and danger he was and still is in, from his confinement in the castle
of the Louvre by certain persons, contrary to justice and reason,
and to his sore and bitter displeasure. We marched an armed force
in consequence, not through any ambition or lust of having any part
in the government of the kingdom, nor to break or any way infringe
the peace we have so lately promised and sworn to keep, which we are
above all things desirous of preserving, but solely in obedience to
the good will and pleasure of my lord the king and of my said lord of
Acquitaine, and to obtain for him his just freedom. For this cause did
we peaceably advance to the town of St Denis, without molesting or
despoiling any person, but paying courteously for all that we had need
of; and instantly on our arrival there, we sent by our herald, Artois
king at arms, sealed letters addressed to my lord the king, my lady the
queen, my lord of Acquitaine, and to the good town of Paris,--in which
we notified our coming, not with any intent of warfare, or to infringe
the peace, but by the orders of my lord of Acquitaine, and to obey his
good pleasure (as the saying is), requesting at the same time to have
audiences of my lord the king and of my lord of Acquitaine, to the
performance of our duty, and to the accomplishment of their will and
pleasure, to which we are bound.
'Notwithstanding this, the presentation of our said letters was most
rigorously prevented by the count d'Armagnac and his adherents, without
any reasonable cause, and through contempt and malice to us and our
friends. The said count even told our herald, that if he did not
instantly depart, or if any of our people should again return on this
errand, he would have their heads cut off. In consequence, we marched
in person from the town of St Denis, grandly accompanied by men at arms
and archers, on the Saturday, the 10th of this month, February, to the
walls of Paris, without doing harm to any person, but with the intent
of amicably explaining the reasons for our thus appearing in arms, and
with the expectation of receiving a more gracious answer than was given
to our herald; but when we had arrived before the town, and had sent
to the gate of St Honoré, which was the nearest to us, our herald, and
after him four of our principal knights, to request an hearing, they
were told, that if they did not immediately retire, the guards would
shoot at them; and without hearing or saving any more, some cross-bows
were discharged, which was, and not without reason, highly displeasing
to us.
'Although all these disorderly acts were done without the knowledge
or consent of the king, or of the duke of Acquitaine, and although
several of our officers were made prisoners, we most patiently bore the
whole, from our love of peace; and from our affectionate duty to the
king and my lord of Acquitaine, we quietly returned to St Denis, where,
during our stay, we permitted all sorts of provision to pass free to
Paris, the same as before our arrival there. We have nevertheless had
information, that through malicious instigations, contrary to the
honour and interest of my lord the king, my lord of Acquitaine, and the
public welfare, and against their will and intention, very many letters
have been unjustly and wickedly issued, by which the king has, as we
are told, banished from his kingdom us and all who attended us before
the walls of Paris,--notwithstanding that neither we nor they have
at present, or at any other time, neglected our duty to him, nor are
we of those who formerly besieged him in the town of Paris, and who
have, in many parts of his realm, damnably set fire to houses, slain
his subjects, forced women, violated maidens, pillaged and destroyed
churches, castles, towns and mansions, committing at the same time
unheard-of cruelties and mischiefs.
'The advisers of this measure, proceeding in their wicked projects from
bad to worse, keep my lord the king and my lord of Acquitaine under
their subjection and control.
'On this account, therefore, my very dear and good friends, and because
such things are contrary to the articles of the peace concluded at
Auxerre, and confirmed at Pontoise, we, who are of so great importance,
cannot longer suffer them, more especially when we consider the
dangerous state in which the king and my lord of Acquitaine are held.
Deputations have been likewise sent from many of the great towns, such
as Paris, Rheims, Rouen, Laon, Beauvais and others, who have solemnly
sworn to support and assist all who shall maintain this peace, and
strenuously to oppose those who shall infringe it. We affirm these
things to you for truth, so that should you hear the contrary you may
not give credit to it, but ever remain faithful and loyal subjects to
my lord the king and my lord of Acquitaine, such as you have ever been,
and aid and assist us in the part we have taken, for we have the utmost
confidence in your zeal.
