further powers, the lord de Croy had made an exchange of the government
of the regained country and towns, which had been given him by the
king as a reward for his services in that business with our said cousin
of Nevers, for a barony in the Rethelois, called Rosay; and it is said
that they and their friends had mutually promised, on oath, to assist
each other against whoever intended to injure them. Notwithstanding
that, very lately, some persons attached to the service of our said
lord and father, anxious to make up all the differences between us and
the lord de Croy, had waited on us to this purpose, whom we, from our
reverence to God our Creator and Author of all peace, and respect to
our said lord and father, condescended to grant their desires, without
remembering the many injuries and persecutions we had suffered from
the said lord de Croy and his friends, and gave them a paper, signed
by our own hand, containing in substance, that when the lord de Croy
should do us any services, we would hold them for agreeable, and not
be ungrateful to him for them,--and that, if, in the performance of
such services, he should incur any loss or inconvenience, we would
support him against all, in so far as we should be bounden in reason
and justice to do,--the lord de Croy, however, paid not any attention
to this said paper, but has acted in regard to us, from badly to
worse; and when it has been remonstrated to him, that he ought to act
differently from what he has done toward us, and that the places he
holds under our said lord and father were not his inheritance, he has
boldly replied, that they were given to him by my said lord and father,
not only for his life, but for the life of his children after him, and
it was his intention that they should enjoy them after his decease,
even the governments of Namur, Boulogne, and Luxembourg. In fact, he
had done all in his power to obtain from our said lord and father a
gift of these places, and would have succeeded, had not some of our
said father's more faithful counsellors remonstrated with him on the
impropriety of such a gift.
'The said lord de Croy, further to trouble the dominions of our said
lord and father, has lately attempted to introduce into the castle of
Namur a large body of men at arms, under the pretence of defending the
place against the men of Liege; but, thanks to God, he failed,--for the
good people of Namur, knowing his real intentions, would not suffer
it to be done. On finding such opposition to his designs, he went
thence to Beaumont in Hainault, where he attempted the same; but the
inhabitants behaved in the same loyal manner, and would not permit it
to take place.
'On the other hand, he had, a little time before, instigated duke Louis
of Bavaria, the count de Valence his son-in-law, and other dependants
of the said duke, to appear before the town of Luxembourg with a great
army, with a view of becoming masters of that town and castle, and
would have succeeded had not proper precautions been taken before their
arrival.
'In short, the lord de Croy and his family, forgetful of, and
ungrateful for, all the extraordinary honours and wealth they have
received from our said lord and father, their lord and sovereign, have
done every thing in their power, and still continue their intrigues, to
ruin and destroy his country, by causing it and its peaceful and loyal
inhabitants to be involved in the calamities of war.
'Having considered all these wicked machinations, and having a sincere
love for the loyal people of our said lord, we have provided the surest
remedy against the future attempts of the lord de Croy and his family,
by taking possession of the towns and castles of Namur, Luxembourg,
and Boulogne, which we have intrusted to the guard of valiant and
faithful captains, in the name of our said lord, and solely to preserve
the poorer ranks from the miseries of war, and for no other purpose
whatever. We have, for some days past, supplicated, with the utmost
humility, an audience of our said lord and father, that we might
declare the aforesaid matters to him, and assure him of our upright
intentions in what we have done; but as we have not hitherto been able
to obtain an audience, we have assembled before us those of his blood,
the knights, esquires, and members of his council, of his household,
and of our own, that are at present in this town, to whom we have most
fully detailed the matters above mentioned, and our determination
to provide, with the aid of God, such remedies as the various cases
may require, so that our said lord may enjoy in peace the whole of
his dominions, and that they may descend to us unimpaired after his
decease. For the preservation of which we are willing to expose our
life and fortune, and remain his most loyal and obedient subject,
without taking any greater part in the government of his country than
he shall be willing to allow us.
