St Omer, as they were very anxious for their lord the duke of Burgundy,
in whose good graces they were not thoroughly established, to come
to their town; for although a reconciliation had indeed taken place,
he had declared that he would never enter their town again unless he
were conducted thither by a greater lord than himself. The bruges men
therefore, humbly solicited the duke of Orleans that he would out of
his grace, request the duke of Burgundy to go thither, and that he
would be pleased to conduct him.
The duke of Orleans granted their request,--and the duke of Burgundy
having assented, they both made preparations for their journey to
Bruges, where they were most joyfully received. The town of Bruges made
such rich and grand preparations for the reception of the two dukes and
duchesses that it exceeded all that had ever been done by them, and
deserves a brief description.
When the inhabitants of Bruges learnt that the two dukes were
approaching the town, all the magistrates with their officers and
servants, together with the deacons, constables, and others to the
amount agreed on, issued out of the gates, and advanced to an inn
beyond the boundaries of the town called The Three Kings. They might be
upward of fourteen hundred in the whole, and were drawn up on an open
spot to wait the coming of their lord.
On seeing the duke of Burgundy advance by the side of the duke of
Orleans they approached in good array with bare feet unhooded and
ungirdled,--and throwing themselves on their knees, with uplifted
hands, most humbly supplicated him in the presence of the two duchesses
and the whole company, to forgive them their past offences, according
to the tenour of the peace.
The duke delayed some little to answer,--but, at the prayer of the
duke of Orleans, he granted their request. This done, the magistrates
presented him with the keys of all their gates, and then, rising up,
retired aside to dress themselves. At this moment, processions from the
different churches, as well as of the four mendicant orders of friars,
monks, nuns and beguines, made their appearance, bearing their relics
and dressed in their best copes. They were in great numbers, and, on
hearing that their lord was now satisfied with them, chaunted forth
lustily 'Te Deum laudamus,' &c. The greater part of them attended him
to his hôtel.
All the merchants from different nations then resident in Bruges came
out on horseback, most handsomely arrayed to meet the duke. On the
other hand stages were erected at various parts where he passed, on
which were represented divers pageants. The streets, on each side,
were hung with tapestries and rich cloths; and in respect to trumpets
of silver, clarions, and other musical instruments, there were so
many that the whole town resounded with them. There were also several
pageants with figures of animals that spouted out wine and other
liquors, for all who pleased to regale themselves. In short it is
not in the memory of man that ever the inhabitants of Bruges made so
magnificent a display, on the reception of their lord, as they now did.
When the duke had dismounted at his hôtel, he was waited on by the
magistrates to give him welcome: having received them kindly, he
ordered the governor of Flanders to return them the keys of their
town which they had presented to him, saying that he had now the
fullest confidence in them. This speech rejoiced them very much, and
they all huzzaed. Carols had been sung through all the streets on his
arrival,--and when night came, the houses were so well illuminated
that the town seemed one blaze of light.
On the morrow, justs were held in the market-place: the lord de Vaurin
won one prize, and the heir of Cleves the other. This last was supplied
with lances by his uncle the duke of Burgundy. At the end of the justs,
supper was served, and then dancings took place, to which all the
damsels of Bruges were invited. On the ensuing Tuesday, other justs
were held in the market place,--and the company supped at the house of
the sheriffs, where they were splendidly entertained at the expence of
the town.
On the Saturday, the count and countess of Charolois, daughter to the
king of France, arrived from Charolois,--when the duke of Orleans,
many nobles, the municipality of the town and several of the principal
burghers, went out to meet them, and conducted them to the court-yard
of the hôtel of the duke of Burgundy.
On Sunday, a variety of diversions took place; but it would be tedious
to relate them all: suffice it to say, that the inhabitants exerted
themselves in every manner they could imagine from love to their lord
and prince, and in honour to the duke of Orleans and those that were
with them; they even made him handsome presents, that pleased him much.
