have been done contrary to your edict, prejudicial to my own honour
and to that of my friends,--but those are already touched upon, and
what remain are not only directly against the spirit of your edict,
but tend to throw upon my person the utmost possible dishonour; and
they are the most effectual means of depriving me not only of your good
graces but of those of my lady the queen, and of my lord of Acquitaine,
whose happiness and prosperity I have ever desired and shall anxiously
promote above all earthly blessings.
'However, my most-redoubted lord, I do not write these things to you,
as meaning in any way to infringe your ordinance, or to violate the
peace of the kingdom, which has of late been so sorely harrassed, in
various ways, that the most perverse mind should feel compassion for it.
'Should any persons now affirm, that I have intentions of avoiding or
disobeying the true meaning of your ordinance, I positively declare,
that I have never had such thoughts, nor have ever wished to give any
opposition to its being carried into full effect; but on the contrary,
I have supported it as much as any of your kindred or subjects have
done throughout the realm. It is nevertheless very true, that I have
sought for the means of keeping this peace firm and inviolate in your
whole kingdom, foreseeing events that might possibly happen should it
be infringed. I therefore most humbly supplicate you, my most-redoubted
lord, that you would be pleased to redress the above causes of
complaint in such wise that those who have been injured may not have
further reason to grieve, and that your ordinance may be fulfilled
to your own welfare and honour as well as to the good of your realm,
so that every one, as has been before said, may sleep in peace and
tranquillity,--to the accomplishment of which I am ready to offer all
my corporal and worldly effects, together with those of my friends, and
every power that God may have granted to me, according as it shall be
your good pleasure to dispose of them.
'And, my most dear and redoubted lord, I beseech the blessed Son of God
to have you in his holy keeping, and to bless you with a long and happy
life. Written in our town of Ghent, the 16th day of November.'
These dispatches were presented, by Flanders king at arms, to the king,
who received them very kindly; but those who governed him were not
well pleased thereat, and would not suffer the king to make any answer
in writing. The chancellor of France told the herald, that the king
had very favourably received what his lord the duke of Burgundy had
written, and would consider of it and send an answer at a proper time
and place. After this, the king at arms left Paris, and returned to his
lord in Flanders.
Notwithstanding the letters which the duke of Burgundy had written to
the king of France in his justification, those who had the management
of the king did not in the least abate the rigour with which they
were proceeding against the duke. A few days after the departure of
Flanders king at arms, there was a great assembly of theologians holden
at Paris, by the bishop of Paris and the inquisitor of the faith, to
consider on certain propositions maintained before some of the princes
of the royal blood and the duke of Burgundy, and by him supported,
against the late Louis duke of Orleans, through the organ of master
John Petit, and to declare whether such propositions be not heretical
and erroneous.
Many were much troubled at this meeting, lest the duke of Burgundy
should be displeased with them for attending it, and that in time to
come they might suffer for it. Here follows the form of a schedule that
was delivered to some of the doctors in theology.
'On the part of the bishop of Paris, the inquisitor and council of
faith duly assembled--reverend doctors, be it known, that we have
sent to you a schedule containing certain propositions, with their
reprobations; and we require from you, under pain of forfeiture, that
you deliver your opinions thereon publicly, in writing or by speech,
whether these assertions, which have brought notorious scandal on the
king's council and on the catholic faith, are erroneous and damnable,
that we may proceed thereon as the canon law requires.
'On Wednesday, the 20th day of this month of December, will the first
proposition be considered, namely, 'Any tyrant legally may and ought
to be put to death by any vassal or subject, even by lying in wait for
him, by flatteries and adulations, notwithstanding any confederation
entered into between them, and after oaths having mutually passed,
and without waiting for the sentence of any judge whatever.' This
proposition, thus stated generally for a maxim, is, according to the
common acceptance of the word 'tyrant,' an error in our faith, contrary
to the doctrine of good morals, and contrary to the commandments of
God: 'Non occides propria auctoritate;' Thou shalt not kill of thy own
authority; and in the 26th chapter of St Matthew, 'Omnes qui accipiunt
gladium gladio peribunt.'
