THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.
THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF
ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;
OF THE POSSESSION OF
PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;
_THEIR EXPULSION THENCE_;
AND OF OTHER
MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE,
AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
_A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE
FRENCH_,
_Beginning at the Year_ MCCCC. _where that of Sir JOHN FROISSART
finishes, and ending at the Year_ MCCCCLXVII. _and continued by
others to the Year_ MDXVI.
TRANSLATED
BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.
IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES.... VOL. III.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.
1810.
CONTENTS
OF
_THE THIRD VOLUME_.
CHAP. I.
PAGE
The king of France sends different captains
with troops to harrass the Armagnacs on
the frontiers. The defeat of the count de
la Marche 1
CHAP. II.
The king of France sends ambassadors to
England. The lord de Croy and the duke
of Bourbon's children obtain their liberty.
Of count Waleran de St Pol 9
CHAP. III.
The dukes of Berry and of Orleans, with
others of their adherents, send an embassy
to the king of England. The consequences
of it 13
CHAP. IV.
Duke Louis of Bavaria is driven out of Paris
by the Parisians, and his people robbed.
Of the cardinal de Cambray, and the
prohibition of the king of England 24
CHAP. V.
The king of Sicily leaves Paris. The siege
of Domfront. The battle of St Remy du
Plain. The siege of Bellesme, and other
events of the year 28
CHAP. VI.
Charles king of France, attended by other
princes, marches a large force from Paris
to Bourges. Letters from the king of
England, and other matters 39
CHAP. VII.
The town of Vervins is taken by sir Clugnet
de Brabant, and afterward retaken. The
castle of Gersies is won by sir Simon de
Clermont 45
CHAP. VIII.
The king of France receives certain information
that his adversaries had formed an alliance
with the king of England. The constable
marches into the Boulonois 49
CHAP. IX.
The king of France lays siege to Fontenay and
to Bourges. The events that happened
while he remained there 52
CHAP. X.
The king of France decamps, and lays siege
to Bourges on the opposite side. A treaty
is concluded between the two parties 65
CHAP. XI.
The princes and lords within the city of Bourges
wait on the king and the duke of Acquitaine,
and afterward at Auxerre 73
CHAP. XII.
The king of France orders his edict respecting
the peace to be sent to his different officers
for proclamation in the usual places, and
other matters 85
CHAP. XIII.
The war continues in the Boulonois. The
king returns to Paris. The duke of Orleans
satisfies the English, and other matters 91
CHAP. XIV.
The duke of Berry is dangerously ill. He is
visited by his daughter the duchess of
Bourbon, and by the duke of Burgundy.
Notice of other matters 95
CHAP. XV.
The king of France holds a grand assembly at
Paris on the reformation of abuses in the
government. Other matters 98
CHAP. XVI.
The duke of Acquitaine is displeased with his
chancellor. Jealousies arise among the great
lords, and other matters 133
CHAP. XVII.
Henry of Lancaster, king of England, who
had been a valiant knight, dies in this
year. Of the alliance between him and
the french princes 137
CHAP. XVIII.
The king's ministers are greatly alarmed at
the arrest of sir Peter des Essars and of
the duke of Bar. Other proceedings of
the Parisians 144
CHAP. XIX.
The Parisians propose whatever measures
they please in the presence of the duke
of Acquitaine and the other princes.
Cruelties committed by them 152
CHAP. XX.
The count de Vertus and several of the
nobility leave Paris. Other regulations
and edicts obtained from the king by the
Parisians 165
CHAP. XXI.
King Ladislaus of Naples enters Rome with
a powerful army. The death of sir James
de la Riviere. The dismission of the
chancellor, and other matters 173
CHAP. XXII.
The ambassadors from the king of France
return with those from the princes to
Paris. They are joined by others, who
negotiate a fourth peace at Pontoise 182
CHAP. XXIII.
The duke of Acquitaine orders the prisoners
to be liberated. The duke of Burgundy
leaves Paris. Several princes arrive there.
Their actions 212
CHAP. XXIV.
The duke of Brittany comes to Paris. The
duke of Burgundy holds a council at
Lille. The actions of the count de Saint
Pol, and other matters that happened at
this time 229
CHAP. XXV.
The duke of Burgundy holds many councils
to consider of his situation, fearing that his
enemies would turn the king against him,
which they afterwards did 234
CHAP. XXVI.
Duke Louis of Bavaria marries at Paris. Of
those who had been banished on account of
the discords between the dukes of Orleans
and Burgundy, and of many other incidental
matters 241
CHAP. XXVII.
The king of France, fearing the peace would
be broken, publishes other edicts for its
preservation throughout the realm, and
also respecting the coin 247
CHAP. XXVIII.
The king of Sicily sends back the daughter of
the duke of Burgundy. The duke writes
letters to the king of France, containing
remonstrances, and other matters 264
CHAP. XXIX.
The duke of Burgundy goes to Antwerp.
The arrest of sir John de Croy, and other
remarkable events that happened about this
period 283
CHAP. XXX.
The duke of Burgundy marches a large force
toward Paris. He fixes his quarters at
Saint Denis. The events that happened
during this march, and in consequence
of it 299
CHAP. XXXI.
