convenience of passing and repassing, and had erected a bulwark at each
end, the command of which was intrusted to a certain number of men at
arms.
While these things were passing, the king of France assembled about
eight hundred combatants, whom he dispatched to Orleans, under the
command of the marshal de Bousac, the bastard of Orleans, the lord de
Gaucourt, Rodrique de Villandras, the lord de Saintrailles, and other
captains of renown, to throw succours into the town of Lagny.
They advanced in a body to Melun, where they crossed the Seine, and
thence, through Brie, toward Lagny, being daily joined by forces from
their adjoining garrisons. In the mean time, the duke had so hardly
pressed the garrison that they had offered to capitulate when the
French forces arrived.
The duke prepared with diligence to offer battle to the French, and
sent for reinforcements from all quarters. He ordered his heralds
at arms to signify to the French his willingness to combat them and
their allies, if they would fix on the time and place. To this they
returned no other answer than that, under the pleasure of God and of
our blessed Saviour, they would not engage in battle but when it should
be agreeable to themselves, and that they would bring their present
enterprise to a happy conclusion.
The French advanced in handsome array, in three divisions, to a small
river within a quarter of a league of the town; and the duke of
Bedford, having drawn up his army in three divisions also, marched
thither to defend the passage. When the two armies were near, several
severe skirmishes took place at different parts: especially on the
quarter where the heir of Warwick and the lord de l'Isle-Adam were
posted, a sharp attack was made by Rodrique de Villandras, the lord
de Saintrailles, and other captains, who were escorting a convoy of
provision for the town.
In spite of their adversaries, they forced a passage for part of their
convoy to the very gates, and drove in from twenty to thirty bullocks,
a number of sacks of flour, and a reinforcement to the garrison of
about four score men at arms; but this was not effected without great
effusion of blood, for very many were killed and wounded on both sides.
On the part of the French was killed the lord de Saintrailles, eldest
brother to Poton de Saintrailles. In another quarter, where sir Thomas
Kiriel, sir John bastard of St Pol, the lord d'Amont, and Philibert de
Vaudroy were posted, many gallant deeds were done, and several killed
and wounded on both sides. The English lost there a gentleman called
Odart de Remy.
These skirmishes lasted nearly till vespers,--and as it was St
Laurence's day in August, and very hot, the two armies suffered greatly
from it. The french captains, perceiving that they could not gain
any advantage, for the English and Burgundians were strongly posted,
retreated with their army to Cressy in Brie, where they halted for the
night, and thence marched to Château Thierry and to Vitry-le-François,
where they staid four days.
The duke of Bedford, knowing that the French intended entering the Isle
of France, and fearing they might conquer some of his towns, decamped
in no very orderly manner from before Lagny, for many things were left
behind by him, and advanced towards Paris. Having collected his men,
he followed the French to offer them battle again; but they sent for
answer, that they had gained what they had come for.
The lord de Gaucourt was of infinite service to the French by his
wisdom and prudence. The French now left Vitry and returned toward
Lagny, where the lord de Gaucourt remained: the other captains led
their men to the garrisons whence they had come. The besieged were
much rejoiced, and not without cause, at the departure of their
enemies,--for the siege had lasted upwards of four months, in which
time they had suffered very great hardships from want of provision and
other distresses.
At this period, the English lost the castle of Monchas in Normandy,
belonging to the count d'Eu, prisoner in England, and which they had
held for a long time. The captain of it was called Brunclay[7], but he
was at the time with the duke of Bedford at the siege of Lagny. The
French delivered all of their party confined in the prisons, and sent
in haste to offer its government to sir Regnault de Fontaines, then
at Beauvais, who immediately accepted of it, and marched thither with
about eighty combatants. By means of this castle, a sharp warfare was
carried on in Vimeu, and the adjacent parts, against all who supported
the party of king Henry and of the duke of Burgundy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 7: Brunclay. Q. Brownlow.]
CHAP. XXIII.
THE COMMONALTY OF GHENT RISE AGAINST THEIR MAGISTRATES.
At this season, the commonalty of Ghent rose in arms, to the amount of
fifty thousand, against their magistrates. Having assembled about ten
o'clock in the morning, they went to the square of the market-place,
and drew up in front of the hall where the magistrates were. They were
obliged instantly to speak with them, or they would have forced an
entrance through the doors and windows.
