgundy with the knights-companions preceded by their officers
at arms.
Golden Fleece, king at arms, bore on his arm a mantle and hood of the
order, and, on approaching the duke of Orleans sir Hugh de Launoy
(who had been deputed for this purpose) addressed him saying,--My
most excellent, most puissant and most redoubted lord, my lord duke
of Orleans, you see here in your presence my most redoubted lord my
lord duke of Burgundy, and my lords his companions of the order of
the Golden Fleece who have unanimously resolved, in full chapter, to
present to you a collar of the said order, as a testimony of your
high renown, prudence and valour, which they humbly entreat you will
be pleased to accept of and wear, to promote that fraternal love and
friendship which at present exists between you, and that it may be
strengthened and preserved.'
The duke of Orleans having replied that he would willingly wear it, the
duke of Burgundy advanced with one of the collars in his hand, which he
presented to him, and placed round his neck, in the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost, and then kissed his cheek. The duke of Orleans then
requested the duke would be pleased to wear his order, to which he
assented,--and the duke of Orleans then drew a collar of his order from
his sleeve, and put it round the duke of Burgundy's neck.
When the duke of Orleans had been dressed in the mantle and hood of the
order, he was led to the chapter-house to take the accustomed oaths,
and to assist in the election of four other knights; but they were not
immediately named, and none but themselves knew to whom the vacant
collars were to be given. The greater part of the nobles were much
gratified by this exchange of orders, and that so much unanimity and
concord existed between these two princes.
Some days afterward, the chapter was renewed, and it was determined to
present the dukes of Brittany and of Alençon each with a collar; and
Golden Fleece, king at arms was ordered to carry to them letters from
the duke of Burgundy and the knights-companions, to inform them of
their election. The king at arms performed his message punctually; and
the two lords received the collars with pleasure, giving him for his
trouble such rich presents as satisfied him.
When all these feasts were over, the lord Fanhope departed, with his
attendants, from St Omer, and, by way of Calais, returned to England;
but sir Robert Roos remained with the duke of Orleans, with the intent
of accompanying him to the king of France, having been commissioned on
an embassy to him by the king of England.