St Pol, went to Ghent, where they were received most honourably. They
informed the townsmen, assembled in numbers at the town-hall, of the
commission they had been intrusted with by the king of France, and the
remonstrances they had in consequence made to the duke of Burgundy,
and his answer. The ghent men, on hearing this, said, that indeed their
lord was too hard and merciless to them; that he wanted to deprive them
of their privileges, which they would never suffer to be done; and told
the ambassadors, that if they had nothing more to say, they might leave
the town instantly. They therefore immediately departed, and returned
to the duke of Burgundy.
CHAP. XXXV.
THE CUTLER OF GHENT IS MADE PRISONER IN BATTLE.--THE GHENT MEN ARE
DEFEATED.--THEY ARE AGAIN DEFEATED AT HULST AND MOERBEKE.
The french ambassadors had scarcely left Ghent, when upward of five
thousand men in arms issued forth to combat the duke's army wherever
they could meet it. They had chosen for their leader a cutler of Ghent,
a large heavy man, who had boasted that he would overcome the duke;
and his townsmen promised, that if he should succeed, they would make
him lord of Waes, and indeed of all Flanders.
They marched for Hulst, a large village, in which was Anthony bastard
of Burgundy with a strong force of well-tried men at arms, thinking to
surprise him: but he had received intelligence of their coming, and
advanced out to meet them. A sharp engagement took place, when they
were defeated, with the loss of full three thousand men, and the cutler
and several of the ghent men were taken. The bastard sent them to his
father, the duke, who had them all hanged, or strangled, because they
would not ask his pardon; and such was their obstinate hatred to him
that, although they were promised mercy if they would ask it, they
refused. This was surely a wonderful sign of obstinacy!
Those who had escaped from this battle, to the amount of two thousand,
fled to Moerbeke, wherein was a large company of their townsmen, then
besieged by the Hollanders, ignorant of this defeat at Hulst. On seeing
such numbers approach, the Hollanders drew up in battle-array, and
attacked them with such effect with their cross-bows that many were
slain. In the mean time, the bastard, who had pursued them, now came
up; and they were so severely handled that, of the two thousand, few,
if any, escaped death or being made prisoners.
The garrison of Moerbeke, witnessing the discomfiture of their
countrymen, abandoned the town and fled to Ghent; so that when sir
Anthony de Bourgogne and the Hollanders were preparing to attack the
intrenchments, they found them empty, and entered the place without
resistance, which they plundered of every thing worth taking away, and
then set the town on fire.
The duke of Burgundy was, at this time, at a large village called
Hoiguemustre[140], in the country of Waes. The french ambassadors found
him there on their return from Ghent, and told him all they had seen
and heard in that town: on which the duke swore, that he would never
make peace with them until they should submit unconditionally; and that
if they would not do so by fair means, he would force them to it, or
die in the attempt.
Without longer delay, he departed for Axel, which he conquered, and
the whole of the country of Waes,--and thence he approached Ghent, and
fixed his quarters at a place called Longpont, not far from the town.
When those in Ghent saw this, they sent to the French ambassadors to
request them to obtain passports from the duke, for a deputation to
wait on him, to propose articles for a peace.
The good duke at the request of the ambassadors, and in compliment to
the king of France, granted passports, but told the messengers from
Ghent, that he would never conclude any treaty with them until they
had submitted themselves and their town to his will. While this was
passing, the duke's army made daily excursions to the gates of Ghent,
burning and destroying houses, mills, and farms around, without mercy.
In addition to these miseries, there raged in Ghent an epidemical
disorder, which carried off such numbers that it was terrible to hear
of it; insomuch, that those who remained, fearful of worse happening to
them, sent to solicit the ambassadors to return to their town, which
they did,--and, having assembled in the market-place, displayed the
passports from their lord, and desired that all who wished for peace
would stand apart, and the others on the contrary side. This was done,
and the party for peace amounted to only seven thousand, while those on
the opposite side were upwards of twelve thousand.