'In truth, we expect, through the help of God, and other assistance,
for the relief of my lord the king and my lord of Acquitaine, that we
may obtain for them full and free liberty of government, such as they
ought to possess, and that those who now keep them in bondage may be
dismissed from their presence, to reside in their own countries, as
we are ready to do, for the due observance of the said peace, and the
common good of the kingdom, objects of which we are very desirous.
'Should there be any things which you may wish to have done, that are
within our power, know for certain that we will, with God's pleasure,
do them with a hearty good will,--and may he have you in his holy
keeping! Written in our town of Arras, and sealed with our privy seal,
the 27th day of February, in the year 1413.'
There was also written on the margin, 'The duke of Burgundy, count of
Flanders and Artois; and that you, my very dear and good friends, may
be fully assured of the authenticity of the letters from my lord of
Acquitaine, mentioned in this paper, we send you with these presents
true copies of the originals, under an official seal,' and signed
'Vignier.' This letter was drawn up on sealed paper, and had for its
address, 'To our very dear and well beloved, the resident burgesses and
inhabitants of the town of Amiens.'
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 31: Esclusieu,--a village in Picardy, near Peronne.]
[Footnote 32: _December._ So in the original, but it must be a mistake.]
[Footnote 33: Baron,--a town in Picardy, diocese of Sens.]
[Footnote 34: Dampmartin,--a town in the isle of France, nine leagues
from Paris.]
[Footnote 35: Count of Soissons, mentioned above.]
CHAP. XXXI.
ON THE RETREAT OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY FROM SAINT DENIS, THE KING OF
FRANCE ISSUES ORDERS THROUGHOUT HIS KINGDOM TO RAISE FORCES TO MARCH
AGAINST HIM.
When it was known to the king of France, the duke of Acquitaine, the
princes of the blood then in Paris, and to the members of the council,
that the duke of Burgundy, on his retreat from St Denis, had left
large garrisons in the towns of Compiegne, Soissons, and other places
belonging to the king, or at least under his government, they were
greatly surprised, thinking he had no just cause for so doing.
To obviate the consequences of this conduct, certain royal edicts were
instantly dispatched throughout the bailiwicks and seneschalships
in the realm, commanding them to raise forces to resist the future
proceedings of the duke of Burgundy, which edicts, and particularly
that addressed to the bailiff of Amiens, were as follows.
'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to the bailiff of
Amiens, or to his lieutenant, greeting.
'To check the many great and numberless evils that have befallen our
kingdom, to the prejudice of ourself and of the public welfare, from
the quarrels and wars that have arisen between some of the princes
of our blood, and that our subjects may live in tranquillity under
our government, and that henceforward they may be ruled with justice,
which cannot take place but in times of peace,--we have, after mature
deliberation, effected an union between these said princes of our
blood, which they have most solemnly promised and sworn in our presence
to keep inviolate. Although it be not lawful for any of our subjects,
whether of our blood or not, and even contrary to our express orders,
to assemble any bodies of men at arms within our realm, yet it has come
to our knowledge that our cousin of Burgundy has complained of certain
acts done, as he says, to his prejudice, and contrary to the articles
of the said peace,--and for this cause he has occupied, or caused to be
occupied, several castles and fortresses belonging to us, and against
our will; that he has received in his country, and admitted to his
presence, several evil doers who have been guilty of treason against
us. In consequence, we sent able ambassadors to our said cousin of
Burgundy, to admonish him to keep the peace, to offer him every legal
means of redress, and to cause such reparation to be made him for any
infringement of the peace, as the case might require. At the same time
we summoned him to surrender the castles to us, as he was bound to do;
and we commanded him not to receive any such evil doers in future,
enjoining him to send those whom he had admitted to us, that they might
undergo such punishments as justice should order.
'These commands he has not obeyed, nor sent any satisfactory answer.
