the English in so many places that their captains resolved to make
several attacks on the town at the same time, with the hope of gaining
it by storm. In consequence, having armed their men, they formed
several divisions, and marched, with scaling ladders and other warlike
instruments, to the ditches, which were filled with water. These the
men at arms crossed, though the water was up to their necks, and,
carrying their ladders with them, placed them against the walls, which
they ascended without sign of fear. The besieged seeing this, and
considering that if the place were taken by storm, they should not only
lose the town but their lives also, began to prepare for a vigorous
defence.
The marshal de Rieux had posted on different parts of the ramparts
detachments under captains, with orders not to quit their posts
whatever they might see or hear,--and he had a body of men at arms
ready to succour such places as should be distressed. The attack was
very fierce and bloody, and lasted for two hours, when many gallant
acts were done on both sides.
The new knights created on this occasion were Louis de Luxembourg,
bastard of St Pol, who behaved excellently well, Jean de Humieres,
Robert de Neufville, and some others. When the assailants had had about
four score men, or more, slain in the ditches and under the walls, they
perceived they could not carry their point without too serious a loss,
and their captains sounded a retreat, carrying off their dead and
wounded. The besieged suffered also greatly, and were much alarmed lest
the enemy, by continuing the attack, should constrain them more. They
nevertheless, in hopes of succour from the constable of France, who was
attending the convention at Arras, with many of his officers, repaired
the walls and gates, that had been broken, and prepared to defend
themselves as well as circumstances would permit.
The constable, on the conclusion of the peace at Arras, departed
thence, accompanied by numbers of the nobility, and went to Senlis.
He was anxious to collect a sufficient force to raise the siege of St
Denis; but when he examined his powers, he found that he was unable to
do so.
The marshal de Rieux, therefore, knowing that the constable was unable
to afford him relief, entered into negotiations with the English that
he and his captains would surrender the place, on having their lives
and fortunes spared, and would also give up the prisoners they had
made, among whom was the new knight sir Jean de Humieres. This offer
was acceded to,--and the French marched off, escorted by about sixteen
hundred cavalry.
The english army likewise broke up, and returned to different towns
under their obedience, leaving behind such of their captains and
men as had been killed in St Denis. Among the first were sir Louis
de Vaucourt, sir Regnault de St Jean, Artus de la Tour, one called
Josselin, and others, whose deaths caused great grief. The town of St
Denis was now under the government of king Henry.
Shortly after this event, the Picards, who had been informed of the
peace concluded between the duke of Burgundy and king Charles, took
leave of the english captains as soon as they could, and returned
without loss to their own country. At the same time, the French took by
storm the bridge of Meulan, and put to death about twenty English who
guarded it. This success much vexed the Parisians, because it cut off
the communication with Normandy, and would prevent them from receiving
hence any provisions.
CHAP. XC.
ISABELLA, QUEEN OF FRANCE, DIES IN THE CITY OF PARIS.
In the month of September of this year, Isabella queen of France, and
mother to king Charles then on the throne, was taken grievously ill
at her apartments in the king's hôtel of St Pol. She had for some
time lived in great poverty, owing to the distresses and troubles
of the war,--and her disorder increased so much that it caused her
death. She was buried in the church of St Denis, but not with the
solemnity and state usual at the funerals of queens of France. When
the duke of Burgundy heard of her decease, he had a grand and solemn
service performed for her in the church of St Waast at Arras, which he
personally attended, dressed in mourning. The duke was supported by the
count d'Estampes, the count de Vendôme, the heir of Cleves, and many
other ecclesiastical and secular lords in mourning. The service was
performed by the bishop of Arras.
CHAP. XCI.
THE CARDINALS, AND THE AMBASSADORS FROM THE COUNCIL, LEAVE ARRAS.--THE
DUKE OF BURGUNDY APPOINTS DIFFERENT OFFICERS TO THE TOWNS AND
FORTRESSES THAT HAD BEEN CONCEDED TO HIM BY THE PEACE.