When the magistrates appeared, they immediately put to death the deacon
of small trades, called John Boëlle, one of the sheriffs, named Jean
Daniel van Zenere, with one of the counsellors called Jason Habit. The
other magistrates were in fear of their lives from the cruelties they
saw committed before their eyes; the mob, however, were contented with
what they had done.
The commonalty then marched away in a body for the abbey of Saint
Pierre, to destroy a wood that was hard by: from thence they went to St
Barron, to recover some hereditary rents they had paid the church; but
the abbot, by his prudent conduct and kind words, pacified them, and
prevented further mischief. He complied with all their requests, and
gave them abundantly to eat from the provisions of the monastery.
They went away well pleased with the abbot, and then broke into three
or four houses of the principal burghers, carrying away all they
thought proper, and destroying the rest of the furniture. They threw
open the gates of all the prisons of the duke, setting those confined
at liberty,--more especially one called George Goscath, who was a
strong partisan of theirs against the magistrates.
After they had thus acted for two days, by the interference of several
of the chief men in Ghent, they were appeased, and returned quietly to
their former occupations. During these riots, the duke's officers left
the town, fearful that the mob would put them death, as they had done
others; and the duke of Burgundy, by reason of the many weighty affairs
he had on his hands, was advised to act mercifully toward them. They
entreated forgiveness of the duke's council, who, on their paying a
fine, pardoned them, and they afterward remained peaceable.
CHAP. XXIV.
SIR JOHN BASTARD OF ST POL AND THE LORD DE HUMIERES ARE TAKEN
PRISONERS BY THE FRENCH.
While these things were passing at Ghent, sir John bastard de St
Pol and the lord de Humieres marched from Artois, with about sixty
combatants, to join the duke of Bedford in Paris. They went to
Mondidier and to l'Isle-Adam, thinking to proceed thence in safety to
Paris; but they were met by a detachment from the garrison of Creil,
who had received notice of their intended march, and were instantly
attacked with such vigour that, in spite of their resistance, they were
both made prisoners, with the greater part of their men, and carried to
Creil.
A few saved themselves by flight; and the two knights, after some
little time, ransomed themselves by paying a large sum of money to
those who had taken them.
CHAP. XXV.
GREAT DISORDERS ARE COMMITTED BY THE FRENCH IN THE AMIENNOIS, SANTERRE
AND VIMEU.
At this time, Blanchefort, who held the castle of Breteuil for king
Charles of France, did infinite mischief to the countries of Amiens,
Santerre and Vimeu, by fire, sword and pillaging,--insomuch that most
of the inhabitants had deserted the country, and retired within the
fortified towns; for they were by these means deprived of the power of
paying the tributes levied on them for forbearance.
This party had also repaired some of the castles in Vimeu such as
Araines, Hornoy and others, in which they posted garrisons, who much
annoyed the adjacent parts. They were likewise harassed by those of
the Burgundy-faction. The poor labourers knew not whither to fly, for
they were not defended by the lords of either party; and what added to
their distress, sir Philibert de Vaudray and the lord d'Amont, on their
return from serving the duke of Bedford, took possession of Pont de
Remy, by driving away the lord de Saveuses' men, who had the guard of
it.
The lord de Saveuses was very indignant at this conduct, and assembled
his friends and dependants to expel them thence; but as he found they
were superior to him in numbers, he gave up the attempt,--and they
remained in the quiet possession of the post, to the great annoyance of
the country round.
CHAP. XXVI.
THE HEIR OF COMMERCY TAKES THE TOWN OF LIGNY IN THE BARROIS, BELONGING
TO SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG.
In the month of September of this year, the heir of Commercy, who had
a long standing enmity against sir John de Luxembourg, as well for
his detaining from him the castle of Montague as for other matters of
quarrel between them, assembled from divers parts four or five hundred
combatants, whom he led secretly to Ligny in the Barrois, and, through
neglect of the guard, took it by scalado.
