attached to the party of the duke of Burgundy, under various standards:
the principal leaders were, St Mauroy de St Leger, sir Jennet de Poix,
his brother David, the lord de Sores in Beauvoisis, Jean de Fosseux,
Hector and Philippe de Saveuses, Ferry de Mailly, Louis de Varigines,
sir Payen de Beaufort, sir Louis de Burnel, Jean de Donquerre, Guerard,
bastard de Bruneu, and numbers of others, who, with displayed banners,
invaded the territories of France; in particular, the countries of Eu
and Aumale, and those lands in Santerre, as far as the river Oise,
that belonged to such as were favourers of the Orleans party. In these
parts they committed every sort of ravage, plundering the property,
and making the inhabitants prisoners, as would be done to a country
against which war had been declared.
There were also other companies formed by captains under pretence
of their attachment to the duke of Burgundy, such as sir Gastellin,
a lombard knight, Jean de Gaingy, Jean de Clau, and Lamain de Clau,
Savoyards, Jean d'Aubigny, the bastard de Sallebruche, Charles l'Abbè,
the bastard de Thian, Matthieu des Près, Panchette, the bastard Penar,
and others, who amounted to two thousand horsemen when they were all
assembled. They for a long time quartered themselves on the territories
of Burgundy as well as France, and did incredible mischief to both.
Sir Gastellin and his men even took the castle of Oisy in the
Cambresis, belonging to the daughter and heiress of sir Robert de Bar,
and held it for a long time, using that and its dependances as if they
had been his own property.
About the same time, the lord de Sores, with six hundred combatants,
marched to Pont Avaire[48], and thence advanced toward Paris, and
placed themselves in ambuscade at La Chappelle[49] until the gates
should be opened. Shortly after their arrival, a man rode to them on
a white horse from Paris, and, having said a few words to the lord
de Sores, he returned thither the same road he had come. While they
remained, they made several men and women prisoners for fear of being
discovered by them to the Parisians; but seeing their enterprise had
failed, they sounded their trumpets and retreated hastily toward
Beaumont-sur-Oise. Their object had been to seize the king of Sicily by
the aid of some of the Parisians.
When they were near Beaumont, they sent fourteen of their men in
advance, having upright crosses on their breasts, to tell the wardens
of the gate that the king had sent them to guard the passes of the Oise
against the Burgundians. By their speeches and appearance, they gained
belief; but they had no sooner entered than they killed the wardens,
and kept possession of the gate. Their whole body attacked the castle,
which they took, and slew the governor and his son.
After they had made a great slaughter in the town, and pillaged it
of every thing they marched away, but neither set fire to it nor the
castle, carrying their plunder and prisoners with them to Mouy in
Clermont, wasting all the country they passed through. From Mouy they
marched by Montdidier to Nesle in the Vermandois, belonging to the
count de Dampmartin. Many other captains there joined them, among whom
was sir Mauroy before mentioned. They resolved to storm the town, and
succeeded notwithstanding the vigorous defence of the inhabitants, who
well performed their duty. Many were killed and wounded, and numbers
made prisoners; among the latter was the governor, sir Blanchet du
Sollier. The town was plundered of every thing, and it was at the time
full of merchandise on account of the fair. After remaining there
about a fortnight, to sell their pillage and wait for the ransom of
their prisoners, they departed, carrying on carts and cars the remnant
of what they had gained, which was immense.
When information of these proceedings was given to the king, the
constable, and the grand council, they were much incensed at the duke
of Burgundy, to whom they said these captains belonged; and to provide
a remedy, the following edict was proclaimed throughout the realm.
'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to all to whom these
presents shall come, greeting.
'Since the most supreme and excellent, the sovereign King of kings
JESUS CHRIST our Creator, has, through his divine grace and clemency,
selected us to govern and rule over the very renowned, and most noble
kingdom of France, it behoves us to exert our best endeavours to
secure peace to our subjects, and that all disturbers thereof should
be punished, in order that impartial justice be distributed and our
people live in peace and security.
