a considerable fleet at sea, on board of which were the bastard of
Burgundy, brother to duke Philip, the lord de Roubaix, and many other
great lords from divers countries, very impatient to combat the
Saracens, but they never could have a favorable wind to carry them near
the infidels. The bastard of Burgundy had arrived at Baffa, in hopes of
being present at the battle in which the king was captured; but hearing
of the unfortunate issue of that day, he and his men returned and
embarked again on board of the fleet.
At length, the Christians had a favourable wind, which brought them in
a short time within sight of the enemy's fleet. The commander of the
Saracens was then on board, and, seeing the Christians so numerous,
sent messengers in haste to the governor of Nicosia, ordering him, on
pain of being reputed a traitor, to return with his men to his ship
without delay. This order he obeyed, but not until he had plundered
the city of all that he could, and reduced the inhabitants to poverty.
He also set fire to the royal palace and to several other parts of the
town, and then marched for Salina, where the saracen fleet lay. On
their march, they forcibly took many children from the breasts of their
mothers, and flung them on thorns among the hedges, and then stoned
them to death.
On the other hand, the Saracens, who had the guard of the king of
Cyprus, made him write letters to the admiral of the Christian fleet,
containing in substance that he must be careful not to do any damage
to the saracen ships, if he valued the life of the king. Sir Galeran
Savary was the bearer of these letters in a small galliot. The admiral
obeyed these orders, which, according to the opinions of many, he ought
not to have done; but there was a good deal of fighting between the
vessels before these orders arrived, particularly by the bowmen, in
which there were very many killed and wounded.
At this affair, Guy bastard of Burgundy, brother to duke Philip, Simon
de Lan, Robert lord de Rebecque, and others from different countries
were made knights, although no vessel was taken on either side, but one
having pilgrims on board, as shall be now mentioned. While the fleets
were drawing up against each other, a ship filled with pilgrims eager
to acquire honour, concluding for certain, that as the Christian fleet
was in sight of the Saracens, a combat must insue, advanced so near
that of the infidels that they could not put back; and notwithstanding
succour was instantly sent them, and that they were in sight of the
king of Cyprus, they were all hacked to pieces, as butchers would chop
meat in a market, excepting a very few who were detained prisoners.
Some days after, the saracen fleet, having the king of Cyprus on board,
sailed for Egypt.
On the arrival of the Saracens in Egypt, they conducted the king of
Cyprus to Cairo to the sultan of Babylon, and the other Christian
prisoners chained two and two like beasts. They dragged after them the
banner of the holy virgin reversed on the ground, and then followed the
king mounted on a small mule without saddle and bound with chains. In
this manner were they led into the presence of the sultan of Babylon,
and constrained to bow their heads nine times to the very ground,
kissing it each time. When they arrived in front of the sultan, who was
seated in great pomp in a high gallery, he kept them a full hour in his
presence, and then had them conducted to a tower for their prison so
long as he should stay in Cairo, where the sultan was served royally
and abundantly with all sorts of provision, excepting wine; but this
was secretly supplied to him by Christian merchants. The other Cypriot
prisoners were confined in divers places.
While the king of Cyprus thus remained prisoner to the sultan of
Babylon in Cairo, the archbishop of Nicosia, brother to the king, sent
for sir Peter de Lusignan, constable of Jerusalem, and resigned to
him the government of the island of Cyprus. He was no sooner in the
possession thereof than he executed rigorous justice by punishing all
who in these times of tribulation had attempted to revolt. Shortly
after, the archbishop returned to Nicosia, which by degrees was
repeopled.
In the course of time, a genoese merchant, named Benedict Percussin,
moved by compassion, required of the regency at Cyprus, that he might
be sent to Cairo, for that he had great hopes of obtaining the king's
liberty. He was accordingly sent thither, and was so successful with
the sultan that he ransomed the king of Cyprus for two hundred thousand
ducats, and on condition that he would also pay an annual tribute to
the sultans of Babylon of five thousand ducats.