On the retreat of the duke of Burgundy from
St Denis, the king of France issues orders
throughout his kingdom to raise forces to
march against him 324
HERE BEGINNETH
THE THIRD VOLUME
OF THE
CHRONICLES
OF
_ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET_.
CHAP. I.
THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS DIFFERENT CAPTAINS WITH TROOPS TO HARRASS THE
ARMAGNACS ON THE FRONTIERS.--THE DEFEAT OF THE COUNT DE LA MARCHE.
Many of the nobles and captains were now sent by the king to the
countries of such as were confederates with the duke of Orleans and
his party. In the number, the count de la Marche was ordered into the
Orleanois, to subject it to the king's obedience, in company with the
lord de Hambre.
Aymé de Vitry, Fierbourd, and others were sent against the duke of
Bourbon, who had done much mischief to the country of Charolois; and
having a large force with them, they despoiled the Bourbonois and
Beaujolois. They advanced with displayed banners before the town of
Villefranche, in which was the duke of Bourbon and his bastard-brother,
sir Hector, a very valiant knight and renowned in war. There was with
them a large company of knights and esquires, vassals to the duke, who,
seeing the enemy thus boldly advancing, drew up in handsome array and
sallied forth to meet them, and the duke himself joined them in their
intent to offer battle. A severe skirmish ensued, in which many gallant
deeds were done on each side. The bastard of Bourbon distinguished
himself much in the command of the light troops, and fought most
chivalrously. He was, however, so far intermixed with the enemy that
the duke was fearful of his being slain or taken, and, sticking spurs
into his horse, cried out to his people, 'Push forward! for my brother
will be made prisoner unless speedily succoured.' Great part of his
battalion followed him on the gallop toward the enemy, and the battle
was renewed with more energy: many men at arms were unhorsed, wounded
and slain: at length, the van of the Burgundians, under the command
of Aymé de Vitry, was forced to fall back on the main army, which was
at a short distance off. The bastard, who had been struck down, was
remounted, and returned to the duke. Before that day, no one person had
ever heard the duke call him brother.
About forty were slain on both sides, but very many were wounded.
When the skirmish was ended, each party retreated without attempting
more,--the duke and his men into Villefranche, and the others toward
the country of Charolois, destroying every thing on their march.
Other parties were sent to Languedoc, Acquitaine and Poitou, to despoil
the countries of the duke of Berry, the count d'Armagnac, and the lord
d'Albreth. Sir Guichard Daulphin, master of the king's household,
commanded one division; and the two others were under the lord de
Heilly, marshal of Acquitaine, and Enguerrand de Bournouville.
They did infinite damage to the lands of the aforesaid lords; but
one day, as the lord de Heilly was lodged in a large village called
Linieres, he was attacked at day-break by a party of the duke of Berry,
who defeated and plundered great part of his men of their horses and
baggage: a few were killed and taken,--but he and the majority of his
army saved themselves by retreating within the castle, which held out
for the king.
I must say something of the count de la Marche and the lord de Hambre,
who, as I have said, were ordered into the Orleanois. It is true, they
might have under their command from five to six thousand combatants,
whom they conducted, destroying all the country on their line of march,
as far as Yeure-la-Ville and Yeure-le-Chastel. The count de la Marche
was quartered in the village of Puchet, and the lord de Hambre in
another town.
The moment their arrival at Yeure-la-Ville was known in Orleans, where
were considerable numbers of men at arms for the guard of the country,
about six hundred of them were assembled under the command of Barbasan
de Gaucourt, sir Galliet de Gaulles, and a knight from Lombardy,
together with three hundred archers. They marched all night as secretly
as they could to Yeure-la-Ville, to the amount of about a thousand
men, under the guidance of such as knew the country well, and where the
count was lodged. The count was, however, somehow informed of their
intentions, and, having armed his men, posted the greater part of them
in and about his lodgings: the others he ordered to keep in a body, and
sent to the lord de Hambre to acquaint him with the intelligence he had
received, that he might be prepared to come to his assistance, should
there be any necessity for it. The count and his men were under arms,
waiting for the enemy, the whole of the night; but when day appeared,
and no news or the enemy arrived, he was advised to repose himself, and
to order his men to their quarters.
Soon after sun-rise, one of the adversary's scouts rode into the
town, and, seeing that no watch was kept, hastened back to inform his
friends, whom he met near the place, of this neglect. They instantly
entered the town, shouting, 'Vive le roi!' but soon after, crying
out 'Vive Orleans!' made a general attack on the houses. The greater
part hastened to the lodgings of the count, who was preparing to hear
mass,--and the tumult became very great, for the count and his people
fought gallantly: nevertheless, he was conquered and made prisoner.
The whole quarter was carried, and all taken or slain. After this
defeat, the count and his men were conducted hastily to Orleans.
In the mean time, as the lord de Hambre was coming to their assistance,
he was misled by a man whom he had chosen for his guide, and, on his
arrival, found the whole town destroyed, and the count with his men
carried off. Notwithstanding his grief for this event, he pursued the
enemy with all speed, and, by his activity, overtook the rear, upon
which he fell manfully, and defeated part of it. He rescued some of
the prisoners,--but the count, with about four score (as it was told
him), were sent forward as fast as horses could carry them, and were
to be confined in the prisons of Orleans. The lord de Hambre was much
troubled that he could not rescue him. There were slain in these two
affairs from three to four hundred men on both sides, but the greater
part were Armagnacs. Among others of the party of the count de Vendôme
that were mortally wounded was Guoit le Gois, eldest son to Thomas le
Gois, a capital citizen of Paris, which caused great sorrow to the
Parisians.