On the following day, the duke and duchess of Orleans left Bruges, with
their attendants, which caused many tears from the ladies and damsels
of the household of the duke of Burgundy on taking their leave of
her. They went to Ghent, whither they were accompanied by the duke of
Burgundy,--and were there received with every mark of honour. After a
few days stay, they departed thence, and were escorted out of the town
by the duke of Burgundy. On taking their leave, they mutually promised
henceforth to do every thing possible for each other.
The duke and duchess of Orleans went by slow days journeys to Tournay,
where they had a very flattering reception. From the time the duke had
returned from England to his quitting the duke of Burgundy, many lords,
and others, had come from France, and elsewhere, to welcome his return
home, and to offer him their services, some of whom he retained in
his service. Several even from the states of the duke of Burgundy had
offered themselves, and were so pressing that many, as well gentlemen
as damsels, were retained of his household, and in divers situations.
Some knights and esquires had presented from eight to ten of their
sons to him, for his pages, and about twenty-four companions from the
Boulonnois, well mounted and equipped, were retained for his archers
and body guards: in short, his retinue was increasing so fast, that
when he arrived at Tournay he was followed by about three hundred horse.
In regard to his order, it was granted to such numbers of knights and
esquires, and others of low degree, who solicited it,--and so few
were refused, that it was quite common throughout Picardy. Many were
desirous of attaching themselves to him in the expectation and hope
that when he should have seen the king he would have the principal
government of France, and that they might then be advanced by various
means: he himself also indulged this expectation. Some, however, more
wise, thought otherwise,--and it happened as they had foreseen; for
they said in secret, that it would have been more advisable in the
duke to have made greater haste to wait on the king and with a smaller
train of followers,--and they thought that those who governed the king,
and had done so during all the troubles, would not suffer any but
themselves to rule the realm, although the duke of Orleans was the next
heir to the crown of France after the dauphin, and had suffered much
for it; but, notwithstanding this, it has been long seen that violent
quarrels and dissentions can exist between such great lords.
The duke of Orleans, on leaving Tournay, went to Valenciennes, and
thence to Quênoy le Comte, to visit his fair cousin the countess
Margaret, dowager of Hainault, who received him with joy. After she
had made him some gifts, he went to the city of Cambray, where he
received many presents, and the town also gave him five hundred golden
French crowns. The duke had intended going to St Quentin, on quitting
Cambray; but some of his people gave him to understand, that he would
incur a great risk to himself and his attendants by so doing,--that he
would be obliged to pass through some defiles commanded by the castles
of sir John de Luxembourg, who had not yet sworn to observe the treaty
of Arras.
This was the cause that made him change his route; and he summoned some
gentlemen from the Cambresis to aid him in the escort of his baggage.
But had the duke been better informed of the state of parties, he
needed not have feared sir John de Luxembourg for two reasons: first,
because sir John was perfectly reconciled with the duke of Burgundy,
and had even been at Bruges, where he had held many conferences with
the duke of Orleans on his affairs, as well touching the lordship of
Courcy as other matters of concern to both. Sir John had then left
Bruges well inclined to the duke, and had offered to serve him, and do
every thing for his interest that he should think would be agreeable
to him; whence it may naturally be supposed, that he would never have
permitted any injuries to be done him on his road.
Secondly, because at the time the duke was at Cambray sir John was
lying on his death-bed at his hôtel in Guise, and news of his decease
was carried to the duke while in Cambray, which made him stay there two
days longer than he had intended. He even requested the magistrates of
that town to choose him for their governor, in the room of the late
sir John de Luxembourg, and he would obtain the usual and necessary
confirmation of it from the king of France. The magistrates excused
themselves from compliance as well as they could, saying, they dared
not to do it without the consent of their bishop.
The duke of Orleans, went from Cambray to St Quentin,--thence to Noyon,
Compiégne, Senlis, and to Paris, where he remained some days. In all
the towns he passed through, or stopped at, he was received with as
many honours as if he had been the king of France or the dauphin. Every
body was full of hopes and confidence that great consolation would
befal the kingdom of France on his return from imprisonment. The people
more especially were rejoiced to see him again at liberty, for they had
long wished for it.
