over the river at the Port à l'Anglois; but the moment they were about
to march over, a body of franc-archers, with others of the king's
troops, made their appearance, with artillery and other engines, and
attacked the Burgundians so sharply that they slew many and forced them
to retreat.
While this engagement was going on, a Norman swam over the river, and
cut the cables that supported the bridge, so that it fell and floated
down the stream. The Burgundians were likewise forced to move their
quarters further from the walls, as the king's artillery annoyed them
much. The Burgundians played their artillery also against the Port à
l'Anglois, by which a Norman gentleman had his head carried away by a
shot from a culverin.
This day, two embassies came to the king at Paris,--one from the duke
of Nemours, the other from the count d'Armagnac. A fine sally was made
on the same day, by sir Charles de Melun, the captain Malortie, and
their companies, who had a successful skirmish with the Burgundians.
This day also, there arrived from Anjou about four hundred men, armed
with large cross-bows, who were instantly marched against the enemy,
when two of the king's archers were killed and one taken,--but seven
Burgundians were slain, and two made prisoners.
On this Sunday, the duke of Somerset came from the confederates, under
passports, to the king, with whom he had a long conversation in the
bastile of St Anthony. He was then offered refreshments,--and, on
taking his leave, the king, as it rained, gave him his cloak, which was
of black velvet.
On Monday, the 2d of September, the count du Maine, who was lodged at
Paris opposite to the king, sent to the duke of Berry two tuns of red
wine, four hogsheads of vin de Beaume, and a horse-load of apples,
cabbages and turnips.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 78: He was son to Jean de Popaincourt, first president of the
parliament of Paris, and died president à Mortier 1480. It was he who,
in December 1475, pronounced sentence of death on the constable de St
Pol.--_Note in_ Comines, vol. ii. p. 25.]
[Footnote 79: D'Oris,--d'Oriole, afterward chancellor of France, and
well known in the history of Louis XI.]
CHAP. LXIII.
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE KING AND THE CONFEDERATES TO SETTLE
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.--THE NOBLES OF NORMANDY COME TO PARIS
TO SERVE THE KING.--SEVERAL SALLIES AND ASSAULTS ON EACH SIDE.--OTHER
EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS SAME YEAR MCCCCLXV, OMITTED BY
MONSTRELET, UNTIL THE FINAL PEACE BETWEEN THE KING AND THE PRINCES.
On Tuesday, the 2d of September, after several parleys, commissioners
were at length named by the king and the confederates to settle their
differences. On the part of the king were selected the count du Maine
and the lord de Precigny,[80] president of the parliament of Toulouse.
On the part of the confederates, the duke of Calabria, the count de St
Pol, and the count de Dunois.
This day, the magazine of gunpowder at the gate of the Temple
accidentally took fire, where were eight pieces of artillery ready for
firing,--and by this accident they went off, and blew away the roof of
the gateway.
When these commissioners met, after some few preliminaries were
settled, they agreed on a truce until the Thursday following, which
prevented any hostile attempts on either side. During this term, each
party fortified itself as well as it could; but, nevertheless, both
parties conversed together until Thursday came. As the count du Maine
was passing through the gate of St Anthony, on his return from the
Burgundians, he bade the porters be of good cheer; for, if it pleased
God, before eight days were over, they should all have good cause to
rejoice and sing carols.
This day, the truce was prolonged to the ensuing Wednesday; and on the
Friday the commissioners assembled, in consultation, at La Grange aux
Merciers, in a pavilion that had been pitched for that purpose.
During the truce, about two thousand of the most decent of the Bretons
and Burgundians came in great pomp, to show themselves, as far as the
ditches behind St Antoine aux Champs, whither several of the Parisians
came out to see and converse with them, although the king had forbidden
it, and was so much displeased, when he saw them doing so, that he was
tempted to fire at them with the serpentines and other cannon, that
were ready loaded, from the tower of Billy.
Sunday, the 8th of September, being the feast of the Nativity of the
Virgin, the king set out from the hôtel of the Tournelles, to go to the
cathedral; and as he passed by the church of the Magdalen, he entered
himself a companion of the great brotherhood of the burghers of Paris,
in which he was followed by the bishop of Evreux and others of the
nobility. The next day, the Burgundians and Bretons took possession of
the vineyards at Aignancourt, La Courtille, and others round Paris, and
made wine for their own drinking, although the grapes were not ripe.