After this affair, the lord de Hambre assembled, by the king's orders,
a larger force than before, and made a very severe war on the duchy of
Orleans and all attached to that party, which caused the country to
suffer greatly.
King Louis of Sicily arrived at this time at Paris from Provence,
attended by three hundred men at arms well equipped, and was lodged in
his own hôtel of Anjou. He was grandly received by the king, the duke
of Acquitaine and the other princes, and united himself with the king
and the duke of Burgundy, promising to join their party against the
family of Orleans and their adherents.
The duchess of Burgundy and her daughter came, nearly at the same time,
from Burgundy to the Bois de Vincennes, where the queen and the duchess
of Acquitaine resided, who received her with much pleasure. Thence they
went to visit the dukes of Acquitaine and Burgundy,--and very gay and
magnificent feasts were made on their arrival. They remained for a long
time with the queen, living at the expense of the king.
At this period, the king of France sent the lord de Dampierre, admiral
of France, with other lords, to Boulogne-sur-mer, to meet the
english ambassadors who were arrived at Calais. They went together to
Leulinghen, where they agreed on a truce between the two crowns for
one year,--after which the admiral and his companions returned to the
king at Paris, where he was holding a grand assembly of prelates and
ecclesiastics for the general reformation of the church. The particular
object of this assembly was to select proper delegates to send to
the holy father the pope, to request that a convenient place might
be appointed for the holding of a general council. But in truth very
little was done, for they could not agree on one single point: another
meeting was therefore fixed upon, when a greater number of churchmen
should be summoned to attend it.
The Parisians, having loyally served the king and the duke of
Acquitaine in the late wars, obtained, through the means of the duke of
Burgundy, that the power of the shrievalty, with all its franchises,
of which the city of Paris had been deprived by royal authority in the
month of January, in the year 1382, should be restored to it fully
and freely by letters patent from the king. This created very great
rejoicings, and much increased the popularity of the duke of Burgundy.
CHAP. II.
THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AMBASSADORS TO ENGLAND.--THE LORD DE CROY AND
THE DUKE OF BOURBON'S CHILDREN OBTAIN THEIR LIBERTY.--OF COUNT WALERAN
DE SAINT POL.
At the beginning of the month of May, the duke of Burgundy, with the
approbation of the king of France, sent ambassadors to England, namely,
the bishop of Arras, the provost of Saint Donas de Bruges, and the
provost of Viefville, to treat of a marriage between one of the duke's
daughters and the prince of Wales, a matter which had been talked of
before[1]. They found the king of England at Rochester, who honourably
entertained them, as did the other princes; but the prince of Wales was
particularly attentive, as their mission more immediately concerned
him.
In the course of a few days, the bishop had fully explained the object
of his coming to the king, his sons, and council; and having received
a favourable answer, with very handsome presents to himself and his
colleagues, they returned by way of Dover to Calais, and shortly after
arrived at Paris.
The ambassadors related, in the presence of the kings of France and
Sicily, the dukes of Acquitaine, Burgundy and Bar, and other great
lords of the council, a full detail of their proceedings, and that the
king of England and his family were well pleased with their proposals.
Upon this, the duke of Burgundy sent orders to his son the count de
Charolois, then at Ghent, to repair to Paris, to be present at the
festivals of Easter.
At this time, by the intercession of the duchess of Bourbon, daughter
to the duke of Berry, with the duke of Orleans and others of that
party, the lord de Croy obtained his liberty from the prison in which
he had for a considerable time been confined, and was escorted safely
to Paris. On his departure, he promised by his faith to make such
earnest applications to his lord, the duke of Burgundy, that the duke
of Bourbon's children should be delivered.
On his arrival at Paris, he was received with joy by the dukes of
Acquitaine and Burgundy, especially by the latter; and a few days after
he made the request he had promised, and so successfully that the king
and the other lords gave the duke of Bourbon's children their liberty.
They were sent for to Paris from the castle of Renty, where they
were confined; and they and their attendants were delivered without
any ransom to the care of sir John de Croy, who escorted them to the
territories of the duke of Berry. The son of sir Mansart du Bos, who
had been taken with them, remained prisoner in the castle of Renty.
The lord de Croy was nominated governor of the county of Boulogne
and captain of the castle of Braye sur Somme, by the king, with the
approbation of the duke of Berry and the aforesaid duchess. He also
obtained, through the recommendation of the duke of Burgundy, the
office of grand butler of France. To sir Peter des Essars, provost of
Paris, was given the office of grand master or waters and forests,
which had been held by count Waleran de St Pol, who was contented to
yield it up.
The count de Saint Pol, now constable of France, ordered a large body
of men at arms to assemble at Vernon sur Seine. In consequence, full
two thousand armed with helmets came thither, with the design of making
war on the inhabitants of Dreux, and on the count d'Alençon and his
people, who had overrun parts of Normandy, near to Rouen, where they
had plundered every thing they could lay their hands on.