It was the intention of the duke to hasten to the king as speedily
as he now could; but he received such intelligence as made him delay
it a considerable time; for a year or more. The cause of this delay
was, that the king had been informed of the whole conduct the duke had
held since his return from England,--of his oaths and alliance with
the duke of Burgundy,--of having received his order,--how grandly he
was accompanied--of his having admitted into his household numbers of
Burgundians, who had formerly waged war against him and his crown. The
king was also told, that these connexions had been formed in opposition
to him and his ministers,--and that many great lords, such as the dukes
of Brittany and Alençon, had joined the two dukes, with the view of
forming a new administration,--and that henceforward his kingdom would
be ruled by them, or such others as they might please to appoint, and
that he would be only allowed a decent establishment to maintain his
state, without a power of interfering in the government but as it might
be agreeable to them, and with their consent.
The king, who was ever inclined to suspicion, and to listen to such
information, from the many plots that had been formed against him
during his reign, readily believed what was now told him; but when
he heard that the dukes of Brittany and Alençon had accepted of
the order of the Golden Fleece, whatever doubts he might have had
were strengthened. Those about his person repeated daily the same
tales, assuring him that they were true, so that his suspicions were
completely confirmed.
Notwithstanding that the king had ordered the duke of Orleans to
come to him, telling the duke's messengers who had brought him the
intelligence of his return from England, that he was very anxious to
see him, he would not permit him to come (in consequence of the tales
he had been told) but with a small retinue, leaving behind all the
Burgundians he had retained in his service.
The duke of Orleans, knowing the state of the court, and what had been
told of him, went from Paris to Orleans, and thence to Blois, and to
his other territories, where he was received with the utmost joy by his
vassals and subjects, and many grand presents were made to him from
these his possessions.
We must speak a little of sir John de Luxembourg count de Ligny,
who as I have related, departed this life in the castle of Guise.
His body was placed on a car, and carried, with every honour and a
numerous attendance, to the church of our lady at Cambray, and placed
on tressels within the choir. On the first night, vigils and funeral
orisons were made, and he was watched until the morrow, when a grand
funeral service was performed, and the coffin surrounded by a number
of lighted torches held by his vassals. When this service was ended,
he was interred without the choir, near to one of his ancestors called
sir Waleran de Luxembourg, lord of Ligny and of Beaurevoir, as has been
already told.
Sir John de Luxembourg had died without ever having taken the oaths of
allegiance to king Charles, or to his commissioners, although often
pressed to do it. Since the year 1435, when the peace of Arras was
concluded, until the eve of Twelfth-day in the year 1440, when he died,
he had kept such good garrisons in all his towns and castles that
none of the three parties, France, England and Burgundy, had done his
lands any damage worth mentioning. With regard to the English, they
were very desirous of pleasing him, for he had not yet broken with
them nor returned his bonds of alliance,--and they had great hopes of
being supported by him, should there be occasion. In like manner, he
considered them as sure allies against all who should attempt to injure
him.
As to the Burgundians, there were few but were inclined to serve him;
and although the duke of Burgundy was for a time very indignant against
him, from reports often brought to him, yet matters were not pushed to
open hostilities, and he had recovered the good graces of the duke.
The French, and particularly the captains of these marauding parties,
feared him greatly,--for they knew how personally valiant he was, and
that he had always a sufficiency of men at arms ready to resist all who
meant to harrass his lands.
They also knew that if he could meet them unawares, on any part of his
territories, he would destroy them without mercy. For these reasons,
therefore, whenever they approached any of his possessions they were
glad to give assurances, under their seals, not to commit any damage
to his vassals or country. This they had frequently done,--and he was
contented to leave them unmolested.
A short time, however, before his death, king Charles had determined
in council to give him no farther respite from taking the oaths, and
to raise a large army to conquer him, or at least to force him to take
the oaths prescribed at the peace of Arras; but God, the creator of all
things, provided a remedy, before it could be known what would have
been the event of such proceedings.
Thus ended the life of sir John de Luxembourg, who was a valiant and
enterprising knight, and much feared in all places where he was
personally known; and he might be about fifty years of age when he died.
