Dammartin, one of his adversaries, the inhabitants were so terrified
that they came out in a body to present him with the keys of the gates,
on the condition of being secured from pillage. The duke liberally
granted their request, seeing they had thus humbled themselves before
him of their own free will, and gave them a sufficient force to guard
their town from being any way molested.----The duke then advanced with
his army near to Ham, but sent forward some of his best light troops
to observe the countenance of the enemy. The Orleans-party sallied
out against them, and a sharp skirmish took place; but they were
compelled, by the superior number of the Burgundians, to retire within
the town. The next day he marched his whole army before the place in
battle-array, and had his tents pitched on an eminence in front of one
of the gates, and about the distance of a cannon shot. The Flemings
were likewise encamped according to the orders of their marshals
and leaders, during which the garrison made some sallies, but were
repulsed, in spite of their valour, by superior numbers, and many were
killed and wounded on each side.
When the duke had surrounded this town on one side only, he ordered
battering machines to be placed against the gate and wall, to demolish
them; and the Flemings pointed their ribaudequins, and shot from them
so continually, day and night, that the enemy were greatly annoyed.
Breaches were made in the wall and gate within a few days; but though
the garrison was much harrassed, they repaired both in the best manner
they could, with wood and dung.
At length, the besiegers fixed on a day for a general attack on the
gate, intending to force an entry: the engagement continued very sharp
for three hours, but the garrison defended themselves so valiantly,
wounding and slaying so many of the assailants, that they were forced
to retreat. This happened on a Thursday; and on the Friday, the duke
of Burgundy, I know not for what reason, had it proclaimed that no
one should, on any account, make an assault on the town, but that all
should labour in forming bridges over the Somme, that a passage might
be obtained for the army, and that the place might be besieged on all
sides,--but events turned out very far from his expectations.
On the Friday morning, the besieged were expecting that the attack
would be renewed; but hearing of the duke’s intentions to cross the
river with his army and surround the town, they packed up all their
valuables and fled, leaving within the walls only poor people and
peasants, who had retired thither for safety. Those persons not having
ability or inclination to defend themselves, the duke’s army, headed
by the Picards, entered the place without any danger. The Flemings,
observing this, rushed so impetuously to gain admittance that many
were squeezed to death. When they had entered, they instantly began to
plunder all they could lay hands on, according to the liberty which
their lord the duke had granted them; for, as I have said, he had been
necessitated so to do before they would march from home. Part placed
themselves on one side of the street, leading to the gate which they
had entered, and part on the other; and when the Picards, or others
not of their country, were returning, they stopped and robbed them of
all they had: they spared no man, noble or otherwise; and in this riot
several were killed and wounded.
They entered a monastery of the town, and took away all they could
find, and carried to their tents many of both sexes, and children;
and, on the morrow, having seized all they had, they set fire to
several parts of the town,--and, to conclude all, the churches and
houses, with many of the inhabitants, were burnt, as well as a great
quantity of cattle that had been driven thither as to a place of
security.
Notwithstanding this cruel conduct of the Flemings, six or seven of the
monks escaped from the monastery, by the assistance of some noblemen,
particularly the prior, who most reverently held in his hands a cross,
and were conducted to the tents of the duke of Burgundy, where they
were in safety.
Such was the conduct of the Flemings at the commencement of this war.
There were many towns beyond the Somme that belonged to the duke of
Orleans and his allies, who, hearing of what had passed at Ham, were,
as it may be readily believed, in the utmost fear and alarm; and there
were few people desirous of waiting their coming, lest they should be
besieged in some fortress, and suffer a similar fate,--for sir Clugnet
de Brabant and sir Manessier Guieret, as I have said, had already
abandoned Ham, which was well supplied with stores and provision, and
had retreated to Chauni and to Coucy.
The inhabitants of the town of Neelle, belonging to the count de
Dammartin, seeing the smoke of Ham, were greatly perplexed, for their
garrison had fled; but they, following the example of the town of
Athies, waited on the duke of Burgundy, and, with many lamentations,
presented him with the keys of their town, offering to submit
themselves to his mercy. The duke received them into favour, in the
name of the king and his own, on their swearing not to admit any
garrison, and to be in future true and loyal subjects to the king,
their sovereign lord.
This oath they willingly took; and, having thanked the duke for his
mercy, they returned to their town, and by his orders demolished some
of their gates and many parts of their walls. They also made their
magistrates and principal inhabitants swear to the observance of the
treaty which they had made, and for this time they remained in peace.
In like manner, those of the town of Roye, that were but lately become
subjects to the king, sent deputies to the duke, at his camp before
Ham, to say, that the Orleans party had treacherously entered their
town, and had done them much mischief, but that they had departed on
hearing of his march, and requesting he would not be displeased with
them, as they were ready to receive him, and act according to his
pleasure. The duke told them, he should be satisfied if they would
promise, on their oaths, never to admit again within their walls any of
his adversaries of the Orleans-party. Having obtained this answer, they
returned joyous to their town.
The duke now passed the Somme with his army at Ham, leaving that town
completely ruined, and marched toward Chauni on the Oise, belonging to
the duke of Orleans; but the garrison, hearing of it, quitted the place
in haste. The townsmen, greatly alarmed, sent, without delay, to offer
him their keys, and humbly supplicated his mercy, saying that their
lord’s men at arms had fled on hearing of his approach, from the fear
they had of him. The duke received them kindly, and took their oaths,
that they would henceforth loyally obey the king their sovereign lord,
and himself, and would admit a garrison of his men to defend the town.