Thus was peace made between the sultan and the king of Cyprus, and on
the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, the latter was delivered from
chains. After this, the sultan frequently sought opportunities of
conversing with him, and put different questions by way of tempting him
to abandon the Christian faith; but the king made such sagacious and
prudent answers, that the sultan not knowing how to reply, ordered him
refreshments of all sorts and then dismissed him,--for on the ransom
being agreed on, the sultan had him taken from his prison and lodged in
the town.
The king was often permitted to make excursions into the country
for his amusement, well mounted, but alway attended by some of the
Saracens. When part of his ransom was paid, and security accepted for
the remainder, on Palm Sunday he had his full liberty, and embarked on
board a galley in the port of Alexandria. In company with the admiral
of Rhodes, he disembarked at Cerines, where he was met by his sister,
his children and all the nobles and gentlemen of the island, who most
reverently and humbly gave thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for his safe
return.
Some days afterward he left Cerines, and went to Nicosia, where he was
joyfully received by his subjects, and was lodged at the mansion of
the constable of Jerusalem, wherein he ever after remained, because
his own palace had been burnt and destroyed by the Saracens. After
the death of his queen Charlotte, he never remarried, nor, as his
attendants firmly believed, had he connection with any other woman: he
lived after this for a considerable length of time.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 9: Citolye. Q. Chiti.]
CHAP. XLI.
THE CASTLE OF MOYENNES IN CHAMPAGNE SURPRISED BY THE FRENCH.--THE POPE
GIVES SENTENCE IN FAVOUR OF THE DUKE OF BRABANT.--THE FORTRESS OF
ORIPECTE IN PROVENCE WON BY TREACHERY.
In these days, the castle of Moyennes in Champagne was surprised by a
party from king Charles, through the treachery of an Englishman of the
garrison. It was, however, instantly besieged by the earl of Salisbury,
who remained so long before it that it was forced to surrender. The
French within it were allowed to depart in safety; but those who had
been attached to the english and burgundian party were punished with
death,--and among them was a gentleman called Gilles de Clary. Sir John
de Luxembourg was present at the surrender; and when the walls had been
completely demolished, he returned to his castle of Beaurevoir.
The pope this year published his definitive sentence in the suit of the
duke of Brabant, by which he declared that the marriage between the
duke of Glocester and Jacquiline duchess of Bavaria was null and void;
and that if the duke of Brabant should die, the said duke of Glocester
and the duchess Jacquiline could not be legally married to each other.
The duke of Glocester, on being informed of this sentence of the pope,
took to wife a woman of low degree compared with his rank, named
Eleanor Cobham, of whom mention has been before made. The duke had for
some time lived with her as his mistress; and her character was not
spotless in regard to her connexions with others beside the duke. This
created much wonder in France and in England, considering that the duke
did not act conformably to the blood he sprung from.
At this period sir John Blondel, accompanied by John Blondel, his
cousin german, and eight others his companions in arms, by means of
the chaplain, gained the fortress of Oripecte in Provence, of which
John Cadart was governor, and made him prisoner, expecting to receive
a large sum for his ransom. News of this was soon spread over the
country; and the place was so expeditiously and strongly besieged that
those who had won it were glad to be allowed to depart in safety, and
without carrying away any thing. Notwithstanding this treaty, on their
marching out, John Blondel was slain by the peasants, and the chaplain
who had done the treason was beheaded.
CHAP. XLII.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD LAYS SIEGE TO MONTARGIS.--THE SIEGE IS RAISED BY
THE FRENCH.--OTHER EVENTS BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON.
This year, the duke of Bedford, who styled himself regent of France for
king Henry, had the town and castle of Montargis besieged by the earls
of Warwick and Suffolk. With them were the lord de la Pole, brother to
the earl of Suffolk, sir Henry Bisset and other captains, having under
them three thousand combatants.
The town was so situated that it required three different sieges,
which could with difficulty afford assistance to each other: however,
the English formed lodgements all around it and fortified them. The
earl of Warwick was quartered in a nunnery on one side of the town.
They soon threw bridges over different parts of the river to serve for
communications between their quarters.
