decoyed his Uncle from his castle of Pleshy, under pretence of wishing
his presence at a conference with the citizens, proceeds, conversing
with him, towards London, when, on arriving at Stratford, at the top of
a lane leading to the Thames, where an ambuscade had been prepared, he
suddenly galloped forward, leaving the Duke behind, who was instantly
surrounded by a body of men, under the command of the Earl Marshal, who
said, “I arrest you in the King’s name!” The Duke, panic-struck on
seeing himself thus betrayed, called loudly after the King, who, without
turning his head, made off towards London, followed by his attendants. A
boat was waiting in the river, and the Duke having been forced on board
was carried over to Calais. Finding that he was closely imprisoned in
the castle of Calais, he questioned the Earl Marshal as to the
intentions of the King and the cause of his arrest. The Earl merely
informed him that he must remain in banishment for a time; but the Duke
suspected the worst, and requested a priest who had said mass before
him, to confess him. His fears were not groundless; for Froissart
relates, that, “on the point of sitting down to dinner, when the tables
were laid and he was about to wash his hands, four men rushed out from
an adjoining chamber, and, throwing a towel round his neck, strangled
him.” This is not exactly the fact; as, by the subsequent confession of
one of the murderers, it was known that he was smothered with pillows.
It was given forth that the Duke of Gloucester had died in his bed at
the castle of Calais, and the treacherous Earl Marshal, his near
relative, put on mourning, as did all the knights and squires in Calais.
Froissart tells us, that some believed and others disbelieved this
story; but it is clear that it was generally disbelieved; for, among
other acts of treachery, it no doubt led to his deposition, and, there
is every reason to suspect, to a similar end.
In the Illumination there is a happy attempt at expression, though not
of the most elevated kind; it is, however, highly characteristic,
particularly the features of the Duke calling anxiously to the King,
whose supercilious nonchalance, as he coolly rides off, is very happily
portrayed. The back ground, however, does not very felicitously
represent the sort of country where an ambuscade or surprise could be
executed with very good effect, and looks exceedingly like the suburbs
of a Dutch or Flemish village of the present day.
[Illustration: Richard IIⁿᵈ setting out upon his invasion of Ireland.]
PLATE XXI.
RICHARD II. SETTING OUT ON HIS EXPEDITION TO IRELAND.
A truce having been finally agreed upon between England and France, it
was determined in the English Council, in the year 1394, that the
opportunity should not be lost of making an attempt to completely subdue
the Irish, which the King’s grandfather, Edward III., with all his
military energy had not been able to effect, partly in consequence of
the numerous wars in other quarters, in which he was engaged at the same
time. Richard II. carried over an army of 4,000 men-at-arms and 30,000
archers, such a force as had never been seen in Ireland; and, with the
assistance of his Uncles, who accompanied him, and the Earl of Ormond,
who held large estates in that part of the country under English
dominion, succeeded in subduing four kings or chiefs, who acknowledged
his supremacy, and came to reside at Dublin. But it appears by
Froissart’s description that they were little more than savages. It
seems, however, that our chronicler shared the common prejudices that
existed then, and, unfortunately, exist still against poor Ireland; for
he says, among other things, in treating of their mode of warfare, that
“they have pointed knives, with broad blades, sharp on both sides, with
which they kill their enemies; but they never consider them as dead
until they have out their throats like sheep, and opened them and taken
out their hearts, which they carry off with them; and some say, who are
well acquainted with their manners, that they devour them as delicious
morsels.”[10]
The Illumination is peculiarly spirited, both in execution and
arrangement, and the costumes are made out with sufficient accuracy to
render them highly valuable as authorities. The picture represents the
King at the head of his army, just issuing, apparently, from one of the
ancient gates of London.
[Illustration: The vision of Robert l’Ermite.]
PLATE XXII.
THE VISION OF ROBERT L’ERMITE.