This forced the Parisians to do the same at other vineyards; and the
wines, consequently, were thin and weak.
Many nobles from Normandy now arrived at Paris to serve the king in his
wars, and were quartered, with their men, in the suburbs of St Marcel.
Among them were some loose companions, who committed many robberies
and riots, which being opposed by the inhabitants, made them attempt
to enter Paris by force. As the burghers resisted, the Normans abused
them much, by calling them Traitors and Burgundians; adding, that they
would bring them to understand things better,--for that they had only
come from Normandy to Paris to put them to death, and pillage them.
This conduct, according to master Robert Gaguin, was heavily complained
of; and examinations having taken place in consequence, the ringleader
of these riots was condemned to make an amende honorable, before the
town-hall, to the procurator of the said town. This was publicly done
by the criminal, bareheaded, ungirdled, with a lighted torch in his
hand; and when he was arrived in front of the town-hall, he declared
that he had falsely and wickedly lied in uttering the above words, and
begged to be pardoned for having so done; after which declaration, he
had his tongue pierced with a hot iron, and was then banished for ever.
The following Monday, some of the Burgundians came to show themselves
before Paris, among whom was the count de St Pol,--and the king issued
out of the town to confer with him. They were about two hours in
conversation; and the king gave him the count du Maine as an hostage,
who remained in the burgundian camp until the return of the count de St
Pol.
This same day, according to Gaguin, the king said to some of the
Parisians, at the gate of St Anthony, on his return from this
conference, that the Burgundians should not, in future, give them the
trouble they had done, for that he would defend them well. An attorney
of the Châtelet, named Pierre Beron, replied, 'Indeed, sire! but they
vintage and eat our grapes without any remedy being provided against
them.' The king answered, that it was better they should eat their
grapes than enter Paris and seize their plate and valuables, which they
had hidden in their cellars.
The following Friday, two hundred horse-loads of salt fish, and other
sorts, arrived at the Paris-market, in spite of the Burgundians,
Bretons, and others, who had threatened to reduce the inhabitants to
eat their cats and rats.
The truce was again prolonged several times, and at length until the
18th of September,--during which, the Burgundians victualled their
camps well, at the expense of the poor people in the country around.
There cannot be a doubt but that if the king had been willing to have
risked a general engagement, provided he had been faithfully served by
his captains, he would have reduced his enemies to such a state that
they would have been unable to return to the countries they had come
from, and would have fully repaid them for having insulted Paris.
On Wednesday, the 18th, all hopes of a peace were at an end,--for,
notwithstanding the frequent conferences of the commissioners, all
was broken off; and on this day the blockade of the Port à l'Anglois
was raised by the king, and the men at arms were lodged in the
carthusian convent: they were six hundred men, with their horses and
attendants,--which so completely filled the convent that the holy
religious men were driven from their cells and places of devotion.
On the morrow, a grand council was held in the hall of the court of
exchequer, at which were present all the aldermen and the deputies of
the sixteen wards, together with a number of counsellors from the court
of parliament and other officers. The chancellor, Morvilliers, then
explained to them, in the king's name, what great offers he had made
to the princes before Paris, in answer to their demands respecting the
appanage of his brother, the duke of Berry, for whom they required the
duchies of Guienne, Poitou, and Saintonge, or the duchy of Normandy.
The king's commissioners had replied to this, that his majesty
could not dismember the domains of the crown; and the king afterward
offered to give his brother, in lieu of these duchies, the counties of
Champagne and Brie, reserving to himself the towns of Meaux, Montereau,
and Melun.
The chancellor said, that the count de Charolois and the others
had made exorbitant demands for repayment of their expenses; which
expenses, indeed, ought not to be greatly objected against, but
they would not accept of any thing less than the whole of their
demands,--and there the matter now rested until the following Friday.
On this day, the young seneschal of Normandy[81] sallied out of Paris,
with six hundred well-appointed horse, to skirmish with the enemy,
which they did most valiantly. Among the vineyards of St Antoine des
Champs, four-and-twenty Burgundians and others, pillagers, were made
prisoners. They were almost all naked, and very badly drest, and sold
by auction, four for a golden crown, which was then worth twenty-six
sols, six deniers parisis.
