THE DUKE'S MARRIAGE
1468
For many months before Philip's death there had been negotiations
concerning Charles's marriage with Margaret of York. Always feeling a
closer bond with his mother than with his father, Charles's sympathy
had ever been towards the Lancastrian party in England, the family to
whom Isabella of Portugal was closely related. Only the necessity for
making a strong alliance against Louis XI. turned him to seek a bride
from the House of York. It was on this business that La Marche and
the great Bastard were engaged when Philip's death interrupted the
discussion, which Charles did not immediately resume on his own
behalf.
Pending the final decision in regard to this important indication of
his international policy, the duke busied himself with the adjustment
of his court, there being many points in which he did not intend to
follow his father's usage.[1] Philip's lavishness, without too close
a query as to the disposition of every penny, was naturally very
agreeable to his courtiers. There was a liberal air about his
households. It was easy to come and go, and it was pleasant to have
the handling of money and the giving of orders--orders which were
fulfilled and richly paid without haggling. Charles had other notions.
He was willing to pay, but he wanted to be sure of an adequate
return. How he started in on his administration with reform ideas is
delightfully told by Chastellain.[2]
One of his first measures when he was finally established at Brussels
was to secure more speedy execution of justice. He appointed a new
provost, "a dangerous varlet of low estate, but excellently fitted to
carry out perilous work." Then he determined to settle petty civil
suits himself, as there were many which had dragged on for a long
time. In order to do this and to receive complaints from poor people,
he arranged to give audience three times a week, Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday, after dinner. On these occasions he required the
attendance of all his nobles, seated before him on benches, each
according to his rank. Excuses were not pleasantly accepted, so that
few places were empty. Charles himself was elevated on a high throne
covered with cloth of gold, whence he pompously pronounced judgments
and heard and answered petitions, a process that sometimes lasted two
or three hours and was exceedingly tiresome to the onlookers.
"In outer appearance it seemed a magnificent course of action and
very praiseworthy. But in my time I have never heard of nor seen
like action taken by prince or king, nor any proceedings in the
least similar.
"When the duke went through the city from place to place and from
church to church, it was wonderful how much state and order was
maintained and what a grand escort he had. Never a knight so old
or so young who dared absent himself and never a squire was bold
enough to squeeze himself into the knights' places."
At the levee, the same rigid ceremony was observed. Every one had
to wait his turn in his proper room--the squires in the first, the
knights in the second, and so on. All left the palace together to go
to mass. As soon as the offering was made all the nobles were free
to dine, but they were obliged to report themselves to the duke
immediately after his repast. Any failure caused the forfeiture of the
fee for the day. It was all very orderly and very dull.
Thus Charles of Burgundy felt that he was law-giver, paternal guide,
philosopher, and friend to his people. From time to time he delivered
harangues to his court, veritable sermons. He obtained hearing, but
certainly did not win popularity. The adulatory phrases used as mere
conventionalities seemed to have actually turned his head. And those
stock phrases were very grandiloquent. There is no doubt that such
comparisons were used as Chastellain puts into the mouths of the first
deputation from Ghent to ask pardon for the sins committed at the
dolorous unjoyous entry into the Flemish capital.[2]
"My very excellent seigneur, when you who hold double place, place
of God and place of man, and have in yourself the double nature
by office and commission in divine estate, and as your noble
discretion knows and is cognisant, like God the Father, Creator,
of all offences committed against you, and who may be appeased
by tears and by weeping as He permits Himself to be softened by
contrition, entreaties, etc., and resumes His natural benignity by
forgetting things past [etc.].... Alas, what kindness did He use
toward Adam, His first offender, upon whom through his son Seth He
poured the oil of pity in five thousand future years, and then to
Cain the first born of mother He postponed vengeance for his crime
for ten generations etc. What did he do in Abraham's time, when He
sent word to Lot that if there were ten righteous men in Sodom and
Gomorrah He would remit the judgment on the two cities? In Ghent,"
etc.[4]
In the chancellor's answer to this plea, the duke's consent to grant
forgiveness to Ghent is again compared to God's own mercy. The divine
attributes were referred to again and again, not only on the pages
of contemporaneous chroniclers who may be accused of desiring ducal
patronage, but also in sober state papers.
There was one antidote to this homage universally offered to Charles
wherever there was no rebellion against him. One of the rules of the
Order of the Golden Fleece was that all alike should be subject to
criticism by their fellows. In May, 1468, at Bruges, Charles held an
assembly of the Order, the first over which he had presided. It was a
fitting opportunity for the knights to express their sentiments. When
it came to his turn to be reviewed, Charles listened quietly to the
representations that his conduct fell short of the ideals of chivalry
because he was too economical, too industrious, too strenuous, and not
sufficiently cognisant of the merits of his faithful subjects of high
degrees.[5]
In these plaints, respectful as they are, there is perhaps a note of
regret for the lavish and amusing good cheer of the late duke's times.