'Whereas it has come to our knowledge, by the report of our council,
and by others worthy of belief, and also by the great complaints,
and doleful clamours of numbers of our subjects, as well as by the
confessions of malefactors, justly put to death, the which we record
in great sorrow and bitterness of heart, that Hector de Saveuses,
Phillippe de Saveuses his brother, Elyon de Jacqueville, Pierre de
Sorel, Gotrant lord de St Leger, Mauroy de St Leger his son, Jacques
de Fosseux, Calvin de Clau, Jean d'Aubigny, Fierebourg, Matthieu dès
Près, Jean de Poix, Daviod his brother, Camuset de Ligny, Gastellin,
Cormeri, of the order of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem, the
commander de Sagestre, Panchette, Henri de la Tour, Pierson Tube, Jean
de Cauffour, Henri de Cauffour le Valois, Jacques de Calivray, Ramon
Marcq, Denisot de Baugis, Guillaume le Glois, Martelet Testart, Jacques
le Masson, Benois de Bessin, Guillemot de la Planche de Douay, le Tor
d'emprès Douay, Jean Pallemargue, Robinet le vicomte, la barbe de
Craon, Jean Jaully Picard, Robinet de Bray, le curé de Vaulx, prestre,
Jean Louis de Cumillers, Robin d'Ays, Guillaume Mignot Brebiettes
emprès Compiegne, Thomas de Plaisance, le grand Thomas Mignot, Jacquet
de Clavin, Perrin de Chevrerieres, Henri de Hailly, Jean de Peresin,
Jean Bertrand butcher of St Denis, Guillaume de Cormeuil, Guillaume de
Chify du Brunet, master Robert trumpeter to our cousin of Burgundy,
Perrin trumpeter to Jean d'Aubigny, Jennet one of the archers of the
body guard of our said cousin of Burgundy, Jean de Vienon, Jean de
Tourgney governor of Champlost[50], Puissevin d'Aussorros, Charles
l'Abbé, the bastard Cognart de l'Aussorrois, the bastard de Launois
Guynis, Rousselet le batelier, Philippot Vezis de Sens, Estienne Guyart
de Sens, Symon le Vigneron de Joigny, Estienne de la Croix, the son
of the host at Sens, Colin de l'hôpital, the bastard de Chaullay, the
bastard Guignart, three brothers du Moyne de Collanges sur Yonne, Jean
de Duilly, Charlot de Duilly, and a company of _fuzelaires_, calling
themselves _Begaux_, accompanied by numbers of others, disturbers of
the peace, among whom are some whom the laws have for ever banished our
kingdom for their wickedness, having assembled themselves in companies
contrary to our will and express orders.
'This they daily persevere in doing and in overrunning divers parts of
our realm, gaining by force or sublety many towns and castles belonging
to us, or to our noble vassals and clergy, and plundering them of all
their wealth. Not content with this, they, like to perverse sinners,
delighting in the effusion of blood put to death and wound not only
such as shall attempt to defend their properties but the peaceable and
well-inclined inhabitants of the said towns and castles, who only wish
to remain in tranquillity.
'But what has astonished us the most, and which we would not have
believed if sad experience had not convinced us of it, they have
frequently advanced even to the walls of our good town of Paris, the
principal seat of government and justice of our realm, and have
attempted to enter it by fraud, to commit similar crimes to those they
had done in other towns; and more particularly, a few nights since they
made one of these mad and foolish attempts.
'They have also marched large bodies of armed men to the gates of the
said town, knowing, at the same time, that we, our very dear companion
the queen, and our son the duke of Touraine, with others of our
blood, were personally within it. They then endeavoured fraudulently
to gain admittance, which, should they have affected, (but through
God's pleasure they failed,) murders, thefts, rapines, rapes, and
every horrid mischief would have ensued to the ruin of that town, and,
consequently, to the destruction of the church and kingdom.
'We point out, therefore, the before-mentioned persons as guilty of
these atrocious acts, and call on our faithful and loyal subjects to
assist us heartily in putting an end to their very heinous misdeeds.
There is very clear evidence of this last fact; for when they found
they could not by any means enter our said town of Paris, like madmen
they gallopped off for the town of Beaumont-sur-Oise, belonging to
our very dear and well beloved son and nephew the duke of Orleans,
now prisoner in England, and on their march seized horses from the
plough, and robbed and made prisoners every traveller they met. After
this, they took the said town and castle by storm, plundered it, and
killed or drowned very many of townsmen. In like manner they took the
town of Nesle in Vermandois, and had before done the same to our town
of Chablis[51], to the castle of Néant, belonging to the monks of La
Charité sur Loire, with numbers of other castles, towns and villages,
laying violent hands on women of all descriptions, violating them like
beasts, pillaging churches and other sacred edifices, of which we are
every day receiving the most melancholy accounts and lamentations.
