HELD AT LYONS, WHITHER CAME MANY AMBASSADORS FROM GERMANY, ENGLAND
AND OTHER PARTS, TO RESTORE UNION IN THE CHURCH AND PUT AN END TO ALL
SCHISMS.
On the first of April, in the year 1447, the truces between the kings
of France and England expired, but were prolonged until the first of
April in 1449, and thence until the first day of June ensuing, in the
hope that a general peace might be concluded in the mean time.
Great differences had existed during the late papacy between pope
Eugenius and the council of Basil; which council the pope declared was
at an end, for that he had transfered it to Ferrara, and afterward to
Florence and to Rome. The council at Basil maintained that the pope
could not thus transfer them without their consent,--and had proceeded
against him, with the authority of a general council, to suspend him
from all power in the church, and to depose him from all authority.
They afterwards elected pope the lord Amadeus of Savoy, who led the
life of a monk at Ripaille, and took the name of Felix V.[141]
Several anathemas and excommunications were issued, as well by pope
Eugenius as by pope Felix, which created many wounds and schisms in
the church. When the king of France heard of these differences, being
anxious to restore union and greatly hurt at the measures now passing,
sent several embassies to Basil, to Rome, and to Savoy, to put an end
to such shameful disputes. In like manner did duke Louis of Savoy, son
to Amadeus now pope Felix, send several times to the king of France at
Tours, to endeavour to bring about a reconciliation.
The king of France, in the month of November in the year 1447; seeing
there was no end to these disputes deliberated with his council on the
shortest means to stop this schism, and resolved that all the anathemas
and censures that had been published respectively by each pope against
the other should be considered as null and void; that pope Eugenius
should be acknowledged as the true pope, as had been done before the
commencement of these disputes; and that the lord Amadeus of Savoy,
who had been styled Felix V. should remain with dignity and honour
in the holy church; that those of his party in the council of Basil
should be recommended to ecclesiastical dignities and honours, that
peace might be universally restored, and a general council called for
the strengthening of the union of our holy church, which could not
take place until an end was put to these discords, nor could any solid
judgments be given until such a happy pacification should take effect.
King Charles sent these resolutions, which had been concluded by
himself and his council, to pope Eugenius by the archbishop of Aix in
Provence, who was going to Rome on other matters. He sent likewise
copies of them to Savoy and Basil, by master Helye de Pompadour,
archdeacon of Carcassonne, who was afterward bishop of Alet in
Languedoc.
It happened unfortunately, that before the king could receive an answer
from eight of the parties, pope Eugenius died, namely, in the month of
February following, and the archbishop found him dead on his arrival
at Rome. Almost instantly on his decease, Thomas de Sarzana, bishop
of Bologna, was elected pope and took the name of Nicholas V. At his
election, every accustomed ceremony was observed.
Duke Louis of Savoy sent also to the king at Bourges, to urge him to
cause pope Nicholas to be acknowledged, and to desire that he would in
the first place have a general council assembled. In the mean time, the
king, having received bulls from pope Nicholas to make him acquainted
with his election, determined, after some deliberations in council to
acknowledge him in the same manner as he had done pope Eugenius, but
not to desist from the measures he was taking for the general union of
the church.
The king in consequence, sent commissioners to Lyons, and told the
ambassadors from the duke of Savoy, that he wished their lord to do the
same,--and that the members of the council of Basil should also meet
them, in order that there might be a numerous assembly, to consider on
the means of restoring peace to the church.
In the ensuing month of July, the king's commissioners arrived at
Lyons, where they met the archbishop of Treves and ministers from the
archbishop of Cologne, from the duke of Saxony, one of the electors
of the empire, who had waited on the king, respecting this matter of
union. Thither came also the cardinal of Arles[142], the provost of
Montieu, and many others, as well from the duke of Savoy as from the
council at Basil.
After several conferences, it was the opinion of those who came from
Basil, that the king's commissioners should go to Geneva, where pope
Felix resided, to have a personal interview with him, who would gladly
see them. While this matter was under discussion, the count de Dunois
came to Lyons, sent thither by the king to escort the ambassadors from
England. These ambassadors agreeing in the said proposal, they all set
out together for Geneva, in the month of November, accompanied by the
archbishop of Embrun, the lord de Malicorne, the bishop of Marseilles,
the ambassador from the king of Sicily, who had come to Lyons to assist
in promoting a general union of the church.
