back from Hainault, hastened toward Ghent to meet them on their
return,--and, being in great force, attacked them, and slew more than
two hundred: the rest saved themselves in Ghent, except some prisoners
the Picards had made and carried to Dendermonde.
CHAP. XLI.
THE GHENT MEN SEND A DEPUTATION TO THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES, TO MEDIATE
A PEACE.--IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY BESIEGE COURTRAY, BUT WITHOUT
SUCCESS.--THEY ARE NEAR TAKING PRISONER THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY, ON
HER ROAD TO BRUGES.
While the Companions of the Verde Tente were thus employed in the
field, the municipality of Ghent sent to entreat the count d'Estampes
to procure passports from the duke their lord, that a deputation might
wait on him respecting a peace. The count succeeded in obtaining them
passports,--and the place of conference was fixed at Bruges, whither
the duke sent some of his ministers, and the count d'Estampes as his
representative.
The ghent men sent thither a deputation, with a carthusian friar, and
an ancient knight called sir Baudouin de Bos, whom they had long kept
prisoner on account of their suspicions of his fidelity to them, he
having declared an opinion contrary to their proceedings; and they even
had him carried, with his eyes banded, to the scaffold to behead him:
he would have suffered death, had not some steady friends, by their
exertions, prevented it. These ghent commissioners behaved with the
greatest insolence and pride on their arrival at Bruges, as if they
had no way acted wrong toward their prince; and on their departure,
they received no answer. They all returned except the knight and the
Carthusian, who refused to accompany them back and remained in Bruges.
The other commissioners staid so long on their road to Ghent that
the term of their passports expired, and, falling in with a body of
Picards, they were made prisoners and carried back to Bruges: among
them were two of the greatest enemies the duke had in Ghent.
When the men of Ghent learnt that their deputies were prisoners, they
sallied forth, on the 17th of February, in great numbers, and in three
divisions. In this array they came before Courtray, the marshal of
Burgundy being then absent with the duke at Lille. There was at this
time in the town a very valiant and adventurous knight from Picardy,
called Gauvain Quieret, who, fearless of their numbers, issued out with
the few people he had, and began a sharp skirmish; but he was soon
forced to retreat into the town, as the ghent men were too many: he
could not, however, retire without the loss of two of his men at arms
and one archer. The ghent men then attacked the suburbs; but they were
so well defended that they gained nothing, except killing one man at
arms: they now returned to Ghent.
On the 2d of March following, sir Anthony, the bastard, on his advance
toward Ghent, fell in with a considerable body of the enemy, and
charged them so rapidly that he slew more than fifty, and took many
prisoners, whom he carried to Dendermonde.
On the 5th day of this same month, the duchess of Burgundy left
Lille, by orders from the duke, to go to Bruges. The ghent men soon
had intelligence of this,--and, supposing that she would travel the
strait road, they posted a strong ambuscade near that road, intending
to overpower her escort, and put those who composed it to death. The
duchess was informed of their plan, and consequently took a different
road, and arrived safely at Bruges.
Sir Simon de Lalain, governor of Sluys, hearing that the duchess was
to travel from Lille to Bruges, set out with two hundred combatants to
escort her thither, and followed the main road, ignorant of the ghent
men being there. In his company was the lord de Maldeghen, a flemish
knight, well acquainted with all the roads and passes. Happening
to ride at some little distance from the great road, he espied the
ambush of ghent men, who were watching the coming of the duchess, and
also of sir Simon, whom they had perceived. The lord de Maldeghen
instantly sounded his trumpets, as loudly as he could, that sir Simon,
on hearing them, might retire,--but he was too far advanced for this,
being already in the midst of his enemies without perceiving it. He
was sharply attacked on all sides, his banner beaten down,--and he
and his men were forced to show all their courage, to save their
lives. They exerted themselves so manfully that, with the aid of
the lord de Maldeghen, who hastened to their succour, the ghent men
were repulsed,--and they continued their march in safety to Bruges,
having only lost three or four men at arms, and from twelve to sixteen
archers, which was not much, considering how severe the attack had been.