'We declared also to this assembly, that to enable us the better to
serve our said lord and father as an obedient son should, it was our
intention to remain at his palace, and near to his person, without
permitting the lord de Croy or any of his family, whom we hold and
repute our enemies, to have any longer the government of his household
or country, which they have formerly enjoyed: that in regard to the
other loyal officers, counsellors, and subjects of our said lord, we
consider them as our true and trusty friends, and cherish them as
such; and we hope that as they have for some time past displayed their
loyal services, they will continue so to do, both in regard to our
said lord and father, and to the welfare of his dominions,--and on our
part, we intend steadily, and with all our heart, to obey and execute
whatsoever our said lord and father shall, after due consideration
and counsel, command us, for the good of his country, without, in
future, showing any favours to the lord de Croy or to his family, whom,
as I have before said, we repute our mortal enemies; and we further
requested the said assembly to assist us in the preservation and
defence of the dominions of our said lord from the smallest depredation
or infringement; which request the whole assembly liberally and
unanimously complied with and granted.
'Since these things took place, the lord de Quievrain, nephew to the
lord de Croy, has quitted this town, which has much displeased our said
lord and father, and greatly angered him against us; but by the good
pleasure of God, and the prudent remonstrances of his good and loyal
counsellors, we hope that his anger will soon be appeased.
'Of all these matters, very dear and well beloved, we inform you by
these presents, as our true and loyal friends, to whom we wish to lay
open the secrets of our heart; and that you may be truly informed how
things have happened, most earnestly requesting of you that you do
not afford any assistance to, or receive, the said lord de Croy, his
family or friends, but treat them as the enemies of our said lord and
father and of ourself. We beg that you will not give ear to reports or
letters that may be made or delivered contrary to the above statement,
for we are most desirous of serving, honouring, and obeying, with our
whole heart, our said lord and father, in every possible way, as we
are bounden to do, and as we have hitherto done,--nor shall he ever
have, if it so please God, any cause of reasonable complaint against
us. Therefore, without the smallest attempt against his person, or to
encroach on his government, we shall employ our whole life, honour,
and fortune, for his safety, security, and prosperity, and for the
welfare of his country and subjects, against all who shall, at any
time, presume to molest, or any way aggrieve, him or them. We therefore
entreat and request you most cordially to join in aiding and supporting
us in these measures, should there be occasion, for we have the
fullest confidence in you. Very dear and well beloved, may the Holy
Spirit have you in his good keeping.
'Written at Brussels the 22d day of March, in the year 1464,' and
signed 'Charolois.'
'The superscription on these letters was, 'By order of the count de
Charolois, lord of Château Belin and of Bethune.'
CHAP. XXXIV.
THE DUKE OF BERRY, ONLY BROTHER TO THE KING OF FRANCE, WITHDRAWS
HIMSELF FROM THE COURT OF FRANCE, AND TAKES REFUGE WITH THE DUKE OF
BRITTANY.--THE COUNT DE DAMMARTIN ESCAPES FROM PRISON.--LETTERS FROM
THE DUKE OF BERRY TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
In the beginning of March, in the year 1464, Charles duke of Berry,
only brother to the king, and about twenty-eight years old, whom the
king kept near his person in a simpler estate than he wished, and
much inferior to what he had enjoyed during the life of their father,
pretended one day to go to hunt, while his brother was absent on a
pilgrimage near Poitiers: instead of which, the duke rose very early
in the morning, and, attended by only nine or ten persons, set out
with all possible speed to seek an asylum with the duke of Brittany.
They broke down all the bridges they crossed, that, if they should be
pursued, they might not be overtaken.
It was said at the time, that the two dukes of Berry and Brittany had
formed an alliance with the dukes of Bourbon and Calabria, the count
de Charolois, and other princes of France, against the king, should
he attempt to molest any of them,--for the king was obstinately bent
upon executing his own designs, which appeared to many strange and
unreasonable.
The king was extremely mortified to find that his brother had so
suddenly departed, and sent in haste to all the principal towns and
castles, to put them on their guard, and commanding them to keep a good
look-out. In addition to this, he took off certain tolls and taxes
which the regained towns on the Somme were accustomed to pay, the more
effectually to obtain their loves and services.
In this week, which was the first of March, the count de Dammartin,
whom the king detained prisoner in the bastile at Paris, found means to
make a hole in the wall of one of the towers, through which he escaped
to a boat that was waiting for him in the moat, and rowed to the
opposite bank, where were horses ready, and, having instantly mounted,
made all possible haste to escape into Brittany.
