of Basil, with many ambassadors of note from divers nations, arrived
at Arras, to be present at the ensuing convention for establishing a
general peace. On the part of the holy father, came the cardinal of
Santa Croce, archdeacon of Metz, attended by some theologians. On that
of the council, the cardinal of Cyprus, accompanied by the bishop of
Ache, and a doctor called Nicholas, ambassador from the king of Poland;
and the bishop of Alba in the same capacity, from the duke of Milan.
With them came also the bishop of Uzes and the abbot de Vezelay, and
other envoys from various lords in distant countries.
They might amount, in the whole, to about eight score masters, and
were handsomely received by the bishop of Arras, his clergy, and the
inhabitants, as well as by the attendants of the duke of Burgundy, from
whom they had had orders to that effect.
The whole of the town went out to meet them on their arrival, with
great crowds of people, who escorted them with cries of joy to their
hôtels, where many rich presents were made them.
CHAP. LXXVIII.
LOUIS DE LUXEMBOURG, COUNT OF ST POL, ESPOUSES JOAN OF BAR, COUNTESS
OF MARLE AND OF SOISSONS.
On Sunday the 16th day of July, in this year, Louis de Luxembourg,
count of St Pol, of Conversan, of Braine, and lord of Anghien, espoused
Joan of Bar, only daughter to sir Robert de Bar, countess of Marle and
of Soissons, lady of Dunkirk, of Varneston, and of many other valuable
places, niece to sir John de Luxembourg, count of Ligny, uncle to the
said count of St Pol.
The marriage was celebrated in the castle of Bohaim, and attended by
at least one hundred knights and esquires, relatives or friends of the
parties, but not one prince of the royal blood of France, to which the
countess was very nearly connected. At this feast were the dowager
countess of St Pol, mother to count Louis, with several of her children.
The count de Ligny was reported to have paid all the expenses of this
feast, which was most, abundantly served with every delicacy in food
and liquors,--to which were added justings and all kinds of pastimes.
CHAP. LXXIX.
THE FRENCH ARE DEFEATED NEAR TO RETHEL, BY THE BASTARD DE HUMIERES.
At this period, some of king Charles's captains guarding the frontiers
near Rheims assembled about four hundred combatants to make an inroad
toward Rethel, and other parts attached to the duke of Burgundy,--and
in fact collected a great number of peasants, cows, horses, and other
plunder, which they proposed to carry back with them in safety to their
garrisons. The chief of this expedition was Yvon du Puys.
News of it, however, came to the bastard de Humieres, governor of
Herquery, who instantly called out his men at arms, and pursued the
French so rapidly that he overtook them, and a combat ensued, in which
these marauders were completely defeated, leaving forty dead on the
field; the rest saving themselves by flight in the best manner they
could. On the part of the bastard, his loss did not amount to more than
ten men.
CHAP. LXXX.
AMBASSADORS FROM THE KING OF ENGLAND ARRIVE AT ARRAS TO ATTEND THE
CONVENTION.
At this time, the ambassadors from the king of England arrived at
Arras, to attend the convention with the council of the duke of
Burgundy. They were about two hundred knights, the principal of whom
were the archbishop of York, the earl of Suffolk, the bishop of St
David's, sir John Radcliffe, keeper of the king's privy seal, the
lord Hungerford, master Raoul le Saige, official to the archbishop of
Canterbury, and some other theologians.
They were lodged within the city of Arras, and cheerfully attended
to in whatever they might be in want of by the servants of the duke
of Burgundy. At the same time, there came from divers nations other
ambassadors and mediators. The duke of Gueldres, the count Nassau, the
bishop of Cambray, the count de Vernambourg, the bishop of Liege, the
count de Vaudemont, the count de Nevers, the count de Salines, the duke
of Bar, and in general all the higher nobility of the countries of the
duke of Burgundy, came thither to support his claims and pretensions.
They were all grandly dressed,--and soon after the counts of St Pol and
of Ligny arrived with a handsome retinue.
On the 28th day of July, the duke of Burgundy entered Arras: he had
lain the preceding night at his town of Lens in Artois. The whole
company in Arras, attached to the embassy from England, went out a
league beyond the walls to meet him,--as did the attendants of the two
cardinals,--and when they met the duke, every one was most honourably
received by him.
The duke's entrance into Arras was well ordered, he having the archers
of his body-guard, all dressed in a rich uniform, to precede him,--and
wherever he passed, the people sang carols for his arrival. In this
state, he went to pay his compliments to the cardinal de Santa Croce,
and then to the cardinal of Cyprus, whence he retired to his lodgings
in his hôtel at La Cour-le-Comte.
CHAP. LXXXI.
AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE ARRIVE AT ARRAS, TO ATTEND THIS CONVENTION.
On the Sunday following, the last day of July, the embassy from king
Charles of France arrived at Arras. The ambassadors had come from
Rheims, through Laon to St Quentin in the Vermandois, where they had
been joyfully received by the magistrates and townsmen; and to this
place the duke of Burgundy had sent the count d'Estampes, attended by
many knights and esquires, to meet and to conduct them to Arras.
After a few days stay at St Quentin, they all departed together for
Cambray, and thence they journeyed until they came to the wood of
Mouf-laine, within half a league of Arras. The principal persons
in this embassy were the duke of Bourbon, the count de Richemont,
constable of France, who had each married a sister of the duke of
Burgundy, the count de Vendôme, the archbishop and duke of Rheims
chancellor of France, sir Christopher de Harcourt, sir Theolde de
Valperge, the lord de la Fayette marshal of France, the lords de St
Pierre and du Châtel, sir James du Bois, sir John de Châtillon bastard
de Dampierre, sir Paillaird du Fiè, the lord de Raillieq, the lord de
Rommet, the lord de Courselles, master Adam de Cambray first president
of the parliament, the dean of Paris, named master John Tudart, the
treasurer of Anjou, the borgne Blesset, master John Chanetier, the lord
de Cletel, the lord de la Motte, master Adam le Queux, master John de
Taisè, with many other able men, as well noble as not, accompanied by
four or five hundred horsemen, including those who had gone before to
prepare their lodgings.
The duke of Burgundy, attended by his household, the duke of Gueldres,
and the other princes and nobles in Arras, with the exception of the
English, went out to meet them. He joined them about a quarter of a
league from the town, when great marks of friendship and affection were
mutually displayed on both sides, more especially between the duke
and his two brothers-in-law, who frequently embraced each other. When
the compliments of meeting were over, they all proceeded, in handsome
array, at a slow pace, toward Arras,--the three dukes, of Burgundy,
Bourbon, and Gueldres, riding abreast at the head of the line. They
were preceded by six trumpets and clarions, sounding most melodiously,
and by numbers of kings at arms, heralds and pursuivants, dressed in
tabards, with the arms of the different princes then at Arras, among
whom Montjoye, king at arms for king Charles of France, took the lead.
Next to them, but a few paces before the dukes, rode the constable,
the counts de Vendôme and d'Estampes, and the damoisel de Cleves, with
a few more of the higher nobility: the remainder of the knights,
lords and esquires followed close behind the dukes; and in this order
they advanced in front of the town-house, to the small market-place,
multitudes of people shouting and singing carols wherever they passed.
The duke of Burgundy now separated from them, and returned with his
household to his lodgings: he would have attended his brothers-in-law
to their hôtels, but they insisted he should return, while they made a
visit to the two cardinals. Having done this, they went to the lodgings
that had been prepared for them, and received many rich presents from
churchmen as well as from seculars.
On the third day afterward, the duchess of Burgundy arrived at Arras,
and the French and English ambassadors went out to meet her, as did all
the nobles, and the attendants of the cardinals, most richly clothed.
She was carried in an ornamented litter, dressed in cloth of gold, and
a variety of precious stones; behind her rode on palfreys six of her
ladies and damsels, elegantly and nobly habited, with robes and hood
decorated, and covered with wrought silver and gold. Next came three
three handsome cars, in which were the countess de Namur and others of
the duchess's ladies and damsels, dressed in similar robes and hoods to
the others.
Near to the litter were the dukes de Bourbon and de Gueldres, the
constable of France, and the count de Vendôme,--and the rest of the
nobility rode either before or behind the duchess, excepting the
English, who had taken their leave of her while in the open country,
and were returned to their lodgings in Arras.
The duchess, thus attended, went to pay her respects to the cardinals;
after which she went to the hôtel of her lord the duke of Burgundy,
who received her most joyfully and honourably, and gave a handsome
entertainment to the two dukes and the other nobles who had accompanied
her.
Among the numerous ambassadors that came from divers parts, were those
from the city of Paris, namely, the abbot of Mont St Catherine de
Rouen, master William Breton, master John le Monstardier, master Thomas
de Courselles, master Robert Poitevin. There were likewise others from
the kings of Sicily, Spain, Navarre, Poland, Asia, Romania, and from
the principal towns of Holland, Zealand, Flanders, Brabant, Hainault,
Namur, Burgundy, whose names it would be tedious to relate: each of
them were handsomely lodged by the purveyors of the duke, who, with
others, had been especially ordered for this purpose. They were all
abundantly supplied with any sort of provision they inclined to buy
during the three months they staid in Arras. No accident happened
during this time,--but there was much alarm, that mischief would have
happened from the heat with which disputes were carried on, while the
matter of peace was debating. Commissaries were appointed to patrole
the town night and day to see that no disorders arose, and that no
extortions were practised in the markets.
The duke had ordered about one hundred gentlemen and two hundred
archers to be always armed, under the command of some of the lords of
his household, such as the lord de Croy, sir John de Horne, the lord
de Crevecoeur, the lord de Chargny, John de Brimeu and others, as well
for his own personal security as to be ready, should occasion require
it, to put an end to any affrays. The duke was always attended by fifty
archers.
CHAP. LXXXII.
SIR JOHN DE MELLO, A KNIGHT OF SPAIN, AND THE LORD DE CHARGNY COMBAT
EACH OTHER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AT ARRAS.
On the 11th day of August in this year, a combat at arms took place at
Arras, in the presence of the duke of Burgundy as judge of the lists.
A handsome scaffold was erected for him in the great market-place, on
which were seated behind him the dukes of Bourbon and of Gueldres, the
counts de Richemont constable, de Vendôme, d'Estampes, and many other
great lords.
The combat was between sir John de Mello, a very renowned knight
banneret of Spain, appellant, without any defamatory quarrel, but
solely to acquire honour, against Pierre de Bauffremont lord of
Chargny, knight banneret also, a native of Burgundy, and knight of the
Golden Fleece. The terms were to break three lances only.
When the lord de Chargny had acceded to this request, he in his turn
demanded from the Spanish knight a combat on foot with battle-axes,
swords and daggers, until one of them should lose his arms, or place
his hands on his knees or on the ground,--subject, however, in all
cases, to the decisions of the judge of the field.
These proposals having been for some time agreed to by the two knights,
on Thursday morning, about ten o'clock, the Spanish knight appeared
in the lists, attended by four others, whom the duke of Burgundy had
ordered to accompany him,--namely, the lord de l'Or, governor of the
Rethelois, the lord de Ligny, the lord de Saveuses, and the lord de
Sainzelles, with four or five of his attendants, one of whom bore on
the end of a lance a small banner emblazoned with his arms. The other
knights carried his lances; and thus, without more pomp, he made his
obeisance to the duke of Burgundy, and retired from the lists, by the
way he had come, on the left hand of the duke.
He waited a considerable time for his adversary, who at length appeared
grandly accompanied by the counts d'Estampes, de St Pol, and de Ligny,
together with the earl of Suffolk, all bearing his lances. Behind him
were four coursers, richly caparisoned with his arms and devices, with
pages covered with robes of wrought silver,--and the procession was
closed by the greater part of the knights and esquires of the duke of
Burgundy's household. Having made his bow to the duke, as the Spanish
knight had done, he withdrew to the right of the lists.
When they were ready, they ran some tilts with lances, without any
injury on either side. Then the Spaniard mounted a courser which the
duke of Bourbon had lent him, for his own shied at a lance. They broke
their lances with great courage against each other, until the number
agreed on had been performed. Neither were wounded, although the helmet
of don Mello was a little broken. They then quitted the lists, with
the assent of the duke of Burgundy, and returned to their lodgings
accompanied as before.
The Spaniard wore over his armour a vermillion-coloured mantle, with
a white cross on it, like to the badge of the French, which created
a disgust in some of the burgundian lords, as it seemed to mark a
partiality for their enemies. When he was informed of this, he excused
himself by saying, that in consequence of the strict alliance which had
so long continued between the kingdoms of France and Spain, he could
not with propriety wear any other badge.
On the morrow, which was a Friday, the duke of Burgundy proceeded to
the lists, between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, grandly
attended by his chivalry, and with him came the princes who had
accompanied him the preceding day. Shortly after, the lord de Chargny,
the appellant, appeared with the same persons as on the first day, who
carried the weapons he was to combat with. He was mounted on a courser
covered with housings of his arms, and followed by four pages mounted
in like manner, and by the greater part of the knights and esquires of
the duke of Burgundy's household, with some other nobles.
Having thus entered the lists, he went to dismount at his pavilion,
and thence on foot to make his obeisance to the duke; after which he
retired to a seat, where he waited a full hour for his adversary.
When he arrived, he was accompanied as on the preceding day,--and the
knights and esquires whom the duke of Burgundy had appointed to attend
him bore his weapons for the combat. Behind him were his servants, one
of them carrying a small banner at the end of a lance. On his entering
the lists, he saluted the duke, and withdrew to his pavilion.
While he remained there, he was frequently admonished by the knights
that attended him, who gave him the best advice in their power for the
success of his combat,--but he paid not any attention to what they
said, nor would discover to them his plans, telling them not to be any
way concerned about him, for that, with God's good pleasure, he would
do his duty.
Every thing being ready, the king at arms, called Golden Fleece,
proclaimed, in three different parts of the lists, that all who had
not been otherwise ordered should quit the lists, and that no one
should give any hinderance to the two champions under pain of being
punished by the duke of Burgundy with death. Eight gentlemen armed were
appointed to stop or raise up either of the champions, as the judge
of the field should direct. When the proclamation was made, the lord
de Chargny issued out of his pavilion, holding his battle-axe by the
middle in his right hand, the iron part toward his adversary, and thus
advanced a little forward.
The Spanish knight advanced at the same time from his pavilion, having
a kerchief thrown over his helmet that covered his vizor, which was
half raised,--but this kerchief was taken away, when he was advancing,
by his servants. They made for each other with vigorous strides,
brandishing their lances; but the Spaniard all this time had his vizor
raised.
The lord de Chargny, without waiting for his adversary, threw his lance
at him as he approached, while the Spaniard advanced to throw his,
and hit him on the side, where he was wounded, as well as in the arm,
for the lance hung in the vambraces of his his armour, whence the
lord de Chargny soon shook it off on the ground. The two champions now
approached with great courage, and handled their weapons very nobly;
but the lord de Chargny was much displeased that his adversary did not
close his vizor.
While they were thus combating, the duke of Burgundy gave his signal
for the battle to cease, and ordered the champions to be brought before
him, who seemed very much vexed that an end had been put so soon to
their combat,--more especially the Spaniard, who twice declared aloud
that he was far from being pleased that so little had been done; for
that he had come at a great expense, and with much fatigue by sea and
land, from a far country, to acquire honour and renown.
The duke told him, that he had most honourably done his duty and
accomplished his challenge. After this, they were escorted back to
their lodgings in the same manner as before. The Spanish knight was
much noticed by very many of the nobles present, who greatly praised
him for his courage, in thus having fought with his vizor raised,--for
the like had not been before seen.
When this combat was over, the duke of Burgundy paid great respect and
attention to the Spanish knight, by feasting him at his hôtel on the
Sunday and following days,--presenting him, at the same time, with many
rich presents, to reimburse him for all the expenses he had been at.
The knight soon afterward took leave of the duke and his company, and
departed from Arras on his return to his own country.
CHAP. LXXXIII.
THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS ARE ON VERY AMICABLE TERMS IN ARRAS.
On the Monday, which was the feast of our Lady of the middle of
August, the dukes of Burgundy, of Bourbon, and of Gueldres, the counts
d'Estampes, de Richemont, de Vendôme, de St Pol, de Ligny, de Meurs
and de Nassau, with the greater part of their attendant knights and
esquires, went on horseback in great concord from the hôtel of the
duke of Burgundy, to hear the mass of our Lady in the city, richly
dressed in most splendid habiliments. The poor people, who were there
in crowds, were very much rejoiced to see this, as they hoped it would
be the forerunner of a general peace that was so much wanted and wished
for. After the mass, most part of them returned to the apartments of
the duke of Burgundy and dined, and were sumptuously served with an
abundance and variety of dishes.
The English ambassadors were not well pleased at these entertainments;
and from the frequent intercourse that took place between the French
and the duke, they suspected some treaties were in agitation that would
not be for the advantage of their country.
CHAP. LXXXIV.
THE CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER COMES TO ARRAS TO ATTEND THE CONVENTION.
The cardinal of Winchester arrived at Arras on the 19th day of August,
to be present at the convention, attended by the earl of Huntingdon
and other noble knights and esquires from England, to the amount of
three hundred horsemen. The dukes of Burgundy and of Gueldres, with
the counts de St Pol, de Ligny, de Meurs, and the greater part of the
duke of Burgundy's nobles, went out of Arras to meet him. The duke and
cardinal mutually paid each other the greatest respect, as did the
other lords; and they returned together to the gate of Arras, where
they separated, and the cardinal and his attendants went to lodge at
the palace of the bishop.
Ambassadors daily arrived from various nations. The place of meeting
for this convention was fixed at the abbey of St Vaast, where
there were apartments sufficiently spacious and numerous for the
purpose,--and there the three parties assembled, in the presence of
the two cardinals who had first come thither. The cardinal de Santa
Croce harangued them most eloquently on the great inconveniences all
Christendom had laboured under from the severity and long continuance
of the war,--admonishing them, at the same time, with much feeling,
that, from their love to God, they would not separate without
concluding a peace, and that they would not insist on any terms but
such as each might mutually concede to the other.
After this harangue, the convention met on several different
days,--and many proposals for a treaty were brought forward, so
contradictory that it was difficult to reconcile them. Among others,
king Charles's ministers required that king Henry of England should
desist from styling himself king of France, on condition of having the
sovereignties of Guyenne and Normandy given up to him,--but to this the
English ministers would not agree.
CHAP. LXXXV.
DURING THE MEETING OF THE CONVENTION AT ARRAS, LA HIRE AND POTON
OVERRUN AND FORAGE THE COUNTRY OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
On the 20th day of this month of August, while the convention was
sitting at Arras, La Hire and Poton de Saintrailles, with six hundred
combatants, six score being lance-men, whom they had assembled on the
frontiers of Beauvais, rode during the night for the river Somme, which
they crossed at Cappy; thence they retreated, and fell back on Dourlens
and Beauquesne, to forage the country. They divided into smaller
bodies, and collected a great booty of peasants, cattle, horses, sheep,
and other things, with which they marched back the way they had come to
recross the Somme.
Intelligence was brought of this, by the lord de Saveuses, to the duke
of Burgundy, who was much troubled thereat, as he feared the matters
that were then under discussion in the convention would be greatly
retarded. To provide a remedy, he ordered the counts d'Estampes, de St
Pol, de Ligny, with the greater part of his chivalry, to mount their
horses, and repel the French. With them went some of the English lords,
to the amount of about three hundred horsemen,--so that they were in
the whole full sixteen hundred, but most of them were without armour.
They hastened toward Mailly and Attinghen, having sent forward the lord
de Saveuses, with some scouts, to collect intelligence of the enemy.
They soon learnt the line of march the French were following with their
plunder to cross the water, and pressed forward with so much diligence
that they overtook them near to Corbie, at a town called Boumay, on the
water of Helly.
The French, hearing of this pursuit, detached a party of their men at
arms to guard the passage of this river, and marched to draw up in
battle-array on a hill between Corbie and Helly. In the mean time, sir
John de Croy was dispatched, with a certain number of men at arms, to
gain this passage,--but he was defeated and made prisoner: ten or
twelve of the French were slain, but the rest retreated to their main
body on the hill.
The Burgundians and English, having crossed the river, advanced and
drew up in order of battle at the foot of the hill, where they remained
for a good half-hour, without any intention of combating the French,
for they were too slightly armed.