Soon after peace had been proclaimed in Arras, the cardinals, and those
who had accompanied them, departed thence, after having been most
honourably entertained by duke Philip. In like manner did all those who
had come thither as ambassadors from the holy council and from king
Charles.
The duke now, while in Arras, appointed many new officers to the towns
and castles on the river Somme and to those within Picardy, which had
long appertained to the crown of France, but had been yielded to him by
king Charles, according to the articles of the treaty lately concluded.
Prior to this peace, Arras was in the hands of king Henry; but now
the duke appointed other officers, displacing those of king Henry at
his pleasure, laying hands on all the public money, nominating new
receivers, and causing the inhabitants to swear allegiance to him.
The english officers were much surprised at these proceedings of
the duke, for it was through his means that king Henry had obtained
possession of the town, and he had lately acknowledged him for his
legal and sovereign lord. Seeing that they could no way prevent it,
they suffered patiently all that was done.
Among others, master Robert le Jeune, who had for a long time been
bailiff of Amiens, and had ruled with a high hand all Picardy in favour
of the English, and had even been their council at the convention
of Arras, and their chief adviser, finding that the tide was now
turning against them (through means procured by money) managed so well
that he continued in favour with the duke of Burgundy, who made him
governor of Arras in the room of sir David de Brimeu, who had held that
appointment.
Thus in a few days was a total change made in the public affairs of
France and England, and just contrary to what had before been.
CHAP. XCII.
IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE PEACE OF ARRAS, THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS SOME
OF HIS COUNCIL, AND HERALDS, TO THE KING OF ENGLAND, TO REMONSTRATE
AND EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OF THE PEACE HE HAD CONCLUDED WITH THE KING OF
FRANCE.
On the conclusion of the peace at Arras, the duke of Burgundy sent his
king at arms of the order of the Golden Fleece, with another of his
heralds called Franche-comté, to England with letters from the duke to
king Henry. These letters contained strong remonstrances to induce the
king and his council to conclude a peace with the king of France,--and
were also explanatory of the causes which had induced the duke, by the
exhortations of the legates from the holy see and from the council
of Basil, in conjunction with the three estates of his dominions, to
make a peace with king Charles his sovereign lord, and to renounce the
alliance he had formerly concluded with the late king Henry of England.
They were accompanied by a mendicant friar, a doctor of divinity, who
had been charged by the two cardinal-legates to remonstrate publicly
with the king of England and his council on the infinite cruelty of
prolonging so bloody a war, which laid waste Christendom, and to
harangue on the blessings that would ensue if a lasting peace could be
concluded between the two kings.
They all three travelled together as far as Calais, and crossed the sea
to Dover; but there they received orders from king Henry, forbidding
them to proceed further. Their letters were demanded, given up, and
carried to the king at London,--and soon after they were conducted
thither. They were met on the road by a herald and a secretary to the
lord treasurer, who escorted them to their lodgings in London, at the
house of a shoemaker, where they remained, and only went to hear mass,
under the care of some heralds and pursuivants at arms, who visited
them often; for they were forbidden to stir out of their lodgings
without a licence or permission. They were therefore very much alarmed
lest they might personally suffer for the disagreeable news they had
brought.
Notwithstanding the mendicant friar and the two heralds had made many
requests to those who attended on them, that they might be permitted
to address the king and council on the subjects they had been charged
with by the two cardinals and their lord, they never could obtain an
audience.
The lord treasurer of England, however, to whom the letters from the
duke of Burgundy had been given, assembled, in the presence of the
king, the cardinal of Winchester, the duke of Glocester, with many
other princes and prelates, members of the council, so that the meeting
was numerously attended, and laid before them the letters which the
duke of Burgundy had written to the king and his council,--but their
address and superscription were not in the style he was wont to
use. In this, he simply styled him king of England--high and mighty
prince--his very dear lord and cousin; but forbore to acknowledge him
as his sovereign lord, as he heretofore always had done in the numerous
letters he had sent him.
All present were very much surprised on hearing them read; and even
the young king Henry was so much hurt at their contents that his eyes
were filled with tears, which ran down his cheeks. He said to some of
the privy counsellors nearest to him, that he plainly perceived since
the duke of Burgundy had acted thus disloyally toward him, and was
reconciled to his enemy king Charles, that his dominions in France
would fare the worse for it. The cardinal of Winchester and the duke
of Glocester abruptly left the council much confused and vexed, as did
several others, without coming to any determination. They collected in
small knots and abused each other as well as the duke of Burgundy and
the leading members of his council.
This news was soon made public throughout London; and no one who was
well bred was sparing of the grossest abuse against the duke of
Burgundy and his country. Many of the common people collected together
and went to different parts of the town to search for Flemings,
Dutchmen, Brabanters, Picards, Hainaulters, and other foreigners, to
use them ill, who were unsuspicious of deserving it. Several were
seized in the heat of their rage and murdered; but, shortly after, king
Henry put an end to this tumult, and the ringleaders were delivered up
to justice.
Some days after, the king and his council assembled to consider on the
answers they should send to the duke of Burgundy's letters, when their
opinions were divided: some would have war declared instantly against
the duke, while others would have him regularly summoned, by letter or
otherwise, to answer for his conduct. While this was under discussion,
news was brought to the king, that in consequence of the pacification
between the duke and king Charles, the duke was to have given up to
him the towns, lordships, castles and forts, of St Quentin, Corbie,
Amiens, St Riquier, Abbeville, Dourlens and Montrieul, which had been
in the possession, and under the obedience of king Henry, who had
received their oaths of fidelity, and had appointed officers for their
government.
This intelligence made bad worse, and the council determined not to
send any answer. Upon which, the lord treasurer went to the three
messengers at their lodgings, and told the heralds, Toison and
Franche-comté, that the king, with the princes of his blood and his
council, had seen and examined the letters they had brought,--and that
they had been equally surprised at their contents as at the conduct of
the duke, for which, if it pleased God, the king would provide a remedy.
The messengers were very anxious to have an answer in writing,--but
could not obtain one, although they frequently made this request. They
were told, they might return to their own country,--and finding they
could not do more, re-crossed the sea, and reported verbally to their
lord the duke every thing that had passed.
The mendicant doctor went to those who had sent him, without having had
an opportunity of employing his talents. The messengers were very much
afraid they should have been ill treated,--for on their journey home,
they heard in several places their lord much and loudly abused by the
common people, who did not receive them with that civility they used
formerly to do.
CHAP. XCIII.
THE POPULACE OF AMIENS RISE AGAINST THE LEVYING OF SOME TAXES WHICH
WERE INTENDED TO BE LAID ON THEM.
At this period, the inhabitants of Amiens deputed an advocate, called
master Tristan de Fontaines, to the duke of Burgundy, to endeavour to
obtain the remission of a sum of money which the town owed to the duke,
or to some of his partisans,--but he was unsuccessful. King Charles and
the duke issued new ordinances, ordering that the taxes and subsidies
which that place had before paid should be continued on the same
footing as formerly.
Master Tristan, on his return to Amiens, had these ordinances
proclaimed at the usual places,--when a large body of butchers and
others of the populace, being discontented thereat, suddenly collected
together, with arms and staves according to their condition.
They went thus armed to their mayor, and plainly told him, that they
were determined not to pay these taxes, for he well knew that good king
Charles would not that they should pay more than other towns under his
obedience. The mayor, seeing their rude and bold behaviour, assented
to all they said, appeasing them by gentle words; and as they were the
masters, he agreed to go with them wherever they pleased through the
town.
They made captain over them one Honoré Cokin, and went first to the
house of master Tristan, with the intent to put him to death; but
he, having had from his friends intelligence of this, had escaped.
They broke, however, many doors and windows in search of him,--and
thence went to the house of one called Pierre le Clerc, provost of
the Beauvoisis, who, during the time that master Robert le Jeune was
bailiff of Amiens, had enjoyed great power, committed many extortions,
and ill treated several of the inhabitants of that place and the
country about, which had caused him to be much hated. They sought him
every where, but in vain,--for, having heard of the tumult, he had
hidden himself. They demolished his house and furniture, and drank in
one night eighteen pipes of wine which he had in his cellars. They also
made his nephew their prisoner, and confined him in the belfry.
They committed numerous disorders in the town; and went in large bodies
to the houses of the rich, who were forced to give them great sums of
money, but more particularly meat and wine. Pierre le Clerc was all
this time hidden in the hen-roost belonging to a poor man; but he was
discovered to the mob, who went in great solemnity to seek him, and
confined him in the town prison, whence they soon after dragged him
to the market-place and cut his throat: his nephew suffered the like
death. There was not a man now in Amiens who dared to oppose their will
and pleasure.
News of these proceedings were carried to the duke of Burgundy, who
sent to Amiens John de Brimeu, the new bailiff, and shortly after the
lord de Saveuses, who had been lately appointed the governor, with
orders to inquire into and correct these abuses. They were followed
by the count d'Estampes, with many knights, esquires and cross-bows;
and again the lord de Croy was sent thither with a large force: he
also carried with him the archers of the duke's household. Forces from
different parts drew toward Amiens, and all the principal lords of
Picardy, under pretence of besieging the castle of Bonnes, whither had
retreated a body of pillagers.
Honoré Cokin did not securely rely upon his companions, and was
doubtful if they would not play him false, notwithstanding that they
had been with the count d'Estampes, the governor and bailiff, to excuse
themselves and him for what had passed. They had received courteous
answers, and promises, that if they would behave well for the future,
they should obtain their pardon.
The lords having deliberated on the business, and taken possession of
the belfry, with a sufficient guard, (who were to ring the alarm bell
on the first sign of tumult, when all the commonalty were to assemble
and join them) advanced to the market-place, having sent detachments
to various parts of the town well armed, to prevent any disorders in
future.
The lord de Saveuses and the bailiff were then ordered to scour the
streets with the troops, and to arrest all who refused to retire
to their homes. When these regulations had been made, the count
d'Estampes, attended by many noble lords and knights, remained in the
market-place, which was filled with multitudes of people, and caused
a new ordinance to be proclaimed in the names of king Charles and
the duke of Burgundy, ordering the late subsidies and taxes to be
continued, and, at the same time, pardoning all past offences, with the
reserve of some few of the ringleaders, who would be named and punished.
When this proclamation was made, Perrinet Chalons, one of the
principal rioters, was present, and, hearing its contents, took to his
heels,--but orders were instantly given to seize him. He was pursued
into the church of Saint Germain, and found kneeling beside a priest
saying mass; but, notwithstanding this, he was taken and carried to
the belfry. On the other hand, Honoré Cokin, knowing of this meeting,
had armed himself, with some of his associates, to attend it; but he
was met by the governor and the bailiff, who instantly arrested him
and sent him also to the belfry. Twenty or thirty other rebels were
made prisoners, in different parts of the town; and this same day
Honoré with seven others, his companions, had their heads cut off
with a cooper's adze. Perrinet Chalons and two others were hanged and
quartered on a gibbet: one was drowned, and about fifty banished the
town. There were, afterward, several executed, for the same cause, at
different times; and among them a celebrated pillager, who had been
very active in his occupation. These executions brought the inhabitants
of Amiens under the most perfect obedience.
CHAP. XCIV.
THE FRENCH OVERRUN AND PILLAGE THE COUNTRY OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
AFTER THE PEACE OF ARRAS.--THE MARSHAL DE RIEUX TAKES MANY TOWNS AND
CASTLES FROM THE ENGLISH IN NORMANDY.
When the French ambassadors were returned to king Charles, and had
shown him the treaty they had concluded at Arras with the duke of
Burgundy, by which, among other articles, the duke acknowledged the
king as his sovereign lord, he was much pleased, and ordered peace to
be proclaimed in all the usual places.
Soon after, the French in the town of Rue marched away,--and the
government of it was given up to the commissaries of the duke of
Burgundy. Another party of French, however, collected in Santerre,
and in the Amiennois, where they plundered many places belonging to
the duke of Burgundy and his friends: they even robbed all they met
in those parts, nobles and others. The duke, therefore, ordered some
troops to march against these marauders, who, hearing of it, retreated
from that country.
The English at this period laid siege to the bridge of Meulan, which
the French had lately won, but, from some obstacles that arose, gave
it up. In another quarter, the marshal de Rieux and Charles des
Marêts gained the town of Dieppe, and some others in Normandy, in the
following manner.
Soon after the conclusion of the peace at Arras, several valiant French
captains, such as the marshal de Rieux, Gaucher de Boussach, the lord
de Longueval, and others, having with them from three to four hundred
tried soldiers, marched, by the invitation of Charles des Marêts, on
the Friday preceding All-saints-day, to escalade the strong town of
Dieppe, seated on the sea-coast, and in the plentiful country of Caux.
Charles des Marêts entered the town secretly, with about six hundred
combatants, on the side toward the harbour, and thence hastened to
destroy the gate leading toward Rouen,--by which the marshal watered
with his men at arms on foot, and with displayed banners.
It was about day-break when they arrived at the market-place, shouting
out, 'Town won!' which cry greatly surprised the inhabitants, who began
to shoot and to throw stones from the house-tops. As there were many in
the town and on board of the vessels in the harbour, the French waited
until nine or ten o'clock before they began to attack the houses,--but
they were all won, with little loss to the French.
The lieutenant-governor, Mortimer, fled with many others of the
English, but the lord de Bloseville was taken. At the first onset,
only three or four of the English garrison were killed,--but several
were made prisoners, with all those who had supported their party. The
property of the inhabitants was confiscated, excepting, however, those
willing to take the oaths of fidelity and allegiance to king Charles.
There were in the harbour numbers of vessels, the greater part of
which fell into the hands of the French. The day the town was taken,
proclamation was made for all foreigners to leave it, except such as
were willing to take the oaths,--and Charles des Marêts was unanimously
appointed governor for the king of France.
The whole of the English throughout Normandy were greatly troubled and
vexed at this capture, and not without cause, for the town of Dieppe
was wonderous strong and excellently situated in one of the most
fertile parts of that country.
Shortly after, a body of French cavalry, to the amount of from three to
four thousand, arrived at Dieppe and in the neighbourhood, under the
command of Anthony de Chabannes, Blanchefort, Poton le Bourguignon,
Pierre Regnault and other captains. They were soon joined by Poton de
Saintrailles, John d'Estouteville, Robinet his brother, the lord de
Montrieul Bellay, with other noble lords and commanders. To them came
also a leader of the common people, called Le Kirennier, with about
four thousand of the norman peasantry, who united themselves with the
French forces, and took oaths, in the presence of the marshal de Rieux,
to wage a perpetual warfare against the English.
When these troops had been properly arranged, they took the field in
good array on Christmas-eve, and marched to Fécamp,[23] which by means
of the lord de Milleville was surrendered to the marshal, on promise of
remaining unmolested. John d'Estouteville was made governor thereof;
and on the morrow of Christmas-day the army advanced to Monstier
Villiers, which was also surrendered by a Gascon called Jean du Puys,
who had been placed there by the English. The marshal made a person
called Courbenton its governor.
The successes were now increasing on all sides in Normandy,--and many
of the nobles took the oaths of fidelity to the marshal. The army was
now marched to Harfleur, and made on it a vigorous assault; but they
were repulsed by the garrison, with the loss of forty of their men
killed,--the principal of whom were the lord de Monstrieul-Bellay and
the bastard de Langle.
The marshal had determined to renew the attack on the morrow; but the
townsmen concluded a treaty to surrender, on condition that the four
hundred English in the place should depart in safety with their baggage
and property. The English captain, called William Minors, conducted his
men and baggage out of the town,--and the inhabitants took the oaths of
allegiance.
At the same time, the following towns surrendered to the king's
obedience, Le Bec Crespin, Tancarville, Gomerville, Les Loges, Valmont,
Grasville, Longueville, Lambreville, and very many forts, with little
loss to the French.