of Jesus Christ, promising to make him a great lord if he would so do;
but he would never listen to such proposals, and even in the presence
of the sultan contemned the doctrines of Mohammed, which so much
exasperated the sultan that he caused his body to be sawn in twain.
It was afterward assured for truth, by many persons worthy of belief,
that on the spot where he had been buried they saw a crown of fire
descend from heaven to earth, and repose on the aforesaid grave.
When the earl of Salisbury had conquered the castle of Rambouillet, he
went to lay siege to the town of Mans St Julien. Having surrounded it,
he was some time combating the garrison with his engines of war; but
the inhabitants, despairing of succour, offered to capitulate.
The bishop and other churchmen waited on the earl, and, with all
humility, besought him to take pity on them, to avoid further
effusion of Christian blood. The earl inclined to their prayers, and
concluded a treaty, that if within eight days they were not relieved
by king Charles's party, they were to surrender the town with all its
artillery, arms and stores, and to swear allegiance to king Henry. In
return, they were to enjoy all their effects unmolested. Upon this,
they gave sufficient hostages for their due performance of the above;
and as they were not succoured by any one, they delivered the town up
to the earl of Salisbury, who, after placing a new garrison within it,
returned to the duke of Bedford at Rouen.
CHAP. XXXVI.
THE DUCHESS JACQUILINE OF BAVARIA ESCAPES IN DISGUISE FROM GHENT, AND
GOES TO HOLLAND.
The duchess Jacquiline, finding her confinement in Ghent very irksome,
began about the beginning of September to look for means of escape.
One evening, when her guards were at supper, she dressed herself in
man's clothes, as did one of her women, and, quitting her apartments
unobserved, they mounted horses which were waiting for them, and,
escorted by two men, rode off full gallop from Ghent to Antwerp, where
she reassumed her female dress, and thence proceeded on a car to Breda,
and to la Garide[6], where she was honourably received, and obeyed as
their princess.
She there ordered the lord de Montfort, her principal adviser, to meet
her, and many of the noble barons of Holland, to take council with them
on the state of her affairs. Knowledge of this event was soon carried
to the duke of Burgundy, who was much troubled thereat, and sent in
haste for men at arms from all quarters: he collected numerous vessels
to pursue the duchess into Holland, whither he also went in person.
On his arrival in Holland, many of the principal towns opened their
gates to him, such has Harlem, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, and some others.
Then began a serious war between the duke of Burgundy and the duchess
Jacquiline of Bavaria, his cousin-german.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 6: La Garide. Q. if not meant for Gertruydenberg?]
CHAP. XXXVII.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD PREVENTS THE COMBAT BETWEEN THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY
AND GLOCESTER.--OTHER EVENTS.
In the month of September, the duke of Bedford, who styled himself
regent of France, assembled in the city of Paris many of the nobles of
France, some learned men from the three estates, and the ambassadors
from England, to consider on the combat that had been declared between
the dukes of Burgundy and of Glocester. Having for several days
discussed the origin of this quarrel, and all matters appertaining
thereto in council, it was concluded, after mature deliberation, that
there was no cause for a combat; and although a day had been fixed for
it to take place, it was annulled; and it was declared that neither
party was bound to make any satisfaction to the other.
There were present at this meeting, on the part of the duke of
Burgundy, the bishop of Tournay: from the duke of Glocester, the bishop
of London: each of them attended by some of their lord's council.
On the 17th of this same month, the marriage between Charles de Bourbon
count de Clermont, son and heir to the duke of Bourbon, a prisoner
in England, and Agnes, sister to the duke of Burgundy, was solemnly
celebrated in the city of Autun. The duchess-dowager of Burgundy,
sister to the duke de Bourbon, was present at the ceremony and feasts;
and when they were finished she returned to Dijon, where she suddenly
departed this life, and was buried in the church of the Carthusians,
without the walls of Dijon, being followed to the grave by the
universal sorrow and lamentations of the Burgundians, who loved her
much; for she was a good and pious lady toward God and man.