Robert Mennot, a squire of the country of Caux, in Normandy, a man whom
Froissart describes as “of religious and holy life,” caused, about this
time, much discussion upon the subject of a vision which he declared he
had seen during a storm at sea, on his return from Syria. He described
the vision as like a figure as bright as crystal, which said, “Robert,
thou shalt escape from this peril, as well as thy companions for thy
sake, for God has favourably heard thy prayers: he orders thee by me to
return to France as speedily as thou canst, and instantly on thy arrival
to wait on the king, and relate what has befallen thee. Thou wilt tell
him to listen to peace with his adversary the King of England, for their
wars have lasted too long. Do thou interfere boldly when conferences
shall be holden to treat of peace between King Charles and King Richard,
for thou shalt be heard; and all those who shall in any way oppose or
prevent peace from taking effect, shall dearly pay for their wickedness
_in their lifetime_.”
He had several interviews upon the subject of his vision with the King
of France and his Council, and was present at a conference to treat of
peace, where he spoke eloquently in its favour; but the Duke of
Gloucester and some others were sceptical, and declared the whole a
cheat. Nevertheless, his influence was considerable; and, by order of
the King of France, he passed over to England, where he was well
received by the Court of Richard II. He had many private interviews with
the King, and his uncles the Dukes of York, Lancaster, and Gloucester;
but the latter still continued incredulous. Robert the Hermit returned
to France, laden with presents, after a month’s sojourn at the English
Court.
The vision is exhibited in the illumination after the true conventional
style of Catholic legends. The ship and figures in the foreground, with
the deeply serpentine waves, forcibly call to mind old engravings in
some of our early printed Bibles, which point to the source of such
illustrations in the Catholic missals and illuminated Bibles, from
which, with slight alteration, they were frequently copied.
The border is taken from another part of the volume, the one attached to
the present subject being very similar to one already given. In the
present border the arms of _De Commines_ occur again, and, in this
instance, on “a field of France,” as though under the protection of that
power.
[Illustration: The liberation of the Lord de la Riviere.]
PLATE XXIII.
THE LORD DE LA RIVIERE.
One of the first acts of the regency of the Dukes of Burgundy and Berri
was the imprisonment of nearly all the King’s late ministers and
advisers, against whom many heavy charges were brought, but few proved.
Sir Oliver de Clisson had the good fortune to receive timely
information, and effect his escape. But the Lord de la Riviere and Sir
John le Mercier were seized and thrown into prison, and all their
estates confiscated. Their subsequent pardon is thus related by
Froissart[11]:--
“The Lord de la Riviere and Sir John le Mercier, after having been
carried from prison to prison, and to different castles, were at last
given up to the provost of the Châtelet, and in daily expectation of
being put to death, through the hatred of the Dukes of Berry and
Burgundy and their advisers. They had been in this melancholy state for
more than two years, without the King being able to assist them. He,
however, would not consent to their execution; and the Dukes of Berry
and Burgundy perceived that the Duke of Orleans strongly befriended
them. The Duchess of Berry was incessant in her entreaties with her lord
in their favour, more particularly for the Lord de la Riviere; but they
could not condemn one without the other, for they were both implicated
in the same accusation. The solicitations of many worthy persons, added
to the justice of their cause, were of much weight; and several of the
great Barons of France thought they had now sufficiently suffered, and
should be set at liberty; for that Sir John le Mercier had wept so
continually when in prison, his sight was weakened so, that he could
scarcely see, and it was currently reported he was quite blind.
“At length there was an end put to their sufferings; for the King,
although he had consented to their imprisonment, for reasons which had
been given him, granted them this pardon, deferring further enquiry
into what had been laid to their charge until a future opportunity, and
when he should be more fully informed. All his lands and castles were
restored to the Lord de la Riviere; and, in the first instance, the
beautiful castle of Auneau, near Chartres, on the borders of Beauce; but
he was ordered thither, and never to recross the river Seine, unless
recalled by the King’s own mouth.
“Sir John le Mercier returned to his fine house of Noviant, of which he
bore the title as Lord, in the Laonnois; and he had similar orders not
to repass the rivers Seine, Marne or Oise, unless specially commanded by
the King.
“They also bound themselves to go to whatever prison they might
hereafter be ordered to by the King or his commissioners.
“The two Lords thankfully accepted this grace, and were rejoiced to be
delivered from the Châtelet. On gaining their liberty, they thought they
should be allowed to see the King, and thank him for his mercy; but it
was not so: they were forced to quit Paris instantly, and set out for
their different estates.
“They, however, gained their liberty, to the great joy of all who were
attached to them.”
Among the figures in this illumination, that of the jailor is extremely
characteristic; it is a happy impersonation of the jailor of all times,
and might serve nearly as well for the representative of Dickens’s
well-known Dennis, the hangman, with his knotted stick, as for the
jailor of the Lord de la Riviere, near five centuries ago.
[Illustration: The Coronation of Henry IV.]
PLATE XXIV.
THE CORONATION OF HENRY IV.
On the last day of September, 1399, Henry Duke of Lancaster held a
parliament at Westminster, at which were assembled the clergy, nobility,
and deputies from different towns, according to their extent or wealth.
In this parliament the Duke challenged the Crown of England, and claimed
it as his own, for three reasons: first, by conquest; secondly, from
being _the right heir to it_; and, thirdly, from the free resignation of
it to him by King Richard. The parliament, being unanimous in his
favour, was then dissolved; and the coronation took place in Westminster
Abbey on the 13th of October.
The procession consisted of between eight and nine hundred horsemen, &c.
&c.; and fountains of red and white wine were constantly playing along
Cheapside and in the neighbourhood of the Abbey. The whole of the
ceremony is described in a minute and interesting manner by
Froissart.[12]
The illumination is one of the most rich and carefully executed in the
volume, and forms a most interesting illustration of the ceremonial
pageantry of the period.
[Illustration: The interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the
Earl of Derby, at Paris.]
PLATE XXV.
THE MEETING OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY WITH THE EARL OF DERBY AT
PARIS.
The Earl of Derby was still in banishment, on account of his quarrel
with the Earl Marshal, when the citizens of London determined, in
consequence of many grievances, to attempt the removal of King Richard
from the throne; and sent the Archbishop of Canterbury as their
ambassador to the Earl, who was residing at Paris, proposing to him to
return to England, and assume the government of the country. Froissart
states, that, when the Earl of Derby heard the proposition from the
Archbishop, he did not immediately reply, “but, leaning on a window that
looked into the gardens, mused a while, having various thoughts in his
mind.” He at length turned, and replied somewhat evasively, in a speech
which our chronicler gives at full length. The Archbishop then
recommended calling a council of his most intimate friends, which advice
was adopted; and the council being unanimously in favour of accepting
the proposals of the citizens of London, it was determined that he
should immediately leave France by way of Brittany, under pretence of a
visit to the Duke, who was his uncle by marriage. “To shorten the
matter,” says Froissart, “the Earl managed his affairs with much
discretion, and took leave of the King and all the Lords who were then
at court; and, on his departure, made very handsome presents to the
King’s officers, as he was bounden to do, and to the heralds and
minstrels resident in Paris, who attended the farewell supper he gave at
the Hotel de Clisson, to such of the French Knights as chose to partake
of it.”
The miniature, which represents the meeting of the Archbishop and the
Earl, is very richly coloured and carefully executed, particularly in
the gilding; the gold employed about the fire, and in representing
sparks in the smoke, being introduced with remarkably happy effect. The
plan of the fire-place is very accurately made out, and might suggest,
perhaps, something in modern arrangements, as it seems, by means of the
projecting canopy, to combine the advantages of an open grate with those
of a stove, for it is not sunk in the wall like modern grates, by which
much heat is lost in the chimney, but, on the contrary, stands out
nearly as forward as a detached stove, by which a great economy of heat
is effected.
[Illustration: William of Hainault Count d’Ostrevant setting out on his
expedition against Friesland.]
PLATE XXVI.
WILLIAM OF HAINAULT SETTING OUT ON HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST FRIESLAND.
The duke Albert of Bavaria, and his son the count d’Ostrevant, having
determined to invade Friesland and attempt its conquest, proclaiming
that they had a lawful claim on it, raised a large army for that
purpose. The king of France sent five hundred lances to their
assistance; and Richard II. of England, also anxious to show his good
feeling towards his cousin the count d’Ostrevant, sent two hundred
archers and a body of men-at-arms, under the command of three knights of
repute, two of whom were named Colleville and Cornewall; the name of the
third was unknown to Froissart[13].
