he would be pleased to have in his protection the sacred college, the
pope, and the proceedings of the said general council, by guarding and
maintaining them in their ancient rights, liberties and privileges.
Secondly, that should any one write, or cause to be written in time to
come, any things against the said holy college or pope, he would not
give faith to such writings. Thirdly, that my said lord would approve
of whatever acts the said sacred college should issue, as well touching
the election of the pope as the reformation of the holy church.' At the
end of this schedule, the said Lieven had put his sign-manual.
CHAP. LXII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS SIEGE TO CORBEIL.--HE MARCHES THENCE TO
CHARTRES AND INTO TOURAINE, ON THE SUMMONS OF THE QUEEN OF FRANCE, WHO
ACCOMPANIES HIM ON HIS RETURN.
When the duke of Burgundy had submitted to his obedience the castle of
Montlehery, and re-furnished it with provision and stores, he marched
his army to lay siege to Corbeil on the side toward Montlehery. He
planted many cannons and other engines to batter it in vain; for the
constable and the king's ministers had strongly garrisoned the place
with men at arms, who made a vigorous defence against the duke, and
daily slew his men by their cannon and other shot. The garrison was
continually supplied, as well by land as by water, with provision,
ammunition, and all other necessary articles.
In short, after the duke had remained about three weeks before Corbeil,
seeing he was unable to conquer it, and that his army was much
harrassed by the continued rains, and by an epidemic disorder which
carried off many, he raised the siege, and departed from before Corbeil
on the 28th day of October, taking the road to Chartres.
The duke left behind, in his camp, many warlike engines, and great
quantities of provision which merchants had brought to his army: all of
these things the besieged carried into their town, on the departure of
the duke, and were highly rejoiced that their enemies had left them.
During the siege of Corbeil, sir Mauroy de St Legier was struck with a
bolt from a cross-bow so severely on the leg that he was maimed, and
limped all his life after.
The real cause of the duke of Burgundy's breaking up the siege of
Corbeil so suddenly, was a private message which he received by a
confidential servant from the queen of France, then resident at Tours
in Touraine, to request he would come and release her from her state
of confinement, as she thought herself in much danger. The duke, in
consequence, had sent one of his secretaries called John de Drosay to
make further inquiries, and to conclude a treaty with the queen.
The queen promised to accompany the duke provided he would come to
fetch her; and, for a confirmation thereof she gave the secretary a
golden signet to present to his lord. This signet was known by the
duke, for he had often seen it; and on his arrival at Chartres, on the
eve of the feast of All-saints, attended by the greater part of his
nobles, and those of the men at arms best mounted and equipped, he
suddenly set off, taking the road through Bonneval and Vendôme to Tours.
When he was within two leagues of that place, he sent forward the lords
de Fosseux and du Vergy with eight hundred combatants, who posted
themselves in ambuscade half a league distant from Tours; at the same
time dispatching a trusty messenger to inform the queen of the duke's
arrival.
On hearing this, she called to her master John Torel, master John Petit
and master Laurens du Puy, her principal wardens, and told them she
wished to hear mass at a church without the town, called Marmoutier,
and that they must prepare themselves to accompany her. They exhorted
her to lay such thoughts aside, but in vain, for she shortly after
issued out of Tours, and carried them with her to the aforesaid church.
The lords in ambuscade almost instantly advanced in front of the
church, and sent Hector de Saveuses forward to the queen with about
sixty combatants. Her warders approached her as she was hearing mass,
and said, 'Lady, here is a large company of Burgundians or English';
but she, like one unsuspicious of what was intended, ordered them to
keep near her.
Hector de Saveuses then entered the church, and saluted her in the
name of his lord the duke of Burgundy. She, in reply, asked where he
was,--when he said that he would instantly be with her. After these
words, she commanded Hector to lay hands on masters John Torel, Petit
and Laurens du Puy: the last she hated much, for he addressed her very
rudely, without raising his hand to his hood, and never bowing to
her,--beside, she could not any way act without the consent of Laurens
du Puy. Finding he could not escape being arrested if he remained, he
flew out of the church and entered a small boat by the back-yard, to
cross the river Loire, but in such haste that he fell into the water
and was drowned: the others were taken prisoners.