The ambassadors from the duke of Saxony went also with them to Geneva;
but the archbishop of Treves had returned home, and the commissioners
from the archbishop of Cologne had gone to Rome.
When they were all arrived at Geneva, they held many conferences with
pope Felix, his cardinals and counsellors, and concluded on certain
articles for a pacification, on condition that pope Nicholas would also
agree to them. When this was done, the french commissioners returned
with these articles to the king at Tours, and reported to him all that
had passed. He approved of what had been done as a probable ground-work
for an union of the church, and sent ambassadors to pope Nicholas to
request that he would also approve of these articles or otherwise
arrange matters for a general pacification.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 137: Guilledon. Guilledou.--MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 138: Dudley. Audley.--_MS. Du Cange._]
[Footnote 139: In the 'Art de Verifier les Dates' is a short account of
the factions which prevailed in Genoa.
In 1448, Luigi Fregoso was elected doge: deposed in 1450. Peter Fregoso
succeeded him. The Adorné, and other families whom he had exiled,
made repeated attempts, with the aid of Alphonso king of Arragon, to
re-enter their country and depose him. Fregoso, nearly overpowered,
prevailed on the Genoese, in 1458, to submit themselves to the
government of the king of France. Ambassadors were sent to negotiate
this affair, which terminated happily.
John duke of Lorraine was sent by the king of France to Genoa, and
took possession of the town the 11th of May, 1458. He received the
oath of allegiance from the inhabitants,--and the principal forts were
delivered up to him. The duke was soon after besieged in Genoa by the
Adorné, and others of the discontented in league with Alphonso. An
Arragonian fleet blockaded Genoa,--but the death of Alphonso put an end
to the siege.
This extract will sufficiently show the inexactness of Monstrelet's
account as to dates and names.]
[Footnote 140: Thomas de Sarzana, cardinal-bishop of Bologna, was
elected pope the 6th March 1447, and took the name of Nicholas V. The
king of France sent him a magnificent embassy, with many propositions
respecting the general peace of the church. I cannot find that any
council was held at Lyons this year: one was held at Lausanne in 1449.]
[Footnote 141: For a very particular history of the quarrel which took
place between Eugenius and the council of Basil, see Shepherd's Life of
Poggio Bracciolini.]
[Footnote 142: Cardinal of Arles. See his life in Moreri.]
CHAP. LXXI.
THE DUKE OF ORLEANS RECEIVES FROM THE HANDS OF THE DUKE OF MILAN HIS
UNCLE, THE COUNTY OF ASTI IN PIEDMONT.--THE KING OF FRANCE BESIEGES
THE CITY OF MANS, WHICH SURRENDERS BY CAPITULATION.
In this year, the duke of Milan yielded up to the duke of Orleans,
his nephew, the county of Asti,--and shortly after, the duke of Milan
departed this life.
The king of France, at this period, laid siege to the city of Mans,
because the king of England, on his marriage with the daughter of the
king of Sicily had promised instantly to surrender that town, with
all the other places he held in the county of Maine; and he had been
deceived for three months by the specious promises of the english
commissioners, who had not only refused to give it back but had
introduced about fifteen hundred English into that town.
The king, therefore on being informed of this circumstance, ordered
it to be besieged,--and sent thither a great force of men at arms and
archers, to the amount of six or seven thousand combatants, under the
command of the count de Dunois. The siege was pushed forward with such
vigour that those in the town found resistance would be vain, as they
had not sufficient forces to oppose their enemies on that side of the
sea. It would have been taken by storm had not the bishop of Glocester,
keeper of the privy seal, remonstrated with the king of France on the
risk of the truces being broken between the two kingdoms were this to
take place, and obtained a capitulation for them, by which they were
to yield up the town, and march away in safety with their baggage and
effects.