The following Saturday, the Bretons won the town of Pontoise, at break
of day, as Enguerrand the chronicler has simply told it; but I find
in Gaguin, that one named Louis Forbier, then lieutenant-governor of
Pontoise for Joachim Rohault, by false and wicked treason, conspired
against his sovereign, and admitted these Bretons into the town. The
said Louis had it proclaimed, that all of the company of Joachim
Rohault, who would not remain, might leave the town in safety with
their baggage: that, immediately on his giving up the place, he and
some of his companions went to Meulan,[82] wearing the king's badge of
the white cross, that they might gain admittance without difficulty.
But before his arrival, those in Meulan had been informed of his
treason,--and the moment he was seen from the battlements by the
garrison, already under arms, they cried out to him, 'Go thy ways, for
a false and disloyal traitor!' and fired some cannon at him, which
forced him to retire with disgrace and shame.
The ensuing Monday, a considerable body of the enemy, by way of a
morning visit, appeared at an early hour before the gate of St Anthony;
but in consequence of the firing of some artillery from the walls, they
retreated to a further distance, and nothing was done.
On the Monday, according to Gaguin, the watch in Paris were alarmed
by an extraordinary light in the skies that looked like a comet,
and seemed to move from the enemy's quarters, and to fall into the
ditch near the hôtel d'Ardoise: not guessing what it could be, they
thought it might have been a rocket discharged by the Burgundians, and
sent immediate information thereof to the king at his hôtel of the
Tournelles. He, like an active prince, mounted his horse, and went
instantly on the walls, near to the hôtel d'Ardoise, where he staid
some time, and sent to all the quarters of Paris, to put them on their
guard; but they neither saw nor heard any thing further of the enemy
that night.
The Bretons and Burgundians, quartered near Paris, made many songs, and
scandalous ballads, on those in whom the king put most confidence,
that he might be displeased with and dismiss them from his service, for
the more easy accomplishment of their damnable designs.
One evening, about two o'clock after midnight, master John Balue,
bishop of Evreux, was waylaid in the street of Barre-du-Bec, and
attacked with swords and staves,--so that, being wounded, he was forced
to fly, and sticking spurs into his mule, she ran away with him, like
a wild thing, and never stopped until she brought him to his house,
in the cloisters of Nôtre Dame, whence he had set out. The king was
very angry on hearing this, and ordered inquiry to be made after the
perpetrators of the deed, but in vain; for it was not known who had
done it, although it was said, some time afterward, that the lord de
Villier-le-bôcage was the principal, at the request of one called
Jeanne du Bois, with whom he was enamoured.
At this time, Alexander l'Orget, a native of Paris, in company with
four others, quitted Paris, with all his effects, and joined the duke
of Berry at St Denis. On the Thursday following, toward the end of
September, many of the townsmen came to make heavy complaints to the
magistrates, at the town-hall, against the military, for making and
singing defamatory songs against them, praying that a remedy might be
provided, to prevent such conduct in future. The words complained of
were in substance as follows. They swore by God, and other shocking
oaths, that the wealth and riches in Paris did not belong to the
inhabitants but to them, the men at arms now in the town,--saying, 'We
wish you to know that, in despite of you, we will take away the keys of
your houses, and throw you and all within them out of doors; and if you
chatter, we are enow in Paris to master you all.'
Among others, a fool from Normandy said aloud, at the gate of St Denis,
that the Parisians were simpler than he was, if they thought the chains
that were across the streets could prevent them from being insulted by
those now in the town. In consequence of such speeches, the magistrates
ordered the heads of the different wards to have good fires lighted
during the night at their places of rendezvous, and that the whole of
the night-watch should be there regularly under arms: the chains were
also kept up, and the town more strictly watched in the night than
before, until daybreak.