The ambassadors, observing so great a difference, desired them to
assemble again on the morrow, when they would endeavour to bring about
an agreement between them; but on the morrow, only those who wished
for peace appeared. They desired that the ambassadors would return to
the duke, with a deputation from them, to endeavour to mediate a peace
by any possible means. The ambassadors so far prevailed that the duke
consented to a truce of six weeks, on condition that the men of Ghent
would deliver to him good and sufficient hostages (if during this term
peace could not be effected), to indemnify him for the loss he should
incur by disbanding his army and the expense of raising another, and,
for the due payment of the garrisons he should leave round Ghent, and
in Courtray, Oudenarde, Alost, and Dendermonde during these six weeks.
It was also stipulated, that no provision should enter Ghent in the
mean time, but that what was already therein must supply their wants;
nor was any thing to enter the principal towns of Flanders, without
leave first had at the gates.
It was agreed, that the conferences for peace should be holden at
Lille, and that the deputies from Ghent should not amount to more than
fifty. These preliminaries being settled, the truce was proclaimed
throughout the duke's army; and he then gave permission for his men at
arms to return to the places they had come from, excepting such as he
had left in garrison in the towns aforesaid. The duke went to Brussels,
and his ministers to Lille. The ambassadors from France sent a herald
to proclaim the truce in Ghent; but as his attendant was dressed in a
surcoat of the arms of the duke, namely, the cross of St Andrew, he
was seized by the populace, as he was leading his horses to water, and
instantly hanged, out of pique to the duke, and by way of revenge for
the death of the cutler. The herald returned in safety, but very much
frightened.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 140: Hoiguemustre. Q. Waesmustre?]
CHAP. XXXVI.
THE ARTICLES PROPOSED BY THE AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE AS THE
GROUND-WORK FOR A TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE MEN OF GHENT AND THEIR
LORD,--BUT WHICH ARE NOT AGREED TO BY THOSE IN GHENT.
On the 22d day of July in the year 1452, the men of Ghent sent a
deputation of fifty commissioners to Lille, to treat of a peace with
the ministers of the duke of Burgundy and the ambassadors from France:
they were also accompanied by master John de Poupincourt, advocate in
the parliament. The duke refused at first to attend the conferences,
and each party delivered in writing to the ambassadors their separate
proposals; but at the entreaty of the ambassadors and his ministers,
the duke set out from Brussels, and arrived at Lille on the 27th of
August.
When the deputies saw that the time for the expiration of the truce was
near at hand, they were afraid to remain longer, and returned to Ghent,
leaving behind only two heralds and an interpreter. Notwithstanding
the departure of the deputies, the French ambassadors soon after gave
judgment respecting their dissensions with the duke, and sentenced the
men of Ghent to perform the following articles before they obtained
peace.
They were ordered, in the first place, to close up the gate by which
they had marched out to besiege Oudenarde, once every week, on the same
day they passed it.
Item, the gate by which they had marched to the battle of Rupelmonde
was to be shut up for ever.
Item, they were to lay aside their white hoods, as having been their
badge of rebellion.
Item, foreign merchants should no longer be amenable to the bye laws
of Ghent, but only to those of the town and ban lieu.
Item, no one should be in future banished the town without the cause
being specified, which had not been done before.
Item, as to the new regulation of the laws, four noble persons,
officers of the duke, and four of the municipality, shall be selected
for this purpose; and whereas formerly four-and-twenty persons formed
the municipality, twelve of whom were always chosen from the company of
weavers,--this shall now be abolished.
Item, whereas, when any troubles existed in the town, the banners
of the trades were displayed, and the populace assembled in the
market-place: it is ordained, that such proceedings be abolished, and
that the banners be placed in a coffer fastened with five locks,--one
key shall be delivered to the bailiff of Ghent,--the first sheriff
shall have another,--the high deacon of trades the third,--and the
other two shall be given in charge to two discreet persons elected
by the townsmen,--and there shall be no more assembling in the
market-place.
Item, neither the sheriffs nor any gentleman in Ghent shall issue
public mandates in their names.
Item, the whole of the municipality, the deacons, governors, and two
thousand of the commonalty shall advance half a league out of the town,
clad only in their shirts, and humbly on their knees, beg pardon of
their lord, saying, that they had wickedly and wrongfully made war
against him their lord, for which they crave his mercy.
Item, should any of the duke's officers henceforth misbehave, his
offence was not to be cognizable by the municipality,--but it must be
referred to their lord and his council.