In this year, an embassy was sent to the holy father in Rome from
the two kingdoms of France and England, consisting of the abbot of
Orcamp and two knights from France, and of the abbot of Beaulieu and
two knights from England, to summon the pope, (in like manner as had
been done previously to the last general council held at Constance)
to convoke a council to perfect and accomplish those things that had
been left unfinished at the last council, notifying to him, at the
same time, that he had too long delayed this, which was hurtful to the
universal church.
In this year, a great quarrel took place in England between the duke
of Glocester and the cardinal of Winchester. The cause of this discord
arose from the duke wishing to have the government of his nephew the
young king, who had been by his father king Henry given in wardship to
the cardinal.
The cardinal, overpowered by force, was constrained to take refuge,
from the duke of Glocester, in the tower of London, where he remained
six days, without daring to venture abroad, for eight or ten of his
people had been slain. At length peace was made between them; and the
parliament was assembled to take cognisance of their dispute. During
its sitting, the young king Henry was frequently brought thither, and
seated on the royal throne: the earl-marshal was then created a duke.
This parliament lasted a considerable time, in which many weighty
matters were discussed, relative to affairs in France as well as in
England.
In the month of December the duke and duchess of Bedford, attended
by about five hundred combatants, left Paris for Amiens, where they
staid some days. While the duke was at Amiens, there were in that
neighbourhood about a thousand pillagers, well mounted, under the
command of one Sauvage de Fermanville, who was not in favour with the
regent. Sauvage was quartered at Esclusiers, near Peronne, and hearing
that the duke was to leave Amiens, for Dourlens, lightly accompanied,
was in hopes of taking him by surprise, and to this effect he marched
his men from Esclusiers, and hastily advanced to Beauquesne, where he
halted; but the duke had passed by, and was lodged in Dourlens, and
thence went to Calais, by St Pol, and Therouenne. He embarked from
Calais to England, whither he went to reprimand and check his brother
Humphrey of Glocester, for his conduct toward the duke of Burgundy.
When the duke of Bedford learnt the intentions of Sauvage de
Fermanville he was very indignant, and so managed that some time
afterward, he was severely punished, as you shall hear, for this and
others of his evil deeds.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
THE LORD FITZWALTER ARRIVES IN HOLLAND TO THE AID OF THE DUCHESS
JACQUELINE.
While the duke of Burgundy was carrying on a deadly warfare in Holland
against his cousin the duchess Jacquiline, about five hundred English,
all picked men, arrived at Zuricksee in Zealand, under the command
of the lord Fitzwalter, calling himself lieutenant for the duke of
Glocester in the countries of Holland and Zealand. This body of men
advanced toward the duchess to aid her to support the war.
The duke of Burgundy was at Leyden when he heard of the landing of this
reinforcement; he departed thence with about four thousand combatants,
whom he had assembled from his different territories, and marched to
Rotterdam, where he embarked with the intent to meet the English and
offer them battle. In the mean time, a party of Burgundians, falling in
with them, were defeated, slain or made prisoners by the English.
The duke having had intelligence that his enemies, Dutch, Zealanders,
and English, amounted from two to three thousand combatants, and were
at the port of _Branvers[7] en une aduene_, he marched thither, and
made so successful an attack on them that they were soon discomfited.
From seven to eight hundred of his enemies lay dead on the field: the
rest fled in great confusion toward the sea-shore, and great part saved
themselves on board their vessels. Among those who escaped were the
lord Fitzwalter and the lord de Hentredée.
On the part of the duke of Burgundy, the only man of note that was
killed, was sir Andrew de Valines: Robert de Brimeu was carried away
so badly wounded that he died thereof. After this victory, the duke
collected his men around him, and most humbly returned thanks to his
Creator for the fortunate issue of the day. Having strengthened the
garrisons of those towns under his obedience, he returned to Flanders
to collect reinforcements to carry on his war in Holland against the
duchess with greater vigour.
On the duke of Burgundy's leaving Holland, the duchess Jacquiline
assembled a large force, and led it before Harlem, which she closely
blockaded. The captains for the duke within the town were the damoiseau
Ysambergue and sir Roland de Hultquerre knight, with a sufficient
garrison. During the siege, sir John de Hultquerre, son to sir Roland,
assembled in haste a body of men, from seven to eight hundred, of
nobles and common people, from Flanders, whom he conducted into
Holland by forced marches to succour his father; but his intentions
were known to the duchess, who detached a force to meet him,--and he
was found near the sea with his men in great disorder, so that, when
attacked, he was speedily routed: the greater part were made prisoners:
the others escaped with sir John de Hultquerre.