All this passed about nine o'clock in the morning: at eleven the duke
of Burgundy waited on the queen and paid her the respect that was her
due, which she returned and said, 'Most dear cousin, of all men in the
kingdom I ought to love you the most, for having laid aside every other
thing and complying with my request to come hither and deliver me from
prison, and which my dear cousin I shall never forget; for I clearly
see that you have always loved my lord, his family, his kingdom, and
the public welfare.'
They afterward dined together with much cheerfulness in the said
church; after which, the queen sent notice to the inhabitants of Tours,
that she and her cousin the duke of Burgundy would make a public entry
into their town; but, by the advice of the governor, the inhabitants
delayed a little in their answer: however, at last they complied with
what had been demanded, when the governor retired into the castle, and
the queen and the duke, with their attendants and escort, made their
entry.
The duke was handsomely received and entertained in Tours; after which,
the queen sent a passport and orders for the governor to come to her,
whom she commanded to deliver up the castle, which he did, though much
against his will. When the duke had tarried three days with the queen,
he appointed Charles l'Abbé? governor of the town and castle, with
two hundred combatants for its defence. He took an oath carefully to
guard and defend it in the name and on behalf of the duke of Burgundy;
but this oath he was very unmindful of, for in the following year he
surrendered both town and castle to the dauphin, while he was continued
governor, taking a similar oath.
The queen and the duke of Burgundy caused proclamation to be made
through Tours, that no one was to pay any subsidies or taxes but that
on salt. They then departed for Vendôme, where was issued a similar
proclamation, and then continued their route through Bonneval to
Chartres, where they arrived the 9th day of November. The queen was
accompanied by four carriages containing twenty women. She had only one
knight with her, called sir Robert le Cyne, with whose prudence and
discretion she was well pleased.
CHAP. LXIII.
THE QUEEN, ON HER ARRIVAL AT CHARTRES, WRITES TO SEVERAL OF THE
PRINCIPAL TOWNS IN FRANCE.--SOME NEW ORDINANCES ARE MADE FOR THE
BETTER GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM.
On the queen's arrival at Chartres, it was resolved that she should
write letters in her own name to all those towns that had submitted to
the obedience of the duke of Burgundy. A copy of that addressed to the
town of Amiens now follows.
'Very dear and well beloved,--you know that by the intrigues and
damnable avarice and ambition of some persons of low degree, who have
seized the person and government of my lord and his kingdom, unnumbered
mischiefs have arisen, as well by the molestation of those of his royal
family as by the destruction and loss of many parts of his realm, more
particularly in the duchies of Acquitaine and Normandy, where the
utmost confusion reigns, without these the present ministers any way
attempting to check or prevent it,--but, on the contrary, they have
conceived a mortal hatred against all that are gallant and loyal, by
confiscating their fortunes, or putting them to death.
'They continue in their wickedness, though they know we are anxious to
labour for the reparation of all these evils, and to procure peace to
the realm; for, through the grace of God, we are competent so to do, as
queen and wife to our aforesaid lord, according to the terms that had
been begun on by our son and our cousin of Hainault, those souls may
God receive! But they, knowing our intentions, took care to keep us at
a distance, that their iniquities might be hidden, and that they might
keep possession of their places.
'By such means do they daily apply to their own profit the whole amount
of the revenue, without any part being allotted for the use of my said
lord, or for the security and welfare of his kingdom. They have, under
false pretences and most disloyally, robbed my said lord, ourself and
our son the dauphin, so that we have not wherewithal to maintain our
establishments, or to defray our expenses; insomuch that they have
acquired so great power that all must obey their wills, and it is very
probable that the government of my lord and his realm may fall into the
hands of strangers, which God forbid!
'When our very dear and well beloved cousin the duke of Burgundy shall
have put an end to such shameful abuses he offers peace to all who
may be inclined to accept of it, by his letters patent that have been
published in various parts of the realm; but those persons above
mentioned having refused to accept his terms, our cousin has taken up
arms, in company with a large number of knights and esquires, with
the intent to drive the above traitors from the government of this
kingdom. They, however, to resist the said duke, and prevent him from
approaching the person of our said lord, have remanded to Paris all the
men at arms from their different garrisons, thereby leaving the kingdom
a prey to its ancient enemies the English.