Item, whereas formerly the municipality of Ghent had usually extended
their government over the country of Waes, Alost, Dendermonde and
Oudenarde,--it was ordered, that the said ambassadors should, within
the year, make a reformation, either by new ordinances or by resigning
their jurisdiction altogether.
Item, to satisfy their lord for his expenses in this war, they were to
pay him two hundred and fifty thousand riddes[141].
Such was the sentence of the ambassadors on those of Ghent,--who,
however, notwithstanding their promises, refused absolutely to abide by
it.
CHAP. XXXVII.
THE GHENT MEN RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THEIR LORD, AND BURN
HULST.--A FRENCH HERALD ESCAPES FROM GHENT.
The two heralds and their interpreter returned from Lille to
Ghent,--and the proposed articles for a peace with the duke of Burgundy
were publicly read to the people. Great murmurings arose; and they said
that their lord was too hard upon them, and that the conditions were
not to be borne. They separated, however, without declaring positively
against them, nor yet assenting to them,--and in this state they
remained for about a fortnight.
During this time, some of the most turbulent assembled in numbers,
and chose for their captain a wicked fellow, called the bastard of
Blanc-Estain,--and they styled themselves Companions of the Verde Tente.
Having well armed themselves, they sallied forth out of Ghent one
night, and advanced to Hulst, a large village that had surrendered to
the duke. On their arrival, they lighted torches and brands to deceive
the inhabitants, and make them believe they intended to storm the
place on that side, who indeed hastened thither in a body to defend
themselves; but, in the mean time, these cunning rogues gained an
entrance, without opposition, on the opposite side, and put to death
all they met. They plundered the town completely, set it on fire, and
returned with their booty to Ghent.
The ambassadors from the king of France were impatiently waiting at
Lille, to know whether the ghent men would abide by the articles of
peace. Wondering they received no intelligence from Ghent, they sent
thither a herald, with letters to the principal inhabitants, to learn
their will. The herald, on coming to his lodgings, entreated his
host to assist him in the delivering of his letters; but the host had
compassion on him, and told him, if he valued his life, not to mention
to any one the cause of his coming,--for, were it known, he would
infallibly be put to death. He would not suffer him to quit his chamber
the whole day, and, on the morrow, gave him his servant to escort him
to the gates,--bidding him say to the porters, if any questions were
asked him, that he was a french merchant returning to Antwerp,--and,
for better security, made him put on his coat the wrong side outward.
The herald, very much alarmed, believed all his host had said, and
set out very early, before the gates were opened. On coming to them,
he was asked who he was, and replied, a french merchant returning to
Antwerp. They asked for something to drink; and as he was untying his
purse, the gates were opened; on seeing this, he put spurs to his
horse, and galloped through without paying any thing,--but he did not
think himself safe until he was arrived at Lille. He related to the
ambassadors all that had passed, who, finding that the ghent men would
not adhere to their promises, took leave of the duke and returned to
king Charles, carrying with them six thousand golden riddes, which the
noble duke Philip had presented to them for their trouble.
The duke was ignorant of the capture of Hulst, until the ghent men
had taken and burnt Axel. They would have gained Alost, had not sir
Anthony de Wissoc, the governor for the duke, made so gallant a defence
that they were repulsed. On their return to Ghent, they burnt all the
villages that acknowledged the duke's government, and put men, women,
and children, to death without mercy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 141: Riddes,--worth 5s. in Flanders, 3s. in Gueldres.]
CHAP. XXXVIII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RAISES A LARGE ARMY TO COMBAT THE GHENT MEN, WHO
BURN HARLEBECK[142], A LARGE VILLAGE NEAR COURTRAY.--OTHER EVENTS OF
THIS WAR.
While the duke of Burgundy, earl of Flanders, was waiting at Lille
the answer from Ghent, he was informed of the loss of Hulst and
Axel, and instantly assembled his army, with the addition of a large
reinforcement from Burgundy; for he had ordered the lord de Beaumont,
marshal of Burgundy, to join him. Before this army could be ready
to take the field, a large body sallied out of Ghent, on the 23d of
September, for Harlebeck, a considerable village near to Courtray,
which they set on fire, killing the inhabitants indiscriminately,
without regard to sex or age.
The duke, on hearing this, instantly dispatched his nephew, Adolphus
of Cleves, with a handsome force of men at arms and archers, to
Courtray. On his arrival, he found every one in the utmost alarm,
although the ghent men were returned home. When the duke's army was
ready, he sent to Courtray the marshal of Burgundy as commander in
chief. Sir Anthony, the bastard, was ordered to Dendermonde,--sir Simon
and sir James de Lalain were sent to Oudenarde,--sir Anthony de Wissoc
to Alost,--and sir Adolphus of Cleves returned to the duke at Lille.
The marshal, on his arrival at Courtray, caused it to be proclaimed
throughout the flat countries, that all who were inclined to the duke's
party should carry their effects to strong places for their security,
and more especially those who were within five leagues of Ghent. The
consequence was, that the greater part withdrew with their effects to
Ghent. The marshal then ordered all the prisoners from Ghent to be
hanged. On the other hand, the ghent men showed mercy to none, nor
would they accept of any ransom, however great the sum offered, so
deadly was this warfare now become,--but more on the side of Ghent
than on that of the duke.
The marshal, learning that all the provision and wealth of the low
countries had been carried into Ghent, gave orders for all the villages
within five leagues of Ghent, and even as far as that town, to be
burnt, more particularly such as were on the roads leading to or from
it; and if the Picards and Burgundians left any undestroyed, the ghent
men burnt them, so that the greatest desolation afflicted all Flanders.
Among other acts, sir James de Lalain made an inroad to the walls of
Ghent, burnt two of their mills, and carried off to Oudenarde fifteen
waggons laden with corn, that were going to Ghent, for this time no
sally was made against him. At another time, the marshal of Burgundy
marched to Ghent, with the intent of combating the ghent men, if they
would come out, but they refused. He then returned to Poulcres, a
strong castle, took the lower court by storm, and then set it on fire,
because the garrison had retreated into the castle, which was too
strong to be then attempted, and returned to Courtray.
On the 25th of October, sir Anthony bastard of Burgundy marched from
Dendermonde, together with the garrison of Alost, which he had summoned
to join him, toward Ghent, having dispatched thirty of his best-mounted
horsemen to show themselves before the gates and endeavour to entice
the garrison to come out. The ghent men, having had intelligence of sir
Anthony's coming, were ready to sally forth, and attacked these thirty
men so hardly that they were astonished. With the ghent men were some
english adventurers, who had come thither to seek fame and wealth, and
were on horseback: the men of Ghent, in great numbers, were on foot,
and pushed forward with such speed that the bastard was surprised at
seeing them so near him. In this difficulty, he earnestly entreated his
men to dismount; but, in spite of his orders and entreaties, only two
men at arms dismounted, and three archers. I know not how it happened,
but they were panicstruck, and all fled, so that with great difficulty
the two men at arms were remounted, but the three archers were killed.
The bastard, vexed to the soul, collected twenty of his men, and
remained in the rear of his runaways, and saved them from further loss.
It is, however, possible that this flight saved all their lives; for
the ghent men, informed, as I have said, of their intent, had assembled
another body of men, who were to sally from a different gate, and
destroy all the bridges the Picards would have to repass, and thus
inclose them between the two divisions so that none could escape. Thus
did this misfortune preserve from death sir Anthony and all his men,
excepting the three archers.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 142: Harlebeck,--on the Lys, four leagues NE. from Courtray.]
CHAP. XXXIX.
THE MARSHAL OF BURGUNDY BURNS THE SMALL TOWN OF ECKELOO.--THE GHENT
MEN ARE DEFEATED BEFORE ALOST, WHICH THEY INTENDED TO BESIEGE.
The garrisons in Courtray and Oudenarde, knowing that there was a
strong company of ghent men in Eckeloo, which is a considerable
village, three leagues from Ghent, assembled under the command of the
marshal and sir James de Lalain, and marched thither in handsome array.
The ghent men no sooner saw them approach than they fled into the
wood that was hard by. All could not escape, so that upwards of forty
were left dead in the village. The place was then burnt, because the
inhabitants would not desist from carrying provisions to Ghent, nor
from ringing the alarm bell whenever they perceived any Burgundians
appear. It was for this that all the villages five leagues round
were set on fire,--and such as the Picards left, the ghent men burnt
themselves.