'Greater mischiefs our ancient enemies the English would not, nor
could not do; but these wretches, perversely wicked, add daily sin
to sin, publicly shewing themselves rebels, and disobedient to our
positive commands. They thus render themselves deserving of the
severest punishments, and unworthy of the smallest grace, by holding
ourselves and our sovereign power in perfect contempt.
'In consideration of the many and repeated complaints and lamentations
made to us, by such numbers of our vassals and subjects, calling on
God, our Creator, and on us for vengeance for the innocent blood that
has been so cruelly shed,--we foreseeing that unless a stop be put to
these atrocities, the whole kingdom will be ruined, and which we firmly
believe to be the ultimate object of the before-named persons, have
called together the princes of our blood, the members of our grand
council and courts of parliament, with other barons and nobles of our
realm, that they might advise on the best and most speedy measures to
be adopted for the crushing this unnatural rebellion.
'After many consultations on the said matters, we having the utmost
dread lest the divine judgement should fall on our head and on our
kingdom, for the blood of the just that has been so abundantly and
cruelly shed, and being ever desirous that peace and justice may be
observed in our realm, do make known, and declare all the aforesaid
persons, with their allies and associates, rebels to us and to our
government. And because we at this moment are fully employed in the
war that exists between us and our enemies the English, who have
invaded our country, and cannot therefore act as we should wish
against these said rebels and their allies: we therefore give full
power and authority to all our loyal subjects to take up arms against
them to put them to death, or to confine them in prison to suffer the
punishment due to their crimes, and to take full possession of all
their properties moveable or immoveable, by force of arms, and to slay
such as may oppose them, without their having cause for any letters of
pardon whatever.
'We therefore command, by these presents, the bailiff of Amiens, or
his lieutenant, solemnly to proclaim three times a-week, with sound of
trumpet, in all the usual places where proclamations have been made
within his district, full licence and authority for any one to seize
the persons and effects of the before-named rebels, and to put them
to death, should need be, without danger of process or suit being
hereafter made against him or them for so doing. The said bailiff, or
his lieutenant, will attend to the observance of the above, so that
nothing arise through his neglect to our prejudice, or to that of our
kingdom.
'That greater confidence may be put in these presents, we order, that
exact copies be made, and sent to those parts where the original cannot
be proclaimed, and that equal faith be given to them. In testimony
whereof, we have had our seal affixed to these presents. Given at
Paris, the 30th day of August, in the year of grace 1416, and of our
reign the 36th.'
Thus signed by the king, on the report of his great council, and
countersigned 'Ferron.'
This edict was solemnly proclaimed in Amiens the 12th day of September
and thence sent to all the provosts within the bailiwick of Amiens, to
be proclaimed by them throughout their provostships. The provosts of
Beauquesnes, of Montrieul of St Riquier, and of Dourleans, through fear
of the duke of Burgundy, dared only to proclaim it once, and in their
own courts, when few people were present.
Soon after, Remonnet de la Guerre was ordered by the king and constable
to Noyon and Nesles, to aid sir Thomas de Lersies, bailiff of the
Vermandois, in defending the country against the Burgundians.
War was now openly declared between the contending factions in that and
divers other places of the realm. In truth wherever any of the king's
officers could lay hands on the partisans of the duke of Burgundy, none
escaped, whether nobles or not, from being sentenced to death; and more
especially all who fell into the hands of the governor of Noyon and
the parts adjacent were put to death without mercy,--insomuch that many
trees near to that town were marvellously laden with such fruits.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 48: Pont-Avaire. Q. if we should not read Pont-St. Maixence,
for the other is not in any map or gazetteer.]
[Footnote 49: La Chappelle,--a village close to Paris.]
[Footnote 50: Champlost,--a town in Champagne, election of St
Florentin.]
[Footnote 51: Chablis,--diocese of Langres, famous for its wines.]
CHAP. XLIII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY INCREASES HIS MEN AT ARMS.--THE MARRIAGE OF THE
LORD DE LA TRIMOUILLE.--THE DUKE OF CLARENCE EMBARKS A LARGE ARMY FOR
HARFLEUR.