'This conduct clearly shows their wicked intentions; but the greater
part of the nobility, prelacy, and the chief towns have united
themselves to our said cousin, sensible of the loyalty of his conduct,
for the good of our said lord and the welfare of his realm. All who are
any way related to us by blood should be warmly attached to our said
cousin, for it concerns them much; and they should know, that quitting
his siege of Corbeil, he came to set us at liberty, and deliver us from
the hands of our late gaolers.
'We have accompanied our said cousin to the town of Chartres, as was
reasonable, where we shall advise together on the most effectual means
of regaining those parts of the kingdom that have been conquered, and
for the preservation of the remainder, without any further dissembling,
by the aid and support of all the vassals, friends, allies and subjects
of my aforesaid lord.
'For this reason, therefore, very dear and good friends, we ought to
have the government of this kingdom, with the advice and assistance
of the princes of the blood, and for which we have the authority of
letters patent irrevocably passed by the great council, and in the
presence of the princes of the blood, such as uncles, cousins-german,
and others related to the crown. We have also full and competent
knowledge of your good and loyal intentions regarding the dominions of
our said lord, and even that you are willing, in conjunction with our
said cousin, to use your utmost endeavours, even to the shedding your
last drop of blood, for the obtaining so necessary and desirable an
object.
'We summon and require you, in the name of my aforesaid lord, and
expressly command you from ourselves, that you remain steady to the
orders of our said cousin, notwithstanding any letters or commands
you may receive to the contrary in the name of my aforesaid lord,
or in that of my son the dauphin; and also, that you do not suffer
henceforward any sums of money to be transmitted to the present rulers
of the realm under any pretext whatever, on pain of disobedience and
disloyalty to my said lord, and of incurring the crime of rebellion
toward him and toward us. In so doing, you will perform your duty, and
we will aid succour and support you against all who shall attempt to
injure or hurt you for your conduct on this occasion.
'Very dear and well beloved, we recommend you to the care of the Holy
Spirit. Given at Chartres, the 12th day of November.'
It was afterward determined in the council of the queen and the duke
of Burgundy, that master Philip de Morvillers should go to the town
of Amiens, accompanied by some notable clerks of the said council,
with a sworn secretary, and should there hold, under the queen, a
sovereign court of justice, instead of the one at Paris, to avoid
being forced to apply to the king's chancery to obtain summonses, or
for any other cases that might arise in the bailiwicks of Amiens,
Vermandois, Tournay, and within the seneschalships of Ponthieu, with
the dependancies thereto attached. A seal was given to master Philip de
Morvillers, having graven upon it the figure of the queen erect, with
her hands extended towards the ground: on the right side were the arms
of France on a shield, and on the left a similar shield, with the arms
of France and Bavaria. The inscription around it was,--'This is the
seal for suits-at-law, and for sovereign appeals to the king.'
It was ordered that the seals should be imprinted on vermilion-coloured
wax; and that all letters and summonses should be written in the
queen's name, and in the following terms:
'Isabella, by the grace of God, queen of France, having the government
of this realm intrusted to her, during the king's illness, by an
irrevocable grant made to us by our said lord and his council.'
By authority of this ordinance and seal, the said master Philip de
Morvillers collected large sums of money. In like manner, another
chancellor was appointed for the countries on the other side of the
Seine, under the obedience of the queen and the duke of Burgundy.
CHAP. LXIV.
SIR ELYON DE JACQUEVILLE IS DRAGGED OUT OF THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY IN
CHARTRES BY HECTOR DE SAVEUSES AND HIS ACCOMPLICES, WHO PUT HIM TO
DEATH.
At the time when the duke of Burgundy resided in Chartres at his hôtel
behind the church of our Lady, so serious a quarrel arose between
sir Elyon de Jacqueville, knight, and Hector de Saveuses, that high
words passed between them in the presence of the duke. Within a few
days after, Hector collected from twelve to sixteen of his friends,
determined men; and in this number were his cousin-german the lord
de Crevecoeur, his brother le bon de Saveuses, Hue de Bours, and an
arrogant fellow called John de Vaulx, on whose account this quarrel had
arisen between them,--for, a short time before, Jacqueville had robbed
this de Vaulx, who was related to Hector. These, with some others to
the number before stated, one day, with a premeditated design, entered
the church of our Lady, and met Jacqueville returning from the hôtel
of the duke of Burgundy: Hector and his friend instantly addressed
him, saying, 'Jacqueville, thou hast formerly injured and angered me,
for which thou shalt be punished,' when, at the moment, he was seized
by him and his accomplices, and dragged out of the church, and most
inhumanly hacked to pieces; during which he most pitifully cried to
Hector for mercy, and offered a large sum of money for his life, but
all in vain, for they never left him until they thought he was dead.