Having learnt that after this our said cousin of Burgundy was
assembling a large body of men at arms, we sent one of the sergeants
at arms of the parliament with sealed letters to him, to forbid him to
raise any forces whatever. Notwithstanding this, in defiance of the
treaty of peace and of our positive orders, our cousin of Burgundy
continued to assemble men at arms and archers from all parts; and with
this army he has marched from his own country, and, by fraudulent and
traitorous means, has, against our will, gained possession of our towns
of Compiegne and Soissons, which he still holds, and has placed therein
garrisons of men at arms. He also attempted to gain by force our town
of Senlis, and has refused to surrender our castles and fortresses
aforesaid, which he detains contrary to our commands: he admits to his
country and to his presence every person guilty toward us, without ever
sending them to us, as we had commanded him to do. He has likewise
detained by force our sergeant at arms of the parliament and other
messengers from our dearly beloved companion the queen, and from our
very dear and well beloved son the duke of Acquitaine, bearing letters
from them to forbid him to do any acts contrary to the said peace, and
without sending to us or to them any answers whatever.
'Our said cousin of Burgundy, in defiance and contempt of these our
orders and prohibitions, has marched a numerous, army near to Paris,
accompanied by all or the greater part of those criminals who have been
found guilty of treason against us, and therefore banished our realm.
'All these said things have been done, committed, and perpetrated by
our said cousin of Burgundy, his adherents and allies, contrary to our
royal will and pleasure, in opposition to the articles of the said
peace, against the tranquillity of our subjects and the public good of
our kingdom.
'Great inconveniences may therefore arise, unless a speedy remedy be
applied to this disloyal conduct. Wishing to obviate these evils, and
to reduce to obedience those of our subjects who may have joined our
said cousin the duke of Burgundy, whose enterprises we will no longer
tolerate, but are determined to repress them with the aid of those of
our blood, and our other good and faithful subjects, in such wise that
it shall be an example to all others.
'We therefore command and strictly enjoin, that on receiving these
presents, you do, with a loud voice and with sound of trumpet, in
our name, proclaim the arriere-ban[36]; and that you do repeat this
proclamation throughout your bailiwick, so that no one may plead
ignorance of it, enforcing obedience to the same from all nobles and
others within your jurisdiction who have been used to arms, or in a
state to bear arms, and from all who may hold fiefs or arriere-fiefs of
the value of twenty livres tournois. You will see that prompt attention
be paid to our command by all nobles, citizens and inhabitants of the
towns within your bailiwick, on the faith and homage they owe to us,
and under pain of confiscation of estates and goods, should they not
join us in all diligence with the greatest possible number of men at
arms and archers, without any excuse or denial whatever.
'You will enjoin the inhabitants of your principal towns to send
instantly to our good city of Paris men at arms and archers, mounted
on horseback and sufficiently accompanied,--and we command them thus
to do for our service in this matter, and wherever else we may employ
them, forbidding them at the same time, under the severest execution of
the penalties aforesaid, to obey, in any manner whatever, the summons,
orders, or requests of our said cousin of Burgundy, or under pretence
of serving us, or under other pretexts, to aid or promote his designs.
'Should any persons within your jurisdiction have joined him, let them
instantly return, and not give him either support or advice. You will
arrest all whom you shall know to be favourable to him, or who have
joined him, whenever you can lay hands on them. Should you not be able
to do this, summon them, under pain of banishment; and take possession,
in our name, of all their effects, moveable and immoveable, whatever,
which you will administer on our behalf.
'You will also make public proclamation in our name, for all prelates,
abbots, priors, chaplains and other churchmen, who are bound to supply
us with carts, sumpter horses, and other services from their fiefs,
instantly to perform them and send them to us. You will, in case of
their neglecting the same, seize their temporalities, or use such other
measures as are customary in such like cases.
'At the same time, you will strictly forbid in our name, under the
aforesaid penalties, all labourers, tradespeople, or others, excepting
those before mentioned, to assemble in arms, or to collect together
in companies, after the manner of the pillagers in former times, but
give orders that they do apply to their labour or trades. Should any be
found to act contrary, you will imprison them, and inflict on them such
punishment as justice may ordain, to serve as examples to others.