Shortly after his decease, one called Leurin de Moucy, to whom he had
given in guard the castle of Coucy, surrendered it to the duke of
Orleans, in consideration of a certain sum of money which he received
and refused to put it into the hands of the count de St Pol, nephew and
heir to sir John de Luxembourg.
The townsmen of Neel and Beaulieu, in the Vermandois, expelled their
governor, Lionel de Wandonne and all the friends of sir John de
Luxembourg, and admitted the vassals of the lord de Mongaignier[80].
But the rest of the towns and castles were placed under the obedience
of the count de St Pol, by those who had the government of them.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 78: Lord de Cornewall.--Sir John de Cornewall, summoned to
Parliament 11 Henry VI.]
[Footnote 79: Sir Robert de Roix. Sir Robert Roos.]
[Footnote 80: Mongaignier. Q. Montgaugier?]
CHAP. XLIII.
THE KING OF FRANCE GOES TO TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.--SEVERAL TOWNS AND
FORTS SUBMIT TO HIS OBEDIENCE.--OTHER MATTERS.
King Charles of France now assembled a very large body of men from
different provinces of his realm, and ordered those captains of whom I
have spoken as Skinners, to join him instantly with their troops. When
all were collected on the banks of the Loire, the king departed from
Bourges in Berry, attended by the dauphin, the constable of France, the
lord Charles d'Anjou, and lords without number.
He marched to Troyes in Champagne, and remained there about three
weeks. His men were quartered in the towns and villages in the open
country round,--but the greater part were sent to Auxerre, Tonnerre,
and to the borders of Burgundy, where they harrassed the country much.
During his stay at Troyes, many towns and castles, which had formerly
waged a severe warfare against him, submitted to his obedience. He
also put an end to the quarrels between the house of Bar and Lorraine
and that of Vaudemont, and received into favour the heir of Commercy,
and several lords on the borders of Burgundy, who had incurred his
indignation.
Having finished these matters, the king went to his town of
Bar-sur-Aube, whither came the bastard of Bourbon, with a large train
of men at arms, whom he had long maintained in the field. On his
arrival, he was instantly accused of treasonable practices against the
king; and, after the affair had been examined into, he was tried, and
condemned to be sewed in a sack, and thrown into the river and drowned,
which sentence was executed. His body, when dead, was taken out of the
river, and buried in holy ground.
It was currently reported, that this execution had taken place because
that, during the quarrel between the king and the dauphin, he had
joined his brother the duke of Bourbon with a large force, and had been
the principal actor in separating the dauphin from his father. It was
also said, that on the failure of the expedition to raise the siege
of Harfleur, where he had served under the count d'Eu, he had gone
to St Omer, and offered his services to the duke of Burgundy, should
he at any time have occasion for them, in compliment to the duke's
brother-in-law the duke of Bourbon. This execution gave great alarm
to many of the captains who had for a long time been under arms, on
pretence of forming part of the king's army, lest they should in like
manner be punished for their wicked deeds.
CHAP. XLIV.
THE ENGLISH IN THE CASTLE OF FOLLEVILLE[81] DO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE
COUNTRY ROUND AMIENS.--THEY DEFEAT SOME PICARD LORDS AND THEIR MEN.
The english garrison in the castle of Folleville did, at this time,
much mischief to the countries round Amiens, Corbie, and in Santois,
where they alarmed the town of Mondidier. They were about one hundred
warriors, who kept the neighbourhood in such awe that most of the towns
were forced to pay them monthly a certain sum as protection-money, and
a stipulated quantity of wheat, to the great oppression of the poor
farmers[82].
They even made an attack one day on the town of Dours[83] on the Somme.
In the castle was the lord of the town,--but, not having a sufficient
force to resist them, he hastily mounted his horse and rode to Amiens,
to demand succour. He found there the lord de Saveuses, the governor
of Amiens, and many gentlemen and warriors, who unanimously agreed to
accompany him in the pursuit of the English. They overtook the English
near to Folleville, whither they were retreating in handsome array,
carrying with them the immense plunder they had taken.