Charles was undoubtedly husbanding his resources at this period. The
vision of wide dominions was already in his dreams, and he was prudent
enough to begin his preparations. And prudence is not a popular
quality. Still his courtiers were not quite bereft of the gorgeous and
spectacular entertainments to which the "good duke" had accustomed
them. Soon after the assembly of the Order, the alliance between Duke
Charles and Margaret of York was celebrated at Bruges. Our Burgundian
Chastellain is not pleased with this marriage. That Charles inclined
towards England at all was due to the French king, whom both he and
his father had found untrustworthy. Again, had there been any other
eligible _partie_ in England Charles would never have allied himself
with King Edward when all his sympathies were with the blood of
Lancaster. But when King Louis forsook his cousin Margaret of Anjou,
whose woes should have commanded pity, simply for the purpose of
undermining the Duke of Burgundy, the latter felt it wise to make
Edward his friend.
"That it was sore against his inclination he confessed to one who
later revealed it to me, but he decided that it was better to
injure another rather than be down-trodden and injured himself.[6]
"For a long time there had been little love lost between him and
the king. The monarch feared the pride and haughtiness of his
subject, and the subject feared the strength and profound subtilty
of the king who wanted, he thought, to get him under the whip. And
all this, alas, was the result of that cursed War of Public Weal
cooked up by the French against their own king. When Charles was
deeply involved in it he was deserted by the others and the whole
weight of the burden fell on his shoulders, so that he alone was
blamed by the king, and he alone was forced to look to his own
safety and comfort. It is a pity when such things occur in a realm
and among kinsfolk."
[Illustration: CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY, PRESIDING OVER A CHAPTER OF
THE GOLDEN FLEECE
FROM CONTEMPORANEOUS MINIATURE REPRODUCED IN LENGLET DU FRESNOY
EDITION OF COMINES]
Louis was busied with his own affairs in Touraine when news came to
him that the marriage was to take place immediately. "If he mourned,
it is not marvellous when I myself mourn it for the future result. But
the king used all kinds of machinations to break off the alliance....
God suffered two young proud princes to try their strength each at
his will, often in ways that would have been incompatible in common
affairs."
The fullest account of the wedding is given by La Marche, an
eyewitness of the event[7]:
"Gilles du Mas, maître d'hôtel du Duc de Bretagne--to you I
recommend myself. I have collected here roughly according to my
stupid understanding what I saw of the said festival, to send it
to you, beseeching you as earnestly as I can to advise me of the
noble states and high deeds in your quarter ... as becomes two
friends of one rank and calling in two fraternal, allied and
friendly houses.
"My lady and her company arrived at l'Écluse on a Saturday, June
25th, and on the morrow Madame the Duchess of Burgundy, mother
of the duke, Mlle. of Burgundy and various other ladies and
demoiselles visited Madame Margaret[8] and only
stayed till dinner. The duchess was greatly pleased with her
prospective daughter-in-law and could not say enough of her character
and her virtues. There remained with Dame Margaret, on the part of
the duchess, the Charnys, Messire Jehan de Rubempré and various other
ladies and gentlemen to act the hosts to the strange ladies and
gentlemen who had crossed from England with the bride. The Count and
Countess de Charny met Madame as she disembarked and never budged from
her side until she had arrived at Bruges.
"The day after the duchess's visit, Monseigneur of Burgundy made his
way to l'Écluse with a small escort and entered the chateau at the
rear. After supper, accompanied only by six or seven knights of the
Order, he went very secretly to the hôtel of Dame Margaret, who had
been warned of his intention, and was attended by the most important
members of her suite, such as the Seigneur d'Escalles, the king's
brother.
"At his arrival when they saw each other the greetings were very
ceremonious and then the two sat down on one bench and chatted
comfortably together for some time. After some conversation, the
Bishop of Salisbury, according to a prearranged plan of his own,
kneeled before the two and made complimentary speeches. He was
followed by M. de Charny, who spoke as follows:
"'Monseigneur, you have found what you desired and since God has
brought this noble lady to port in safety and to your desire, it
seems to me that you should not depart without proving the
affection you bear her, and that you ought to be betrothed now
at this moment and give her your troth.'