Having done this, they made vigorous approaches toward the town, which
they damaged very much by their cannon and engines of war. The besieged
made so good a defence, that the business was continued for more than
two months, during which time they sent notice to king Charles that
unless speedy succours were afforded them, they must surrender to
his enemies. The king, hearing this, assembled his council, when it
was resolved to raise the siege, or at least to throw reinforcements
of men and provision into the place. This was attempted but without
effect. An assembly of men at arms was then ordered by king Charles
at Orleans, and the command of them given by the king to the count
de Dunois bastard of Orleans. He had with him sir William d'Albreth
lord d'Orval, the lords de Graville, de Villag, de Gaucourt, Estienne
Vignolles surnamed La Hire, sir Gilles de St Simon, Gaultier Boussart,
and many other captains, amounting to sixteen hundred combatants, all
men of tried courage. They commenced their march with a large train of
forage-carts, intending only to revictual the town, and not to raise
the siege.
When they were arrived within half a league of the enemy's camp, they
held a council as secretly as they could, and determined to attack
the nearest quarters of the English. They had some of the garrison of
Montargis with them as guides,--and in the number was one called le
Petit Breton.
La Hire was appointed leader of one of the parties, and fell on the
English quarters with great courage, shouting, 'Montjoye St Denis!'
The English were quite unprepared,--and their camp was soon on fire in
various parts,--and much slaughter was committed near to where the lord
de la Pole was lodged: indeed the whole of that part was defeated, and
the lord de la Pole escaped with eight others in a small boat.
The garrison of the town had dammed up the river so high that the
bridges the English had made were overflowed, and most of them who
attempted to escape over them fell into the water and were drowned.
The bastard of Orleans, while this was going forward, made a vigorous
attack on the quarters of sir Henry Bisset: he had dismounted, and
began to be hard pressed, when those who had destroyed the lord de
la Pole's quarters opportunely came to his support, for the lord de
Graville had been wounded.
The English, finding that fortune was against them, began to retreat
toward the quarters of the earl of Warwick; but crossing a bridge
in haste, and too many at once, it broke down with their weight and
great numbers lost their lives. Add to this, that the garrison made a
well-timed sally to assist their friends, and killed great numbers and
made many prisoners.
In the mean time, the earl of Warwick assembled his men around him as
speedily as he could; but when he perceived the greatness of his loss,
for from one thousand to fifteen hundred had been slain, drowned or
taken, he formed his men in order of battle, and thus retreated to a
small eminence, covered with vineyards, above his quarters.
The French, who had fought hard and were fatigued, entered Montargis.
When night came on, the English collected their men together, the
greater part of whom were now on foot, and retreated to castle Landonin
Nemours, and to other places under their dominion. The French remained
in Montargis, making good and hearty cheer, being rejoiced that with
the aid of God they had accomplished the purpose they had been sent on.
They afterward returned to king Charles of France, who received them
most graciously.
In this year, duke John of Brabant after a very severe illness,
departed this life in his castle of Leneure[10], repeating most
devoutly, 'Miserere mei Deus,' &c. He was buried in the chapel of
this castle, near to the body of his father. On his decease, his
brother Philip count de Ligny and de St Pol took possession of all
his territories. Thus was the duchess Jacquiline deprived of her two
husbands,--for, as I have before said, the duke of Glocester had
married another woman, and the duke of Brabant was dead.
During the life of the duke of Brabant, a person named John Chevalier
had engaged at the request as it was said, of the countess-dowager of
Hainault, to put an iron collar round the duke's neck, for which this
chevalier was arrested at Brussels and beheaded.
At the same time, the fortress of Escandeur, near to Cambray, was put
into the hands of sir John de Luxembourg, with the consent of the
duke of Burgundy, and was the cause why sir Louis, bastard-brother
to the duchess Jacquiline, to whom it had belonged, carried war and
tribulation through that country in fighting the battles of his sister,
but he lost his inheritance for so doing.
In these days, a terrible combat took place near to Mont St Michel,
between the English who had possession of Mont de Hellem[11] on the
one side, and the French and Bretons on the other; but in the end the
French were victorious, having killed or put to flight the English and
consequently gained the castle.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 10: Leneure. The annotations at the beginning of the volume,
french edition, suppose it to be Geneppe or Gueneppe, a summer
residence of the dukes of Brabant, whither Louis XI. when dauphin, fled
to, and resided at during his stay in Brabant.]