'We likewise command and enjoin you to suffer all men at arms and
archers, whether from our kingdom or elsewhere, that may be on their
march to join us, to pass freely through your bailiwick, without any
let or hindrance whatever, notwithstanding any letters or orders from
us to the contrary, unless of a subsequent date to these presents, and
signed by ourself in council; and you will afford to such person or
persons every aid, encouragement, and advice, should need be, in any
of our towns, castles, bridges or passes, that may tend to obstruct
them on their march. This we order to be done without refusal or
contradiction, for such is our will and pleasure; and you will certify
to our faithful chancellor your proceedings in this business, that
your diligence may be the more apparent; and be careful, under pain of
deprivation of office, and of the aforesaid punishments, that there be
no neglect on your part.
'We will beside, and command you by these presents, that in regard
to all quarrels, suits, debts, or prosecutions for any matters in
litigation that may have been brought before you within your bailiwick
against those who may have set out to join us in obedience to our
summons, you do defer pronouncing any sentence or sentences thereon,
until fifteen days be expired after the return home of the parties
serving us, and that you do order all provosts, judges, or officers
under you, to do the same; and should any sentences have been passed,
or further proceedings thereon, you will stay the same, and without
delay make every possible reparation.
'For the carrying our said will into execution, we, by these presents,
do give you full and ample authority; and by them also we command all
officers of justice, and others our subjects, diligently to attend to
and obey your orders, issued for the above purposes, and to afford you
aid and advice, and even the use of their prisons, should it be found
necessary.
'Given at Paris, the 8th day of February, in the year of Grace 1413,
and of our reign the 33d.' Signed, on the report of the grand council
held by the queen, the duke of Acquitaine and others, 'Jean du Chastel.'
This edict was sent to Amiens, and there proclaimed. It caused great
distress to all who had joined the party of the duke of Burgundy, as
well within Paris and its neighbourhood as elsewhere, for very many
were arrested and beheaded: others were imprisoned, and their fortunes
confiscated.
Another edict was soon after issued, after great deliberation in
council, and published throughout France, by which the duke of Burgundy
was deprived of all the favours that had formerly been done him, and he
and all his partisans were banished the kingdom. This was the tenour of
the edict.
'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to all to whom these
presents shall come, greeting.
'Whereas, after the very cruel and damnable murder lately perpetrated
by the order and instigation of John our cousin of Burgundy, on the
person of our very dear and well beloved only brother Louis, duke of
Orleans, of good memory, whose soul may God pardon! the said duke of
Burgundy came to our good town of Paris, attended by a numerous body of
men at arms, against our will and in defiance of our commands to the
contrary, and there endeavoured to justify himself from this atrocious
murder, by means notoriously false, and by many arguments scandalous
and offensive to our majesty and to the public weal.
'We, considering the very many evils that might ensue in consequence of
this murder to our subjects and kingdom, and being desirous to obviate
the same, did order our very dear son and beloved nephew, the present
duke of Orleans, with our very dear and well beloved nephew the count
de Vertus, his brother, children to our late brother, and minors, to
meet us in our town of Chartres, where we formed a pacification between
our said nephews and the duke of Burgundy; and although the terms of
this pacification were extraordinary and harsh to our said nephews,
nevertheless they subscribed to them in obedience to us, and from pity
to the subjects of the realm, who must have suffered greatly from the
intestine wars that would otherwise have taken place.
'Notwithstanding the duke of Burgundy swore in our hands to the
observance of this treaty, and that he would thenceforward be a loyal
and sincere friend to our said nephews and their adherents, he very
shortly acted contrary to this oath and solemn promise, by revenging
himself on some of our servants, whom he suspected to have advised us
to have justice done on him for the murder of our said brother the duke
of Orleans, and also to continue his wicked designs of gaining the sole
government of our person and kingdom. This was the true reason for his
committing so foul a murder, and for arresting many of our faithful
servants,--some of whom he caused to be put to death, and, by unjust
and iniquitous means, exacted from others exorbitant and immense sums
of money.