They quitted the town of Chartres without delay, and went to a village
two leagues off, where Hector's men were quartered. After their
departure, Jacqueville caused himself to be carried in the melancholy
state he was in to the duke of Burgundy, and made bitter complaints of
the cruel usage he had met with; adding, that it was in consequence of
the loyalty and truth with which he had served him.
The duke, on seeing him thus, was greatly affected, insomuch that
he immediately armed himself, and, mounting his horse, rode through
the streets with few attendants, thinking to find Hector and his
accomplices, but he was soon informed that they had left the town. Many
of the nobles now waited on the duke, and appeased his anger as well as
they could, such as sir John de Luxembourg, the lord de Fosseux, the
marshal of Burgundy and several more. However, he ordered the baggage
and horses of Hector to be seized, and then returned to his hôtel,
whence he sent the most expert physicians to visit Jacqueville; but
they were of no avail, for within three days he died.
Numbers were convinced, that could the duke have laid hands on Hector
and his accomplices, he would have had them put to an ignominious
death, for he declared he would never, during his life pardon them:
nevertheless, within a few days, Hector, somehow or other, made up his
quarrel with the duke, who consented to it on account of the important
affairs he had now on his hands.
CHAP. LXV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES HIS WHOLE ARMY TO PARIS TO FORCE AN
ENTRANCE.--HE THEN CARRIES THE QUEEN OF FRANCE TO TROYES,--AND OTHER
EVENTS.
When these matters had been concluded, the duke of Burgundy marched
his army from Chartres, through Montlehery, toward Paris, with the
intention of forcing an entrance into that city by means of some of
the Parisians his partisans. To succeed in his plans, he sent forward
Hector de Saveuses, with his brother Philip, the lord de Sores, Louis
de Varigines and several other captains, with six thousand combatants
to the porte de Louvel de Chastillon[53], near to the suburbs of Saint
Marceau; but, a little before their arrival, their coming was betrayed
by a skinner of Paris to the constable, who instantly reinforced that
part of the town with a large body of his troops; so that when Hector
and his men approached the gate, to enter therein, he was sharply
repulsed, and himself wounded on the head by a bolt from a cross-bow.
Finding he had failed, from his intentions having been discovered, he
retreated within the suburbs of St Marceau to wait the coming of his
lord the duke of Burgundy.
The constable did not suffer them to remain quiet, but, making a
sally with three or four hundred of his men, vigorously attacked the
Burgundians, killing some and taking others. The Burgundians rallied,
and renewed the combat so courageously that they forced the enemy to
fall back within the town, and rescued some of the prisoners they had
made.
In this affair, John, eldest son to the lord de Flavy, behaved
remarkably well: he was the banner-bearer to Hector de Saveuses, and
advanced it to the very gates of Paris, for which he was greatly
praised by the duke when it came to his knowledge.
Several of the partisans of the duke were, at this moment, beheaded in
Paris, while he remained in battle-array half a league distant, waiting
for intelligence from those whom he had sent in advance. When he learnt
that his attempt had been discovered, he remanded his men from St
Marceau, and marched his army back to Montlehery, attended always by
the young count de St Pol his nephew.
At Montlehery, he disbanded all his Picards, namely, sir John
de Luxembourg, the lord de Fosseux, and the other captains
before-mentioned, ordering them to the different towns on the frontier,
until the winter should be passed. To sir John de Luxembourg was given
in charge the town of Mondidier and the adjacent country: Hector and
Philip de Saveuses were posted with their men in Beauvais; the bastard
de Thian was appointed governor of Senlis; the lord de l'Isle-Adam
had in charge Pontoise and Meulan; the lord de Cohen and several
more returned to their own habitations in Picardy and the adjoining
countries.