"Monseigneur answered that it did not depend upon him. Then the
bishop spoke to Margaret and asked her what she thought. She
answered that it was just for this and nothing else that the king
of England had sent her over and she was quite ready to fulfil
the king's command. Whereupon the bishop took their hands and
betrothed them. Then Monseigneur departed and returned on the
morrow to Bruges.
"Dame Margaret remained at l'Écluse until the following Saturday
and was again visited by Monseigneur. On Saturday the boats were
richly decorated to conduct my lady to Damme, where she was
received very honourably according to the capacity of that little
town. On the morrow, the 3rd of July, Monseigneur the duke set out
with a small escort between four and five o'clock in the morning,
and went to Damme, where he found Madame quite ready to receive
him as all had been prearranged, and Monseigneur wedded her as was
suitable, and the nuptial benediction was duly pronounced by the
Bishop of Salisbury. After the mass, Charles returned to his hotel
at Bruges, and you may believe that during the progress of the
other ceremonies he slept as if he were to be on watch on the
following night.
"Immediately after, Adolph of Cleves, John of Luxemburg, John of
Nassau, and others returned to Damme and paid their homage to the
new duchess, and then my lady entered a horse litter, beautifully
draped with cloth of gold. She was clad in white cloth of gold made
like a wedding garment as was proper. On her hair rested a crown
and her other jewels were appropriate and sumptuous. Her English
ladies followed her on thirteen hackneys, two close by her litter
and the others behind. Five chariots followed the thirteen
hackneys, the Duchess of Norfolk, the most beautiful woman in
England, being in the first. In this array Madame proceeded to
Bruges and entered at the gate called Ste. Croix."
There were too many names to be enumerated, but La Marche cannot
forbear mentioning a noble Zealander, Adrian of Borselen, Seigneur of
Breda, who had six horses covered with cloth of gold, jewelry, and
silk.
"I mention him for two reasons [he explains[9]]: first, that he
was the most brilliant in the procession, and the second is that
by the will of God he died on the Wednesday from a trouble in his
leg, which was a pity and much regretted by the nobility.
"The procession from Ste. Croix to the palace was magnificent,
with all the dignitaries in their order. So costly were the
dresses of the ducal household that Charles expended more than
forty thousand francs for cloth of silk and of wool alone.
"Prominent in this stately procession were the nations or foreign
merchants in this order: Venetians, Florentines--at the head of
the latter marched Thomas Portinari, banker and councillor of
the duke at the same time that he was chief of their nation and
therefore dressed in their garb; Spaniards; Genoese--these latter
showed a mystery, a beautiful girl on horseback guarded by
St. George from the dragon.--Then came the Osterlings, 108 on
horseback, followed by six pages, all clad in violet.
"Gay, too, was Bruges and the streets were all decorated with
cloth of gold and silk and tapestries. As to the theatrical
representations I can remember at least ten. There were Adam and
Eve, Cleopatra married to King Alexander, and various others.
"The reception at the palace was very formal. The dowager duchess
herself received her daughter-in-law from the litter and escorted
her by the hand to her chamber, and for the present we will leave
the ladies and the knighthood and turn to the arrangement of the
hôtel.
"In regard to the service, Mme. the new duchess was served
_d'eschançon et d'escuyer tranchant et de pannetier_. All English,
all knights and gentlemen of great houses, and the chief steward
cried 'Knights to table,' and then they went to the buffet to get
the food, and around the buffet marched all the relations of
Monseigneur, all the knights of the Order and of great houses. And
for that day Mme. the duchess the mother declined to be served _à
couvert_ but left the honour to her daughter-in-law as was right.
"After dinner the ladies retired to their rooms for a little rest
and there were some changes of dress. Then they all mounted their
chariots and hackneys and issued forth on the streets in great
triumph and wonderful were the jousts of the Tree of Gold. Several
days of festivity followed when the usual pantomimes and shows were
in evidence.
"Tuesday, the tenth and last day of the fête, the grand _salle_ was
arranged in the same state as on the wedding day itself, except the
grand buffet which stood in the middle of the hall. This banquet,
too, was a grand affair and concluded the festivities.
On the morrow, Wednesday, July 15th, Monseigneur departed for
Holland on a pressing piece of business, and he took leave of the
Duchess of Norfolk and the other lords and ladies of quality and
gave them gifts each according to his rank. Thus ends the story
of this noble festival, and for the present I know nothing worth
writing you except that I am yours."
To this may be added the letter of one of the Paston family who was in
Margaret's train.[10]
"John Paston the younger to Margaret Paston:
"To my ryght reverend and worchepfull Modyr Margaret Paston
dwelling at Caster, be thys delyveryed in hast.
