the mayor, sheriffs, and commonalty to be harangued by master Robert
le jeune, advocate and councellor to the duke of Burgundy, on the
sincere and loyal affection the duke bore to the king and realm, as
well as to the whole royal family. He explained the object of the
duke's enterprise as being to reform the abuses in the goverment of the
kingdom, which had been caused by those persons of low degree and weak
understandings, that had usurped the management of the king and his
council.
The townsmen of Beauvais were well satisfied with this harangue, and
finally consented to admit the duke, and as large a force as he should
please, into their town. The duke, in consequence, marched thither from
Mondidier, and was most joyfully received, carols being sung in all the
streets through which he passed. He was lodged at the bishop's palace,
and tarried there eight whole days,--while his army was quartered in
the adjacent country, which suffered severely therefrom, although it
was abundantly supplied with every necessary.
During his stay at Beauvais, some of the inhabitants from Gournay in
Normandy were deputed thither by the governor and commonalty, to submit
themselves to his obedience, and to offer attachment to his party. The
duke received them kindly, and made them swear obedience and loyalty to
the king and himself, which they instantly complied with.
He acquitted them of gabelles, subsidies, and all taxes, as he had done
to those of others of the king's towns that had submitted themselves to
him.
In the mean time, Hector and Philip de Saveuses, sir Elyon de
Jacqueville, and some other captains made an excursion to Beaumont sur
Oise, in the hope of gaining that pass; but it was well defended by the
constable's men within the place, and they were forced to return by the
town of Chambly le Haubergier, where they pillaged from churches and
other places, and brought a very considerable booty to the duke their
lord at Beauvais, who, a few days after, sent great part of his army to
quarter themselves at Chambly and in the neighbouring villages.
Shortly after, the duke departed from Beauvais with the remainder
of his army,--the whole of which was so considerable that it was
estimated, by those who ought to know, at sixty thousand horse.
By the intrigues and solicitations of a gentleman called Charles de
Mouy, the lord of Isle-Adam joined the party of the duke of Burgundy,
and delivered up his town and pass to John de Fosseux, Hector and
Philip de Saveuses, who placed therein, as a garrison, a sufficient
number of their men at arms. When the duke was informed of this, he was
very much rejoiced that the lord de l'Isle Adam had joined him, and
delivered up the passage through his town.
On the other hand, John de Luxembourg crossed the river Oise, with a
number of men at arms which he had at Presy, in small boats, making
their horses swim the river; and he quartered them at a village hard
by. The morrow, he led the greater part of them to Senlis, of which
town sir Robert d'Esne was bailiff for the king, having under him about
sixty combatants. He made a sally with his men on foot against those of
John of Luxembourg, and a grand skirmish took place.
However, the majority of the commonalty of the town were not well
pleased that sir Robert should thus wage war on the friends of the
duke of Burgundy: and on the ensuing night, when John of Luxembourg
had retreated, the townsmen rose, seized sir Robert d'Esne and all his
men, after eight or ten had been killed, and carried him to prison;
but through the interference of some of the principal inhabitants, he
was permitted to leave the town, with his men and baggage,--and he went
thence to Mont-Epiloy.
The next day those of Senlis sent very early for John of Luxembourg,
before whom they swore obedience to the duke of Burgundy. He received
their oaths in the names of the king and duke, promising loyalty and
good behaviour, and appointed Troullart de Moncruel bailiff of Senlis,
with other officers according to his pleasure. When this was done, John
of Luxembourg returned to the duke of Burgundy.
CHAP. LX.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY CROSSES THE RIVER OISE WITH HIS ARMY AT
L'ISLE-ADAM.--HE BESIEGES AND CONQUERS BEAUMONT AND PONTOISE,--WHENCE
HE REMOVES HIS QUARTERS TO L'ARBRE-SEC.
When the duke of Burgundy had repaired the bridge at l'Isle-Adam, the
greater part of his army passed over under the command of the lords de
Fosseux, de Vergy, and de Salnoe, and were lodged in the open fields,
and under hedges and bushes, within the distance of a league from where
they had crossed the river. On the morrow they decamped, and marched
in battle-array to Beaumont-sur-Oise, and quartered themselves in the
town, and around the castle, in spite of the resistance made by those
within it.