This night, there was an alarming rumour that the gate of the bastile
of St Anthony had been left open for the admission of the enemy, who
was before it; and, in truth, several cannon were found near there
with their touchholes spiked, so that they would have been useless had
there been occasion for them. Some of the king's captains were uneasy
at these fires in the streets, and the increase of the nightly watch,
and went to the hôtel of the Tournelles to inquire of the king whether
he had ordered them, or by whom these things had been thus done. The
king replied, that he was ignorant of the matter, and instantly sent
for sir John L'Huillier, the town-clerk, who came to him immediately,
and assured the king and the said captains, that the fires and increase
of the night-watch had been made with the best intentions. The king,
however, ordered sir Charles de Melun to go to the town-house, and
to all the quarters of Paris, to give orders that the fires should
be extinguished, and that the watch should retire to bed; but the
inhabitants refused to obey, and remained under arms until daybreak.
Many have since maintained, that had they retired, according to the
orders of sir Charles de Melun, which, through God's grace they did
not, the town would have been lost and totally destroyed; for the
enemy, before Paris, was ready to enter the town by means of the
bastile.
Two pursuivants at arms arrived, on the Friday ensuing, at Paris. One
came from Gisors[83] to require aid from the king, for that there were
from five to six hundred lances before it, and that there were no men
at arms within the town for its defence, and that they had neither
powder nor artillery. The other pursuivant was sent by Hugh des Vignes,
esquire, a man at arms, having charge of the company of the lord de la
Barde. This Hugh was then in Meulan, and had sent to tell the king,
that, from information of persons of credit, he had learnt that the
Bretons and others intended to gain Rouen as they had done Pontoise,
and by means of intelligence which they had within the castle or palace
of the said town, that he might provide against such attempts.
This day, Friday, the commissioners for obtaining peace, dined all
together at St Antoine des Champs, whither the king sent wine, bread,
fish, and every thing necessary for their entertainment. Thither also
were carried, in a cart, all the rentals and rolls of account relative
to Champagne and Brie, from the chamber of accounts at Paris. The next
day, the commissioners on both sides again met,--that is to say, my
lord of Maine and those of his company, on the part of the king, with
the other princes and lords who were at La Grange aux Merciers; and
the following were ordered to repair, on behalf of the king, to the
aforesaid St Antoine aux Champs,--namely, master Estienne Chevalier,
treasurer of France, master Arnould Bouchier and Christopher Paillart,
counsellors in the exchequer. The additional commissioners on the other
side were, Guillaume de Bische, master Pierre d'Oriole, master John
Berart, master John Compaign, a licentiate full of Latin, and master
Ythier Marchant; but this day nothing was done.
The king received letters from the widow of the late sir Pierre de
Brézé, to inform him that she had arrested the lord de Broquemont,
governor of the palace of Rouen, on suspicion of treason; and that he
might not be any way distrustful of Rouen, for, from the end of the
bridge to the palace, the inhabitants were all loyal and ready to serve
him.
On the Sunday following, at daybreak, seven men surrendered themselves
at the bulwark of the tower de Billy, who had escaped from the army
of the Burgundians. Four were agents to some merchants in Orleans,
two for some in Paris, and the seventh was a Fleming. They had been
all condemned to be hanged, because, after their capture, no one had
offered to ransom them. They reported, that on the preceding Wednesday,
a shot from a serpentine on the tower de Billy had killed seven
Burgundians, and wounded many more.
This day, after dinner, news was brought to the king, that the duke of
Bourbon had gained Rouen, having entered the castle on the side toward
the country by means of the widow of the late lord de Brézé, to whom
the king had been unusually bountiful, and in whom he had the greatest
confidence.[84] The chief managers in this business for the widow were,
the bishop of Evreux,[85] master John Hebert, and others.
When this was known to the confederated princes (although the duke of
Berry had before been satisfied with having Champagne and Brie for his
appanage,) they sent to inform the king, that his brother would not
accept of any other appanage than the duchy of Normandy, to which he
was forced to consent. The king, therefore, since he could not prevent
it, gave to the lord Charles the duchy of Normandy, and took to himself
the duchy of Berry. He was also forced to agree to the extravagant
demands of the other princes, as a compensation for their expenses in
bearing arms against him,--and they all plundered him well. But this
has been before amply related by Enguerrand de Monstrelet.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 80: The lord de Precigny--was president of the chamber of
accounts. Another commissioner was appointed, namely, _John Dauvet,
then_ president of the parliament of Toulouse. He was greatly in the
confidence of Louis XI. and employed by him on several embassies. He
died in 1471, first president of the parliament of Paris, and was one
of the most celebrated magistrates of his time.