[A.D. 1427.]
CHAP. XLIII.
THE CASTLE OF MALMAISON, BELONGING TO THE BISHOP OF CAMBRAY, IS TAKEN
BY SIR JOHN BLONDEL.--OTHER EVENTS.
In the beginning of this year, the fortress of Malmaison, situated two
leagues from the castle of Cambresis, belonging to Jean de Lens, lord
of Liéequerque and bishop of Cambray, in right of his bishoprick, was
surprised by sir John Blondel of king Charles's party, accompanied by a
few men. The governor for the bishop was a fair esquire, called Walter
de Baillon, whom they caught in bed.
Sir John Blondel having traversed the ditches, though full of water,
scaled the walls by means of ladders, and entering the lower court,
seized the guard, and his troops posted themselves in ambuscade near
the bridge of the dungeon. In the morning, when the porter lowered the
drawbridge, they rushed upon him with drawn swords, and put him to
death; after which, they entered without further opposition, although
it was the strongest of all the forts in that country.
The adjacent parts were greatly alarmed at this conquest, even those
within the castle of Cambresis; and the bishop of Cambray, being then
there, was much surprised how and by whom it could have been taken, for
at that time the whole country was at peace. The bishop, however, sent
some of his people, and the inhabitants of Cambresis to Malmaison, to
learn who had done this, and by what means.
On their arrival, they had a parley with those who had taken it;
but they, through mischief, replied by shouting the war-cries of
Burgundy and Luxembourg, and those who had come thither returned to
Château Cambresis. Sir John Blondel having soon provided himself with
provision, stores, and men in abundance, began to make inroads on the
country of Cambresis, and the parts adjoining, committing irreparable
injuries, and in some of these he was joined by parties attached to the
duke of Burgundy and sir John de Luxembourg.
In the mean time, the bishop sent to the duke of Burgundy, to know if
it had been with his consent that his castle had been taken. The duke
replied, that so far from having consented, he would send him such
assistance that his castle should be restored to him.
Some time after the decease of duke John of Brabant, a grand assembly
of the nobility was held at Valenciennes, at which were present the
duke of Burgundy, the counts de Namur, de Penthievre, and de Conversan,
the prince of Orange, sir John de Luxembourg, the bishops of Tournay
and of Arras, with many other churchmen, to consider who was to have
the government of Hainault. After long and mature deliberation, it was
resolved it should remain in the hands of the duke of Burgundy, who in
consequence nominated various officers for the due government thereof.
In this year, the earl of Warwick and other Englishmen besieged
the town of Pontorson, and forced the garrison to surrender on
capitulation, provided they were not relieved by a certain day,
and that the French and Bretons should not be sufficiently strong
to conquer the English. As they were not relieved, the place was
surrendered according to the terms of the capitulation.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 11: Mont de Hellem must be Tombelaine (probably a corruption
of _Tombe d' Heléne_), a small rock near to Mont St Michel.]
CHAP. XLIV.
SIR JOHN BLONDEL SURRENDERS THE CASTLE OF MALMAISON, WHICH HE HAD
TAKEN FROM THE BISHOP OF CAMBRAY.
When the meeting broke up at Valenciennes, the duke of Burgundy went
to Mons in Hainault, attended by a great part of his council, and
while there, constituted (as I have said) different officers, natives
of Hainault, for the well governing that country.
During his stay at Mons, sir John Blondel came thither on a passport
from the duke, and was by him more than once summoned and required to
restore the castle of Malmaison to the bishop of Cambray. Sir John
would not consent to this, but gave evasive answers. The duke then
resolved to afford the bishop such aid as should recover for him the
castle; and the bishop sent summonses to all his friends to come to his
assistance.