Sir Jennet de Poix, with four hundred combatants under his banner,
advanced to a village a league further, and on the road toward Paris,
which he fortified, and kept possession of until the whole army was
dislodged. The duke of Burgundy was encamped on the other side of the
river, and had his artillery pointed to batter the castle of Beaumont
from across the Oise; and they kept up so brisk an attack that the
castle was damaged in several places.
The besieged, seeing they were in danger of being taken by storm,
surrendered to the will of the duke of Burgundy. Fifty two persons
were found in the castle, nine of whom were beheaded, and their bodies
hung by the arms to trees: the rest or the greater part, were set at
liberty on paying a heavy ransom; and the lord de Vergy, marshal of the
army, received, by right of his office, all the effects that were found
in the castle.
The duke of Burgundy revictualled this castle, and gave the command
of it to a burgundian gentleman called John de Torsenay. After this
conquest, the duke ordered the van, which was on the opposite side of
the river, to advance toward Paris, and to quarter themselves at the
abbey of Morbuisson, and other places near to the town of Pontoise,
while the duke should encamp on the side toward Beauvais, and by this
means the town would be surrounded on all sides. On their arrival, the
garrison made a sally, but were repulsed and driven back; and the duke
soon after had his artillery pointed against the gates of Pontoise,
making other preparations to subdue them.
When the townsmen noticed these things, they opened a parley, and,
five days after, surrendered the place to the duke, on condition that
their lives and fortunes should be spared. They also promised not to
bear arms against him until Christmas-day ensuing; but this they did
not keep, for on his arrival at Paris they continued their warfare
against him as before.
There were within the town three captains having banners, namely, the
bastard de S. Terre, Tromagon and Maurigon, natives of Gascony, who
marched away together under the passport of the duke, and, crossing
the bridge at Meulan, went to Paris. After their departure, the duke,
with a few attendants, entered the town to examine it, and was well
received by several of the townsmen, who had been long attached to him.
When there, he issued a proclamation throughout the army, forbidding
all persons to enter the town but such as were especially ordered so
to do. To prevent the provisions within the place from being wasted or
destroyed, he appointed, in the king's name, and in his own, the lord
de l'Isle-Adam governor of it.
When these things were done, the duke marched away, taking the road to
Meulan, from which place terms were offered him; for the men at arms
who had been posted there by the constable had marched away, in company
with those from Pontoise to Paris.
The duke ordered his whole army to be drawn up in battle-array between
Pontoise and Meulan, that he might see it in order of battle, as
if in the presence of the enemy. The spot where the soldiers were
drawn up was a handsome plain at the foot of a hill; and it was a
very agreeable sight to him, for there were a number of nobles and
gentlemen handsomely equipped, and willing to serve him against all his
opponents: the principal, and those of name, were as follows.
First, count Philip de St Pol, son to duke Anthony of Brabant, and
nephew to the duke of Burgundy, sir John de Luxembourg, the lord
d'Antoing, the lord de Fosseux and his three brothers, the vidame of
Amiens, Anthony lord of Croy, the lord d'Auxi, sir Jenet de Poix, the
lord d'Inchy, the lord de Humieres, sir Robinet de Mailly and two
of his brothers, the lord de Rambures, sir John de Vaucourt and his
brother Louis, the younger de Renty, the lord de Varigines, the lord
de Cohem, sir Alliamus de Gappamus, sir Hue Burnel and his son sir
Louis, Robert le Roux, Robert de Bournouville, sir Charles Disque, the
lord de Fremeusent, the lord de Humbercourt bailiff of Amiens, sir
Charles de Lens, the lord de Noyelle, the lord de Longueval, sir Payen
de Beaufort, sir Pierre Kieret lord de Ramecourt, George la Personne,
sir Hue de Launoy and his brother sir Guillebert, the lord de Briauté,
sir David de Brimeu and his brother James, the lord de Saint-Leger and
his son sir Mauroy, David de Bouflers, sir John de Courcelles, John
de Flavy, sir Elyon de Jacqueville, the lord de Mesnil, Charlot de
Dully, the bastard de Namur, sir Gastellain Vas, John de Guigny, John
d'Aubigny, the bastard de Thian, Charles l'Abby, Matthew des Près, the
lord de Jaucourt, Guerard bastard de Brimeu, Emard de la Riviere and
his father Philip, Gadifer de Mazinqhen and his brother Thierry.