The town was instantly alarmed, and the majority of the inhabitants
precipitately withdrew into the castle, which had not been
conquered,--whence they defended themselves gallantly against the
enemy, who summoned them repeatedly to surrender. They would never
listen to the summons, but dispatched messengers in all speed to inform
sir John de Luxembourg of their distress, and to require his aid.
Sir John, on hearing this, immediately set clerks to write letters to
all his friends and relations, to press them most earnestly, from the
affection they bore him, now to hasten to the succour of his town of
Ligny. Many of the nobles and gentlemen to whom he had applied made
instant preparations to attend him, and would have joined him in great
numbers; but, in the mean time, the young lord of Commercy perceiving
he could not win the castle, and fearing the great force sir John de
Luxembourg would march against him, whose power and inclinations he
well knew, concluded with those in whom he had the greatest confidence
to return whence they had come. Having thus determined, they packed up
all the moveables they found in the town that were portable: they set
the houses on fire, to the grief and dismay of the inhabitants, and
then marched away with their prisoners to Commercy.
Intelligence of this was instantly sent to sir John de Luxembourg, who
was grieved at heart on hearing it; and as his plans were now at an
end, he sent letters to countermand the coming of his friends, and gave
up his intended expedition.
CHAP. XXVII.
THE BURGUNDIANS, UNDER PRETENCE OF BEING ENGLISH, GAIN THE CASTLE OF
LA BOUE, NEAR TO LAON.--OTHER MATTERS.
At this same period, the men of the lord de Ternant, who resided in
Rethel, dressed themselves with the red cross, to counterfeit being
English, and, on a certain day, won by stratagem the castle of la Boue,
within two leagues of Laon. They were under the command of a man at
arms called Nicholas Chevalier; and, by means of this capture, those of
Laon, and other places under the obedience of king Charles, suffered
much.
The reason why they put on the red cross was on account of the truce
between king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, which was not then
expired. They had always been of the duke's party; and very many
mischiefs were done to the poor countrymen by English, French, and
Burgundians.
The count de Vaudemont, at this time also, assembled three or four
hundred combatants in Picardy, whom he conducted to his town of
Vezelize: one of his captains was the bastard de Humieres: and on their
arrival, they commenced a severe warfare on the Barrois and Lorrainers,
to whom they did much mischief by fire, sword and plunder.
In the month of October, the duke and duchess of Burgundy went to
Holland, escorted by about six hundred combatants from Picardy. The
duke staid there about a month to examine the country,--and during that
time, a treaty was concluded between his counsellors and those of the
duchess of Bavaria, by which it was settled that the duke of Burgundy
should from the present enjoy all the honours, profits, and emoluments
of the countries of Hainault, Holland, Zealand and Frizeland, with
their dependancies, as his own hereditary right; but that, should the
duke die before the said duchess, all these territories were to return
to her as the legal heiress of them.
Many noble lordships and rich estates were at the same time allotted
her together with the county of Ostrevant, of which county alone she
was now to style herself countess, laying aside all the titles of the
above-named places. When these matters had been finally concluded, the
duke consented that his cousin the duchess should marry sir François de
Borselle, which had been secretly treated of between the parties. The
duke of Burgundy henceforward styled himself, in addition to his former
titles, Count of Hainault, Holland and Zealand, and lord of Frizeland.
On the conclusion of this treaty, he returned to Flanders.
CHAP. XXVIII.
FRIAR THOMAS GOES TO ROME.--HE IS BURNT THERE.
In this year, friar Thomas Conette, of the order of Carmelites, whom
we have before noticed in this history, made many preachings in divers
parts of Champagne, the which had induced numbers of ladies of high
rank to lay aside their ridiculous dresses.
He thence journeyed to Rome, during the popedom of Eugenius IV. and
arrived there with the venetian ambassadors. He was lodged at Saint
Paul's, whence the pope ordered him to come before him, not with any
evil intentions toward him, but for him to preach, for he had heard
much of his renown. He refused twice to attend the holy father, under
pretence of being ill; and the third time, the pope sent his treasurer
to bring him.
Friar Thomas, seeing the treasurer enter the house, instantly leaped
out of the window to escape,--but, being directly pursued, was taken
and carried before the pope in his palace. The cardinals of Rouen and
of Navarre were charged to examine him and his doctrines, who, finding
him guilty of heresy, and of death, he was in consequence sentenced to
be publicly burnt in the city of Rome.
CHAP. XXIX.
THE DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.
In these days, Anne duchess of Bedford and sister to the duke of
Burgundy lay ill, at the hôtel of the Tournelles in Paris, of a
lingering disorder, which in spite of all the care of her physicians,
of whom she had many, carried her off from this life. She was buried in
the same chapel of the Celestins where Louis, late duke of Orleans, had
been interred.
The duke of Bedford was sorely afflicted at her death; as were many of
his party; for they feared that the connexion which had been continued
by her means with her brother the duke of Burgundy would thereby be
weakened.
When she died, ambassadors from the three parties, namely, king
Charles, king Henry, and the duke of Burgundy, were assembled at
Auxerre, and at Melun, to treat of a peace; but as they could not agree
upon terms, they separated and returned to their lords.
CHAP. XXX.
SOME OF THE FRENCH CAPTAINS CROSS THE THE RIVER SOMME, AND OVERRUN
ARTOIS.
In the beginning of December, captain Blanchefort, sir Anthony de
Chabannes, the lord de Longueval, sir Carados Desquesnes, and others
of king Charles's party, assembled about eight hundred or a thousand
combatants near Breteuil, and thence marched to cross the river Somme
at Capy. They advanced during the night for Dourlens, whither they had
sent spies to learn if they could not win it by scalado: but the lord
de Humieres, having had notice of their intentions, sent in all haste
to inform the mayor and magistrates, that the French were marching to
attack their town.
Upon this, they made every preparation for a good defence, and sent a
messenger to the castle of Beauval, to make the garrison acquainted
with the above intelligence. The messenger was met just before
day-break, a quarter of a league from the town by the french scouts,
by whom he was taken and examined, and they soon learned from him his
errand. They returned to their main body, which was close in the rear,
who, hearing what the messenger had said, found their enterprise had
failed, and returned to the town of Beauquesne. When they had fully
refreshed themselves, they re-crossed the Somme, and marched back to
their garrisons with great numbers of prisoners and a rich pillage.
CHAP. XXXI.
A BENEDICTINE MONK ATTEMPTS TO GAIN THE CASTLE OF ST ANGELO AT ROME.
While all these things were passing, a Benedictine, surnamed The Little
Monk, who had been a great favourite of Pope Martin, and had much
power during his reign, attached himself, after his decease, to his
successor, pope Eugenius, and gained the same power under him as he had
enjoyed before.
Notwithstanding the favour he was in with the pope, he conceived the
design of betraying him, through the temptations of the devil, as it
may be supposed, and had connected himself with the prince of Salerno,
promising to put him in possession of the castle of St Angelo, and
even of the city of Rome. To effect this, he one day waited on the
pope to take his leave, saying, that he was going to Avignon to fix
his residence there for some time. He then requested of the governor
of the castle of St Angelo to take charge of his coffers, containing
his wealth, until his return, which the governor assented to, not
suspecting his treachery.
He ordered twelve cases to be made, capable of holding twelve men,
which were to be intrusted to the care of two men to each case. When
all things were ready, the better to succeed in his enterprise, he sent
a page, who was his own nephew, with letters to one of the prisoners
confined in the castle of St Angelo, which fortunately fell into the
hands of the governor, and thus made him acquainted with the whole
of the plot. He instantly carried them to the pope, who ordered the
monk to be delivered to the secular power, by whom he was put to the
torture, and confessed his guilt. He was then condemned to death, and
hanged on a gibbet and quartered in the principal market-place of Rome.
The prince of Salerno, having failed in his attempt, did not however
refrain from making open war on the pope within a short time after this
event.
In these days, an adventurer called Thomelaire, provost of Laon
for king Charles, won the castle of Passavant, by means of certain
intelligence with those within it. This was very displeasing to the
duke of Burgundy, for he was afraid that it would lay open his country
to the enemy; and he had the place so strongly besieged that those
who had taken it were forced to surrender at discretion. The said
Thomelaire and some others were put to death, and the castle razed to
the ground.
CHAP. XXXII.
A PEACE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BAR AND THE COUNT DE
VAUDEMONT.
In this year, a peace was concluded, through the mediation of the duke
of Burgundy, between the duke of Bar and the count de Vaudemont.
Each promised to restore to the other whatever castles or towns they
had won; and it was also agreed, that the eldest son of the count
should marry the duke's eldest daughter, who was to give her annually
six thousand francs, and a certain sum in ready money on the day of her
marriage.
This treaty having been drawn up by their most able counsellors, was
signed by them, and then they mutually pardoned each other for whatever
they might have done amiss. The young lady was delivered into the hands
of the count, and all the articles of the treaty were duly observed,
to the great joy of their subjects, who now found themselves free from
all the vexations they had suffered in consequence of the late warfare
between their lords.
CHAP. XXXIII.
THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY IS BROUGHT TO BED OF A SON IN THE TOWN OF
GHENT.
On the 14th of April in this year, the duchess of Burgundy was brought
to bed of a son in the town of Ghent. His godfathers were, the cardinal
of Winchester, and the counts de St Pol and de Ligny, brothers,--and
the countess de Meaux was the godmother. He was christened Josse,
although neither of the godfathers bore that name, but it had been so
ordered by the duke and duchess. They all presented very rich gifts to
the child.
This year, the duke, with the consent of the estates, renewed the
coin; and golden money was struck, called Riddes[8], of the value of
twenty-four sols in silver coin called Virelans[9]. All the old money
was called in at a fourth or fifth part of its value, and recoined. At
this time, there were great quarrels between the towns of Brussels and
Mechlin, insomuch that a severe war took place between them. In like
manner, there was much dissention among the Ghent-men, so that several
officers were banished from the town.
CHAP. XXXIV.
A PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BAR AND THE COUNTS DE ST POL AND
DE LIGNY.
A treaty of peace now took place between the duke of Bar and the two
brothers, the counts de St Pol and de Ligny, who had for some time been
at war,--by which the whole country of Guise, parts of which had been
conquered by sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny, and which was the
hereditary inheritance of the duke of Bar, was given up to the said sir
John de Luxembourg, in perpetuity to him and his heirs.
For the greater security of the above, the duke freely gave up the
castle of Bohain, in the presence of many of his nobles and officers
of the county of Guise, whom he had ordered thither for the purpose of
witnessing it, as well as several imperial and apostolical notaries.
There were likewise some discussions relative to Joan de Bar, daughter
of sir Robert de Bar, count of Marle, and the portion of property she
was to have in the duchy of Bar, in right of her said father. There
were also some proposals for a marriage between the second son of the
count de Saint Pol and one of the youngest daughters of the duke of
Bar: but these two articles were deferred to the next time of meeting.
When this negotiation had lasted some days, and the duke had been most
honourably and grandly feasted by the two brothers in the castle of
Bohain, he departed thence, according to appearances, highly pleased
with them, and returned to his duchy.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 8: Riddes,--of the value of five shillings.--Cotgrave.]
[Footnote 9: Virelans. Q.]
CHAP. XXXV.
A WAR TAKES PLACE BETWEEN SIR JOHN AND SIR ANTHONY DU VERGY AND THE
LORD DE CHASTEAU-VILAIN.
In this same year, a great discord arose between sir John and sir
Anthony du Vergy, burgundian knights, and the lord de Château-Vilain,
which ended in an open war. The lord de Château-Vilain, the more to
annoy his enemies, turned to the party of the king of France, together
with sir Legier d'Estouteville, Jean de Verpelleurs, and some other
gentlemen, who had long been his allies and wellwishers. By this
conduct they broke their oaths to the duke of Burgundy, their natural
lord, with whom the lord de Château-Vilain had been on the most
intimate terms.
This lord also returned the badge of the duke of Bedford which he
had long worn, which made the duke very indignant; and he blamed him
greatly in the presence of the person who had brought the badge, saying
that he had thus falsified the oath he had made him.
The duke of Burgundy was likewise very much displeased when it came
to his knowledge, and he sent pressing orders to all his captains in
Burgundy to exert themselves to the utmost in harrassing the lord
de Château-Vilain. In obeying these orders, the country of Burgundy
suffered much,--for the lord de Château-Vilain had many castles in
different parts of it, which he garrisoned with his friends.