Three or four days before this skirmish took place, the ghent men in
Poulcres burnt Englemonstier, a considerable village belonging to the
count d'Estampes, in right of his countess. They could do no harm to
the castle, for it was strong and well garrisoned. A few days after
this, the ghent men again demanded passports from the duke for twenty
commissioners to meet his ministers any where he should appoint, to
consider if they could find means to put an end to this disastrous war.
The good duke complied with their request, and fixed on Seclin[143] as
the place of conference, whither he sent the count d'Estampes as his
representative, and some of his ministers,--but nothing was done, by
reason of the insolent pride of the ghent deputies.
Not long after the return of the deputies from Seclin, a french man at
arms, who had offered his services to Ghent for gain, called Pierre
Moreau, who also was one of their captains, collected a large company,
and marched to attack Dendermonde, wherein was sir Anthony of Burgundy.
The knight, having had notice of their coming, issued out to meet them,
and, after killing several, forced them to retreat to Ghent.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 143: Seclin,--an ancient town in Flanders, four miles south
of Lille.]
[A.D. 1453.]
CHAP. XLII.
PIERRE MOREAU MAKES ANOTHER ATTACK ON DENDERMONDE.--THE GHENT MEN
INVADE HAINAULT, AND COMMIT GREAT RAVAGES THERE.
On the 3d day of April, in the year 1453, immediately after Easter,
Pierre Moreau collected a greater force than before, and made another
attempt on Dendermonde, but with no better success than formerly, and,
having lost from nine to ten of his men, returned to Ghent.
On the 14th of the same month, the ghent men made another irruption
into Hainault, with a very numerous army, as far as Tournay and
Enghien, setting fire to all the villages, and slaying every one they
met without opposition. To this they were incited, as it was said, by
the duke's not having paid his soldiers, on which account very many had
refused to serve him.
When this came to the knowledge of the duke, he issued his summons for
greater levies of men than he had raised during the war, every vassal
was summoned, and all who had been used to arms,--for he was determined
to put an end to the war,--and all were to be ready by the 15th day of
May. The artillery which the duke meant to carry with him to Flanders
was kept in the great hall of the town-house at Lille. It happened,
but it was never known how, that fire was thrown through a crack in a
tower, the cellar of which served as the magazine of powder for this
artillery; but mischief was prevented by a person going accidentally
into the cellar, and putting it out, as it was burning the hoops of a
barrel of powder. Had not this person fortunately gone thither, the
town-house, artillery, and probably the whole town would have been
destroyed.
CHAP. XLIII.
THE GHENT MEN WOULD HAVE TAKEN ALOST BY STORM, HAD IT NOT BEEN WELL
DEFENDED.--THE THREE ESTATES OF FLANDERS ARE URGENT FOR PEACE.
On the 8th day of May, upwards of fourteen thousand infantry, and two
hundred cavalry, marched out of Ghent to besiege Alost, wherein were
no more than three hundred fighting men, commanded by sir Louis de la
Viefville, as lieutenant to the governor, sir Anthony de Wissoc, who
had that day gone to Dendermonde.
Sir Louis sallied forth to meet the cavalry of Ghent, which had
advanced before the infantry: a combat ensued, when some were killed,
and the cavalry forced to fall back on their main body,--after which
the Picards retreated into the town, and the ghent men encamped before
it. When day broke, they attacked the town at four different places,
and made so severe an attempt on one of the bulwarks that six men at
arms were killed; but sir Louis hastening to its relief, he fought
so valiantly that the enemy were obliged to retire, with the loss of
twenty of their men. These attacks lasted full three hours,--and many
were killed on each side; but the ghent men found it prudent to return
to their encampment of the preceding night.
When sir Anthony de Wissoc heard of this attack at Dendermonde, he
collected about six hundred Picards, and marched to offer battle to
the ghent men; but on perceiving their superior numbers and order of
battle, he dissembled his intentions, and lodged his army near them for
the night, intending to combat them on the morrow if he should see it
advantageous for him. This same night, however, the ghent men decamped
and returned with all their baggage in safety to their town.
While these things were passing, a deputation of the three estates
of Flanders, in conjunction with those of Bruges, waited on the duke
at Lille, to request passports for certain of the ghent men to come
to him, and treat of putting an end to the war. The noble duke, from
his affection to them, granted their request; and soon after, twenty
commissioners arrived at Lille from Ghent, who laboured so earnestly
in the business that it was imagined peace must now be concluded. In
this expectation, the ambassadors returned to Ghent; but when they had
reported the preliminary terms, the commonalty refused to abide by
them, and thus was the treaty broken off.
While this negotiation was going forward, the men at arms whom the
duke had raised were doing all possible mischiefs to his country,--and
no person could venture abroad without being robbed, even to the very
gates of the principal towns; and this plague lasted for upwards of six
weeks.
CHAP. XLIV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AN ARMY INTO LUXEMBOURG AGAINST SOME
GERMANS, WHO, FROM THIONVILLE[144], WERE WASTING THAT COUNTRY.--THE
DUKE ENTERS FLANDERS WITH A LARGE FORCE, TO MAKE WAR ON GHENT.
About Easter, in this year, some Germans, who had possessed themselves
of the strong town of Thionville, overran, at different times, the
duchy of Luxembourg, which was under obedience to the duke, and all
its towns, excepting this town of Thionville. These Germans continuing
their incessant inroads, the duke was constrained to send thither the
lord de Rubempré, a Picard, with one hundred men at arms and four
hundred archers: but he found the enemy in such strength that he was
unable to oppose them. The duke, although hard pressed to find men to
carry on his war against Ghent, was forced to send reinforcements into
Luxembourg. He therefore ordered thither the lord de Croy, his first
chamberlain, and governor of Luxembourg, with one hundred lances and
eight hundred archers, whose principal captains were the lord of Hames,
the lord of Mareuil, the lord of Dommarcq[145], and others.
The ghent men, on the other hand, did not cease from carrying fire
and sword into Hainault and the defenceless parts of Flanders. On the
15th day of June, they advanced toward Ath[146], to burn that part of
the country; but sir John de Croy lord of Chimay, having had early
notice of their intentions, defeated them completely, killing three
hundred, and taking numbers of prisoners, whom he carried off without
molestation.
The duke of Burgundy marched from Lille on the 20th day of June, with
a most numerous army to Courtray: he had a large train of artillery,
and plenty of pioneers to open the woods and clear the roads, and
numbers of carpenters to construct warlike engines. These pioneers and
carpenters had been sent thither at the expense of the countries under
the duke's obedience.
The principal nobles in this army were the count d'Estampes, sir James
de St Pol, brother to the count de St Pol, who was then employed by the
king of France in the Bordelois against the English. The marshal of
Burgundy was also with the duke, having with him three hundred men at
arms, whom he had brought from Burgundy, and many other great lords and
esquires from the territories of the duke.
The duke marched his whole army from Oudenarde the 25th day of June, to
besiege the castle of Helsebecque, and a strong monastery hard by. The
monastery was instantly won by storm, and thirty-two ghent men taken
within it, whom the duke caused to be hanged. The castle surrendered
unconditionally the second day afterward, when about one hundred and
fifty men, that were made prisoners, suffered a similar fate, by
command of the duke.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 144: Thionville,--a strong town of Luxembourg on the Moselle,
12 leagues from Treves.]
[Footnote 145: Dommarcq.----DU CANGE, Dormnast.]
[Footnote 146: Ath,--a town in Hainault, nine miles north-west of
Mons.]
CHAP. XLV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TAKES THE CASTLE OF POULCRES,--BUT THAT FLOWER
OF CHIVALRY SIR JAMES DE LALAIN IS SLAIN BEFORE IT.--HE BESIEGES THE
CASTLE OF GAVERE[147], TAKES IT, AND HANGS ALL WITHIN, BEFORE THE
GHENT MEN ADVANCE TO OFFER HIM BATTLE,--THEY ARE DEFEATED.
After the capture of the castle of Helsebecque, the duke advanced
to besiege the castle of Poulcres, which the ghent men obstinately
defended. It happened, that during the time the artillery men were
pointing a bombard against the wall, in the presence of sir James de
Lalain and other lords, sir James was hit on the head by a stone from
a veuglaire in the castle, which carried away part of his skull, and
he fell down dead. It was a great loss, for he was renowned as not
having his equal in all France,--witness his many deeds of chivalry
in Scotland, Spain, and in other parts, where he had displayed his
gallantry. He was also the most modest, the most prudent, most
courteous, and most liberal of mankind, fearing and serving God
above all things. He was but thirty-two years of age when death so
unfortunately seized him; and this same shot from the veuglaire killed
also a man at arms and four archers.
The duke of Burgundy was very much affected by the death of sir
James, for he loved him more than any other of his household for his
numberless virtues, and had the place attacked with such violence
that the garrison were forced to submit to his will. He had the whole
hanged, excepting five or six, one of whom was a leper, and the rest
boys. He then had the place razed to the ground, and the body of sir
James de Lalain most honourably interred at his church of Lalain[148].
After the surrender of Poulcres, the duke returned to Courtray, and
left his army to live on the country, where the men at arms did
innumerable mischiefs; for he had not money sufficient to pay them
until his revenues were paid, and he had borrowed as much as he could
from the rich merchants and burghers of his territories, the war
having totally exhausted his treasury. He resided at Courtray twelve
days,--and during that time his finances were recruited, and he paid
his army one month in advance; so that, on the 16th day of July, he
departed from Courtray to besiege the castle of Gaveren, which was
strongly fortified and held by the ghent men. It is situated between
Ghent and Oudenarde.
In marching thither, he formed his army into three battalions. The
marshal of Burgundy, as commander in chief, sir Anthony the bastard,
the lord de Chimay bailiff of Hainault, with a numerous company of men
at arms and archers, led the van. In the center was the duke, the most
fearless, courageous, and gallant of men: with him were his son the
count de Charolois, the count d'Estampes, sir Adolphus of Cleves, and
almost all the knights and esquires of Picardy. In the rear division
were sir James de St Pol, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, and the whole
chivalry of the Boulonois.
This army was in truth very strong; and there was need that it should
be so, for the men of Ghent had boasted, that this time, they would
fairly meet the duke in battle. When they learnt that the duke intended
to besiege Gaveren, they sent thither an Englishman, called John de
Voz, a very able man at arms, with sixteen others, and swore to him, on
his departure, that the duke should not remain four-and-twenty hours
unfought with. Nevertheless, the duke's army posted themselves around
the place,--and the batteries were erected without any molestation.
There was at this time in the place a trumpeter, who had formerly
served one of the lords in the duke's army, but had turned to the ghent
men: he mounted the highest rampart,--and, having sounded his trumpet
as loudly as he could, he abused the duke in the grossest manner,
calling him a tyrant, and threatening him that the men of Ghent would
soon lower his pride. The duke, when told of this, like a good prince,
laughed at it, and turned the trumpeter's folly into ridicule.
Although the place was unfavourably situated for the batteries to
have their full effect, they alarmed the garrison so much that they
offered to surrender on having their lives spared, seeing also that
the ghent men did not fulfil their promises when they left that town;
but the duke refused their offer. When the Englishman heard this, and
found that the men of Ghent had deceived him, it is said that he had a
communication with some of the English in the duke's army, and promised
to deliver up to them one of the towers of the castle; but this he
could not accomplish,--for the ghent men had no confidence in him, nor
in any of the English. A vessel happened to be lying in the river, near
to the castle, and during the night John de Voz, and fourteen others,
embarked on board and went to Ghent.
When those in Gaveren saw the next morning that their captain had
deserted them, they abandoned all hope of succour, and surrendered
themselves to the duke's will before twelve of the clock. His will
was that they should be all hanged or strangled, together with two
cordelier friars that were in the place, and the trumpeter who had
abused the duke.
John de Voz and his companions, on their arrival in Ghent, remonstrated
sharply with the leaders in the town, how greatly they had deceived
those in Gaveren, and how weakly they had acted; for they never would
again have so favourable an opportunity of combating the duke, since
he had not now with him more than four thousand fighting men, the rest
having disbanded from want of pay; and he concluded by exhorting them
strongly to sally forth and offer the duke battle.
In the mean time, sir John de Hout, an Englishman, who had surrendered
himself to sir Anthony the bastard, as I have mentioned, had a secret
communication with the duke, on the means of enticing the ghent men out
of their town, for he was extremely anxious to meet their whole force
in the field. Soon afterward, John de Hout returned to Ghent, under
pretence of repenting of his having left them, and told them that the
duke's army was daily wasting away from default of payment. The men of
Ghent, however, doubting his fidelity, ordered him to prison, lest he
should betray them: he was there confined until John de Voz had pressed
them so earnestly to attack the duke, with their whole force, when
they released him and made him one of their captains. They commanded
all the gates to be kept closed, that no one might carry to the duke
information of their intentions, and gave orders that every person
capable of bearing arms should provide himself, and appear properly
armed and accoutred, under pain of death. It was necessary for all to
obey this order, or suffer the consequences; but many did obey very
much against their will.
They mustered upward of four-and-twenty thousand men under arms,
and appointed as leaders the said English and their companions, who
amounted to full two hundred on horseback. When they saw their numbers,
and that all was ready, they issued out of Ghent to combat their lord.
Three days before this event, the good duke expecting daily an attack
from Ghent, and desirous that his son the count de Charolois might
not be present at the battle, on account of the dangers that are
incident to such affairs, gave him to understand that the duchess was
dangerously ill at Lille, and that he would do well to go thither and
see how she was. The count, like a good son, hastened to Lille, but
found the duchess recovered, and in good health. He then knew that the
reason why the duke had sent him on this errand was to prevent him
from being present at the battle. He told his attendants that it was
absolutely necessary he should be present to aid his father, for that
he was fighting to preserve his inheritance,--and, said he, 'I vow
to God that I will be there, if possible.' When the duchess heard of
this vow, she tried all she could to detain him, but in vain, for he
instantly set off and joined the duke before Gaveren.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 147: Gavere,--Gaveren, a town on the Scheld, seven miles from
Ghent.]
[Footnote 148: Lalain,--a village in Flanders, near Bouchain.]
CHAP. XLVI.
THE BATTLE OF GAVEREN, WHERE THE GHENT MEN ARE COMPLETELY DEFEATED,
WITH THE LOSS OF UPWARD OF TWENTY THOUSAND MEN SLAIN AND DROWNED.
On the same day the castle of Gaveren was yielded up, and when all
the garrison were not yet hanged, news was brought to the duke while
sitting at dinner, that the ghent men were in full march to offer him
battle. The duke ordered the trumpets to sound to horse, and the army
was drawn up in three battalions as before. When it was done, the duke
rode from one battalion to another to show himself, and to encourage
his men, telling them, that if it pleased God, they should all that day
be made rich.
The army now moved, the three battalions near to each other, when sir
James de St Pol and many others from Burgundy, Picardy, and other
territories of the duke, were knighted, and several that day displayed
their banners for the first time. This mortal battle took place on the
22nd day of July, in the year 1453.
The duke had scarcely advanced before the van perceived the ghent men
drawn up in battle-array, with their culverins and other artillery
placed in their front. This manœuvre alarmed the marshal of Burgundy,
who commanded the van, lest too many of his men should suffer at the
onset; and he ordered his division to retire a little, which the ghent
men mistaking for an intention to fly, hastened forward leaving their
artillery in the rear.
John de Voz and John de Hout, with their english companions led them
on, but soon, sticking spurs into their horses, galloped to surrender
themselves to the duke, saying, 'My lord, here are the ghent men, whom
we have brought to you, and we leave them to your mercy.' The archers
now shot fiercely on the ghent men, who defended themselves for a time
very valiantly; but no sooner did the three battalions of the duke make
a uniform charge than their ranks were broken, and they instantly fled
for Ghent.
The duke's army pursued them closely, and it was marvellous the numbers
they slew. It chanced that a division of the ghent men, to the number
of fourteen or fifteen hundred, had retreated into a meadow under cover
of a coppice, where they regained courage and put themselves on their
defence. This meadow was surrounded with ditches, so that neither the
duke nor his men at arms could enter it by reason of their depth. Among
those with the duke was a man at arms from Bruges, who thrice leaped
the ditch to skirmish with those in the field; but at the third leap,
his horse fell dead under him, from the severe blows received from the
enemy's pikes.