The duke of Burgundy, when he heard of this edict, so prejudicial
and disgraceful to himself and his friends, was more than ever
indignant and irritated against those who governed the king. He very
much increased the number of his men at arms, and even consented to
their quartering themselves on his own territories in the Cambresis,
Tierrache, Vermandois, Santerre, and the whole country from the Somme
to the sea-coast, toward Montrieul and Crotoy. Justice was now no
longer attended to or maintained in those parts; and the powerful
nobles cruelly treated churchmen and the poorer ranks. With regard to
the provosts, and others of the king's officers of justice, few, if any
of them, dared to do their duty. The tradesmen could not venture abroad
with their goods out of the fortified towns without paying tribute for
passports, under risk of being robbed and murdered.
At this time the widowed duchess of Berry espoused the lord de la
Trimouille, who was not beloved by the duke of Burgundy; and because
this duchess was in her own right countess of the Boulonois, the duke
sent the lord de Fosseux, then governor of Artois, to take possession
of the town of Boulogne. This was done, but the lord de Moruel remained
governor of it in the king's name, against the English.
At this same period, the duke of Clarence, brother to the king of
England, sailed from the port of Sandwich with three hundred vessels
full of English, whom he led to Harfleur, and destroyed the french
navy under the command of the constable of France, who had for some
time besieged that town. Many were killed on board the fleet; but when
the duke of Clarence had revictualled it, and supplied his losses, he
sailed back to England much rejoiced at his good success.
CHAP. XLIV.
THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY AND THE KING OF ENGLAND COME TO CALAIS. DUKE
JOHN OF BURGUNDY MEETS THEM THERE.--THE MATTERS THAT WERE THEN
TRANSACTED.
About the feast of St Remy, in this year, the emperor of Germany and
the king of England came to Calais, attended by numbers of nobles. The
duke of Burgundy there met them, and was most honourably received; and
the duke of Glocester, brother to king Henry went to St Omer as hostage
for the duke of Burgundy, where he was nobly entertained by the count
de Charolois, and by other great lords appointed for that purpose.
However, when the count de Charolois visited the duke of Glocester the
day after his arrival attended by some of the lords of his council,
to do him honour, and keep him company, the duke had his back turned
towards him as the count entered the apartment, and was so engaged in
talking to some of his attendants that he forgot to make the usual
salutations to the count, but said, shortly enough, 'You are welcome,
fair cousin,' but without advancing to meet him, and continued his
conversation with the English. The count de Charolois, notwithstanding
his youth, was much hurt and displeased at this conduct, although at
the moment he showed no signs of it.
In the conferences held at Calais, the king of England earnestly
requested the duke of Burgundy not to assist the king of France against
him; in which case, he would divide some of his future conquests with
him; promising, at the same time, not to attack any of his territories,
or those of his allies or well-wishers. The duke refused to agree
to this; but the truce that existed between them was prolonged until
Michaelmas-day in the year 1419.
At that time, as I was informed, the duke of Burgundy did homage to the
emperor for his counties of Burgundy and Alost. When he had remained
in Calais nine days, and finished the business on which he had come,
he took leave of the king and returned to St Omer, whence the duke of
Glocester came to Calais. The king of France and his ministers were
much astonished at this visit of the duke of Burgundy and believed for
certain that he had allied himself with king Henry, to the prejudice of
the king and kingdom of France.
CHAP. XLV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY GOES TO VALENCIENNES, IN OBEDIENCE TO A SUMMONS
WHICH HE RECEIVES FROM THE DAUPHIN. THEY MUTUALLY SWEAR FRIENDSHIP TO
EACH OTHER.
On the return of the duke of Burgundy from Calais, duke William count
of Hainault sent ambassadors to him, to request that he would meet the
dauphin his son-in-law, which he refused, because he had frequently
sent to his brother-in-law, duke William in Holland, to desire he
would bring the dauphin into those parts, and it had not been complied
with. The dauphin, nevertheless, wrote letters with his own hand to
the duke of Burgundy, to come to him at Valenciennes, who promised the
messengers that he would be there,--and indeed he went thither on the
12th day of November.
