terrestrial paradise, nephew of the gods, king of kings, prince of
princes, sultan of Babylon, of Persia, of Jerusalem, of Chaldea, of
Barbary, prince of Africa, and admiral of Arcadia, lord de Siche, des
Ainces, des Payens, and des Maritans,--master Archipotel, protector of
Amazone, guardian of the islands, dean of the abbeys, commander of the
temples, crusher of helmets, splitter of shields, piercer of hauberks,
breaker of armour, lancer of spears, overturner of war-horses,
destroyer of castles, flower of chivalry, a wild boar for courage, an
eagle for liberality, the fear of his enemies, the hope of his friends,
the raiser up of the discomfited, standard of Mohammed, lord of all the
world.
'To the kings of Germany, of France, and of England, and to all other
kings, dukes and counts, and generally to all on whom our courtesy may
condescend, greeting, and love in our grace.
'Whereas it is very commendable for all who please to relinquish error,
through wisdom,--we send to you that you may not delay coming to us to
receive your fiefs and inheritances from our hands, by denying your
God and the Christian faith, and laying aside your errors, in which
you and your predecessors have been too long involved. Should you not
instantly obey these our commands, our indignation will be raised, and
our powerful sword turned against you, with which we will have your
heads as a recompense, without sparing yourselves or your countries.'
These letters were dated the vigil des Ambassadiens, the 10th year from
our coronation, and the 2d from our noble victory and destruction of
the unfortunate country of Cyprus.
CHAP. XLVII.
THE ENGLISH INVADE BRITTANY, WHERE THEY DO GREAT DAMAGES.--OTHER
MATTERS.
This year, the earl of Suffolk and sir Thomas Rampstone, on account
of the duke of Brittany having joined king Charles, made an inroad on
his duchy with about twelve hundred combatants, and advanced even to
Rennes, where the duke resided. They committed great waste, and made
a very considerable booty in prisoners and effects, with which they
returned to a large village in that country, called Tintenarch[13].
On the morrow, they marched back to lower Normandy with all they had
gained without any opposition.
Soon afterward, sir Thomas fixed his quarters in a small town, called
St James de Beuvron, which had been destroyed; but he had it repaired
and refortified to serve him as a post to carry on the war against the
Bretons, for it was but half a league from their country. Sir Thomas
was deputy to the earl of Suffolk, the governor of lower Normandy, and
thence he led the English on different excursions through Brittany,
carrying on a severe warfare.
The duke, to oppose them, assembled a large force of his nobles,
whom he gave in charge to his brother the count de Richemont,
lately made constable of France. The count led them straight to St
James de Beuvron, which he instantly besieged, and commenced his
operations with a grand skirmish. Having surrounded it on all sides,
he established his quarters, and had his engines pointed against the
walls, which greatly damaged them. He attacked the place by storm,
which lasted for a considerable time very sharply.
A party of Bretons from the lower parts of the duchy had been posted
below the town, near to a pond; and to get near the walls, it was
necessary to cross the head of this pond, which was very narrow. There
was beside it a small bulwark under the command of an english knight,
sir Nicholas Bourdet, having with him from sixty to eighty combatants,
and near to it was one of the town-gates well guarded by the English.
When these Bretons were descending the ditch in great numbers to attack
the walls, they heard on each side of them the English shouting,
'Salisbury! Suffolk!' which threw the Bretons into great confusion. Sir
Nicholas, seizing the opportunity of their dismay, vigorously fell on
them, and, meeting scarcely any defence, put to death or drowned in
the pond from seven to eight hundred, and made about fifty prisoners.
The English won eighteen standards, and one banner. News of this defeat
was speedily carried to the count, who was storming the town on the
opposite side. He was much hurt at the intelligence, and ordered the
retreat to be sounded, for the siege had been raised on the other side
of the place.
When the count had collected his men together, he held a council on
what should now be done, and it was resolved, that considering the
great loss they had sustained, it would be prudent to march away, which
was carried into effect; but he waited until midnight, when he returned
to the town of Fougeres in a disorderly manner, leaving behind great
quantities of provision, stores, bombards, and other artillery. Sir
Thomas, with his six hundred men, for he had no more, and the greater
part of them were wounded, remained in the town very much rejoiced
at his good fortune; and he caused all the things the enemy had left
behind them to be brought thither.