The king of France then resided at Lavardin, near to Vendôme, attended
by some of the princes of the blood-royal, and a large company of men
at arms to support, should there be occasion, the besieging army of
Mans. After its surrender, the king went to celebrate his Easter in
the city of Tours, and those before Mans returned to their quarters and
garrisons, while, on the other hand, the English that had been in Mans
retreated to Normandy.
[A.D. 1448.]
CHAP. LXXII.
THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AMBASSADORS TO POPE NICHOLAS V.--THE TOWN
OF FINAL[143] IS BESIEGED BY THE GENOESE.--IT IS REVICTUALLED BY
SEA.--THE DUKE OF ORLEANS MAKES PREPARATIONS TO RAISE THIS SIEGE BY
LAND.
In the year 1448, the king of France celebrated the feast of Easter
in the city of Tours,--and immediately after, his ambassadors to
pope Nicholas departed on their embassy. Some of them went by sea on
board of vessels belonging to Jacques Coeur, master of the wardrobe
to the king, and embarked at Marseilles. At the same time, a fleet
of victuallers sailed from Marseilles, to the relief of the town and
castle of Final, near to Genoa, then besieged by the Genoese. It was
defended for the king by sir Galiot du Garet[144], lord of the place,
who had made war on the Genoese, and they in return had besieged
him. Notwithstanding their opposition, the town and castle were
revictualled, and the vessels returned to Marseilles.
When this was done, Tanneguy and the master of the wardrobe, with three
galleys, sailed for a port near Rome called Finette Vielle[145], where
they arrived in safety, although pursued closely by a numerous fleet of
the Genoese.
The duke of Orleans was at this time in his town of Asti, and having
heard of the relief thrown into Final collected a large body of men
to raise the siege: but when the Genoese learnt his intentions, they
quitted their siege and marched away.
The french ambassadors met, by appointment in the city of Sienne; and,
being all assembled, they set out for Rome, where they arrived on the
10th day of July in such grand magnificence that the like had not been
seen or heard of before: with the king of France's ambassadors were
those from the king of Sicily and the dauphin.
The english ambassadors had arrived at Rome long before them, and had
laid before the pope the articles that had been agreed to at Geneva;
but he had replied, that they were unworthy of his attention, and that
he would not by any means consent to them. These ambassadors had on
this left Rome for Viterbo, where they met the french embassy, to whom
they related what had passed, and said that they would stay a short
time at Viterbo, to learn from them whether it would be expedient for
them to return to Rome,--as in fact they did, from the intelligence
they received from the french ambassadors.
On the 12th day of July, the ambassadors from the kings of France,
of Sicily, and from the dauphin, had an audience of the pope, on the
matters they were come upon,--when the archbishop of Rheims, having
declared the solemn obedience of their princes to the pope, explained
the articles that had been agreed on as a ground-work for a general
union of the church, reserving to himself to discuss them hereafter
more fully in detail.
The pope made them a solemn answer, and from that day treated them
with greater kindness and attention than ever any former embassy
had experienced. They had several conferences with the pope and the
cardinals on the articles of union,--to some of which the pope agreed,
to others not.
When they had obtained all they could from the pope, they departed,
and went to Lausanne, where pope Felix resided. Having explained to
him all they had done at Rome, and what pope Nicholas was willing to
agree to, they persuaded him to give peace to the church by renouncing
his claims to the papacy. Pope Felix replied, that he would consult
with the duke of Savoy his son who was on his road to Lausanne, and
his principal counsellors, how he should act, and requested the
ambassadors to wait the return of those he intended to send to the king
of France in the city of Geneva, which, for the furtherance of peace,
they assented to. They also, in compliance with the wishes of pope
Felix, desired the lord de Tollette, ambassador from pope Nicholas, to
come to Lausanne from Lyons, where he was waiting the effect of their
conferences with pope Felix, with the bulls, to publish them, in case
he should agree to the articles as settled at Rome.
Pope Felix, and his son the duke of Savoy, lost no time in dispatching
ambassadors to king Charles, to solicit his interference with pope
Nicholas, that he would consent to more of the original articles than
he had done. The king on this, assembled his council, and, after mature
deliberation, it was resolved to send other ambassadors with those
from Savoy, to assist the archbishop of Rheims in the procuring a
peace. He had with him the patriarch of Antioch, the bishop of Poitiers
and the bishop of Alet, who, with sir John le Boursier, were to proceed
to Rome to obtain certain letters, the form of which they were to draw
up, for the more speedy accomplishment of union in the church.