'This doctrine tends to the subversion of all public order, and of each
prince and sovereign, and opens a road for all licentiousness and every
consequent evil, such as frauds, violations of oaths, treasons, lies,
and general disobedience between vassals and lords, distrust of each,
and consequently perdurable damnation.
'Item, he who shall pertinaciously affirm this error, and the others
which follow, is an heretic, and ought to be punished as such, even
after his death. 'Notatur in decretis questione quinta,' the other
proposition.--St Michael, without any orders or command from GOD, or
others, but moved solely by his natural affections, slew Lucifer with
everlasting death, for which he is receiving spiritual riches beyond
measure.
'This proposition, however, contains many errors of faith,--for St
Michael did not slay Lucifer, but Lucifer slew himself by his sin,
and GOD put him to an everlasting death. Beside, St Michael did
receive orders from GOD to thrust Lucifer out of paradise: 'Quia omnis
potestas est a Deo; et hoc sciebat Michael, quia constitutus erat a Deo
princeps, quem honorem non sibi assumpsit. Nota quomodo Michael non est
ausus inferre auditum blasphemiæ, sed dicit, imperet tibi Dominus: in
epistola Judæ.'
'God might also have given him more spiritual riches, and the power of
receiving them: therefore he did not obtain such riches through his
natural affection.
'With regard to the other proposition,--Phineas killed Zimri without
any command from GOD, or from Moses, and Zimri had not committed
idolatry. This proposition is contrary to the book containing this
history, according to the reading of learned doctors, and according
to reason and the nature of things. You will see in the 25th chapter
of the book of Numbers, 'Dicit Moyses ad judices Israel, Occidat unus
quisque proximos suos, qui initiati sunt Beelphegor et ecce unus, &c.
glosa. Josephus dixit, quod Zimri et principes in tribu Symeon duxerant
filias,' &c. Again, Moses, without any orders, slew the Egyptian, so
that this assertion is contrary to the text of the Bible, Actuorum
vii. according to the explanation of learned doctors, and according to
reason. Textus,--'Estimabant, autem intelligere fratres, quoniam Deus
per manum ipsius daret salutem Hierusalem,' &c.
'Judith did not sin in flattering Holofernes, nor Jehu by falsely
saying that he would worship Baal. This is favourable to the error of
those who have declared that lies may be lawful on some occasions.
St Austin writes thus against such doctrine to St Jerome, 'Si inquit
admissa fuerint vel officiosa mendacia tota scripturæ divinæ vacillabit
auctoritas.' The other case brought forward to support the proposition,
that Joab killed Abner after the death of Absalom, is contrary to the
text expressed in the holy Scriptures, I Regum iii. cap. where it is
said, that long before the death of Absalom Joab slew Abner.
'The assertion, that it is not perjury to commit such actions, although
oaths of fellowship may have been given on both sides, is false, for it
is gross perjury, and unprofitable to such as may swear to treacherous
alliances: it is fraud, deception, and clear perjury; and to maintain
that such actions are lawful is an error of faith.'
When these propositions had been fully discussed, they were condemned
as heretical opinions, and errors against the faith.
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.
Nearly about this time, the duke of Burgundy held at Antwerp a very
confidential council, of his most tried friends, on the state of his
affairs, at which were present his brother of Brabant and his two
brothers-in-law, namely, duke William, and John of Brabant bishop
of Liege, the counts de St Pol and de Cleves. He had assembled them
particularly to know whether they would support him in the war which
France was silently meditating against him. They all promised him their
aid against his adversaries, excepting the persons of the king of
France and his children.
When the council broke up, the duke of Burgundy returned to Artois,
in his country of Flanders, and the other lords to the places whence
they had come. On the feast of the Circumcision, a sergeant at arms
came to St Pol en Ternois, and presented to the count letters from the
king of France, containing positive orders, under pain of his highest
displeasure, not to bear arms nor to assemble any men at arms to
accompany the duke of Burgundy or others into his kingdom without his
especial licence; and that he should give an acknowledgement of the
receipt of this royal command, which the count did.
While these things were passing, the duke of Acquitaine resided in
the Louvre with his state, and the duchess and her attendants at the
hôtel of St Pol. On Wednesday, the 12th day of January, the queen,
attended by the duchess, went to visit her son. A short time before,
by the advice of the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry, of Orleans,
and other princes of the blood, she had caused four knights and many
other servants belonging to her son of Acquitaine to be arrested and
carried away from the Louvre, which had so much enraged the duke that
he wanted to sally out to call the populace to his aid, in rescuing
these prisoners. The princes, his relatives, would not permit him to do
this; and the queen his mother appeased his anger in the best manner
she could, and then went to the king in the hôtel de St Pol, leaving
with her son the before mentioned princes, who pacified his anger by
gentle and kind words.
The four knights who had been arrested were sir John de Croy, the lord
de Broy, sir David de Brimeu, sir Bertrand de Montauban, and some
others, who very soon after, on promising not to return to the duke
of Acquitaine, were set at liberty. Sir John de Croy was detained
prisoner, and carried as such to Montlehery.
Although that the duke of Acquitaine pretended to be satisfied, he
nevertheless secretly sent one of his servants to the duke of Burgundy
to desire that he would hasten to Paris with all his forces: he
afterward wrote to him several letters with his own hand, and without
the knowledge of the queen or the princes.
When the duke of Burgundy received this intelligence, he was well
pleased, as he wished for nothing more than such a pretext to march
to Paris, and instantly issued a summons to men at arms from all
countries, appointing a day for them to meet him at Espelry, near St
Quentin in the Vermandois. For his exculpation, and that the cause of
this armament might be known, he wrote letters to all the principal
towns in Picardy, a copy of which is as follows:
'Very dear and good friends, you must have it in your remembrance how
that last year, in the month of August, my lord the king returning from
his city of Bourges, and tarrying in the town of Auxerre, was desirous
that peace should be established for ever between the princes of his
blood, and commanded that it should not only be sworn to be observed by
them, but likewise by the prelates, nobles, universities and principal
cities in his realm. You likewise know that all present at Auxerre did
most solemnly swear to its observance, as well for themselves as for
those on whose part they were come thither.
'My lord the king did afterwards issue letters throughout his realm for
the more strictly keeping of this peace, and that it might be sworn to;
and you also know that we ourself, and others of the princes of the
blood, did, by the king's command, take a solemn oath to maintain this
peace, according to the schedule drawn up for this purpose at Auxerre;
in which, among other things, it was ordained that a good and perfect
union should subsist between these lords, and that henceforth they
should live in a manner becoming good relatives and friends.
'Now although this peace has been much wished for by us, and that we
have never infringed it, or suffered it to be infringed by others in
any degree, nevertheless offensive conduct has been holden toward us
by the detestable injuries which many have attempted to do to our most
redoubted lady and daughter the duchess of Acquitaine, as is notorious
to the whole kingdom, without farther entering into particulars.
'Very contemptuous conduct has been used toward ourself, and personal
injuries have been done us, in banishing from Paris every person that
was known to be attached to us or to our aforesaid lord of Acquitaine;
in defaming our honour in several public assemblies and in various
places, by sermons and harangues, which, notwithstanding the pain it
has cost us, we have patiently borne, and should have continued to do
so from our love of peace, which is the sovereign good to this kingdom,
and to avert all the miseries and distress that must otherwise ensue,
had not our most redoubted lord and son, the duke of Acquitaine,
made known to us, that, after many injurious excesses which had been
committed towards him, to his infinite mortification, he was confined
in the Louvre like a prisoner, with the drawbridge of the said castle
drawn up, which is an abomination that ought not only to be displeasing
to us but to every good subject and wellwisher to our lord the king.
'In consequence of this treatment, my most-redoubted lord and son
has several times, by messengers and letters, requested our aid and
succour to free him from the perilous situation in which he is held;
and since we are so intimately connected by blood, marriage, and other
confederations, with our said lord the king, and our beloved lord the
duke of Acquitaine, his son, the loyalty and affection we owe to both
will prevent us from failing to comply with his demand of assistance
and support. We have, therefore, determined to advance to Paris with
as large a body of men at arms as we can muster, for the security of
our person, and that it may please God that we may see in all good
prosperity my aforesaid lord the king, my lady the queen, my much
redoubted lord of Acquitaine, and my well beloved daughter his duchess;
and likewise that we may deliver them from the danger they are in, and
set them, as is but reasonable, at full liberty, without having the
smallest intentions of violating the peace of the kingdom.
'We signify this to you, very dear and good friends, that you may
be acquainted with our object, and act accordingly, as becometh
wellwishers, and truly obedient subjects, to my said lord the king.
Know, therefore, for a truth, that our intentions and will are such
as we have said, and none other; and we therefore entreat you most
earnestly, from our heart, that in this business, which is of such
consequence to my said lords, and for the tranquillity and peace of
the realm, you will come forward to our assistance as speedily as
possible, that it may be accomplished to our honour and that of my
lords the king and the duke of Acquitaine, and for the common good of
the realm, and that you will so bear yourselves, that your excellent
loyalty may be visible toward my lord the king, the duke of Acquitaine,
to the public welfare, and in like manner to ourself, who are only
desirous of peace.
'We have a perfect confidence in you, very dear and good friends,--and
may God have you in his holy keeping!
'Written in our town of Lille the 23d day of January, in the year of
our Lord 1413, on the eve of our departure.'
The superscription was, 'To my very dear and well beloved the resident
burgesses and inhabitants of the town of Amiens.'
These letters thus sent by the duke of Burgundy, and also the levy of
men at arms which he was making, were immediately known at Paris; and
to counteract the enterprises of the duke, a reconciliation took place
between the duke of Acquitaine and the king's ministers, in consequence
of which the duke was prevailed on to write letters to different towns
to put an end to the intended expedition of the duke of Burgundy. These
letters were of the following tenour:
'Louis, eldest son to the king of France, duke of Acquitaine, and
dauphin of Vienne, to the bailiff of Amiens, or to his lieutenant,
greeting.
'Whereas it has lately come to our knowledge that our very dear and
well beloved father-in-law, the duke of Burgundy, has for a short time
past begun to raise a large body of men at arms, and still continues
to do the same, with the intent, as it is said, of marching them to
us, which may be very prejudicial to my lord the king, his realm and
subjects, and more especially so to the peace which has been so lately
concluded at Auxerre between many princes of our royal blood: we have
therefore very fully explained ourself to our aforesaid father-in-law
by a letter, the contents of which are as under:
'Louis, eldest son to the king of France, duke of Acquitaine and
dauphin of Vienne, to our very dear and well-beloved father the duke of
Burgundy health and affection.
'You know how often my lord the king has repeated his commands to you,
both by letter and by able ambassadors, not to raise any bodies of men
at arms that might be hurtful to the welfare and profit of his kingdom.
You know also what oaths you took, as well at Auxerre as at Paris.
'It has, nevertheless, come to the knowledge of our lord the king,
that, contrary to the terms of the peace concluded between our said
lord and yourself, and sworn to at Auxerre, you have raised, and
continue to raise, bodies of men at arms, with the design, as it is
said, of coming to us; and, as a pretence for the levying these men at
arms, you have published letters as from us, desiring that you would
come to our aid with a large force, which thing we have neither done
nor thought of doing.
'Because we are truly sensible, that your coming hither at this time
would be very prejudicial to the said peace and welfare of the realm,
our said lord the king sends you a sergeant at arms of the parliament,
with his positive commands not to come hither.
'We therefore require, and also command you in his name, and on
the loyalty and obedience you owe him, as well as for the love and
affection you bear to him and to us, and for the good of the realm,
which you say you have had alway at heart, that notwithstanding any
letters or messages you may have had from us, you do for the present
lay aside all thoughts of coming to us, otherwise you will incur the
anger of our lord the king, and that you do disband any bodies of men
at arms which are already assembled, and instantly countermand such as
have not yet joined.
'Should you have any causes of complaint, or should any thing have
happened likely to violate the peace, make them known to my lord, or
to us; for we know for a truth, that my said lord will provide such
remedies for them as shall give you satisfaction.
'Given at Paris, the 24th day of January, in the year 1413.
'We also require and command you, the bailiff of Amiens, in the name of
my aforesaid lord, to have these presents publicly proclaimed in all
usual places where proclamations have been made, within your bailiwick,
forbidding, in the king's name, all his vassals and subjects, as has
been before notified to them, to obey the summons of our said father
the duke of Burgundy, either on the pretext stated by him or any other,
without his especial order and licence, as may appear in his letters
patent, subsequent to the date of these presents.
'Given at Paris the 24th day of January, in the year of Grace 1413.'
Signed by the duke of Acquitaine, and countersigned 'J. de Cloye.'
The duke of Burgundy, however, in spite of these commands from the
king and the duke of Acquitaine, would not desist from his enterprise;
and the king then issued a summons for men at arms to oppose him, and
published the following edict:
'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to the bailiff of
Amiens, or to his lieutenant, health and greeting.
'It has come to our knowledge, that our cousin the duke of Burgundy,
in opposition to the articles of the peace concluded by us, between
him and others of our blood, and sworn to at Auxerre and at Paris,
has raised, and continues to raise, large bodies of men at arms,
notwithstanding our positive orders to the contrary, as well by
letters as by especial ambassadors sent to him for this purpose; and
has already quitted his country, and is on the march, as he declares,
to come to Paris, by which the said peace will be destroyed, and
would cause numberless evils and irreparable injuries to our realm and
subjects, unless a speedy and effectual remedy be provided against it.
'Having, therefore, deliberately weighed the consequences, and the
probable means of opposing the enterprises of the duke of Burgundy, we
have determined to exert our whole power against him, and all others
who shall in any way attempt to infringe the said peace, and to call
for the aid and support of all our loyal subjects.
'We therefore do command and expressly enjoin you, under pain of
incurring our displeasure, to proclaim these presents in a solemn
manner, with a loud voice and with sound of trumpets in all towns and
other accustomed places within your jurisdiction, commanding all our
vassals and liege subjects, on the faith they owe us, to appear in arms
on the 5th day of February next, in our town of Mondidier[30], ready to
follow us to our town of Paris, or wherever else it may please us to
lead them.
'They will find in the town of Mondidier sufficient persons authorised
by us to receive them, with orders to allow such pay as shall content
them; and at the same time, they will inform them whither they are to
direct their march.
'You will make this known to all our said vassals and subjects, and
forbid them, under the heaviest penalties of corporal punishment and
confiscation of effects, and of being counted as traitors to our crown,
to comply with any summons, prayers, or entreaties, of the said duke of
Burgundy, or others, whether of our blood or not, under any pretence
or colour of aiding us, to bear or assemble in arms, or in any way to
obey them without our especial leave and licence, in letters patent, of
a later date than these presents. Should any have joined the duke of
Burgundy or others, you will order them instantly to depart home, even
supposing they should be of the kindred or vassals liege of the said
duke or others, and had, in consequence of their fiefs, been summoned
to assemble in arms; for in this instance we do exempt them not only
from obeying such commands, but do promise to guarantee and defend them
from any ill consequences that may ensue from their disobedience.
'Should it happen, that after the proclamation of these our commands,
any of our vassals within your bailiwick shall set out to join the
duke of Burgundy in arms, or should those who have joined him not
return to their homes, but remain in arms with the said duke, or with
any others who may have summoned them, we most strictly order and
enjoin, that with the least possible delay, and without any excuse or
dissimulation whatever, you do seize, in our name, having had a just
and true inventory made, all their moveables and immoveables, estates,
houses, and all other effects whatever; and that you do put the same
under the management of sufficient persons as may, at a fit time and
place, render a good account of them, proceeding at the same time to
the extremity of the penalties incurred by such for their disobedience.