Peronne on the very day when it happened. He was greatly affected
by it, more especially for the loss of James de Helly and Anthony
de Vienne, and instantly called together the captains then with
him, namely, sir John de Luxembourg, the vidame of Amiens, the lord
d'Antoing, the lord de Saveuses, and others of his household, with
whom he determined to fix his quarters at Lihons in Santerre,--and he
marched thither that day.
On the morrow, he advanced to Roye in the Vermandois, where he remained
eight days waiting for the earl of Stafford, the earl of Arundel and
other Englishmen to whom he had sent orders to join him.
During this time, many of the captains of king Charles collected a
body of about sixteen hundred combatants; and under the command of
the marshal de Bousac, the count de Vendôme, sir James de Chabannes,
William de Flavy, Poton de Saintrailles, the lord de Longueval, sir
Regnault de Fontaines, sir Louis de Vaucourt, Alain Guyon, Boussart
Blanchefort, marched in good array near to Mondidier, and thence went
to quarter themselves at two villages two leagues distant from Roye.
Very early on the ensuing day, they held a council, and unanimously
determined to offer combat to the duke of Burgundy and his army, if he
would meet them in the open country; and that their intentions might be
publicly known, they sent a herald to the duke with their challenge.
The duke, on receiving it, agreed to meet them in battle. The matter,
however, was delayed by his council, who remonstrated with him on the
impropriety of risking his person and honour against such people, as
they had not with them any prince of equal rank with himself for him to
contend with. They also stated, that he was weak in numbers, and that
his troops were dispirited from the defeat they had lately suffered,
and the loss of James de Helly, as well as by their retreat from before
Compiègne.
The duke, much grieved that he could not follow his own inclinations,
assented to the advice of his council. They sent, therefore, an answer
to the French, that if they would wait until the morrow, they should be
unmolested in their quarters; that even provision should be sent them,
and that then sir John de Luxembourg would engage them in battle, for
which he was willing to give sufficient securities.
The French, on receiving this answer, said, they would not consent
to it; but that if the duke of Burgundy was willing to advance into
the plain, they were ready to combat him. While these messages were
passing, the duke drew his men up in battle-array without the town of
Roye: the French were also in order of battle, fronting him; but it
was difficult to pass from one army to the other, by reason of the
deep marshes that were between them. Some skirmishing, nevertheless,
took place until night-fall, which forced the French to retire toward
Compiègne, very indignant at the duke's conduct, and making great
mockeries of him and his men, saying they were afraid to fight them.
Thus the two armies separated, and the duke re-entered the town of
Roye,--when shortly after arrived the earl of Stafford, with about six
hundred combatants. The duke now left Roye, and went to quarter himself
at Leigny-les-Chastiniers, where was a small castle, in which was the
abbot de St Pharon de Meaux, brother to the lord de Gamaches, with
about forty of the French.
The duke summoned them to surrender, which they refused,--and he
instantly made an attack which gained him the lower court. Finding they
could not hold out longer, they submitted themselves to the duke, who
gave them up to sir John de Luxembourg, for him to do his will with
them, and the castle was burnt and razed.
The inhabitants of Noyon sent to request of the duke, that he would
deliver them from the garrison of the castle of Irle; but as it was
now winter, and the duke had not those with him whom he looked for,
he returned to Montdidier, wherein he placed a garrison, and thence
by Corbie to Arras, and to Flanders. The earl of Stafford marched his
Englishmen back to Normandy.
In this year, the town of Coulomiers en Brie, was taken by scalado, at
day-break, by part of king Henry's garrison from Meaux. The governor
of Coulomiers for king Charles was Denis de Chally, who, hearing the
disturbance, escaped with many others over the walls, abandoning their
effects. The town was full of all sorts of wealth, for it had not
been taken during the whole of the war by either party: it was now
completely pillaged, and the inhabitants who had remained were heavily
ransomed.
In this year, Pierre de Luxembourg count de Conversan and Brayne,
and successor to the inheritances of the count de St Pol, made some
agreement with his two brothers, namely, Louis bishop of Therouenne and
sir John de Luxembourg respecting this succession. In consequence of
which the bishop was to have the castle of Hucties, in the Boulonois,
and the castlewick of Tingry with its dependancies: sir John de
Luxembourg was to have for himself and his heirs the county of Ligny in
Barrois, the lands in Cambresis, formerly belonging to Waleran count de
St Pol, namely, Bohain, Serin, Helincourt, Marcoin Cautaig and other
great lordships. From this time, sir John de Luxembourg bore the titles
of count de Ligny Lord de Beaurevoir and de Bohain.
The whole of the remaining estates and lordships were enjoyed by sir
Pierre de Luxembourg, who, henceforward, took the titles of Count de St
Pol, de Conversan, de Brayne, and lord of Enghien.
On the 30th day of September, in this year, the duchess of Burgundy was
brought to bed, in the town of Brussels, of a son, who was christened
Anthony; which event, caused the greatest rejoicings in that town and
country. At this time, the count de Nuche, nephew to the emperor of
Germany, was in Brussels, where he kept a noble estate; and he and some
of his attendants, when they went abroad wore green chaplets on their
heads to signify that they were bachelors, although the weather was
very severe.
The count de Nuchy stood godfather for the new born son of the duke of
Burgundy, who was christened by the bishop of Cambray. The godmothers
were the duchess of Cleves and the countess of Namur. There were three
hundred torches, as well from the palace of the duke as from those of
the town.
The child died in the following year; and when news of it was carried
to the duke, he was much vexed, and said, 'I wish to God I had died
when so young, for I should then have been much happier.'
In this same year, sir Anthony de Bethune lord of Maruel was captured
in his castle of Auchel, together with about thirty fighting men. It
had been besieged by the count de Vendôme, Toumelaire provost of Laon,
whom I have before noticed, with great numbers of the commonalty. Sir
Anthony, seeing that resistance would be vain, agreed to surrender the
place, on condition that he and his men might march away in safety.
Notwithstanding this engagement, when he was about to depart, he
was seized and put to death by these common people, together with a
gentleman called Franquet de Beguynes. The count de Vendôme was much
grieved at the event, but he could not prevent it.
The castle was burnt and razed, to the great indignation of sir John
de Luxembourg, when he heard what had passed because sir Anthony was
cousin-german to the lady Jane de Bethune, his wife, daughter to the
viscount de Meaux; and he conceived a great hatred against those of
Laon for so doing.
END OF VOL. VI.
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, London.
Transcribers Note:
Original spelling, including any inconsistencies, has been retained.