After many persuasions, the above mentioned letters were obtained from
pope Nicholas, and the ambassadors returned with them to Lausanne, when
pope Felix V. relinquished all right or claim he might have to the
papacy. He was after this, made perpetual legate of all Savoy. Those
who had assembled at Lausanne, pretending to be the general council
transferred from Basil, declared their submission to pope Nicholas
as the true father of the church, and dissolved their assembly as a
council.
This being done, the ambassadors returned to their respective princes.
The patriarch of Antioch, the bishop of Alet, and sir John le Boursier,
took the road to Rome, with the ambassadors from the pope, for the
confirmation of all the acts done at Lausanne, and then returned to
the king of France with the bulls of confirmation. Thus was this whole
assembly broken up, and each went whithersoever he pleased,--and thus
was healed that deep wound in the church, by the re-establishment of
peace and union, through the indefatigable exertions of the king of
France, who had taken great personal pains to bring it about, and had
expended very large sums in sending embassies to the different kings in
Christendom to unite them in so praiseworthy an object; for the kings
of France would never support any schisms,--taking for their guide the
holy scriptures, which have always led them in the right way.
At this time, the king of France ordered every parish throughout his
realm to have one archer ready armed to march whithersoever he might be
commanded, to make war, should there be occasion; and that they might
the more readily obey this order, they would be relieved from paying
any future subsidies. The bailiffs were commanded to select the most
expert and able in all the parishes throughout their bailiwicks.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 143: Final,--a town on the western coast of Genoa.]
[Footnote 144: Sir Galiot du Garet. De Caretto.--MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 145: Finette Vielle. Q. Civita Vecchia?]
CHAP. LXIII.
SIR FRANCIS DE SURIENNE, CALLED THE ARRAGONIAN, TAKES THE TOWN
AND CASTLE OF FOUGERES[146], BELONGING TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRUCE BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND OF
ENGLAND.--THE GREAT MISCHIEFS HE DOES THERE.
On the eve of the feast of our Lady in March in this year, sir Francis
de Surienne, called the Arragonian, knight of the order of the
Garter, and a great captain for the king of England in those parts
of France under his dominion, took the town and castle of Fougeres,
belonging to the duke of Brittany, situated on the borders of Normandy,
notwithstanding the truces were not expired between the kings of
England and France, and their allies. This town was of great antiquity,
and full of people and wealth. Sir Francis had with him seven hundred
men, as well English as from other countries, who committed every
mischief by pillaging the houses, killing the inhabitants and ravishing
the women. Not satisfied with this, he overran the adjacent parts of
Brittany, making prisoners, and doing every exploit usual in war.
The duke of Brittany was very indignant when he heard of this conduct,
and sent the bishop of Rennes to the king of France at Chinon, to
complain that the English had, notwithstanding the truce, taken his
town and castle of Fougeres, and had despoiled many other parts of
his duchy, and requesting of him, as his relative, lord paramount and
protector, that he would aid him by declaring war against England for
that he was prepared to do so without any way sparing his own personal
exertions.
The king replied, that he would never abandon him, but make common
cause with him, as was just. In order, however, to have Heaven on
their side, and to throw the blame wholly on their enemies, he would
first demand reparation from the king of England, and also from the
duke of Somerset his lieutenant-general on that side of the sea, for
the wrongs that had been done him,--the duke having had full powers to
make any reparation for evils that might ensue from the infringement
of the truce. The king added, that he hoped the duke would make
reparation, to avoid the inconveniences that must ensue from a renewal
of war.
King Charles sent to England, to make this demand, his esquire-carver,
Jean Havart, and master John Cousinot, one of the masters of requests
of his household,--and to the duke of Somerset, Pierre de Fontenay,
equerry of his stables. They brought answers from king Henry and the
duke, that they disavowed what sir Francis de Surienne had done,
although it had been currently reported that this capture had been made
by their order and connivance.