In this same week, the lord de Roubais, by orders from the count de
Charolois, went with a body of men at arms to seize the town and
castle of Launoy, thinking to take the lord thereof at the same time.
The lord de Launoy was then governor of Lille, bailiff of Amiens, and
nephew to the lord de Croy; but they neither found him, nor his wife
or children,--for having had information of what was intended, he had
quitted the place with his family and most valuable effects, and saved
himself in the city of Tournay, two leagues distant from his house.
At the same time, the abbot of Havons was arrested, by orders from the
count de Charolois, together with one called Pierrechon, the servant
and master of the wardrobe to the lord de Croy, and one in whom he had
the greatest confidence: they were detained prisoners a long time.
Soon afterward, the count de Charolois made a present of the town and
castle of Launoy to James de St Pol, brother to the count de St Pol: in
which castle were provisions for the garrison, consisting of six score
salted bacons, great abundance of flour, corn and oats, and also a new
mill for the grinding of them.
In the month of March, the duke of Berry sent a letter from Nantes to
the duke of Burgundy, dated the 15th of that month, of the following
tenour:
'Very dear and most beloved uncle, I commend myself to you by all
possible means; and may it please you to know that, for some time past,
I have, with sorrow, heard the clamours of the greater part of the
princes of our blood, and of the nobles of the kingdom, on the wretched
state of the government of France, owing to the advice and counsels
of those wicked persons by whom my lord and sovereign is surrounded,
who, for their own profit, and disorderly ambition, have not only
caused a hatred and coolness between my lord and you and me, but also
have estranged him from the friendship of the kings of Scotland and
Castille, whose alliance with the crown of France has been of so long a
date, as is well known to every one.
'I shall not here mention how the affairs of the church, and of
justice, have been administered, nor how the nobles have been
maintained in their rights and usages, or the poorer ranks guarded from
oppression, as I know that you are well informed as to such matters,
and as they are so very disagreeable for me to dwell upon, from the
nearness of my connexion with my said lord. Wishing, however, to profit
from your counsel, and that of those other princes and nobles who have
offered me their fullest support in providing a remedy for such crying
abuses, and also to escape from personal danger, for I had daily heard
such conversations between my lord and his ministers as gave me cause
of suspicion, I departed from my lord's court, and have taken refuge
with my fair cousin of Brittany, who has given me a reception for
which I never can enough praise him, and has promised to support me
personally, and with all his powers, for the welfare of the kingdom,
and the public good.
'It is, therefore, very dear and beloved uncle, my intention to act
with you and the other lords my relatives, whose counsels I shall
follow, and none others, for the restoring of this desolated kingdom;
for I know you are one of the greatest of its princes,--and in its
welfare you are more concerned, as the dean of the peerage, and a
prince of such high renown, and who has been so highly displeased with
the present disorders in the government. I wish, therefore, that you
and my other relatives would assemble to consult on the surest means of
bringing about a reformation of the abuses and grievances that exist
in every branch of the government, to the relief of the poor people,
who are unable longer to bear their burdens, and of restoring order in
the better administration of justice and the finances, to the great
happiness of the realm, and to the eternal honour of those who shall,
with God's pleasure, so usefully employ themselves.
'I, therefore, very dear and beloved uncle, entreat, that, for so good
a purpose, you would give me your support and assistance, and employ
also my fair brother Charolois, your son, in my aid, as I have been
always confident in your friendship,--and that we may speedily meet is
my most earnest wish. It is my meaning shortly to enter France, and
take the field accompanied by the other princes and nobles who have
promised me their assistance: I shall, therefore, beg, that you would,
as speedily as may be, raise as large a force as possible to enter
France on your side; and should you be unable personally to accompany
it, I shall hope that you will send it under the command of the count
de Charolois. At the same time, you will depute to me some of your most
confidential counsellors, with whom I may advise, in conjunction with
the other princes, as to what may be done for the public welfare, and
by whom you may have information of my good and just intentions; for I
am determined to regulate my conduct after the advice of yourself and
the other princes and lords.