"Ryth reverend & worchepfull Modyr, I recommend me on to you as
humbylly as I can thynk, desyryng most hertly to her of your
welfare & hertsese whyche I pray God send you as hastyly as my
hert can thynk. Ples yt you to wete that at the makyng of thys
byll my brodyr & I & all our felawshep wer in good helle, blyssyd
be God.
"As for the gydyn her in thys countre it is as worchepfull as all
the world can devyse it, & ther wer never Englyshe men had so good
cher owt of Inglong that ever I herd of.
"As for tydyngs her but if it be of the fest I can non send yow;
savyng my Lady Margaret was maryed on Sonday last past at a town
that is called Dame IIj myle owt of Brugge at v of the clok in the
morning; & sche was browt the same day to Bruggys to hyr dener;
& ther sche was receyvyd as worchepfully as all the world cowd
devyse as with presession with ladys and lordys best beseyn of eny
pepell that ever I sye or herd of. Many pagentys were pleyed in
hyr way to Brugys to hyr welcoming, the best that ever I sye.
And the same Sonday my Lord the Bastard took upon hym to answere
xxiiij knyts & gentylmen within viij dayis at jostys of pese &
when that they wer answered, they xxiiij & hymselve shold torney
with other xxv the next day after, whyche is on Monday next
comyng; & they that have jostyd with hym into thys day have been
as rychly beseyn, & hymselfe also, as clothe of gold & sylk &
sylvyr & goldsmith's werk might mak hem; for of syche ger & gold
& perle & stonys they of the dukys coort neyther gentylmen nor
gentylwomen they want non; for with owt that they have it by
wyshys, by my trowthe, I herd nevyr of so gret plente as ther is.
* * * * *
And as for the Dwkys coort, as of lords & ladys & gentylwomen
knyts, sqwyers & gentylmen I hert never of non lyek to it
save King Artourys cort. And by my trowthe I have no wyt nor
remembrance to wryte to you half the worchep that is her; but that
lakyth as it comyth to mynd I shall tell you when I come home
whyche I trust to God shal not be long to; for we depart owt of
Brygge homward on Twysday next comyng & all folk that cam with my
lady of Burgoyn out of Ingland, except syche as shall abyd her
styll with hyr whyche I wot well shall be but fewe.
"We depart the sooner for the Dwk hathe word that the Frenshe king
is purposyd to mak wer upon hym hastyly & that he is with in IIIj
or v dayis jorney of Brugys & the Dwk rydeth on Twysday next
comyng forward to met with hym. God geve hym good sped & all hys;
for by my trowthe they are the goodlyest felawshep that ever I cam
among & best can behave themselves & most like gentlemen.
"Other tydyngs have we non her; but that the Duke of Somerset &
all hys band departyd well beseyn out of Brugys a day befor that
my Lady the Duchess cam thedyr & they sey her that he is to Queen
Margaret that was & shal no more come her agen nor be holpyn by
the Duke. No more; but I beseche you of your blessyng as lowly as
I can, wyche I beseche you forget not to geve me everday onys.
And, Modyr, I beseche you that ye wol be good mastras to my lytyll
man & to se that he go to scole.
* * * * *
Wreten at Bruggys the Friday next after Seynt Thomas.
"Your sone & humbyll servaunt,
"J. PASTON THE YOUNGER."
[Footnote 1: Chastellain, v., 570.]
[Footnote 2: V., 576.]
[Footnote 3: This deputation was composed of representatives from "all
the city in its entirety in three chief members--the bourgeois and
nobles, the fifty-two _métiers_, and the weavers who possess twelve
different places in the city entirely for themselves and in their
control." The formal apology was made later. (Chastellain, v., 291.)]
[Footnote 4: _Ibid_ 306. By letters patent given on July 28, 1467,
Duke Charles pardoned the Ghenters and confirmed the privileges which
he had conceded to them, but he exacted that a deputation from the
three members [_Trois membres_] of the city should come to Brussels to
beg pardon on their knees, bareheaded, ungirded, for all the disorder
of St. Lievin. This act of submission took place probably not until
January, 1469, though August 8, 1468, is also mentioned as the date.]
[Footnote 5: _Hist, de l'Ordre_, etc., p. 511.]
[Footnote 6: Chastellain, V., 342.]
[Footnote 7: III., 101. Evidently this was composed for a separate
work and then incorporated into the memoirs.]
[Footnote 8: There is a beautiful portrait of her in MS. 9275 in the
Bibliothèque de Burgogne. _See_ also Wavrin, _Anchiennes Croniques
d'Engleterre_, ii., 368.]
[Footnote 9: III., 108.]
[Footnote 10: _The Paston Letters_, ii., 317.]