It was ordered, that the lord de Saveuses should lead the
infantry,--and the lord de Dours, the lord de Contay, the lord de
Tilloye, Guichart de Fiennes, and other gentlemen, should gallop up to
the English, and cry out to them to halt and fight with their enemies
on horse and on foot; but these orders were not observed,--for those
on horseback, eager to engage their adversaries, made a full charge
without waiting the coming up of the infantry, which turned out very
unfortunately for them.
The English seeing the enemy approach, and being more numerous, formed
two divisions, placing their horses in the rear, that they might not
be attacked on that quarter, and defended themselves so valiantly
that most part of the French were slain. In this number were the lord
de Dours, Guichart de Fiennes, John de Beaulieu, and other noble
gentlemen. The principal among the prisoners, was sir Martel d'Antoch
lord of Tilloye. The remainder escaped by flight,--not, however,
without having some of their horses wounded and killed from fatigue.
The lord de Saveuses, seeing the unfortunate issue of the day, kept the
infantry under his command together as well as he could, and rallied
some of the horse who were flying homeward. He marched them back to
Amiens, very much afflicted at their ill fortune. Shortly after, by a
treaty with the English, they obtained the naked bodies of the dead, to
inter them in their own sepultures. Some of the relations and friends
of the slain would have thrown the blame of this defeat on the lord de
Saveuses, saying that he did not advance fast enough with the infantry
to support the cavalry when engaged. He answered this charge by
declaring, that as the infantry had been put under his command by the
unanimous consent of the captains then present, he could not advance
faster than he did without leaving his troops behind him.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 81: Folleville,--a village in Picardy near to Bretueil.]
[Footnote 82: This protection-money was well known on the borders of
England and Scotland, under the name of Black Mail.]
[Footnote 83: De Dours. Q. Dourcha? which, in Bleau's atlas, is on the
Somme; but I cannot find Dours, or Dourcha, in the Gazetteer of France.]
CHAP. XLV.
SOME OF THE GARRISONS OF THE COUNT DE ST POL ROB THE KING OF FRANCE'S
SERVANTS AS THEY WERE CONDUCTING WARLIKE STORES FROM THE CITY OF
TOURNAY.--THE REPARATION THE COUNT DE SAINT POL MAKES FOR THIS CONDUCT.
During the stay the king of France made in Champagne, he had ordered
some of his most confidential servants to go to the town of Tournay,
and to Flanders, to purchase artillery and warlike stores, which
they were to convey to Paris, to be ready in case they should be
wanted. Those whom he had intrusted with this commission executed it
faithfully; and having laden carts and waggons with the artillery and
stores, conducted them without any hindrance through the territories of
the duke of Burgundy, from the city of Tournay, until they came to a
town called Ribemont[84], where they were stopped by the garrison in
that place for the count de St Pol.
The chiefs of the garrison were John lord of Thorante, Guyot de
Bethune, Hoste de Neufville, with several others, as well men at arms
as archers. They robbed these servants of the king of France, carrying
into the town of Ribemont the contents of the carts and waggons, which
they there divided among themselves and wasted; but the whole of this
conduct was without the knowledge or consent of the count de St Pol,
who was much displeased thereat.
When intelligence of this robbery came to the king of France, he was
very indignant, and swore that he would have ample amends for it; and
that he would wage war on the count de St Pol, unless he made full
restitution for the things stolen, and did homage to him for the lands
he held within his realm.
During the king's residence in the town of Bar-sur-Aube, gentlemen came
daily to offer their services to him,--and having staid there some
time, he departed, through Châlons and Rheims, to the city of Laon.
Wherever he passed, he was received most honourably, and in the manner
in which obedient subjects usually show to their sovereign lord.
From Laon he dispatched the greater part of his captains with their
men,--namely, La Hire, Anthony de Chabannes, Joachim Rohault,--to
make war on the towns and castles dependant on the count de St Pol.
The count had heard of this plan, and consequently had reinforced his
different places as strongly as he could, and had retired to the castle
of Guise, in Tierrache, to be ready to succour such as might stand most
in need of it.