'In consequence, our nephews of Orleans, seeing that the duke of
Burgundy was infringing daily, and in various ways, the treaty which he
had sworn to keep at Chartres, and was regardless of all that he had
promised, most humbly but earnestly supplicated us at different times,
that we would administer justice on the murderers of their father, as
we were bounden to do; but the duke of Burgundy, who had deprived us of
our most loyal servants, and in their room had placed others attached
to him, prevented us from hearing their complaints, and from rendering
the justice it became us to administer. And what was worse, our nephews
perceiving that they could not obtain any redress from us, through the
interference of the duke of Burgundy, resolved to make war personally
upon him, to revenge the murder of their father, as was natural for
them to do.
'The duke of Burgundy then accused them (and published falsely,
contrary to all resemblance of truth, as we are fully informed and
assured), that they and others of our blood, being in their company,
wished to deprive us of our royal estate and dignity, and make a new
king of France. And under pretence of these lies and charges, contrary
to all truth, he raised our people against them, wishing to cover his
wicked intentions and quarrel with lies, whence, as every one knows, so
many and serious misfortunes have arisen.
'Under pretext of this warfare, the duke of Burgundy has caused to
be arrested and confined in our prison of the Châtelet at Paris, and
elsewhere, numbers of considerable gentlemen, knights and squires,
because he charged them with being favourable to the wellwishers of the
party of our nephews, or inclined to others of our blood and lineage
in their company: many whom he thus imprisoned he made suffer the
cruellest tortures, and then put them to death without a shadow of
reason or justice.
'Some he starved to death in prison, denying them confessors or any of
the ecclesiastical sacraments, throwing their bodies into the fields
to be devoured by dogs, birds, or wild beasts, without allowing them
to have Christian burial, or that their new-born children should
be baptised, which is expressly against our religion. In these
transactions, the most horrid and unheard-of cruelties were committed.
'Under cover of this war, which neither was nor ought to have been
ours, but his own, and personal to himself, this Burgundian caused
excessive and extraordinary taxes to be raised on our people, by
tallies, loans, and other means; such as seizing the treasures of
churches, the deposits in our courts of parliament, Châtelet, and
elsewhere, which had been there placed for the advantage of widows,
and children under age, or for the purpose of completing purchases or
repayment of mortgages.
'The said Burgundian also made great depreciations in our coin, by
which he gained large sums of money, but to the severe loss of us, our
people, and the public welfare. By these and other equally fraudulent
means has he reaped very considerable profit, and for these two or
three years last past has applied to his own benefit the money of
our people, amounting to ten hundred thousand golden florins at the
least, as has been clearly demonstrated to us by the statement of the
accounts, without any part of it being employed for our service.
'This has caused a failure and total stoppage of commerce, so necessary
to us and our kingdom, for some time past; consequently the revenues of
our domain and taxes have been shamefully diminished, as is notorious
to all.
'But not contented with this, and in the design of totally destroying
our nephews aforesaid, our very dear and well beloved uncle the duke
of Berry, and several others of our blood, with the intent of gaining
the sole government of our kingdom to himself, the duke of Burgundy
constrained us and our dearly beloved eldest son the duke of Acquitaine
to oppose with force of arms our said nephews and their adherents,
under colour that the war was ours--whereas it was no such thing--and
obliged us to march from Paris against them, as if they had not alway
been our very loyal and affectionate relatives and subjects.
'In fact, we laid siege to the city of Bourges, wherein was our uncle
aforesaid; and we were detained before it for upwards of six weeks
against our will, and to our very great displeasure.
'We and our son were in great personal danger, as well from the
excessive heat of the season as from the attacks made on our army,
insomuch that we thought it right to remove to our town of Auxerre,
where we had assembled our said uncle, nephews, and other princes
of our blood. There, by the grace of God and his holy aid, and by
the commands of ourself and of our eldest son, certain articles of
pacification were drawn up and agreed to by our said uncle, son, and
nephews, with their allies, on the one part, and the duke of Burgundy
and his allies on the other,--which articles both parties solemnly
promised and swore before us to keep, without any way infringing them.