The duchess was delighted with her victory, but cruelly caused the
prisoners to be put to death: and after this, from fear of the arrival
of the duke of Burgundy, who was raising an immense army in Flanders
and Artois, she raised the siege of Harlem.
In this year, the earl of Salisbury besieged the castle of Moyennes in
Champagne, which was beyond measure strong and well garrisoned with
men at arms. During the siege, there were many severe skirmishes on
each side. In one of them, Valerien de Bournouville, brother to sir
Lyonnel de Bournouville, was slain by a lance passing through his body.
However, notwithstanding the obstinate resistance of the garrison, from
the length of the siege, they were forced to capitulate, with liberty
to depart with their baggage and effects. The castle was afterward
razed to the ground.
When the duke of Burgundy was in Flanders, he had many conferences with
his cousin the duke of Brabant and his council, respecting the affairs
of Holland. Many great lords there joined him, and a noble chivalry
from Burgundy under the command of the prince of Orange. With these
and a large body of Picards and Flemings, the duke returned to Holland
about Mid-Lent, and renewed his war more earnestly than before against
the duchess Jacquiline and her adherents.
Although several of the principal towns soon surrendered to him, the
duchess collected about four thousand combatants, and led them to the
town of Horn, on the borders of Frizeland to conquer it by surprise.
Within the place was the lord de l'Isle-Adam, the bastard de St Pol,
and about five hundred combatants, who with great gallantry sallied out
against the enemy, and fought them with such determined courage that
they conquered and put them to flight.
Four hundred were left dead on the field, and the numbers of the
wounded were very great indeed. On the part of the duke of Burgundy
were slain the bastard de la Viefville and about ten archers; and in
consequence of this defeat, the greater part of Holland submitted to
him. There were very many severe rencounters between the two parties in
Holland, but it would be too tedious to relate them in detail: suffice
it to say, that in general the success of them was against the duchess
Jacquiline,--for the duke's men had been long experienced in arms, and
were expert in war; add to this, he had plenty of archers, to whose
mode of fighting the Hollanders had not been accustomed.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 7: Branvers. Q. Brouvershaven?]
[A.D. 1426.]
CHAP. XXXIX.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RETURNS TO HOLLAND, AND BESIEGES THE TOWN OF
ZENEUBERCHE[8], WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM.--OTHER MATTERS.
At the beginning of this year, the duke of Burgundy assembled a
great body of men at arms from his countries of Flanders, Artois and
Burgundy, whom, after he had finished his preparations, he led into
Holland, to the attack of a strong town called Zeneuberche, which, with
its lord, had supported the party of the duchess Jacquiline of Bavaria,
and, in consequence, had carried on a severe warfare by sea and land
against the friends of the duke of Burgundy.
The town was surrounded on all sides, and vigorously attacked; but the
lord of it had a numerous garrison, with whom he for a considerable
time made a gallant defence,--but at length the lord de Zeneuberche was
forced to capitulate, and on the hard terms that he should surrender
the town, its inhabitants and dependancies to the duke, and also that
he and all the gentlemen with him should yield themselves up to the
will of the duke, on having their lives spared, and promise to remain
prisoners on their parole, in any place whithersoever he might please
to order them.
The whole of the stores in the town and castle were given up to the
duke, as well as the shipping: the foreign soldiers were allowed to
march away, on taking an oath that they would never make war on any
of the territories of the duke of Burgundy. All the prisoners of
the duke's party were set at liberty, among whom were the lord de
Moyencourt, the damoiseau d'Ercle and others.
The burghers and inhabitants of the town took the oaths of allegiance
to the duke, or to his commissioners,--and on paying a certain sum
of money they remained in peace. Thus was the lord de Zeneuberche
deprived of his town and fortune, and, in addition, carried to Lille.
The duke, having regarrisoned the place with his own men, marched his
army back to Flanders and Artois; but the lord de Humbercourt, sir
Manfroy de St Leger, and some others, died of an epidemical disorder in
their march home.