_Note_, vol. ii. Comines, p. 39.
The lord de Precigny was also lord de Beaveau; and many letters of his
in MS. to the king, Louis XI. remain among the MSS. of Gagnieres.
_Note_, vol. ii. Comines, p. 32.]
[Footnote 81: The young seneschal of Normandy,--son to the late sir
Pierre de Brézé, killed at Montlehery.]
[Footnote 82: Meulan,--on the Seine, ten leagues from Paris.]
[Footnote 83: Gisors,--capital of Vixin-Normand, 16 leagues from Paris.]
[Footnote 84: Her name was Jane Crespin, countess of Maulevrier. She
was obliged, afterward, to obtain letters of pardon for this crime from
Louis XI. See No. 82. of Proofs to Comines.]
[Footnote 85: The bishop of Evreux,--John Balue, well known afterward
as cardinal of Arras.]
CHAP. LXIV.
AFTER THE TREATY OF CONFLANS BETWEEN THE KING AND PRINCES, PROVISIONS
ARE BROUGHT TO THE CONFEDERATE ARMY FROM PARIS, ON PAYMENT BEING MADE
FOR THEM.--THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, ON MUSTERING HIS TROOPS, DECLARES
HIMSELF VASSAL TO THE KING.--HE DOES HOMAGE FOR WHAT HE HOLDS UNDER
THE CROWN OF FRANCE.--THE DUKE OF BERRY AND THE OTHERS DO THEIR
HOMAGE.--PEACE IS PROCLAIMED.--OTHER EVENTS.
The king ordered proclamation to be made for every one to carry
provisions to the camps of the Burgundians and Bretons,--which being
done, several merchants of Paris went thither with quantities of all
sorts, which were eagerly bought up by the army, more especially bread
and wine; for the men were almost starved, as their long lank cheeks,
hanging down through misery, showed, and that they could not have
borne it longer. The greater part were without hose or shoes, and were
covered with filth.
Among those who came to obtain food were several Lifre-lofres,[86]
Calabrians and Swiss, so famished that they seized cheeses and devoured
them unpared, and then drank marvellous draughts of wine in handsome
earthen cups. The Lord knows how joyful they were; but they had not
these things scotfree, for each paid his share handsomely. Many things
happened this day, which I pass over for brevity; but every one must
admire the inestimable resources of Paris, for the confederated army
before that town was estimated at full one hundred thousand horse,
and those within Paris at three times the number,--yet they were all
supplied with provisions for a long time from thence, and without any
rise in price. On the departure of the burgundian army, the prices of
provision were more moderate than they had ever been.
The king went to visit the count de Charolois at Conflans, with so very
small an escort that those who wished him well thought it simply done:
the Picards and others of their party, even made a mockery of it, and,
in their provincial dialect, cried out, 'Eh! do you see your king, who
is talking with our lord de Charolois? they have been more than two
hours together; and by our faith, if we wished it, we have him now
under our thumb.'
On Friday, the 4th of October, the king gave orders for the Burgundians
to be admitted into Paris by the gate of St Antoine, and so many
entered that several excesses were committed by them, which would not
have been suffered had it been known that the king would have been
angry with them. However, one Burgundian insisted on passing the gate
of St Antoine against the will of the porters, and in spite of one
of the company of the bastard du Maine, who guarded the wicket. The
Burgundian, in his passion, drew a dagger and stabbed the archer in the
belly as he was half opening the wicket: he was immediately seized, and
severely beaten and wounded: many would have killed him, but they were
prevented; and the affair was made known to the king, who ordered him
to be carried to the count de Charolois, for him to do proper justice
on him. The count, on hearing the evidence, instantly sentenced him to
be hanged on the gallows at Charenton.
This night, the king ordered fires to be lighted in all the open
squares; and he gave orders for the watch to be increased, and to
be under arms, having an able commander, who was to inquire of all
passengers who they were, whence they came, and whither they were
going. This day was an eclipse of the moon.