The Frieslanders in the meantime had determined to die with their
liberty, rather than submit to any lord whatsoever; but the odds against
them were fearful, as they could only raise an army of about thirty
thousand men, the greater part having no other arms than hatchets or
such like rude weapons, whilst Froissart tells us, that, had the fleet
which bore their enemies to their shores been ranged in a line, it would
have reached from Enchysen, where they embarked, to Kuynder, whence they
intended to effect their landing--a distance of twelve leagues. In fact,
the army of invaders amounted to upwards of one hundred thousand men.
After an obstinate battle the Frieslanders were defeated with cruel
slaughter; but in consequence of that want of continuity of plan and
action which characterises nearly all the European wars of the middle
ages, this victory led to no important results; and, after burning a few
villages, the army re-embarked and returned to Lower Friesland to pass
the winter.
The simple and natural arrangement of the line of armed men and their
banners, with which the Gothic artist has formed his miniature picture,
might afford some useful hints to modern designers of cartoons; the
simplicity is perhaps carried too far, but then it is free from the
great vices of the modern schools, such as overstrained attitudes,
exaggerated expression, fantastic, affected, and unnatural grouping, and
artificial or rather theatrical effects of sudden light and shade.
Without imitating the defects of these early practitioners of the art, a
study of their earnest and unaffected simplicity of treatment might add
much of that nobleness and repose of effect which is so deficient in
modern historical pictures, and which ought to be one of their principal
qualities. The contrivance by which the illuminator has in the small
space of his miniature conveyed the idea of the passing of a large army,
by means of the crowded line, or rather stream, of helmets, just seen
over the steep banks of the hollow way through which they are passing,
might certainly be improved to very good effect.
[Illustration: The landing of the Lady de Coucy at Boulogne, on her
return from England, in the Year 1399.]
PLATE XXVII.
THE LANDING OF THE LADY DE COUCY AT BOULOGNE ON HER RETURN FROM ENGLAND
IN THE YEAR 1399.
Almost immediately after the deposition of Richard II., in 1399, the
lady of Coucy, who had been in attendance upon his queen Isabella,
daughter of Charles VI., returned to France, conveying the first tidings
of the events which had just occurred. Rumours had already reached that
country through some merchants of Bruges, but the whole truth was not
known at Paris till the arrival of this lady. The grief of the king,
when he heard of the misfortunes which had overtaken his son-in-law, was
so great that it caused a return of his frenzy, and his uncles again
resumed the government of the kingdom. The citizens of Bourdeaux, where
Richard was born, were much attached to him, and, on hearing of his
deposition and imprisonment were greatly excited, as were the people of
all the surrounding country; for he had always been popular in that
province. These circumstances gave the French great hopes that they
might detach them from their allegiance to the English, and they carried
on many intrigues and secret negotiations with that view; but after the
first effervescence of feeling was over, the people of the Bordelais
took a calm view of the question, and decided, as Froissart quaintly
narrates it, that as France was at that time oppressed with heavy taxes,
it would be better for them to remain true to the English, who left them
frank and free; saying, “If the Londoners have deposed king Richard and
crowned king Henry, what is it to us? &c. &c.--we have more commerce
with the English than the French, in wines, wool, and cloth. Let us
therefore be cautious how we listen to propositions which we may
hereafter repent[14].”
It appears from this passage that actually more of the Bourdeaux wines
were consumed in England than in France; so that an immense commerce of
exchange between that district and England, equally advantageous to
both, must then have flourished, which the interference of modern
tariffs has, comparatively speaking, utterly destroyed.
The picture represents the disembarkation of the lady of Coucy at
Boulogne-sur-Mer; and might, with slight alteration in the dresses of
the principal personages, represent a party landing at Boulogne at the
present time; for on the Continent, where liberal institutions and
machinery have been more recent introductions than with us, habits and
customs are far less changed. The form of the wheelbarrow is precisely
that of the French wheelbarrows of the present day, and the blue frock
of the man is still frequently worn by the barrow-men; the other porter
too is carrying a trunk by means of a twisted rope, just in the manner
which has descended to his successors of the present day on the quais of
Calais and Boulogne, whilst the very form of the trunks is still
orthodox with the manufacturers of such articles in the provincial towns
of the Continent.
The respective characters of the party landing are most admirably
delineated; the courtly step of the two male attendants, as they advance
in earnest conversation, is cleverly contrasted with the boorish
postures of the sailors and porters; and the serious propriety of the
manner and expression of the lady, bearer of such evil tidings, is
equally well discriminated from the pert nonchalance of the waiting-maid
with her toilet-box and bundle. It is, on these accounts, one of the
most interesting miniatures in the volume, though neither so richly
coloured or highly finished as many others.
[Illustration: The death of Pope Clement of Avignon.]
PLATE XXVIII.
THE DEATH OF POPE CLEMENT OF AVIGNON.
This picture represents the death of Robert of Geneva, who died in the
year 1394, at the papal palace of Avignon, with the title of Pope
Clement VI., though, whether rightfully enjoyed or not, Froissart says
he shall not discuss, as a matter not within his province. The heading
of the chapter, “De la mort du pape Clement d’Avignon et de l’election
du pape Benedic I., Chappitre 59,” is in red ink in the MS. The
commencement of the chapter is, “En ce temps au mois de Septembre
trespassa de ce siècle en son pallais d’Avignon Robert de Geneve, cy
dessu nommé en nostre histoire[15].”
[Illustration]
PLATE XXIX.
THE KING OF FRANCE RECEIVING THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE DEFEAT IN TURKEY.
The unfortunate result of the King of Hungary’s campaign in Turkey, as
well as the ransom of the prisoners, has been mentioned in the
description of Plates XIV. and XIX. The present miniature represents the
reception of the news at the French court. Sir James de Helly, who was
one of the prisoners, had formerly served in Turkey under the sultan
Amurat, so that he knew a little of the Turkish language, and was on
that account selected by Bajazet to proceed to France on parole, in
order to arrange the ransom of the other prisoners. Sir James arrived in
Paris on the evening of Christmas-day, in the year 1396, and immediately
waited on the king at the Hotel St. Pol, as represented in the
miniature, in the same dress he had rode in, booted and spurred.
Froissart tells us, that “when the intelligence brought by Sir James de
Helly was made public, all who had lost husband, brother, father, or
child, were in the utmost consternation, as may easily be imagined. The
high nobility of France, such as the Duchess of Burgundy and the lady
Margaret of Hainault, were greatly afflicted on account of their son and
husband, the Count de Nevers, for he was greatly beloved by them. The
Countess of Eu lamented her lord, the constable, as did the Countess de
la Marche. The ladies of Coucy, Bar, and Sully, in like manner bewailed
the melancholy situation of their lords. They were fortunate in having
only their lords’ captivity to lament, and were somewhat comforted
thereat. But the relatives and friends of those who had been massacred
were inconsolable, and the grief of France lasted a long time.” For many
highly interesting particulars, see Smith’s edition of Froissart, vol.
ii., pp. 629, 630, and 631.
[Illustration: The Duke of Gloucester and Sir John Lackingay.]
PLATE XXX.
THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND SIR JOHN LACKINGAY.
Froissart tells us that the Duke of Gloucester plotted the destruction
of the king, his nephew; and, in his evidently implicit faith in the
divine right of kings, appears much shocked at the enormity of the
duke’s delinquency; nevertheless, in the so-called treasonable
conversations which he makes him hold with his confidant, Sir John
Lackingay, the duke states nothing but the reasonable causes of
complaint which so glaringly existed. He says, “If the King of England
had a good head, &c., &c., he would take some pains to recover the
inheritance the French have so shamefully stolen from him, &c., &c.; but
things are not so: we have an unwarlike king, who is indifferent to
arms,” &c., &c. And again: “The king raises heavy taxes on our
merchants, who are greatly discontented, squanders the money no one
knows how, and thus the country is impoverished[16];” with much more,
all of which was too true. But our chronicler relates also, with less
authority, that the duke actually proposed to his nephew, the Earl of
March, to depose the king, and, with the help of the discontented
Londoners, seize upon the government.
In justice, however, to Froissart, we must remark that he expresses the
greatest indignation and horror at the treacherous arrest and cruel
murder of the duke, consequent upon these reports.
The illumination is carefully drawn, especially the mantle of the duke,
which has a picturesque and graceful effect.
[Illustration: The death of Anne of Bohemia, Queen of Richard II.]
PLATE XXXI.
THE DEATH OF ANNE OF BOHEMIA, &c. &c.