Two days after this affair, the earl of Suffolk joined sir Thomas with
fifteen hundred combatants, whom the latter conducted with some of his
own men, to a strong monastery that soon surrendered. The earl thence
advanced farther into the country, toward the city of Dol, with the
intent to reside there. In the mean time, the duke of Brittany sent a
poursuivant with letters to the earl, to request that he would consent
to a suspension of arms, according to the inclosed terms, which being
agreed to, he remanded sir Thomas and his men, who returned to St James
de Beauvron with a very rich booty.
A negotiation now took place, when a truce was signed to last for three
months; and the earl of Suffolk had four thousand five hundred francs
for consenting to it. The truce was well kept until the end of June,
which terminated it, as the two parties could not agree on a final
peace, so that the war recommenced, and the English daily committed
great waste on the country by fire and sword.
To obviate these evils, the duke, and his brother the constable, had
the town of Pontorson, which divides Normandy from Brittany, and is two
leagues from Mont St Michel, well repaired and fortified, to serve as a
barrier town against the English.
A few days after this, the earl of Suffolk was dismissed from his
government, and the earl of Warwick appointed in his stead, who
assembled a considerable body of men and laid siege to Pontorson.
During this siege, the English were in constant danger of having their
convoys of provision cut off by the garrisons of Mont St Michel and
other places. To prevent which, lord Scales was detached with five
hundred combatants to lower Normandy to escort the convoys. On his
return, the Bretons, who had been made acquainted therewith, placed
themselves, to the amount of fifteen hundred men, in ambuscade, near
to Mont Saint Michel, and, watching their opportunity, sallied out
on the English, as they were marching by. They found them, however,
in handsome array; and they made so valorous a resistance that the
Bretons were completely routed. Eight hundred were slain; and in the
number were the lord Château-Geron, the lord de Couesquen, the lord
de Chambourg, the baron de Chamboches, the lord de la Hunaudes, sir
Pierre le Porc, the commander of the Scotsmen, and many others of the
nobility. The lord de Rohan and several great lords were made prisoners.
This event was known in Pontorson by the English having caused the
dead bodies of the baron de Soulenges and sir Pierre le Porc, and of
others, to be brought to the walls, and delivered to the garrison for
burial, and hastened their determination of surrendering to the earl of
Warwick, on having their lives spared, as they had no longer hopes of
succour. They were marched out of the town with white staves in their
hands, leaving all their baggage and effects behind them. Lord Scales
was made governor of the town.
Toward the end of this year, sir John de Luxembourg assembled in
Picardy, and the parts adjacent, about a thousand combatants, men
at arms and archers, with the intent to besiege and reduce to his
obedience the town of Beaumont in Argonne, held by William de Flavy, of
the party of king Charles,--which Flavy, and those under his command,
did many injuries and oppressive acts to all the surrounding country.
In these days, duke Philip of Burgundy again collected a large body of
troops from Flanders and Artois, to march into Holland and besiege the
duchess Jacquiline in the town of Gouda. On this occasion, he wrote to
inform his nobles, that he was resolved this campaign to finish the war
with Holland, and not return until it was ended. They had indeed often
been assembled for this purpose, and were almost tired with the war.
The duke led this armament to Sluys, and there embarked for Holland.
During these tribulations, the English continued a severe warfare on
the borders and in Brittany. A very sharp combat took place between
them and the Bretons, under the command of the constable de Richemont,
in which numbers were slain on both sides; but, in the end, the earl
of Warwick and his English gained the day.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 13: Tintenarch,--probably Tinteniac, a village near St Malo.]
[A.D. 1428.]
CHAP. XLVIII.
SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG BESIEGES BEAUMONT IN ARGONNE.
Sir John de Luxembourg, in the beginning of this year, had besieged
Beaumont in Argonne. He was attended by many of the nobles from
Picardy, and frequent skirmishes took place between the besieged and
besiegers. In one of them, a vigorous and subtle man at arms, named
Enguerrand de Brigonval, was made prisoner, which much troubled sir
John de Luxembourg, who feared he was wounded or killed,--for William
de Flavy had wickedly caused a coffin to be buried with great ceremony,
meaning to have it understood that Enguerrand was dead. He had also a
solemn funeral service performed, intending at the same time to send
Enguerrand secretly out of the town to some safer place, knowing him to
be a rich man and able to pay a heavy ransom.
Notwithstanding the obstinate defence of the besieged, they were soon
so closely blockaded that no one could go out of the town without
danger of his life. William de Flavy, therefore, losing all hope of
succour, and foreseeing that he must in the end yield, entered into a
treaty with sir John de Luxembourg to surrender the place toward the
latter end of May, on condition that he and his men should march away
in safety with their baggage and effects.
By this means sir John gained possession of Beaumont, in which
he placed his own garrison, and appointed as governor Valeran de
Bournouville. Enguerrand de Brigonval was likewise given up to him,
safe and well. While this siege was carrying on, a truce was agreed to
between sir John de Luxembourg and the townsmen of Mouzon, until the
feast of St Remy ensuing; and in the interval the burghers were to go
to king Charles, to learn if they might depend on succours from him,
or whether they were to surrender to sir John.
When these matters had been concluded, sir John dismissed his troops,
and returned to his castle of Beaurevoire. William de Flavy, in like
manner, disbanded those who had served under him and went with a few
attendants, under passports, to the mansion of his lord and father; for
during the time he was besieged in Beaumont, the duke of Bar had caused
one of his fortresses, called Neufville sur Meuse, to be destroyed,
which was held by a garrison of his, and wherein he had placed all his
treasures.
CHAP. XLIX.
A TREATY CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE DUCHESS
JACQUILINE, WHICH ENDS THE WAR IN HOLLAND.--THE CONTENTS OF THIS
TREATY.
On the return of the duke of Burgundy, with such vast preparations
of stores and men at arms, into Holland, to besiege the duchess
Jacquiline in the town of Gouda, whither she had retired with
her adherents, the country was greatly alarmed. The duchess, in
consequence, held a council of her most faithful friends, when, having
considered the great power of the duke, that the majority of the nobles
and commonalty were already turned to his party, and that it was very
doubtful if she could further resist, it was determined that she should
offer terms of peace to her adversary the duke; and a treaty of the
following import was concluded by the commissioners from each party.
The duchess Jacquiline shall acknowledge and avow that the duke of
Burgundy is the true and legal heir to all her territories, and that
henceforth she shall appoint him governor and guardian of them,
promising to give him possession of all the towns and castles she now
holds, in which the duke shall place such captains as he may please.
The duchess promises also never to marry but with the consent of the
said duke; and the town and castle of Zeneuberche is to be given up
to the duke of Burgundy. When this treaty had been signed, a day was
appointed for the meeting of the parties in the town of Delft,--when,
after mutual salutations and gratulations, they received, by themselves
or by their commissaries, the oaths of many of the principal towns.
Thus was Holland, after having long suffered the miseries of war,
restored to peace; and the duke of Burgundy, having disbanded his
Picards, returned to his countries of Flanders and Artois.
CHAP. L.
THE EARL OF SALISBURY ARRIVES IN FRANCE WITH GREAT REINFORCEMENTS
TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ESCORTS THE DUCHESS
JACQUELINE INTO HAINAULT.
In the month of May ensuing, the earl of Salisbury, a knight very
expert, and of great renown in arms, by orders from king Henry and his
ministers, assembled a force of six thousand combatants, men tried in
war, great part of whom he was to carry to France to the aid of the
duke of Bedford, who styled himself regent of that kingdom. The earl
sent off a detachment of three thousand to Calais, whence they marched
to Paris, to carry on the war against king Charles.
About Midsummer-day, the earl followed with the remainder of his men,
and, crossing to Calais, marched by St Pol, Dourlens and Amiens, to
Paris, where he was joyfully received by the duke of Bedford and the
council of France attached to the interests of king Henry.
Instantly on his arrival, many councils were held respecting the war;
and it was resolved that the earl, after having subdued some trifling
towns held by the enemy, should lay siege to Orleans, which they said
had done them great injury.
On the council breaking up, orders were issued for the Normans,
and others of the english party, to assemble immediately; and such
diligence was used, that within a very short time the earl of Salisbury
had upward of ten thousand combatants. The principal captains were
the earl of Suffolk, the lord Scales, the lord de Calaboche, the lord
Lisle, Classedach, and many valiant and expert men in arms. When they
had been well feasted and honoured in Paris, they departed, under the
command of the earl of Salisbury, to besiege the town of Nogent le Roi,
which was soon conquered, and great part of the garrison put to death:
the rest escaped by paying large ransoms. The earl marched thence to
Gergeau.