The duke of Burgundy made sir William de Lalain, bailiff of Hainault,
the bégue de Launoy, knight, governor of Lille, with some other
nobles, commanders of the aid which he sent to the bishop; but sir
John Blondel, hearing of these preparations, and knowing that the duke
was displeased at his conduct, condescended to treat, and offered to
surrender the castle on condition that his peace was made with the
dukes of Bedford and Burgundy, that all his lands and castles, which
had been confiscated to king Henry of Lancaster, were restored to him,
that he and his men were to carry away all their effects, and that he
was to be paid four thousand crowns for his expenses.
High as these terms were, they were in the end agreed to, and
securities given for their due performance. Thus was Malmaison
delivered into the hands of Balthazar, bastard of Quesnoy, who had been
appointed by the duke of Burgundy to take possession and the charge of
it for a certain time.
To pay the ransom-money, and other expenses, a heavy tax was laid on
all ranks throughout the country of Cambresis, as well on churchmen as
others, the payment of which was most rigorously exacted.
When these matters had been settled, the castle of Malmaison was
razed to the ground, with the consent of the bishop and others of
that country. It was a great pity, for it was a nonpareil, and the
best built and strongest place in all those parts. Sir John Blondel,
by means of his misconduct, succeeded in his intentions, for all his
castles, lands and manors, were restored to him.
CHAP. XLV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RETURNS TO HOLLAND, AND ATTACKS THE TOWN OF
HERMONTFORT.[12]--OTHER EVENTS.
The duke of Burgundy, having finished his business in Hainault,
returned to Holland with a great force of men at arms to punish those
who, after having sworn allegiance to him, had revolted. On his march,
he attacked a town fortified with thick hedges and deep ditches, called
Hermontfort, which attack lasted a long time, and was very severe.
The duke crossed the ditches, and valiantly fought in person with his
enemies, who defended themselves with the utmost courage, regardless
of their lives. In this attack the lord de Voydanquin, a valiant and
powerful knight, who had with him some very expert warriors, was slain.
The good lord de Saveuses was also wounded, and so badly, that he
was obliged to be carried from the field, with many more in the same
condition. The duke, seeing the loss he was suffering, took council,
and ordered the retreat to be sounded, which was done, and they lodged
themselves near to the town, where they were badly off that night for
all sorts of necessaries. On the morrow, the duke marched away in
another direction.
The town of Utrecht had now joined the party of the duchess Jacquiline,
and the dukes of Gueldres and of Cleves that of Burgundy, by which
means war and misery were daily increased throughout that country.
At this time, about five hundred combatants, as well men at arms as
archers, were assembled on the confines of Picardy, and, by orders from
the duke of Burgundy (at the request of a knight called sir Phillebert
Andrinet,) were conducted by sir Charles de Moyencourt, Matthieu
d'Hermieres, John de Longueval and other gentlemen, to the aid of Amé
duke of Savoy, uncle to the duke of Burgundy, then at war with the duke
of Milan.
This body of men at arms, after many days marches, arrived in Savoy,
and were joyfully received by the duke. They were thence ordered to
the borders of Lombardy, where they committed numberless mischiefs,
insomuch that, through fear of them, and from compassion to the poor
natives, these two princes concluded a peace.
When this was done, duke Amé of Savoy gave orders for the Picards to
return home, thanking them greatly for their effective services, and
presenting to some of the principal captains pieces of damask and other
precious ornaments. The Picards were now marched home again. The origin
of this war was owing to the duke of Milan having forcibly taken Novara
and the city of Vercelli from the duke of Savoy, which were restored to
him.
After the duke of Burgundy had visited many parts of Holland, and
placed garrisons on the frontiers of Gouda, where the duchess
Jacquiline resided, leaving some of his most expert captains for the
defence of the country, such as the lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Lyonnel de
Bournouville, and others, he returned to Flanders.
In this year, there were great earthquakes in Spain, Catalonia and
Languedoc, which overthrew many towns and handsome edifices; and the
people remained for a long time in the utmost trouble and dismay.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 12: Hermontfort. Q. if not Herenthuls?]
CHAP. XLVI.
THE SULTAN OF BABYLON WRITES LETTERS TO THE PRINCES IN
CHRISTENDOM.--THE TENOUR OF THESE LETTERS.
In these days, the sultan of Babylon sent letters to all the kings and
princes in Christendom, of the following tenour: