could not easily overtake the runaways on horseback, to put them to
death; for the duke hated them mortally, and was more vexed than can
be imagined to see those who had leaped the ditches forced back again
by the resistance they met with. Then this valiant prince, seizing his
lance from the page who bore it by his side, raging like a lion, made
his horse leap the ditch, and charged the thickest of the ghent men.
He was followed by many men at arms,--and in the number was Bertrandon
de la Brocquiere, who bore his pennon. The duke's horse was so badly
wounded in several places that he was obliged to leap back again over
the ditch and wait the return of the archers. On their arrival, he
again crossed the ditch, followed by his son the count of Charolois,
and numbers of others, who charged the ghent men so courageously that
they were defeated, and all found in the meadow were slain. It was
difficult for them to escape, as it was surrounded by ditches on three
sides, and by the Scheld on the other: many leaped into the river, and
were drowned,--but a few of the most active and lighter armed made
such good use of their legs that they saved themselves in Ghent. It
is certain, that had the duke marched thither instantly, he must have
entered without opposition, so much were those in the town frightened
and cast down,--but his guides were unacquainted with the roads.
When the battle was over, some few escaped into Ghent; and the duke,
having recalled his men, lay that night on the field of battle in
his tent,--where, casting himself on his knees, he offered his
thanksgivings to God for the great and decisive victory he had that day
given him over his bitterest enemies.
Upward of twenty thousand of the ghent men lost their lives this day,
by the sword or by drowning. The bastard de Blanc-Estain, however,
saved himself by swimming across the Scheld. On the side of the duke,
not more than sixteen men were killed from the commencement of the
battle!
CHAP. XLVII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, MOVED BY PITY, SENDS HIS HERALD TO GHENT TO KNOW
IF THE TOWNSMEN WOULD SUBMIT TO HIS WILL, AND HE WOULD HAVE COMPASSION
ON THEM.--THE MEN OF GHENT SEND HIM A DEPUTATION TO BEG HIS MERCY.
On the morrow after the defeat of the ghent men, the noble duke, moved
by compassion, and his own virtuous nature, for his poor subjects,
who, through pride and insolence, had rebelled against him, sent his
herald, clad in his coat of arms, with letters to Ghent, signifying,
that notwithstanding the victory which God had given him the preceding
day, he would show them mercy if they would submit to his will, and had
transmitted them passports for a deputation to come to him, should they
be so inclined, to arrange articles for a general peace.
The ghent men were very sensible of the duke's kindness in thus
graciously recalling them to his affection, and of the mildness of
the expressions in his letter. They handsomely feasted the herald;
and on the letter being publicly read, the whole town were unanimous
for begging pardon of their lord, and, without further delay, sent a
deputation back with the herald.
On their appearing before the duke, they, with the utmost humility,
requested pardon for their offences, and besought him that he would
have the goodness to restore them to his favour, offering, at the
same time, to submit themselves and their town to his will. They also
requested that he would retire to Gaveren, and dismiss his men at arms,
and they would there wait on him to hear and do his will.
The good duke granted their requests; but, on returning to Gaveren,
over the field of the late battle, he was so shocked at the multitudes
of dead bodies that he wept bitterly, as it was said. As he saw
several women searching for the bodies of their friends, to bury them,
he caused proclamation to be made, that no one should molest them,
whatever might be his rank, under pain of death.
On the 25th day of July, the abbot of St Bavon, in Ghent, the prior
of the Carthusians, and many persons of note, waited on the duke at
Gaveren, and, falling on their knees, begged mercy for the inhabitants
of Ghent, who offered to surrender every thing up to him, saving their
lives. The duke replied, that, from love to God, he pardoned all their
misdeeds, provided they would agree to the preliminaries proposed at
Seclin, and concluded at Lille by the three estates of Flanders and the
burghers of Bruges. They promised, in the name of their townsmen, to
abide wholly by this treaty, and most humbly thanked the duke for his
great benignity and kindness.
CHAP. XLVIII.
HERE FOLLOW THE ARTICLES OF THE TREATY BETWEEN PHILIP THE GOOD, AND
THE TOWN OF GHENT.