To provide for the payment of this force, as well as for others in
different parts of the country which the king had employed under
various captains, a heavy tax was imposed on the whole kingdom, to
be paid at two instalments,--the first on the Sunday before Easter,
and the second at the end of June following. This affected the poor
people very much; and in addition, the pope had granted to the king
a full tenth to be levied, through France and Dauphiny, on all the
clergy, payable also at two terms,--the one on St John the Baptist's
day, and the other on All-saints following. The clergy were greatly
discontented,--but it was not on that account the less rigorously
levied,--and commissioners were appointed to receive it from them.
The constable set out in the holy week from Paris for Vernon, to take
the command of the men at arms, and to lead them against the king's
enemies.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Their passport is, in the Foedera, dated January 11.
1412.]
[A.D. 1412.]
CHAP. III.
THE DUKES OF BERRY AND OF ORLEANS, WITH OTHERS OF THEIR ADHERENTS, SEND
AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF ENGLAND.--THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.
At the commencement of this year, the dukes of Berry, of Orleans,
and of Bourbon, the counts de Vertus, d'Angoulême, d'Alençon and
d'Armagnac, and the lord d'Albreth, calling himself constable of
France, with other great lords, their confederates, sent ambassadors to
the king of England, with instructions, under their seals, for them to
act according to the occasion with the king of England, his children
and ministers.
As they were journeying through Maine to go to Brittany, and thence to
England, they were pursued by the bailiff of Caen in Normandy, who,
with the aid of the commonalty, attacked and defeated them, making some
of them prisoners, with their sealed instructions and other articles:
the rest escaped as well as they could.
After the defeat, the bailiff dispatched an account of it to the king
and council at Paris, and sent the sealed instructions, with the other
articles, in a leathern bag, well secured. The king assembled a great
council at his palace of St Pol, on the Wednesday after Easter, for
the full examination of these papers. He was present, as were the
king of Sicily, the dukes of Acquitaine and Burgundy, the counts de
Charolois, de Nevers, and de Mortaigne, the lord Gilles de Bretagne,
the chancellor of France, namely, master Henry de Marle[2], the bishops
of Tournay, of Amiens, of Constance, and of Auxerre, the rector of
the university, the provost of Paris, and several others, as well of
the king's council as capital citizens of Paris and students of the
university.
The chancellor of the duke of Acquitaine, the lord d'Olhaing, lately an
advocate in the parliament, then declared, that there had been given
to his charge, by the king's ministers, a leathern bag, which had been
taken by the bailiff of Caen, together with a knight, chamberlain
to the duke of Brittany, from de Faulcon d'Encre and friar James
Petit, of the order of the Augustins, and other ambassadors from the
lords mentioned in the papers contained in the bag, which had been
transmitted by the said bailiff to the king's council. He added, that
he had found in this bag four blank papers, signed and sealed by four
different persons, namely, Berry, Orleans, Bourbon and Alençon. Each
blank had only the name signed on the margin above the seal. He had
also found many sealed letters from the duke of Berry addressed to
the king of England, to the queen, and to their four sons; and in
like manner, from the duke of Brittany to the earl of Richmond and to
other noblemen in England. There were also many letters without any
superscription, being credential ones for the aforesaid Faulcon and
friar James Petit, to the king and queen of England.
These letters were publicly read, and in them the duke of Berry styled
the king of England, 'My most redoubted lord and nephew;' and the
queen, 'My most redoubted and honoured lady, niece and daughter;' and
they were signed with the duke of Berry's own hand. In the one to the
queen, there were two lines in his own handwriting, desiring her to
place full confidence in the said ambassadors.
These blanks were publicly displayed,--and the king held them some
time in his hand. There was a small article on a single sheet of paper
containing the instructions for the ambassadors, which was likewise
read aloud, and contained a repetition of the charges made against
the duke of Burgundy, by the duchess of Orleans and her sons, for
the death of the late duke of Orleans. It recited, that they had
frequently demanded justice of the king of France for this murder, but
could never obtain it, because the duke of Burgundy had prevented
and evil counselled the king, by persuading him that the duke of
Orleans had been a disloyal traitor to his king and country, which was
false,--adding, that the duke of Burgundy had seduced the commonalty
of France, more especially the populace of Paris, by asserting that
the late duke of Orleans wanted to destroy the king of France and his
family, which was also a falsehood, for it had never even entered his
thoughts.
These instructions contained, likewise, that the duke of Burgundy had
caused the king to be angry with the duke of Brittany, because he had
obstructed his expedition against Calais, and several other attempts
which the duke of Burgundy had plotted against England; that the duke
of Burgundy had instigated the people of Paris so greatly against
the king and the duke of Acquitaine that every thing was governed to
his will,--and he had now the royal family in such subjection that
they dared hardly to open their mouths; that the Parisians, under
pretext of a bull granted by pope Urban V. against the free companies
that had ravaged France, had caused them and their adherents to be
excommunicated, and had forcibly constrained the official at Paris
to proceed against them in the severest manner, and to denounce them
publicly, as excommunicated, with every aggravation of circumstance.
These ambassadors were not to discover themselves to any man in
England, unless they were sure of his support; and when they had read
the contents of these papers to the king, they were to demand a private
audience, and declare from the dukes of Berry, of Orleans, of Bourbon,
and from the count d'Alençon, that they were most anxious for his
welfare and honour, and ready to aid and assist him against the duke of
Burgundy, as well as against the Welsh and Irish.