The duke of Burgundy went from Montlehery to Chartres, where, having
ordered governors for that and the neighbouring places, he departed
with the queen of France and his Burgundians for Troyes and Champagne,
taking the road toward Joigny, whither he was pursued by the count
d'Armagnac, constable of France.
The constable followed the duke for a long way with the intention
of combating him, should he find a favourable opportunity; and in
fact, when the queen and the duke were lodged in Joigny, some of his
captains, with about three hundred combatants, made an attack on the
quarters of the lord du Vergy and the Burgundians, which much alarmed
and dispersed them.
The whole of the duke's army were in motion, and soon drawn up in
battle array on the plain; and a detachment was ordered to pursue the
enemy, who drove them as far as the head-quarters of the constable,
about a league distant from Joigny. The lord de Château-vilain was one
of the principal commanders of this detachment, and pursued the enemy
the farthest. On their return, a sufficient guard of men at arms was
appointed at Joigny, where, having remained five days, they continued
their march to Troyes, and were magnificently and honourably received
by the inhabitants and magistrates of that town.
The queen was lodged in the palace of the king her lord, and she
received all the taxes and subsidies due to the crown by the town of
Troyes, and from all other places under the obedience of the duke of
Burgundy. By the advice of the duke, the duke of Lorraine was sent for
to Troyes; on his arrival, the queen appointed him constable of France;
and a sword was presented to him, on his taking the usual oaths, thus
displacing the count d'Armagnac from that office.
The duke of Burgundy now dismissed the greater part of the burgundian
lords, and remained in Troyes almost all the winter. He nominated John
d'Aubigny, John du Clau and Clavin his brother, commanders on the
frontiers of Champagne with a large force of men at arms, who carried
on a vigorous war on the party of the constable.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 53: See for this in Sauval's 'Antiquitès de Paris.']
CHAP. LXVI.
JOHN OF BAVARIA MAKES WAR ON THE DUCHESS HIS NIECE IN HOLLAND.--THE
CONQUESTS OF HENRY KING OF ENGLAND IN NORMANDY.
During these tribulations, John of Bavaria was carrying on a severe
warfare against his niece the duchess Jacquelina, and his men had
conquered the town of Gorcum, with the exception of some towers that
held out for the duchess. So soon as she heard of this, she assembled
a considerable body of men at arms, and accompanied by the countess of
Hainault her mother, carried them by sea to the town of Gorcum, as it
is situated on the coast.
By the assistance of her garrisons, she gained admittance into these
towers, and shortly after gave battle to the troops of John of Bavaria
with such success that they were totally routed, and from five to six
hundred were slain or made prisoners: among the last, the principal was
the damoiseau Derke. The only one of note that was killed on the side
of the duchess was Videran de Brederode, a man well skilled in war,
and commander in chief of her forces, whose loss gave her great pain.
She caused several of her prisoners to be beheaded for their disloyal
conduct towards her.
After this event, Philip count de Charolois, eldest son to the duke of
Burgundy, was sent to Holland to appease this quarrel. He took much
pains with both of the parties, his uncle and cousin-german; but as he
found he could not succeed to establish peace between them, he returned
to Flanders.
At this time, the king of England had a large army in Normandy, and
conquered many towns and castles: indeed, there were few that made
any resistance,--for the several garrisons had been ordered by the
constable to Paris, and to the adjacent parts, to oppose the duke of
Burgundy, as has been before stated.
King Henry came before the town of Caen, which was very strong and
populous, and made many attacks on it, but with the loss of numbers of
his men. At length, by continued assaults, he took it by storm, and
slew six hundred of the besieged. The castle held out for about three
weeks,--in which were the lord de la Fayette, the lord de Montenay, and
sir John Bigot, who surrendered it on condition that the king would
promise that they should march out with their baggage and persons in
security.
After this conquest, the king of England caused the strong town
and castle of Cherbourg to be besieged by his brother the duke of
Gloucester; it was the strongest place in all Normandy, and the best
supplied with stores and provision. This siege lasted for ten weeks,
when sir John d'Engennes, the governor, surrendered on condition
of receiving a certain sum of money for so doing, and a sufficient
passport for him to go whithersoever he pleased.