The duke of Brittany, who was much interested in this capture of
Fougeres, sent his herald at arms to demand a surrender of the place
from the duke of Somerset,--that it should be completely repaired, and
restitution be made for all the plunder of houses, jewels, and effects,
amounting, in the whole, according to a valuation, to the sum of
sixteen hundred thousand crowns. The duke of Somerset made answer, that
he would no way avow any concern in the said capture.
When the duke of Brittany's herald was departed, the duke of Somerset,
desirous of repairing the fault that had been done in those parts by
sir Francis de Surienne, sent ambassadors to the king of France more
amply to excuse himself from having been any party in the business,
declaring his disavowal of it, and how very unpleasant it had been to
him; which was frivolous, for he made no mention of any offer to repair
the place, nor of making restitution for the wrong, but requested,
for the general safety, that every thing might remain on its present
footing.
The king replied, that if the duke of Somerset was so very much
displeased at what had happened he should do his duty, according to the
full powers vested in him, and make due restitution for the plunder
so unjustly carried away, and restore the place in sufficiently good
repair: and that if he would not do this, he might be assured that he
would support his nephew of Brittany: that in regard to giving up to
the English certain places as pledges for the maintenance of peace, he
would do no such thing; adding, that his nephew of Brittany was allied
to the greatest lords of his realm, and had many able commanders in his
duchy, all of whom were very indignant at this capture of Fougeres,
and who, it must be believed, would be eager to revenge it, by making
conquests from the English: they would, therefore, attend to the guard
of their own towns and castles: that for his part, he would take
especial care to guard his own.
The ambassadors, having had this answer, requested the king to send to
Louviers commissioners fully instructed: for that on their return to
Rouen, they knew well the duke of Somerset would send persons properly
authorised to meet them, and endeavour to bring about an accommodation.
The king, ever wishing to avoid the effusion of human blood, and more
desirous of employing gentle measures than force, complied with their
request, and appointed commissioners accordingly.
The English now returned to the duke of Somerset, and told him all
that had passed at the court of France, and that the king had sent to
Louviers commissioners to settle the dispute respecting the capture of
Fougeres. The duke immediately ordered thither commissioners to make up
the dispute, if possible, with those of France.
This year, the English repaired the town of St James de Beuvron, which
was what they ought not to have done; for by the articles of the truce,
no places were to be repaired during its continuance, either by the
French or English. In this year also, the English surrendered the towns
and castles of Mayenne, and of Juliez in the county of Mayne, which
they had promised to yield up when they marched away from Mans.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 146: Fougeres,--a town in Brittany, on the frontiers of
Normandy, diocese of Rennes.]
CHAP. LXXIV.
THE POPULACE OF LONDON RISE AGAINST THE KING'S OFFICERS.--THEY
INHUMANLY MURDER THE BISHOP OF GLOCESTER, AND IMPRISON THE MARQUIS OF
SUFFOLK,--BUT THE KING SETS HIM AT LIBERTY.
About the end of Lent, in this year, there was a great commotion of
the populace in the city of London, headed by the mayor of that city.
Instigated by their evil inclinations, they inhumanly murdered the
bishop of Glocester, keeper of the king's privy seal,--a good plain
man, and very learned. They also arrested the marquis of Suffolk, who
was a great lord, and imprisoned him in the tower of London. This mayor
had great influence in the city; and, wherever he went, a sword was
borne before him.
The king was, at the moment, three miles distant from London, at one of
his palaces on the Thames, and greatly astonished when told what was
going forward in London. He instantly sent for the lieutenant of the
tower, who lost no time in obeying this order; and, after having heard
a true account of what had been done by the mob, he commanded him to
bring the marquis of Suffolk in safety to him, without delay, or that
his own life should answer for it.
The lieutenant found means of delivering the marquis of Suffolk without
the knowledge of the mayor or people, and of carrying him to the
king's presence. After a short conversation, the king made the marquis
mount his horse and fly toward the northern part of his kingdom, where
he might find convenient means for passing over to France. He was,
however, met by some of the duke of Somerset's men, who cut off his
head, and sent it, with the body, to London.