The duke of Bedford, after a residence of eight months in England
with his duchess, returned to Calais, escorted by three thousand
combatants, and thence to Paris, where he remained some time, to
regulate the affairs of France. He thence went to Lille, where he and
his duchess were joyfully received by the duke of Burgundy. They had
many conferences together on the subject of the dissentions between the
dukes of Burgundy and Glocester; but as the regent could not any way
succeed in bringing about a pacification, he returned to Paris.
In these days, the duke of Glocester, on the departure of his brother,
the duke of Bedford, for France, issued his summonses for the raising
a large force to succour the duchess Jacquiline in Holland, whom he
called his wife. The earl of Salisbury and many other great lords had
connected themselves with him, in opposition to the duke of Burgundy;
but the duke of Bedford, hearing of these movements, sent in haste
ambassadors to his brother of Glocester, who prevailed on him to give
up his intentions, on the conclusion of a truce for a certain period,
in the hope that, in the course of time, peace might be made between
them. The abbot of Orcamp and master John le Duc were the ambassadors
on this occasion.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 8: Zeneuberche. Q. Nieuverkerk?]
CHAP. XL.
THE SARACENS RETURN TO CYPRUS.--A BATTLE BETWEEN THEM AND THE
CYPRIOTS, IN WHICH THE KING IS MADE PRISONER, AND CARRIED TO THE
SULTAN.
About this period, many knights and esquires arrived at Cyprus, in
consequence of the king of Cyprus's solicitations, to oppose the
Saracens, who were daily expected to return thither. The king collected
all the forces within the island, whom he provided with lodging, food
and money, as well as he could, according to their different ranks.
While they were thus expecting the Saracens, his army, which was
collected from various nations, mutinied, so that the king had much
difficulty to keep peace among them, and knew not whom to appoint
as commander in chief, who would be agreeable to them. During these
dissentions, the Saracens came before Cyprus in prodigious numbers, and
landed at Lymeson: they besieged the great tower, and, notwithstanding
it had been much strengthened, and was full of men at arms, they took
it by storm, and killed the governor, Estienne de Buyserse, and all his
men.
The king, hearing of this, assembled his council, and demanded what
measures he should pursue. The greater part proposed that he should
remain in the town of Nicosia, saying that a country wasted was better
than a country lost; but all the foreigners were of a contrary
opinion, and advised him to march his army into the plain, and combat
boldly an enemy who was destroying his kingdom, and putting to death
his subjects. The king, on this, determined to march his army to meet
the Saracens; and on the second day after, when he was mounted, his
horse, at the first step, fell on its knees to the ground. The prince
of Galilee also, his brother, let his sword fall out of the scabbard on
the earth: many persons thought these such omens of ill success, that
they had but little hopes of victory.
This day, the king advanced three leagues, and fixed his quarters at a
very beautiful spot called Beaulieu. On the Saturday following, for on
the Thursday, he had taken the field, he marched in handsome array to
a town called Citolye[9]. On the ensuing Sunday, the 6th day of July,
after the king had attended mass, and was seated at table, and while he
and his army were at dinner, a great smoke was seen in different parts
not far distant, and intelligence was brought that the Saracens were
advancing against him.
The commander of Cyprus, with some of the knights of Rhodes, the lord
de Varemboulais, and several gentlemen from France, hearing this,
requested the king's permission to go and reconnoitre the enemy. It was
very unwillingly granted. They advanced so far that they fell in with
the Saracens, with whom they skirmished, and killed a few; but numbers
were so much against them that they could not longer resist, and,
leaving nearly thirty dead behind them, retreated as well as they could
to their army, which they met, with the king, advancing at a quick pace.
The king of Cyprus marched his army without much order for some time,
and at last came in sight of the Saracens near to a town called Domy.
He had near him his brother the prince of Galilee, the constable of
Jerusalem, two german counts, and the flower of his own chivalry.