While this was passing, the duke of Burgundy had returned to Holland
with his most faithful adherents, to make further arrangements with his
cousin the duchess Jacqueline, and to receive the oaths of fidelity
from divers others of the nobles and towns of that country. After these
matters were finished, the duke, and duchess Jacqueline went into
Hainault; and in all the towns through which they passed they received
similar oaths to what had been given in Holland and Zealand, from the
nobles, clergy and commonalty. In some places, they were received with
honour and respect, although very many were much dissatisfied with
these arrangements, but at present they saw no means to remedy them.
CHAP. LI.
THE TOWNSMEN OF TOURNAY AGAIN REBEL.
In the month of July of this year, the inhabitants of Tournay again
mutinied against their magistrates, and rose more than once in arms,
as they had frequently done before. The cause of the present tumults
was the magistrates having laid a tax on beer, to aid them to pay the
demands of the duke of Burgundy. However, by the exertions of some
prudent persons in the town, peace was restored; and shortly after, one
of their leaders called John Isaac, a goldsmith, was arrested,--and
for various crimes by him committed, and for having been the cause
of Arnoul le Musi and Loctart de Villeries being beheaded, Isaac was
publicly hanged on the gibbet at Tournay.
At this time, Réné duke of Bar laid siege to the castle of Passavant,
in which was a person named Varnencourt, who had for a long space
sorely harrassed and cruelly treated the inhabitants of the country
round that place.
CHAP. LII.
THE EARL OF SALISBURY CONQUERS GERGEAU AND OTHER PLACES NEAR
ORLEANS.--THE DUKE OF BEDFORD WANTS TO LAY HANDS ON THE REVENUES OF
THE CHURCH.
The earl of Salisbury, on his arrival before Gergeau, caused it to be
surrounded on all sides, and very hotly attacked by his artillery,
insomuch that the garrison who held it for king Charles, fearing the
consequences, entered into a treaty with the earl to surrender it, on
being permitted to depart in safety.
The earl, having regarrisoned it, advanced to Genville, which he
besieged on all sides; but the French being in force within it,
defended themselves valiantly. After a few days, however, they held
a parley with the earl, but they could not agree as to the terms of
delivering it up. On the French retiring, a skirmish took place between
the besiegers and the besieged, which occasioned the whole of the
English to arm themselves suddenly, and without command from the earl
to storm the place so vigorously that it was won, and numbers of the
French taken or killed, and other great disorders committed which it
would be tedious to relate.
During these transactions, the regent duke of Bedford and king Henry's
ministers at Paris were earnestly attempting to acquire, for the king's
use, all the rents and revenues that had been given to the church for
the last forty years. To succeed in this, several great councils were
held in Paris, between the duke and his ministers and the members of
the university, in which the matter was fully and long debated: it was,
however, in the end negatived, and the church remained at peace in
regard to this demand.
In this year, the king of Portugal raised a large army, in conjunction
with the duke of Cambray[14], who commanded the van division, and
the whole amounted to ten thousand combatants. They led his army to
an island against the infidels, where were the king of Albastre[15]
with twenty thousand Saracens, Turks, Tartars, Barbaresques, of which
the greater number were left dead on the field, and the said king of
Albastre made prisoner. The king of Portugal suffered but little loss,
and after the victory he returned with his army back to his own country.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 14: Cambray. Q. Coimbra.]
[Footnote 15: Albastre. Q.]
CHAP. LIII.
THE EARL OF SALISBURY LAYS SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.--HE IS THERE
SLAIN.
When the earl of Salisbury had subjected the towns of Gergeau,
Genville, Mehun, and several castles and forts in those parts, to the
obedience of king Henry of Lancaster, he made diligent preparations to
lay siege to the city of Orleans. His army came before it in the month
of October; but as the garrison and inhabitants had long expected
his arrival, they had provided themselves with all sorts of warlike
stores and provision, having determined to defend the place to the last
extremity.