From the county of Flanders were the lord d'Estenu, the lord de
Comines, the lord de Gruthuse, the lord de Roubaiz, Robert and Victor,
bastards of Flanders, sir Victor de Rabbecque, Robert de Mauvignes,
Henry de Disquemude, sir Roland de Velereque, Hector de Venront, the
bastard de Collequent, and several others.
From Burgundy were the lord de Vergy marshal of Burgundy, sir Anthony
de Vergy, Louis de Châlons son to the prince of Orange, the lord de
Salines, sir John de la Trimouille lord de Souvelle, sir Regnier
Pot, the lord de Montagu, the lord de Neuf-Châtel, the lord de
Château-Vilain, the lord de Château-vieux, the lord de Rochefort, the
lord de Thy, sir John de Cotte-brune, the lord d'Ancre, the lord de
Toulongeon, sir William de Champdivers, the lord de Gastellus, sir John
de Digonne, sir Anthony de Toulongeon and his brother Andrew, le veau
de Bar, bailiff of Auxi, Henry de Champdivers, sir Gautier de Rupes,
Andrew de Salines, Regnault de Moncouvin, Anthony de la Marche, sir
James de Courtjambe lord of St Liebault, the lord de Rausse, Pierre de
Digonne, sir Peter de Bauffremont, Emard de Viene, John and Clavin du
Clau, with many other noblemen from various countries, who, with their
men, were drawn up in most handsome array for two hours,--during which
time the duke of Burgundy, attended by some of his most confidential
advisers, rode along the ranks, bowing to each battalion as he passed,
and thanking them most graciously for the honour and service they did
him. In truth, it was a pleasant spectacle to see so many nobles with
the flower of their men at arms thus handsomely drawn out.
When the review was over, he marched his army across the Seine, at the
bridge of Meulan; and then John de Fosseux and Hector de Saveuses,
with no more than two hundred combatants, advanced by Val-de-Galie to
a castle called Bayne, that belonged to the abbot of Fécamp, who was
within it. He made his peace with them by means of his relation Louis
de Saint-Saulieu, who was with Hector; and it was agreed that a party
of their men should remain in the castle, to guard it against others
of the Burgundians,--and in consideration of a sum of money, they
gave the abbot an agreement signed with their seals; but a few days
afterward, by the consent of Hector de Saveuses, as reported, Philip de
Saveuses, and others in his company carried off all the effects, and
did much damage to it.
The duke of Burgundy continued the march of his army until he came
to Mont-Rouge: whence Paris could be plainly seen. He there encamped
himself and his army, and the number of tents was so great that they
had the appearance of a considerable town. The duke ordered sir John
de Luxembourg to march his men to St Cloud, who, having quartered them
near to the bridge, made an attack on a small tower at the end of it,
near the town: it was soon taken and set on fire, as well as the mills
under the bridge, when some large bombards were pointed against the
tower of St Cloud, which greatly damaged it in many places; but it was
not taken, for continual reinforcements came from Paris to defend it.
When the duke of Burgundy had remained for eight days on Mont-Rouge,
he decamped with his army, and advanced a league nearer to Paris, to
a hill whereon was a withered tree, on which he fixed his standard,
and thence was this encampment called 'the camp of the withered tree.'
He remained here also for eight days; and as many of his men were
quartered in the villages close to Paris, several skirmishes took place
between them and the Parisians, although no great losses ensued on
either side. The foragers from the duke's army scoured the country for
eight leagues round, and brought to the camp great booties of horses,
cattle, sheep and pigs, to the ruin of the poor peasantry.
CHAP. LXI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS HIS HERALD TO THE KING OF FRANCE IN
PARIS.--THE ANSWER HE RECEIVES.--THE SIEGE OF MONTLEHERY,--AND OTHER
MATTERS.
During the time when the duke of Burgundy was encamped at the withered
tree on Mont-Chastillon, before Paris, he sent one of his heralds
called Palis, who was afterward Flanders king at arms, with letters
to the king and the dauphin of France. On his arrival at the gates of
Paris, he was led to the count d'Armagnac and the king's ministers, who
bade him address the dauphin, and give to him his letters, for that
he could not be admitted to the presence of the king,--which he did,
shortly detailing the object of his mission from the duke of Burgundy.
The dauphin, who had been well instructed what answer he was to make,
replied in a great rage, 'Herald, contrary to the will of my lord the
king and of us, thy lord of Burgundy has already destroyed several
parts of the kingdom, and, by his persevering in his conduct, he
plainly shews that he is not our wellwisher as he signs himself. If
he be anxious that my lord and ourself should consider him as our
relative, loyal vassal and subject, let him march to combat and conquer
the king of England, the ancient enemy of this realm, and then return
to the king, when he shall be well received. Let him no longer say that
my lord the king and ourself are kept in servitude at Paris, for we
both of us enjoy our full liberty and authority; and do thou be careful
that thou repeat what we have just said, aloud to the duke of Burgundy,
and in the presence of his army.'
After this speech, the herald returned to his lord, and repeated to him
what the dauphin had said, which made no great impression on the duke,
for he considered it as the speech of those who governed the king.
When the duke perceived that he could not gain admittance to Paris,
and that his partisans in that city were unable to perform what they
had promised him, he decamped from Mont-Chastillon, with his whole
army, to lay siege to Montlehery. The inhabitants, knowing the power
of the duke, and thinking they should not be supported, entered into
a treaty to surrender the castle, if within eight days they were not
succoured by the king or the constable. They sent information of this
treaty to the constable, but it was of no avail, for no succours were
sent,--and they delivered up the castle conformably to their agreement.
In like manner were reduced to the obedience of the duke of Burgundy
the castles of Marcoussy, Dourdan, Palaiseau, and some other forts in
the neighbourhood. During the siege of Montlehery, the duke detached a
part of his army to the castle of Doursay, who lodged themselves in the
town, in front of the castle, and there pointed some cannons to batter
the walls and conquer it; but a large body of the constable's men
attacked their quarters at break of day, and slew the greater part of
them. Those who escaped fled to the quarters of the duke of Burgundy,
crying, 'To arms! for that the enemy were marching in great force
against them.'
The duke instantly drew up his army in battle-array on the plain, as
if the enemy had been in sight. The leaders of the detachment sent to
Doursay were the lord de Salines, the lord de Toulongeon, and some
other captains from Burgundy; and at this surprise were made prisoners
sir Geoffroy de Villers, a knight from the Rethelois, with fifty other
gentlemen.
While this was going forward, the duke dispatched sir Elyon de
Jacqueville John de Guigny, John du Clau, and other captains, with
sixteen hundred combatants to Chartres,--which place with Estampes,
Gallardon, and other towns and forts, surrendered to the duke of
Burgundy. Jacqueville remained governor of Chartres. In like manner,
sir Philip de Fosseux and Robert le Roux were sent to the lady de la
Riviere at Auniau, who promised that she would not admit any garrisons
into her forts of Auniau and Rochefort, that would carry on war against
the duke of Burgundy or his wellwishers.
At this time, numbers of towns, castles, and noble men joined the duke,
in the expectation that he would succeed in his enterprise and obtain
the government of the kingdom. In the towns which submitted to his
obedience, he would not allow any taxes to be raised excepting that
on salt, which gained him great popularity among the inhabitants and
peasantry of the countries round. He also sent letters to many of the
principal towns in France, of the following tenour.
'John duke of Burgundy, count of Flanders and Artois, palatine of
Burgundy, lord of Salines and Mechlin. Very dear and good friends,
you have known, from melancholy experience, the miserable system of
government which is adopted in this kingdom, as well with regard to
the king as the country, by those who have seized the management of
our lord the king, without respect or care for his royal majesty; but,
forgetful of every thing, they have impoverished his estate, and his
own personal wealth, which formerly acquired for him great renown
among Christian princes. His government was, anciently, celebrated
for the equity of the courts of justice, which was administered
indiscriminately to the poor as well as to the rich; but the present
ministers have so greatly neglected it that it has fallen off, and
is now directed according to their pleasure, while all parts of his
majesty's dominions are in a state of anarchy, and a prey to the bitter
enemies of the kingdom, by the destruction of the nobles and other
supporters of the dignity of the crown.
'Heavy taxes, under various pretences, have been and are raised, to
the great vexation and ruin of the nobility, clergy, citizens and
commonalty, who groan under them.