'Whatever the count de Charolois shall recommend, in your absence, for
the general good, you may be assured that I will support him in, and
maintain to my latest breath.
'Very dear and beloved, let me know at all times whatever you may wish
to have done, and it shall be accomplished with my whole heart.--I pray
God that he may grant you a long life, and accomplish all your desires.
'Written at Nantes, the 15th day of March.' Signed, 'Your nephew,
Charles.' The address was, 'To my uncle the duke of Burgundy.'
About this time, James de St Pol returned from England, whither he
had been sent by the count de Charolois, as well to do honour to king
Edward's marriage as to negotiate for his assistance against the king
of France, should there be occasion, or at least to prevent him from
being engaged against him; for the king of France had before sent the
lord de Launoy to conclude a treaty with king Edward, to the prejudice
of the count de Charolois. The king of England, however, would not
listen to it, and had even transmitted to the duke of Burgundy the king
of France's proposals, which greatly astonished the duke, as well in
regard to their contents as that the lord de Launoy had been the bearer
of them.
On the 8th day of April, in this year, was a conjunction of Saturn and
Jupiter, whence the learned foretold that great miseries would befal
the world.
CHAP. XXXV.
A CORRESPONDENCE TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE
DUKE OF BOURBON.--THE KING PUBLISHES OTHER LETTERS THROUGHOUT HIS
REALM,--AND THE COUNT DE NEVERS ISSUES PROCLAMATIONS IN ALL THE TOWNS
WITHIN HIS LIEUTENANCY FOR THE KING OF FRANCE.
In the month of March, of this year, the king of France sent letters,
signed with his hand, to the duke of Bourbon, containing in substance,
that his brother, the duke of Berry, had left him, and gone to Brittany
without his consent or knowledge. He then added, that, all excuses
being laid aside, he commanded him to come to his presence instantly
after his letter had been read, and to put faith in whatever Josselin
du Boys should tell him now on his part, and to collect immediately one
hundred lances, ready to march at a moment's notice.
The duke of Bourbon having read this letter, and heard what Josselin
du Boys had to say, wrote an answer to the king, in which he repeated
what the king had written to him, and thanked him for the great
confidence he had placed in him. He then adverted to the grievances
and unjust acts the princes of his blood had witnessed throughout
the realm, concerning which the king had received many complaints
and remonstrances, as they were nearly affected by them, but without
obtaining any redress, by reason of the obstructions of those who
surrounded his majesty.
The princes, therefore, seeing that their complaints and remonstrances
were not attended to, and that no remedy was thought of for the redress
of grievances, had formed a strict alliance by oaths and written
agreements, mutually exchanged with each other, to provide such a
remedy for these grievances as had not taken place since his majesty's
coming to the throne, so that it should redound to the honour of the
crown, the utility of the public welfare, and to the eternal glory of
them who undertook such wholesome measures.
The duke added, that, after what he had said, it was unnecessary
for him to wait on him, as he was engaged, with the other princes
of the blood, in promoting the redress of the grievances they
had so repeatedly complained of, since he had neglected to do it
himself,--begging to be held excused for not coming to him, and
expressly declaring that he was of the union with the princes, for the
welfare of his majesty and of his kingdom. He besought him, for the
honour of God, that he would himself redress these grievances, to avoid
the great evils that might otherwise ensue to his kingdom. He concluded
by saying, that this union had not been formed against his person, or
against the good of the realm, but solely to restore the government
to order, for his honour, the welfare of the kingdom, and for the
relief of the poor people, which are objects of great praise, and which
require immediate attention. This letter was dated Moulins, the 14th
day of March.
When the king had received and read this letter, which fully explained
the intentions of the confederated princes, he caused letters to be
published throughout his realm, containing, in substance, that some
persons, excited by wicked hopes and damnable purposes, and not having
any regard to the honour of God, or the feelings of a loyal conscience,
had formed a conspiracy against him and against the welfare of his
realm, being desirous of interrupting the present peace and harmony.
For this end they had incited and suborned his brother, the duke
of Berry, who was but young in years, and not aware of their evil
designs, to separate himself from his care and government; and, the
better to succeed, they have most industriously spread abroad reports
that he intended to lay hands on, and imprison, his said brother,
even the thought of which had never entered his mind. They have
formed an alliance under pretext of the public welfare, although they
are endeavouring, by every sort of perjury and seduction, to throw
the whole kingdom into confusion and trouble, and are to afford an
opportunity for our ancient enemies the English to invade our realm,
and recommence, by a ruinous warfare, mischiefs similar to those which
we have so lately seen put an end to.
These rebels to the king and his crown suspecting that, from their
outrageous acts, the king would never pardon them, although they have
not required it, prepare for war to maintain their damnable projects
by force of arms. The king, nevertheless, assures, by these presents,
that all princes, prelates, nobles, or others forming part of this said
confederation, who shall quit the same, and return to the king within
one month or six weeks from the date hereof, shall be most kindly
received, and fully pardoned for all their offences; and their effects
shall be restored to such as may, for the above cause, have had them
confiscated. The king orders, by these presents, all his governors,
judges, officers, and others, to cause this his gracious intention
of pardon to be publicly proclaimed within their jurisdictions, and
to receive all to favour who shall return and demand it within the
aforesaid specified period of one month or six weeks from the date
hereof. This letter was given at Thouars, under the great seal of the
king, the 16th day of March, in the year 1464.
On this same day, the count de Nevers, lieutenant for the king of all
the country between the Somme and the Oise, issued a proclamation
throughout those parts, containing the same in substance as the letter
of the king, ordering them to keep up a good guard, as otherwise they
would answer for it at their peril. He also assembled the vassals of
the crown, and put them in a situation to serve the king, under arms,
when called upon: he likewise caused proclamation to be made, that all
persons who had usually borne arms should keep themselves in readiness
for the king's service when ordered, under the accustomed penalties.
These proclamations were dated at Mezieres on the Meuse, the 16th day
of March, in the year aforesaid.
The count de Charolois also wrote letters to the governor, mayor, and
sheriffs of Arras, to say, that he had heard the lord de Croy and his
friends were collecting a considerable force, and intended marching
it away from the territories of the duke his father, and that they
were united with his cousin, the count de Nevers, in their plans to
invade and lay waste the said country: to both of which schemes he
was determined to apply a remedy, and for this purpose now ordered
them to have it publicly proclaimed within their districts, that no
persons whatever should join or assist the said lord de Croy, or his
said cousin of Nevers, without the express permission of himself, or
of the said duke his father, under pain of corporal punishment and
confiscation of effects. These letters were dated the 25th of March, in
the above-mentioned year.
[A.D. 1465.]
CHAP. XXXVI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY PARDONS HIS SON.--HE ORDERS A LARGE BODY OF MEN
TO BE RAISED FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DUKE OF BERRY AGAINST HIS
BROTHER THE KING OF FRANCE.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AT THAT TIME.
On Good Friday, a learned friar preached an excellent sermon before
the duke of Burgundy and his household, at Brussels, on the blessings
of mercy and pity, in order to induce the duke to pardon his son, the
count de Charolois, for having offended him, which hitherto he had not
been inclined to do. When the sermon was ended, several knights of the
Golden Fleece approached the duke, and humbly entreated him, that, in
consequence of the able discourse and reasoning of the preacher, he
would pardon his son for having offended him,--so that on the morrow,
Easter-eve, the count de Charolois came to his father about noon, and,
falling on his knee, said in substance as follows: 'My most redoubted
lord and father, I beseech you, in honour of the passion of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you would be pleased to forgive my having displeased
you. What I did was for the preservation of my life, and of your
dominions, as I will more fully detail hereafter.' Much more he said,
to the edification and satisfaction of all who heard him.
The duke took hold of him by the elbow, and, looking him full in
the face, said, 'Charles, my son, for all that you may have done to
displease me to this day, I freely forgive you: be my good son, and I
will be to you a good father.' In saying these words, the duke's eyes
filled with tears,--and those of the company present were in a like
situation, notwithstanding that there were there hardy knights, lords,
and others out of number.