Duke William went out of Valenciennes the length of a league to meet
him, carrying with him the dauphin. On the morrow such matters were
discussed and agreed on as shall be hereafter mentioned, in the
presence of the countess of Hainault, the count de Charolois, the
count de Conversan, and many other able knights and esquires, and the
ministers of the three parties, namely sir Jean de Luxembourg, sir
Jacques de Harcourt, the chancellor to the dauphin, Baudouin de Fresnes
treasurer of Hainault, Robert de Vandegrès, Jean bastard of Blois,
master Eustace de Lactre, the lord d'Antoing, the vidame of Amiens,
the lord de Fosseux, the lord d'Ancre, the lord de Robais, the lord
de Humbercourt, sir Hue de Launoy, sir Guillaume Bouvier governor of
Arras, sir Athis de Brimeu, sir Andrieu de Valines, master Philippe de
Morvillers, and many more.
First, the duke of Burgundy offered himself and his services to the
dauphin, and promised on his oath to serve the king his father and
himself, to the utmost of his power, against all their enemies. This
promise the dauphin received with pleasure, and, in return, made oath,
that he would aid and defend the duke of Burgundy against his enemies
and all ill wishers to him or to his subjects.
The dauphin then affectionately requested the duke to join the king
in the defence of his realm against the attacks of the English, which
he promised and swore he would. He next required of the duke, that
he would keep the peace that had been concluded at Auxerre. The duke
replied, that he would most willingly do so, for he was very desirous
of maintaining that peace, and that he wished ill to no one but to the
king of Sicily.
The dauphin was satisfied with this answer, and made offer to the duke,
that if there were any articles in the peace which he wished to have
altered, or if he desired others to be added, as well in regard to what
had passed then as since, it should be done. All present then made
oath to the duke of Burgundy for the observance of what had been said,
and duke William and the duke of Burgundy mutually swore to maintain
brotherly affection; and that they would endeavour to establish a good
government for the king of France and the dauphin, that they would
mutually support each other, as well when absent as present, by risking
their persons in maintaining whatever they should have agreed upon.
Duke William added, that in respect to the war between France and
England, his predecessors had no way interfered, and that he intended
in this matter to follow their example, lest his countries should
suffer for it. Duke William afterward promised the duke of Burgundy,
that he would not intrust the dauphin to the hands of any person of
whom he was not sure, for the better security of the engagements just
entered into; and that within fifteen days he would visit the queen of
France, and would arrange matters with her, so that he should regain
her friendship and support for the good of the king and realm. When all
these matters had been concluded, the duke of Burgundy and his people
returned to Douay.
CHAP. XLVI.
DUKE WILLIAM COUNT OF HAINAULT CARRIES HIS SON-IN-LAW THE DAUPHIN
TO ST QUENTIN, AND THENCE TO COMPIEGNE, WHERE HE DIES.--THE CONDUCT
OBSERVED ON THIS JOURNEY.
On the 14th day of November, duke William carried back the dauphin to
his castle of Quesnoy, whither ambassadors of different ranks were sent
by the king and queen to recal the dauphin to the presence of the king
in Paris; but, notwithstanding their remonstrances, he remained at
Quesnoy until after Christmas. Duke William then conducted him to St
Quentin in the Vermandois, where they waited for the queen until the
epiphany; and because the queen would not come to St Quentin, the duke
carried the dauphin to Compiegne, where he was lodged in the king's
palace. Shortly after, the countess of Hainault came thither with her
daughter the dauphiness, and a large company.
The queen came in great state from Paris to Senlis, accompanied by
her son the duke of Touraine and her son-in-law the duke of Brittany,
and the great council of the king. At the same time, the young duke
d'Alençon, and other lords of his age, went to Compiegne to pay their
court to the dauphin. Negotiations now took place between Senlis and
Compiegne. The countess of Hainault carried the dauphiness to visit
the queen at Senlis, when, after spending some time together in much
cheerfulness, they went back to Compiegne, and the queen returned to
Paris, whither the negociations were transferred between duke William,
the ministers of the dauphin and ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy.
True it is, that at this time, the dauphin sent letters, sealed with
his great seal, to the bailiffs of Vermandois and Amiens, and other
places, commanding them to proclaim a cessation of warfare on all
sides, on pain of corporal punishment and confiscation of effects; but
they were of little service to the poor people, for the men at arms
did not the less overrun and oppress the country.