The king charged the Saracens very gallantly and rapidly, insomuch
that at the onset they suffered much; but fortune seemed unwilling
to continue her favours, for the king's horse fell under him to the
ground and burst the girths of the saddle; so that when the king was
remounted, and engaged in the combat, the saddle turned, and he fell
to the ground: the horse galloped off, and necessity forced him to
mount a small horse of one of his esquires, named Anthony Kaire, for
the boys had fled for fear with all the war-horses. By reason of this
accident, most of the Cypriots believed their king was killed, and
were panic-struck. The Saracens were beginning to retreat toward the
coast, but, observing some disorder in the enemy's army, recovered
their courage, and with their main body charged the Christians with
such vigour that the king was obliged to retire to Citolye, whence he
had departed; but when almost close to it, he was surrounded by the
Saracens, and his entrance cut off.
The Christians were now discomfited, and began to fly on all sides as
fast as they could. The king retired to an eminence, alway attended by
his brother the prince of Galilee, who said to him, 'My lord, you see
clearly that your men are flying, and that all resistance against the
enemy is vain: deign, therefore, to save yourself, and take compassion
on your kingdom, for should you be made prisoner we shall all be
ruined. Take with you therefore some of your most faithful servants,
and retire to a place of safety. In the mean time, I will remain here
with the banners until I shall be sure that you have escaped, and will
then save myself in the manner God shall be pleased to point out to me.'
The king, on hearing these words, looked with much tenderness on his
brother, and replied, 'Fair brother, God forbid that I should separate
myself from you: go, and comfort and rally my people, and urge them to
the assistance of their natural lord and sovereign in his distress.'
The prince of Galilee departed, but was met by a large body of
Saracens, by whom, after displaying acts of valour worthy of a prince,
he was slain and left dead on the field. On the other hand, the king
was so hardly pressed that, finding himself abandoned by his men,
he descended the eminence and made for a small valley; but he was
pursued, wounded in four places, and at length struck off his horse.
The Saracens, ignorant that it was the king, rushed on him from all
quarters to put him to death, when a knight from Catalonia, called sir
Galleran Savary, throwing himself over the king's body, cried out,
in the syrian language, 'It is the king! it is the king!' upon which
a saracen captain made a sign with his hand, when all around dropped
their swords to the ground, and the captain thrust his own into the
scabbard. He then advanced to the king, took him by the hand, and,
addressing him in Greek, said, that it had pleased God to deliver him
into the hands and power of the sultan. 'You will come before him;
but take comfort, for I have the greatest hopes that he will be a
good friend to you.' The catalonian knight was made prisoner with the
king; for his life was spared on account of the great courage he had
displayed.
Thus was the king of Cyprus made captive by the Saracens, who fastened
a chain round his neck: and, shortly after, a body of saracen infantry
came up, who wanted, by all means, to put the king to death, but God,
from his kind mercy saved him, for he was a man of great charity, and
of a pious life toward his God.
The army of Cyprus, after its defeat, saved itself as well as it could,
and the greater part fled to the mountains: there remained dead on the
field from sixteen to seventeen hundred. The Saracens carried the king
to the coast where their shipping lay, and put him under a strong guard.
There were in this battle two counts from Germany, namely, the count
de Humberche and the count de Noorch, protector of Cologne, with a
certain number of their vassals. There were also from Savoy the lord
de Varembon and sir John de Champaigns lord de Gruffy,--and all these
gentlemen escaped death and imprisonment.
When the news of this defeat and capture of the king was known
throughout Cyprus, sir Gilles de Lusignan, brother to the king and
archbishop of Nicosia, sir James de Caffran marshal of Cyprus, who
had remained as guard to the royal children, were much troubled at
these melancholy events; and, about midnight of this same Sunday, they
left the city of Nicosia, carrying with them the king's sister and
his children, to the castle of Cerines, on the sea coast, about five
leagues distant from Nicosia, where they remained until the king's
return.
On the morrow, Monday, the commonalty of the town hastened to the
palace to learn some news of the king; but finding no one to speak
with, they returned home, and taking their wives, children and effects,
quitted the town, leaving the whole abandoned to old beggars and blind
men. Some of them fled to Famagousta, others to Cerines, to divers
towns, or to the mountains, so that it was a piteous spectacle.
On the second day after the battle, the chief of the Saracens marched
his army to Nicosia, which he found abandoned. He was lodged in the
royal palace, and caused a proclamation to be instantly issued for all
the inhabitants to return to their houses and occupations, on promise
of not being disturbed, or any way molested. In consequence of this
proclamation, from ten to twelve thousand persons returned to the city.