On the 13th of November, the ghent men, having heard that sir Anthony
de Wissoc, governor of Alost, was gone into Artois, assembled to the
amount of twenty thousand on foot, under the conduct of a few English
on horseback, and marched to lay siege to Alost. Sir Anthony the
bastard and sir Francis the Arragonian had early intelligence of this
at Dendermonde; and by orders of the bastard, sir Francis threw himself
into Alost with three hundred hardy combatants.
Soon afterward, the ghent men appeared to commence their siege; but
sir Francis, like a valiant knight, sallied forth with all he could
collect, leaving a sufficient garrison in the town, and fell on the
ghent men so vigorously that he soon threw them into disorder,--and
they wheeled about and fled toward Ghent. All were not so fortunate,
for there remained dead on the field eighteen English and seventeen
ghent men; and had it not been for night coming on so soon, many more
would have been slain.
On the ensuing Saturday, the marshal of Burgundy advanced to the gates
of Ghent, but none issued forth to combat him. On his return, twelve
picardy archers remained in his rear, with the intent of plundering
whatever they could find. Having crossed a small bridge, they saw
no one; but they had not advanced far before they perceived, right
before them, a large body of the enemy, and some English with them.
They turned about, intending to retreat, but they saw the bridge
covered with a number of peasants waiting for them. On this they took
heart, thinking it better to die honourably than be taken and hanged:
dismounting, they fastened their horses together, and then made such
good use of their bows that no ghent man was bold enough to approach
them. One of the English couched his lance, and advanced to the charge,
thinking to put them into disorder; but they instantly opened their
ranks for him to pass through, and then shot so briskly that his horse
was wounded in several places,--and he was very glad to get out of
their reach.
The Picards now blew their horns, as if their friends were within
hearing, which frightened the ghent men so much that they instantly
ran off for their town; and the twelve archers, looking toward the
bridge, saw no one, for the peasants had fled to the woods. They then
remounted their horses, and returned to their companions in safety,
having gained much honour by their defence against such numbers.
Another company of Picards made an excursion to Ghent, and took some
of the Companions of the Verde Tente, and one of their captains, whose
body was quartered, and the rest hanged.
CHAP. XL.
MENTION MADE OF DIFFERENT ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN THE PICARDS AND GHENT
MEN.--THE LATTER ATTEMPT TO SET FIRE TO SOME PARTS OF HAINAULT.--THEY
ARE MET BY THE PICARDS SOON AFTERWARD.
On the 2d day of December, sir Philip de Lalain, a young, bold and
enterprising knight, made an excursion to the walls of Ghent with the
garrison of Oudenarde. Two hundred men on horseback sallied forth out
of Ghent, and a combat commenced; when one of the principal townsmen
was killed at the onset, who had, a little before, taken a youth of the
duke's party prisoner, and made him his page.
The page, seeing his master dead, hastened to surrender himself to
sir Philip, and assured him that upwards of four thousand men had
sallied out at different gates to surround and make him and his party
prisoners: it therefore behoved him to secure a retreat. At this
moment, full three hundred men on horseback issued out of the gates,
on which sir Philip began to retreat, often wheeling round to skirmish
and check the enemy. Sir Philip de Lalain, his brother, having heard
of his danger, hastened out of Oudenarde, with all he could collect at
the moment, to his succour: he was then within a league of Oudenarde,
skirmishing all the time with the ghent men, who pursued him with
great caution, that their other divisions might arrive to their
support; but the Picards, noticing this, made their retreat good into
Oudenarde,--and the ghent men took up their quarters for the night at
an abbey half a league from that town, and on the morrow returned to
Ghent.
Not long afterward, the Companions of the Verde Tente, to the amount of
ten thousand, advanced into Hainault, killed many of the peasantry, and
burnt from sixteen to seventeen villages without any molestation. A few
days prior to this excursion, about fifty English marched out of Ghent
on pretence of attacking the Picards, but they went to Dendermonde and
surrendered themselves to sir Anthony, the bastard, who received them
very graciously, and enrolled them among his own men.