'To obviate and reform these and similar abuses, we have taken up
arms, as it is well known to you; for we have frequently and publicly
summoned these ministers to desist from such practises declaring that
otherwise we should ourselves provide a remedy, for the benefit of
our said lord the king, so that an adequate provision might be made
for his establishment, his kingdom be better governed, and the lost
territories recovered.
'And again, while we were lately before Paris, we sent our herald to
our said lord the king, with sealed letters, in which we repeated the
grounds of our conduct, supplicating him that we might be permitted to
approach his sacred person, and make offer of our personal services
to him as to our sovereign lord; but the present ministry would not
allow these letters to be given to our said lord, and sent them back
to us. They forbade our herald to return again, and continue their
usual mode of government to the destruction of the realm and of all
his majesty's loyal subjects, because they know that we are averse to
their measures which are daily becoming from bad to worse. It is this
which engages us to persevere in our resistance whatever may be the
consequences thereof, that they may no longer continue their wicked
practices, and that commerce may have free course, and the kingdom
may be governed according to justice. Such is our firm intention that
we may loyally acquit ourselves; for it has been pronounced by the
holy court of Rome, that it behoves us to attend to the government of
the kingdom, considering the unfortunate state of the king and the
youth of the dauphin, rather than the count d'Armagnac, or those who
style themselves council to the king. In confirmation of this, we have
annexed to these presents the decree that was pronounced by the holy
college in the presence of a very learned doctor, our ambassador to the
court of Rome.
'We therefore summon you in the name of our said lord, and earnestly
request you on our part, that you take the above subjects into your
serious consideration, and form such conclusions as may be honourable
to our aforesaid lord, and to the preservation of his lineage and
dominions; and that all his subjects may enjoy peace and justice, and
that these our intentions may be adopted by you, is the earnest object
of our wishes.
'We request, that on the 20th day of October next ensuing, you would
depute to us not less than two well-instructed persons, at whatever
place we may be, with whom we may advise with sufficient powers to form
any treaties in your names, and in those of the prelates, chapters, and
all dependances on your jurisdiction.
'Be careful that herein you fail not, from the love you bear our
aforesaid lord, ourselves and his realm. Should you desire any thing
from us, you have but to mention it and we will do it to the utmost of
our power. Written at Montlehery, the 8th day of October.'
Underneath is a copy of the schedule from the college of cardinals,
annexed to the duke of Burgundy's mandatory letter.
'I Lievin Nevelin, doctor en decret, ambassador from the sacred college
of cardinals, to the most mighty and puissant prince my lord the duke
of Burgundy, have presented to him, on the part of the sacred college,
letters sealed with three seals, namely, that of the dean of the
cardinal-bishops, of the dean of the cardinal-priests, and of the dean
of the cardinal-deacons, which are my credential letters, and which I
have explained to my lord the duke, by offering to him from the sacred
college the words of the holy prophet David, 'Domine refugium factus
es nobis;' that is to say, 'Lord, in times of trouble we seek refuge
in thee.' In continuing my discourse from the above text and for many
reasons comparing the sacred college to king David, I have laid before
my said lord of Burgundy the state of the holy council of Constance,
and the labours of the cardinals to restore union to the church.
'I afterward explained to him, that all Christendom was now united,
except as it were a single grain in a bushel of wheat, namely, the
dominions of the count d'Armagnac, who still obey Pietro della Luna,
and whose adherents have been declared schismatics and guilty of
heresy. I then explained, that I was sent by the sacred college
as ambassadors to him, not simply as duke of Burgundy, but as the
representative of the crown of France, and to whom the government of
that country legally belonged, to make to him certain requests and
propositions from the sacred college; and I mentioned the reasons why
I was deputed to him, and not to the king, to my lord the dauphin, the
count d'Armagnac, or to the king's ministers. These reasons were, as
the sacred college bade me inform him, because my lord the king was
overwhelmed with a sore disorder, because my lord the dauphin was too
young in years, and because the count d'Armagnac had relapsed into
schism, and some of the king's ministers, adherents to the count, were
suspected of being schismatics also.
'True it is, that the said count d'Armagnac has not been pronounced
schismatic; but at the public sessions of the council, when Pietro
della Luna was dethroned and declared schismatic and heretic, he was
personally accused by the king of the Romans, and the procureur-fiscal
of the said council, and has since relapsed into schism,
notwithstanding the frivolous excuses made in his behalf by master John
Gerson.