To prevent the earl from fixing his quarters in the suburbs, and
fortifying them, the French had demolished the whole, including many
excellent houses, and upward of twelve churches, belonging to the four
orders of mendicant friars, with several fine houses of recreation for
the burghers of Orleans. By thus doing they could discharge the cannon
from the ramparts freely all around.
Lord Salisbury, notwithstanding this, and a violent opposition from
the garrison, who made many sallies, and fired on him from culverines,
and other instruments of death, to the wounding and killing many of
his men, quartered himself and his army near to the walls. The English
repulsed these attacks with the utmost courage, to the wonder of the
besieged; and while these skirmishings were going on, the earl ordered
the tower at the end of the bridge, over the Loire, to be stormed,
which was won, as well as a small bulwark hard by, in spite of the
defence of the French. The earl commanded a party to enter and guard
this tower, that the garrison might not unobserved make any sallies
from the town. He then, with his captains, made a lodgment in some of
the ruins that remained in the suburbs near the walls; and his men,
in their usual manner, raised huts of earth, to shelter themselves
from the effects of the arrows which were showered at them from the
battlements.
The earl, on the third day after his arrival before Orleans, entered
the tower on the bridge, and ascended to the second story, whence
from a window that overlooked the town he was observing what was
passing within, and was considering on the best mode of reducing it
to obedience. While thus occupied, a stone from a veuglaire struck
the window, whence the earl, hearing the report, had withdrawn, but
too late, for the shot carried away part of his face, and killed a
gentleman behind him dead on the spot[16]. The army were greatly
grieved at this unfortunate accident, for he was much feared and
beloved by them, and considered as the most subtle, expert, and
fortunate in arms, of all the english captains.
The earl, though so severely wounded, lived eight days; and having
summoned all his captains, he admonished them, in the name of the king
of England, to reduce the town of Orleans to his obedience without
fail: having done this, he was carried to Mehun, and there died, as I
have said, at the end of eight days.
The earl of Suffolk was now the commander of the english army before
Orleans, having under him the lords Scales, Talbot, sir Lancelot de
Lisle, Classedach and others. The English, notwithstanding the loss
they had suffered in the death of the earl of Salisbury, recovered
their vigour, and exerted themselves in every way to carry the town.
They also erected block-houses in various parts, in which large
detachments were posted, to prevent any surprise from the enemy.
King Charles, knowing that his ancient and inveterate enemies, the
English, were desirous to gain the city of Orleans, had resolved in
council, before they came before it, to defend the place to the last,
believing that should it be conquered, it would be the finishing stroke
to himself and his kingdom. For this reason, he had sent thither his
most expert and faithful officers, namely, Boussac, the lord d'Eu, the
bastard of Orleans, the lords de Gaucourt, de Graville, de Vilain,
Poton de Saintrailles, la Hire, sir Theolde de Valperghe, sir Louis de
Vaucourt, with others renowned in arms, and of great authority.
They had under their daily command from twelve to fourteen hundred
combatants, well tried and enterprising; but sometimes more and
sometimes less,--for the town was not so completely surrounded but
that the besieged could replenish themselves with provision or stores
whenever they pleased.
Very many sallies and skirmishes took place during the siege, but it
would be tiresome to relate the various successes that attended them;
but from what I have heard from well-informed persons, I do not find
that the besieged did any great damage to the enemy, except with their
cannon and other like instruments from their walls. By one of these was
slain sir Lancelot de Lisle, a very valiant english knight and renowned
in arms.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 16: Sir Thomas Gargrave.]
CHAP. LIV.
A PREACHER CALLED FRIAR THOMAS, CONVERTS MANY PERSONS, AND INVEIGHS
AGAINST THE EXTRAVAGANT DRESSES OF THE WOMEN, IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
In this year, a friar called Thomas Conecte, a native of Brittany, and
of the carmelite order, was much celebrated through parts of Flanders,
the Tournesis, Artois, Cambresis, Ternois, in the countries of Amiens
and Ponthieu, for his preachings.
In those towns where it was known he intended to preach, the chief
burghers and inhabitants had erected for him in the handsomest square,
a large scaffold, ornamented with the richest cloths and tapestries,
on which was placed an altar, whereon he said mass, attended by some
monks of his order, and his disciples. The greater part of these last
followed him on foot wherever he went, he himself riding on a small
mule.