The treaty of Ghent consisted of the following articles. In the first
place, the inhabitants of Ghent, to the number of two thousand men,
shall come out, to the distance of one league from that town, to
wherever their prince may appoint, barefooted and bareheaded, to beg
his mercy. They were to be headed by all the counsellors, sheriffs,
and hoguemans of the town, naked, excepting their shirts and small
clothes. They were to fall on their knees before the duke, his son, or
any other person whom the duke should please to send thither as his
representative, saying,--that that they had wickedly and traitorously
rebelled against him in arms,--that they had insolently contemned him,
and begged his pardon for all their evil deeds.
Item, on every Thursday throughout the year, the gate leading to
Oudenarde shall be closed, because it was through that gate they
marched to besiege Oudenarde, and that it may remind them thereof.
Item, the gate leading toward Rupelmonde shall be closed for ever, in
remembrance of their having issued out of it to offer battle to their
lord at Rupelmonde.
Item, they shall pay to the duke, for the losses he may have sustained
by this war, two hundred thousand riddes of gold, seventy to the marc.
Item, they shall pay for the restoration of the countries which have
been burnt, whatever sums the three estates of Flanders shall determine
on; but if the three estates shall decline this arbitration the sum
shall be fixed at one hundred thousand riddes.
Item, for the reparation of churches destroyed, they shall pay fifty
thousand riddes.
Item, in recompense for the revenue of the prince's domain in Flanders,
which has been unpaid by reason of the war, such an imposition shall be
laid as the three estates of Flanders shall determine.
Item, there shall be a complete reformation of the laws of Ghent, in
the form and manner that has been lately proposed by the ambassadors
from king Charles of France, namely, that the commonalty shall elect
four magistrates, and the duke, or his officers four others,--and these
shall select twenty-six sheriffs before they quit the chamber in which
they have been assembled for this purpose.
Item, in regard to the burghers, they will act toward them according to
their privileges, without paying attention to the customs or usages of
former times.
Item, no one in future shall be banished Ghent without an appeal first
had to the bailiff, nor without the cause of his banishment being
declared.
Item, they shall no longer issue ordinances or edicts without the
knowledge and consent of their lord,--and such as may have been thus
issued shall be declared null and void.
Item, the officers of the prince shall no longer acknowledge any
obedience to the magistrates in respect to their official capacities.
Item, they shall no longer, in their writings or proclamations, sign
themselves lords of Ghent, but give them such title as the magistrates
of other towns use.
Item, they shall not in future take any cognizance of the crimes of
foreign merchants,--but they shall be decided on by the judges of the
places wherein such merchants shall reside.
Item, they shall deliver up all their banners to their lord, for him to
do with them as he may please,--and they shall not hereafter make any
others in their stead.
Item, white hoods shall no more be worn,--and whoever wears them shall
be punished according to the will of their lord.
Item, they shall have no cognizance of any law-causes that may arise
in the country of Waes, or in the respective towns of Biervlict[149],
Dendermonde, Oudenarde, Courtray or Alost,--but these shall be tried in
those places where they have had their origin.
Item, they shall be bounden to keep all the articles of a former
treaty concluded by them in the presence of the bishop of Tournay, and
others of the great council of the duke.
All these articles, having been declared in the presence of the duke,
his son, and great numbers of the nobility, were sworn to, and promised
to be observed by the magistrates and commonalty of Ghent, and some
notaries called in to witness the act. The deputation then returned to
Ghent with the treaty, which, when read to the public, was so joyfully
accepted that it astonished every one: they lighted bonfires in all
the streets, and gave permission for such of the duke's men as pleased
to enter the town, and entertained those who accepted of it most
handsomely.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 149: Biervlict,--a town on the west side of the Scheld, 20
miles from Ghent.]
CHAP. XLIX.
THE MANNER IN WHICH THE GHENT MEN HUMBLE THEMSELVES TO THEIR LORD, THE
DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
On the last day of July, the noble duke of Burgundy departed from
Gaveren, with his whole army, in handsome array, as if marching to
battle, and thus advanced until within a league of Ghent. He then drew
up his archers in ranks, as two wings, with bended bows, and they
extended full half a league: the men at arms were on the rear of the
archers, in close order, so that it was a handsome sight to view. In
the center was the duke, mounted on the same horse he had rode on the
day of battle, which was apparent from the many wounds plaistered over,
that he had received in the meadow, when he himself, his son, and other
knights, attacked the body of ghent men.
At this time, the men of Ghent issued out of their town, in numbers and
dress conformable to the terms of the treaty, led by the abbot of St
Bavon and the prior of the Carthusians, and followed by the twenty-five
sheriffs, counsellors, and hoguemans, naked to their shirts and under
garments, and bareheaded. Then came two thousand of the burghers
dressed, but barefooted, without girdles, and without hoods, and thus
passed through the line of archers. When they came within sight of the
duke, they all fell on their knees, and cried with a loud voice, 'Have
mercy on the town of Ghent!'
The chancellor of Burgundy now advanced toward them, and remonstrated
sharply on their rebellious and wicked conduct, in opposing their legal
lord, and taking up arms against him; adding, that their wickedness
had been so enormous that he was doubtful whether their prince would
pardon them. On hearing this, they again fell on their knees, and
repeated their cries of 'Mercy on the town of Ghent!' They then rose,
and proceeded until they came in front of the duke, who was on his
war-horse, magnificently dressed, when, falling on their knees, most
humbly, and with many tears, they besought him to have compassion on
them, and forgive them their evil deeds.
The town-council now approached the duke, and, in the name of the whole
town, supplicated his pity and benign grace that he would pardon his
subjects of Ghent, now prostrate before him, although they had wickedly
rebelled against him, elected hoguemans, and done numberless wicked
acts, of which they now repented, and promised that if he would, in his
mercy, receive them into favour, the like should never again happen,
and that henceforward they would remain the most loyal and faithful of
his subjects.
At the conclusion of this speech, the duke, and his son the count de
Charolois, there present, pardoned them their evil deeds. The men
of Ghent returned to their town more happy and rejoiced than can be
expressed; and the duke departed for Lille, having disbanded his army
that every one might return to their several homes.
CHAP. L.
WHILE THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY IS CARRYING ON HIS WARFARE AGAINST THE
GHENT MEN, THE LORD DE CROY IS VERY ACTIVE IN OPPOSING THE GERMANS IN
THE DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, WHERE THEY HAD DONE MUCH MISCHIEF.
I have before mentioned, that while the duke of Burgundy was engaged
in his war on Ghent, he had sent the lord de Croy to the duchy of
Luxembourg to oppose the Germans, who were making frequent inroads on
that duchy, and had gained possession of places that appertained to the
duke.
The Germans, whenever they intended any inroad, amounted from eight to
nine hundred men; and their main garrison was in Thionville, a small
but very strong town. The lord de Croy, with the aid of those under
the obedience of the duke, conducted himself with such prudence and
courage that he regained all the places the Germans had conquered. He
had frequent encounters with them, in which several were killed on both
sides. In short, he pressed them so hard that they demanded a truce for
ten months, offering to leave the country unmolested during that term,
and also to surrender Thionville to the duke, unless in the interim
they should conquer him or his troops in open battle. This was agreed
to by the duke, and the truce signed to continue until Ascension-day,
in the year 1454. War therefore ceased in that country, and the army
under the lord de Croy was disbanded.
CHAP. LI.
KING CHARLES OF FRANCE CONQUERS BORDEAUX AND THE BORDELOIS A SECOND
TIME.
During the time of the war in Flanders, the king of France was with a
large army in the Bordelois, which the English had lately reconquered.
The commander of the English was a most valiant knight and long
renowned in arms, called sir John Talbot earl of Shrewsbury, who had
made war on France upward of twenty-four years. He had been the king's
prisoner when he regained Rouen; and out of his generosity, and respect
for such valour, the king had remitted his ransom. The king also made
him very rich presents in gold, silver, and horses, when he learnt that
Talbot intended visiting Rome in the jubilee year, namely, 1450.
Nevertheless, on his return from Rome to England, he again engaged in
war, and found means to recover from the king of France the city of
Bordeaux, which had shown him such honour, and the country round. It
was indeed commonly reported at the time, that the inhabitants of the
Bordelois most willingly surrendered to the English from their disgust
at king Charles, who, since his conquest, had imposed upon them heavier
taxes, and that his officers had treated them with more harshness than
they had been accustomed to when under the government of the English.
CHAP. LII.
POPE NICHOLAS NOTIFIES TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY A CRUSADE AGAINST THE
TURKS.--THE DUKE VOWS TO UNDERTAKE AN EXPEDITION TO TURKEY, ON CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.
On the eve of Martinmas-day in this year, a knight sent by pope
Nicholas arrived at Lille, with letters addressed to the duke,
containing intelligence that the grand Turk, with a numerous army
of Saracens, had invaded Christendom; that he had already conquered
the noble city of Constantinople, and almost all Greece; that he
had captured the emperor of Greece, had caused him to be inhumanly
beheaded, had violated the empress, and had dragged through the
streets of Constantinople the precious body of our Lord, had burnt the
magnificent church of St Sophia, and murdered men, women, and children
of the Christians without number, and was daily adding to his conquests
in Christendom.
For these causes the holy father required of the duke, whom he knew
to be a pious and catholic prince, as well as the most puissant in
Christendom, that he would make dispositions to afford succour to his
distressed brethren, and to oppose the enemy of the faith. When the
duke had read this letter from the pope, the knight presented him
with others that the Turk had written and sent to our holy father.
After the perusal of all these letters, the duke grandly feasted the
knight who had brought them, at the same time giving him many rich
presents, and saying that, should it please God, he would speedily
afford good assistance to the Christians against the Turk. In fact, he
soon afterwards dispatched four galleys well filled with men at arms,
artillery and stores, as a beginning of what he intended, writing, at
the same time, to the pope an answer to his letter, explanatory of his
future intentions.
Shortly after the departure of the knight, the duke of Cleves came
to Lille on a visit to his uncle duke Philip of Burgundy, and staid
until the beginning of Lent. Many great feasts and banquets were
given alternately by the different great lords, which were begun by
the count d'Estampes with a very handsome one, that was marvellously
well supplied with every delicacy. At the end of the banquet, a most
beautiful young girl, well accompanied, entered the hall, bearing a
chaplet of flowers, when, mounting the table, she gracefully placed it
on the head of duke Philip, who received it with joy. This ceremony of
the chaplet signified that he was to give the next entertainment, which
he did most magnificently, about twelve days after, in the manner I
shall now describe.
About one hour after midday, a knight, sprung from the race of the
celebrated knights of the Swan, issued out of the duke's palace
brilliantly armed. This was sir Adolphus of Cleves, nephew to the duke,
who held a justing in the market-place of Lille, that day, against all
comers, with one course of a lance. He was preceded by the figure of a
swan as large as a horse, having on his neck a chain of fine gold, with
which he led the knight: on each side of the swan was a savage,--and
the knight was surrounded by little angels. The knight was immediately
followed by the duke, so sumptuously dressed it was delightful to see
him. When they had escorted the knight to the market-place, he tilted
with all that chose to encounter with him, namely, Charles count de
Charolois, Louis count de Saint Pol, his brother the lord de Fiennes,
sir Anthony bastard of Burgundy, and many more.
After the justing, the company returned to the duke's palace, and he
escorted thither himself those ladies and damsels who had been present
at the tilt: the principal of whom were the lady Isabella of Portugal,
the duchess, and the lady Isabella of Bourbon, niece to the duke, the
lady of Ravestein, and numbers of others most richly dressed.
The banquet was quite ready on their return; and when the company were
seated, three large carriages, splendidly ornamented, descended from
the ceiling, full of every delicacy in meats and liquors: each carriage
contained a service. In front of the upper table was a fountain playing
water; and in the middle of the hall was a live lion, before whom a
man was beating a little dog,--and near the lion, in an arbour, was
a savage. In another part of the hall was the figure of a damsel,
from whose breasts spouted hippocras in great abundance: beside the
damsel was an infant that pissed rose water. There were so many other
pageants it would be tiresome to mention them all. Opposite to the
duke's table was a representation of a church, whence issued a friar
seated on a dromedary, led by a living giant. The friar addressed
his speech to the duke, remonstrating, in eloquent language, how the
church was daily losing its inheritances, and Christendom trampled
under foot by the enemies of the faith. He called to his remembrance
the valour of deceased princes: how in their time they had, by their
courage, supported and defended the church. As he was thus littering
his complaints, in the name of the holy church, Golden Fleece, the
duke's herald of the order, entered with a pheasant finely roasted
and adorned, and presented it to the duke as an _entremets_, saying
such a dish was appropriate to making vows. The duke replied, that
he was right; and in the presence of the whole company vowed to GOD
the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the blessed Holy Ghost, three
persons in one GOD, to the glorious Virgin Mary, mother of GOD, and
the whole court of paradise, that if the king of France would engage,
during his absence, to maintain his estates in tranquility, he would,
himself, march his whole army into Turkey, and combat army with army,
or personally, with the grand Turk, until death, at the choice of the
Turk. The company before they heard this vow had been all joy, but they
now began to weep and groan.
The pheasant was presented to each of the great lords present, who all
made vows to the same effect, but under different conditions. To relate
the whole would take up too much time,--so I shall pass them over, and
say, that the banquet was succeeded by dancings and mummeries, after
which every one retired to his home[150].
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 150: For further particulars of this banquet, I refer the
reader to a note in the Travels of Bertrandon de la Brocquiere.]
CHAP. LIII.
CHARLES COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, SON TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, IS BETROTHED
TO HIS COUSIN-GERMAN THE LADY ISABELLA OF BOURBON.--THE DUKE GOES
INTO GERMANY,--AND SOON AFTER HIS RETURN, THE COUNT MARRIES HIS
COUSIN-GERMAN.
About eight days after this banquet, and in the first week of March, in
the same year, the count de Charolois was betrothed, by order of his
father the duke of Burgundy, to his cousin-german the lady Isabella of
Bourbon, daughter to the duke of Bourbon,--and the duke sent to Rome
for the dispensations necessary for their marriage. After this, he
dismissed his household for twelve months, as he intended to remain so
long in Germany.
On the 15th of March, the duke left Lille privately attended, and
passed through Burgundy on his road to Germany, where he was to meet
the Emperor Frederic and other princes of Germany, to learn whether
they would join him in a war against the Turk, or suffer his army to
pass through their territories without molestation or hinderance.
He was grandly feasted by many of the german princes,--but the
emperor, who loved ease more than exertion, and preferred peace to
war, pretended to be ill, and sent word to the duke that it would
not be worth his while to proceed farther in the country, giving him
hopes that at the end of six months he would meet him to conclude the
business he was so urgent upon. The duke was now forced to abandon his
expedition,--and he returned to his country of Burgundy, where he staid
some time.
CHAP. LIV.
THE KING OF FRANCE GOES TO HIS CASTLE OF LUSIGNAN.--THE EARL OF
SHREWSBURY TAKES FRONSAC.--THE FRENCH BESIEGE CHASTILLON.--LORD
SHREWSBURY ASSEMBLES A LARGE FORCE TO RAISE THIS SIEGE.--HE IS THERE
SLAIN.
In this same year of 1454, the king of France left Tours, and fixed
his residence at the castle of Lusignan; and in the mean time, lord
Shrewsbury laid siege to the castle of Fronsac. The governor for king
Charles was Joachim Rohault, who was forced to surrender to the English
because the king's army was not ready,--but the garrison marched away
with arms and baggage.
On the 2d of June, the king departed from Lusignan for St Jean
d'Angely[151]; and on the 7th, Challais[152] was besieged by sir
John de Chabannes grand master of the king's household, the count de
Penthievre, the lords de St Severe and de Boussac. On the 18th, it was
won by storm by the above lords and their men, amounting to four or
five hundred lances, archers, and some franc archers, although eight
score[153] combatants were there in garrison. From sixty to eighty
were killed, and the rest retreated to a tower, wherein they held
out for a time expecting to be relieved; but as no succours came,
they surrendered to the king's pleasure: in consequence, they were
all beheaded for having broken their oaths of allegiance. The lord
d'Anglades had indeed left Bordeaux for their relief,--but when he
heard what had passed, he returned back as speedily as he could.