They were to add, that if they could not succeed against the Scots,
which they would attempt, and in case they could not obtain all they
wished, they would engage to establish a peace between him and the king
of France; and that if there were any lands to which he laid claim,
or pretended any right, on their side the sea, they would manage the
matter to his full satisfaction. They were also to say, that for want
of due justice being administered at home, they were come to claim it
from him, in regard to the death of the late duke of Orleans; and as
bearing the name of king, it belonged to him to do justice; and he
would acquire perpetual honour to himself, and great advantages to his
subjects, by granting them his aid and support. It was also worthy
of his interference, considering the high rank of the late duke of
Orleans. They were likewise to say, that the undersigned would serve
him and his family, as well as their descendants, in all times to come,
and which they were enabled to do, even against the most potent in the
realm of France.
These ambassadors were also to require an immediate aid against the
duke of Burgundy, of three hundred lances and three thousand archers,
who should receive pay in advance for four months.
The chancellor of Acquitaine next produced a sketch of their intended
government of France, containing many articles, which were read aloud.
Among other schemes, there was to be imposed on every acre a tax called
a land-tax; and as there were deposits of salt in the kingdom, there
were likewise to be granaries of wheat and oats for the profit of the
king: that all lands or houses which were in a ruinous state should be
instantly repaired, or otherwise forfeited to the crown: that every
commoner should be forced to work or quit the realm,--and that there
should be but one weight and one measure throughout the country. Item,
that the duchies of Lorraine and Luxembourg should be conquered, as
well as the towns in Provence and Savoy, and annexed to the kingdom of
France. Item, that the university should be removed from Paris, and one
erected and nobly endowed for the reception of numbers of discreet men.
There were many rolls produced, but not read, as they were of little
consequence. After the chancellor of Acquitaine had concluded, the
provost of the merchants and the sheriffs preferred two requests to the
king, by the mouth of a monk of the order of St Benedict and doctor of
divinity.
One was, that the king would be pleased to grant to the city of Paris a
third of the taxes collected in that city in the same form and manner
as had been done during the reign of king Charles, whose soul may God
receive! for the reparations of the said town and the improvement of
the river Seine, of which, as the provost of merchants declared, they
were in great need; that it would be for the advantage of the king
and his good city that certain repairs, very much wanted, should be
undertaken, and the place better fortified against the bitter hatred
which the dukes of Berry, Orleans, Bourbon, and their faction bore to
it. He added, that the town of Tournay was the best fortified, and in
the most complete repair of any in the kingdom, because the inhabitants
allot certain sums for this purpose; and that, if all the king's
enemies were to besiege it, they would never be able to injure it.
The other was, that orders should be given to the chancellor to seal
without opposition the patent of an office vacant, or becoming so, by
the demission of one of the Armagnacs, which had hitherto been refused.
They were told, that on the Thursday ensuing, they should have answers
to both of these requests.
The provost and sheriffs demanded beside, that the chancellor of France
should lay before the king such letters as had come to the knowledge of
the duke of Acquitaine, mentioning that the dukes of Berry, Orleans,
Bourbon, and the count d'Alençon intended making a new king, to the
exclusion of his present majesty and the duke of Acquitaine. The
chancellor replied, that the subject of their present consideration
was the letters contained in the bag; that it was true, he was in
possession of letters and other papers mentioning this circumstance,
and that he had assured the duke of Acquitaine of their contents.
The chancellor of Acquitaine then declared publicly to the king, that
the grand master of his household, sir Guichart Daulphin, had written
to inform the duke of Burgundy, that the dukes of Berry, Orleans,
Bourbon, and the count d'Alençon, had again renewed their oaths of
alliance in the city of Bourges; that the leaders of the confederacy
had met in that city, and had there determined to destroy the king of
France, his whole royal family, the kingdom of France, and the good
city of Paris, or perish themselves in the attempt.
The king was much affected on hearing this, and replied with tears, 'We
now fully see their wickedness, and we entreat of you all that are of
our blood to advise and aid us against them; for the matter not only
regards you personally, but the welfare of the whole kingdom is in
danger; and we shall therefore expect the support of all present, and
of every loyal subject.'
The king of Sicily then rose, and, falling on his knees before the
king, said, 'Sire, I entreat, that in regard to your own honour and
welfare, as well as for that of your realm, you will order the most
efficacious measures to be pursued against these rebels, for there
seems to be instant need of it.'
In like manner, the dukes of Acquitaine and Burgundy, and all the other
lords, knelt to the king, and proffered him their services to the
utmost of their power. When this was done, the assembly broke up, and
all that had passed was promulgated through Paris: even accounts of it
were sent in writing to different bailiffs in the kingdom, to the great
astonishment of many.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 2: Morery, in his list of chancellors, places Arnauld de
Corbie, lord of Joigny, from 1409 to 1413, and makes Henry de Marle,
lord of Versigny, his successor in the _latter year_.--See _post_,
where it is said, that sir Reginald (_i.e._ sir Arnauld) de Corbie was
displaced (1413), and Eustace de Lactre appointed in his place.]
CHAP. IV.
DUKE LOUIS OF BAVARIA IS DRIVEN OUT OF PARIS BY THE PARISIANS, AND HIS
PEOPLE ROBBED.--OF THE CARDINAL DE CAMBRAY, AND THE PROHIBITION OF THE
KING OF ENGLAND.
About this time, duke Louis of Bavaria, brother to the queen of France,
and residing at Paris, was much suspected by the Parisians of having in
secret spoken favourably to the king and queen of the dukes of Berry
and Orleans; and fearing it might be prejudicial to them, knowing how
much they were hated by these dukes, they assembled one day in great
numbers, and sent to tell duke Louis, that they were much displeased
with him, for that he was of the Orleans-party; and since he was so
well inclined to them, he must go and join them.
Duke Louis sent for answer, that he was not of any party, but of that
of the king. The matter, therefore, rested in this state for the
present; but as he perceived they were dissatisfied with him, and
apprehending some insult, he went away with very few attendants to the
castle of Marcoussy. Before his departure, he had a waggon laden with
his plate and other most valuable effects, which he sent off under the
escort of three gentlemen of his household,--one of whom was a young
nobleman of about fifteen years old, of high rank in Germany,--and
some servants, to the town of Valenciennes, intending to follow them
speedily.
They had not proceeded far on their journey when some of the burgundian
party, incited by avarice and cruelty, namely, the bailiff de
Foquesolle, his brother Jacotin, Jacques de Bracquencourt, and others
of their companions, the greater part from Picardy, having learnt the
value of this convoy, by the treachery of sir Morlet de Betencourt,
followed and overtook it between the rivers Seine and Oise. They made
a sudden attack, which was no way resisted, putting to death most of
the attendants, and seizing the waggon, which they carried off, with
the young esquire above mentioned, and lodged themselves at a nunnery
called Premy, near to the city of Cambray.
When they had tarried there two or three days, they led the young man
out of the nunnery by night, and most inhumanly murdered him, and
threw him into a ditch full of water.--When he was dead, they drove a
stake through his body, to fix it at the bottom of the ditch; and in
this state was it found, some days after, by the servants and workmen
of the nunnery.
He was carried thence and interred in the consecrated ground of the
church, where, afterward, was performed a most solemn service for the
salvation of his soul, at the expense of his friends, who made great
clamours and lamentations when they heard of his fatal end.
The Burgundians, having well secured their prize, lodged it in the
house of an inhabitant of their acquaintance in Cambray, and set off
from the Cambresis to other parts where they had business. On duke
Louis receiving information of this exploit, he was in the utmost rage
and grief, especially for the death of the young esquire, as well as
for the loss of his other servants, and his effects, and made heavy
complaints of it to the king, the duke of Acquitaine, and particularly
to the duke of Burgundy, whose vassals the perpetrators said they were.
The duke of Burgundy promised him the restitution of his valuables,
and the punishment of the offenders; but, a few days after, duke Louis
set out from the castle of Marcoussy, and was, by orders of the duke
of Burgundy, escorted by the vidame of Amiens, with a considerable
force, as far as the town of Valenciennes, where he staid a long
time. At the end of six weeks, he learnt that the greater part of his
effects were deposited in the town of Cambray: he therefore wrote to
the magistrates, and caused letters also to be sent to duke William of
Hainault, to whom he was related: in short, he made so much stir that
his effects were restored to him,--that is to say, all that had been
deposited in Cambray.
The then bishop of Cambray was master Peter d'Ailly, an excellent
doctor of divinity: he was created cardinal by pope John XXIII. and
took the title of Cardinal of Cambray. John de Gaures, son to the lord
de Liquerque, master of arts, who was at that time with the court of
Rome, succeeded to this bishoprick.
At this period, Henry king of England caused it to be proclaimed by
sound of trumpet in Calais, and in all the places bordering on France,
that none of his subjects, of whatever rank, should any way interfere
between the two factions in France, nor go into France to serve either
of them by arms or otherwise, under pain of death and confiscation of
fortune.
CHAP. V.
THE KING OF SICILY LEAVES PARIS.--THE SIEGE OF DOMFRONT.--THE BATTLE OF
SAINT REMY DU PLAIN.--THE SIEGE OF BELLESME,--AND OTHER EVENTS OF THE
YEAR.
On Tuesday the 20th day of April of this year, the king of Sicily, by
order of the king and council, marched his men at arms out of Paris
in handsome array. He was escorted out of the town by the duke of
Burgundy, the provost of Paris, and a very great number of noblemen and
others. He hastened to Angers, and to his possessions in the county of
Maine, to defend them against the counts d'Alençon and de Richemont,
who harrassed them much by an incessant warfare. On his arrival at
Angers, he summoned all his vassals, as well knights and esquires as
those who were accustomed to bear arms, and sent them to garrison all
his towns which were near to those of the enemy.
Shortly after, sir Anthony de Craon, the borgne de la Heuse, knight,
and other captains were sent by the king to the county of Alençon,
to subject it to his obedience. They gained the town of Domfront, but
failed in taking the castle; for it was very strong in itself, and
well garrisoned and provided with all necessary stores. They remained,
however, before it, annoying the garrison to the utmost of their
ability.
The garrison sent to the count d'Alençon to require instant succours:
he was much grieved at the loss of the town of Domfront, but answered
by one of his heralds, that he would very shortly come and give the
enemy battle, if they would wait for him there. Sir Anthony de Craon
and the other captains, hearing this, dispatched messengers to the
king of France for reinforcements. The king sent instant orders to
the constable and marshal of France, who were at Vernon with a great
armament, to advance to Domfront. This they obeyed,--and the king of
Sicily also sent thither large reinforcements. But on the day fixed
for the battle, the count d'Alençon neither came himself nor sent any
forces.
The constable and the other commanders having waited under arms the
whole of that day, seeing no signs of their adversaries coming,
erected a strong bulwark against the castle, in which they left a
numerous garrison, to keep it in check, and oppose any attempts to
relieve it, and then departed.
The constable marched to besiege the town of St Remy du Plain, and
sent sir Anthony de Craon, with a large force to Vernon, to escort
the cannons, bombards, and other military engines, to St Remy. There
were in company with the constable, his nephew John of Luxembourg, sir
Philip de Harcourt and his brother sir James, the lord de Beausault,
the vidame of Amiens, the lord d'Offemont[3], the lord de Canny, the
borgne de la Heuse, Roux de Neele, Raoul son to the vidame of Amiens,
the lord de Lovroy, le Galois de Renty[4], sir Bort Queret, the lord de
Herbainnes, the lord de Saine, and many noble knights and esquires, to
the number of twelve hundred helmets, and a large body of archers.
They quartered themselves within the town of St Remy, and around the
castle, which was tolerably strong and well garrisoned with men at
arms, and summoned it to surrender to the king's obedience; but on
a refusal, some engines were pointed against the walls, which did
them much damage. During this time, the lord de Gaucourt, sir John
de Dreues, sir Jean de Guarenchieres, Guillaume Batillier, the lord
d'Argiellieres, John de Falloise, with other captains of the Orleans
and Alençon party, assembled a considerable body of combatants, with
the intent of making an unexpected attack on the constable and taking
him by surprise.
In consequence, they marched on the 10th day of May from their place of
rendezvous, and, riding all night, came towards the end of it very near
their adversaries. The latter were, however, day and night on their
guard, and had spies and scouts dispersed over the country. Morlet
de Mons, Galien bastard of Auxi, and others, were on guard when the
Armagnacs approached. They made Morlet de Mons and Galien prisoners;
but the rest escaped, and, galloping as fast as their horses could
carry them to the main army, shouted out, 'To arms, to arms!' adding,
that the Armagnacs were advancing in battle-array toward the camp, and
had already made prisoners of Morlet and Galien, with some others.
The constable, hearing the noise, ordered his men to arm without
delay, and dispatched the lord de St Legier and the lord de Drucat,
two well experienced knights, to examine and report the truth of this
alarm. They had not gone far before they saw the enemy advancing, as
had been said, on which they returned to inform the constable of it.
He immediately caused his banner to be displayed, and his trumpets
sounded, and, sallying out of his tent with a part of his men, drew
them up in battle-array to receive the enemy, and urged the remainder
of his men to make haste to join him. When he had mounted his horse, he
rode along the line, to post his army most advantageously, and exhorted
the whole, in the kindest manner, to combat boldly the enemies of the
king and crown of France.
By the advice of the most experienced, his carts and baggage were
disposed of in the rear of his army, with varlets to guard them. On
each wing of the men at arms were posted the archers and cross-bows,
as far as they could be extended. When every arrangement was made, and
the enemy was in sight, several new knights were created, as well by
the constable as by others present, namely, John of Luxembourg, John
de Beausault, Raoul son to the vidame of Amiens, Alard de Herbainnes,
le Brun de Saine, Roux de Neele, Raillers de Fransseurs, Regnault
d'Azincourt, and many more. This done, the constable dismounted and
posted himself under his banner,--when instantly after the Armagnacs
entered the town, full gallop, thinking to surprise their adversaries.
On perceiving they were prepared for them, they charged the division
of archers and cross-bows with great shoutings, and at the first shock
killed about twelve: the rest posted themselves very advantageously
on the other side of a ditch, whence they made such good use of their
bows and cross-bows that they routed the horses, which were unable to
withstand the sharpness of their arrows, and flung down many of their
riders.
The constable then advanced his main battalion, and cried out to them,
'Here, you scoundrels! here I am whom you are seeking for: come to me!'
but their ranks were so broken, chiefly by the bowmen, that they could
not rally, and, consequently, betook themselves to flight. The army
of the constable, noticing this, fell on them lustily, shouting their
cries, and killed numbers: the archers, being lightly armed, pursued
them vigorously, and put many to a cruel death.
There was near the field of battle a fish pond, into which many horses
ran with their riders, and both were drowned.
A valiant man of arms from Brittany attacked these archers with great
gallantry, expecting to be supported by his companions, but he was soon
pulled from his horse and slain. The constable, seeing the defeat of
his enemies, mounted several on the fleetest horses, that they might
attack them in their flight, and very many were indeed slain and taken:
the remnant fled for refuge to Alençon and other towns belonging to
their party.
More than four score prisoners were brought to the constable, who was
with his knights, rejoicing on the victory they had gained; and in the
number were the lord d'Anieres, knight, and sir Jaunet de Guarochieres,
son to the lord de Croisy, who was with the constable. When he thus
perceived his son led prisoner, he was so exasperated against him that
he would have killed him had he not been withheld.
Those who had made this attack on the constable had brought with them
a multitude of peasants, in the expectation of destroying him and his
army,--but the reverse happened, for upwards of four hundred of them
were killed in the field, and from six to eight score made prisoners.
Shortly after, the constable returned into the town of St Remy du
Plain, whence he had dislodged in the morning; and this battle, ever
since, has borne the name of St Remy. He then made preparations to
storm the castle; but the garrison, seeing no chance of further relief,
surrendered it, and were, by the constable, received to the obedience
of the king.
The king of Sicily had about eight hundred chosen men at arms in
the county of Alençon,--and when he heard that the Armagnacs had
collected a large force to march to raise the siege of St Remy, he
sent four score of his men to reinforce the constable, who arrived
at St Remy four hours after the action was over. They were overjoyed
at the victory, and the surrender of the castle, both of which they
were ignorant of; and having thanked God for this good fortune, and
congratulated the constable thereon, they returned to the king of
Sicily.
The constable advanced to Bellême with his army, accompanied by the
marshal of France and sir Anthony de Craon; and on their arrival, they
were soon joined by the king of Sicily, with archers, cross-bows,
and other implements of war. They instantly formed the siege of the
castle,--the king of Sicily investing it on one side, and the constable
and marshal on the other. Their attacks were so severe and incessant
that the garrison could not withstand them, but surrendered on terms.
Having placed a new garrison there in the king's name, the constable
marched away toward Paris; the marshal returned to Dreux; and the king
of Sicily and his men went for Mans, to guard his territories of Anjou.
On the constable's arrival at Paris, he was magnificently feasted by
the king, and the dukes of Acquitaine and Burgundy, as well for the
victory he had gained at St Remy as for other matters, which, during
his expedition, he had brought to an honourable conclusion; and a sum
of money was instantly ordered him, for the payment of his men at arms.
Splendid presents were also made him by the king and the duke of
Burgundy.
While things were thus carried on successfully against the count
d'Alençon, Aymé de Vitry and the bastard of Savoy[5] kept up a
continued warfare with the duke of Bourbon in the Beaujolois; and about
the middle of April, an engagement took place near to Villefranche,
when two of the duke's captains, Vignier de Reffort and Bernardon de
Seres, were defeated, and with them eight score men at arms, knights
and esquires: few escaped death or being made prisoners.
In another part of the kingdom, the lord de Heilly and Enguerrand de
Bournouville were equally successful, and had subjected to the king's
authority the greater part of Poitou. They had very lately gained a
victory over two hundred of the duke of Berry's men, near to Montfaucon.
The grand master of the king's household, sir Guichard Daulphin, and
the master of the cross-bows of France, and sir John de Châlon[6],
were sent by the king's orders, with ten thousand horse, to lay siege
to St Fargeau in the Nivernois, which belonged to John son to the duke
of Bar. While there, they were in daily expectation of a battle, but in
vain: however, when they had remained ten or twelve days, with the loss
of many men in killed and wounded, the town surrendered, and was by
them regarrisoned in the king's name.
With similar success did the lord de St George and the nobles of
Burgundy make war on the count d'Armagnac, in Gascony. Sir Elyon de
Jacques-Ville was stationed at Estampes, and made daily conquests from
the Orleans-party, who at this period were very unfortunate, for war
was carried on against them on all sides.
To provide a remedy, and to enable themselves to make head against
their adversaries, they sent a solemn embassy to Henry king of
England, and to his children, to solicit succours of men and money.
The ambassadors, by means of their credential letters and other papers
which they brought from these lords of France, treated with king Henry
so that he consented to send to the dukes of Berry, Orleans, and their
party, eight thousand combatants, under the command of his second son,
the duke of Clarence.
For the confirmation of this, he granted to the ambassadors letters
under his great seal, which they carried back to the dukes of Berry,
Orleans, Bourbon, and the count d'Alençon and others, whom they found
at Bourges waiting their return. They were much rejoiced on seeing the
great seal of the king of England; for they expected to have immediate
need of his assistance, as they had information that the duke of
Burgundy was intending to lead the king in person to subdue and conquer
them.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 3: Guy de Nesle, vol. ii. p. 228.]
[Footnote 4: Renty was the name of a considerable family in Artois. I
can find nothing about any of the others.]
[Footnote 5: Humbert, natural son of Amadeus VII. and brother of
Amadeus VIII. counts of Savoy.]
[Footnote 6: John de Châlon, second son to Louis I. count of Auxerre,
and brother to Louis II.]
CHAP. VI.
CHARLES KING OF FRANCE, ATTENDED BY OTHER PRINCES, MARCHES A LARGE
FORCE FROM PARIS TO BOURGES.--LETTERS FROM THE KING OF ENGLAND,--AND
OTHER MATTERS.
The council of state now determined that the king should march in
person against his rebellious subjects, to reduce them to obedience.
Summonses were sent throughout the kingdom for men at arms and archers
to assemble between Paris and Melun; and at the same time, great
numbers of carriages were ordered to meet there for the baggage. In
like manner, the dukes of Acquitaine and Burgundy issued their special
summonses.