After the conclusion of this treaty, the duke advanced to Roye, in the
Vermandois, and was lodged in the town, having quartered his army
in the country round it. He dispatched thence sir Peter des Essars,
knight, and his confidential adviser, to the king of France, to his
son-in-law the duke of Acquitaine, and to the citizens of Paris, to
make them acquainted with the strength of his army, and with his
successes. Sir Peter des Essars was honourably received by the duke
of Acquitaine and the Parisians; and in compliment to the duke of
Burgundy, he was reinstated in his office of provost, in the room of
sir Brunelet de Sainct Cler, who, by the royal authority, was appointed
bailiff of Senlis, on the dismission of sir Gastelius du Bost, who was
suspected of being a favourer of the Orleans-party.
When sir Peter des Essars had finished the business he had been sent
on to Paris, he set out for Rethel to announce to the count de Nevers,
who had assembled a considerable force, the march of the duke, and to
desire him to advance to the town of Mondidier, where he would have
more certain intelligence of his brother. The count de Nevers, on
hearing this, used all diligence to assemble his men, and set off to
join the duke.
During these transactions, the duke of Orleans, the count d’Armagnac,
the constable of France, the master of the cross-bows, with a large
body of men at arms and others, came to the town of Melun, where the
queen of France and the duke of Berry resided. Having held a conference
with the queen and duke, they advanced to La Fertè on the Marne, which
belonged to sir Robert de Bar[72], in right of his wife the viscountess
de Meaux. They crossed the Marne, and came to Arsy en Mussien, in the
county of Valois, dependant on the duke of Orleans, where his brother,
the count de Vertus, met him.
The count was accompanied by a numerous body of combatants, among whom
were the duke of Bourbon, John son to the duke of Bar, sir William de
Coucy, Amé de Sallebruche, sir Hugh de Hufalize, with others from the
Ardennes, Lorraine and Germany, who, in the whole, amounted to full six
thousand knights and esquires, not including armed infantry and bowmen;
and this party was henceforward popularly called _Armagnacs_, as I have
before observed. Each bore on his armour badges similar to those which
they had formerly worn when they lay before Paris.
The duke of Orleans marched this army from the Valois, passing by
Senlis, toward his county of Beaumont; but Enguerrand de Bournouville,
who had been posted in Senlis with a large force of men at arms to
guard it, sallied out on their rear, and made a good booty of their
baggage as well as prisoners. In doing this, however, he lost some of
his men, who were slain or taken, and he then returned to Senlis. The
duke of Orleans, with the other princes, were lodged in the castle of
Beaumont, and his army in the country surrounding it.
The count de Nevers was prevented from joining his brothers as he
intended,--for the Armagnacs, being the strongest, constrained him to
conduct his army to Paris.
The duke of Burgundy was already arrived at Mondidier with his whole
army, and was making preparations to combat his enemies, should they
be so inclined, or to attack any town to which they should retire,
according to his pleasure. But the Flemings were now desirous to return
home, and had demanded permission of the duke, saying, that they had
served the time required of them on their departure from Flanders.
The duke was much surprised and displeased at their conduct, but
earnestly desired that they would stay with him for only eight days
longer, as he had received intelligence that his enemies were near at
hand, with a great army, ready to offer him battle, and that they could
never serve him more effectually. At this moment, the greater part of
their officers waited on the duke to take leave of him, who, hearing
the earnest and affectionate manner in which he made so trifling a
request, resolved to go back to their men and inform them of it, and
promised to do every thing in their power in order that it should be
complied with.
On their return to the tent of Ghent, where all their councils were
held, they assembled the leaders of the commonalty, and told them the
request the duke their lord had made, namely, that they would stay with
him only eight days more, for that his adversaries were at hand with
a large army to offer him battle. This request having been stated,
various were the opinions of the meeting: some were for staying, others
not, saying they had fulfilled the term required of them by their
lord,--that winter was approaching, when, so numerous as they were,
they could not keep the field without great danger. Their opinions
were so discordant that no conclusion could be formed, to enable their
captains to give any positive answer to the duke.
This council was held the 20th day of September, in the afternoon;
and when it became dusk, these Flemings made very large fires in
different places, of the wood and timber of the houses which they
had pulled down and destroyed in Mondidier. They then began to load
their baggage-waggons, and to arm themselves; and at midnight they all
shouted from their quarters, in Flemish, _Vax, vax!_ which signifies,
‘To arms, to arms!’ and alarmed all the other parts of the army.
The duke of Burgundy was entirely ignorant of what they intended to do,
and sent some flemish lords to know their intentions; but they would
not explain themselves to any one, and made answers contrary to the
questions asked. During this, the night passed away; and the moment day
appeared, they harnessed their horses to the baggage-waggons, and set
fire to all their lodgings, shouting, ‘Gau, gau!’ and departed, taking
the road to Flanders.
The attendants of the duke of Burgundy, hearing this cry and clamour,
went to inform him of it in his tent. Very much astonished thereat, he
instantly mounted his horse, and, accompanied by the duke of Brabant,
rode after them. When he had overtaken them, with his head uncovered
and his hands uplifted, he most humbly besought them to return,
and stay with him four days only, calling them his most trusty and
well-beloved friends and companions, offering them great gifts, and
promising to relieve the country of Flanders from taxes for ever, if
they would comply with his wishes.
The duke of Brabant also remonstrated with them on the advantages
offered them by their lord, and, as he asked in return so very trifling
a favour, entreated them to pay due deference to his demand. But it was
in vain: they turned a deaf ear to all that was said, and continued
their march, only showing the written agreements they had made with
the duke, which were carried before them, and which they had fulfilled
on their part; but, as they were signed with his seal, he had not
performed his, in having them escorted beyond the river Somme to a
place of safety. Should he refuse to do this, they would send him his
only son, then at Ghent, cut into thousands of pieces.
The duke of Burgundy, noticing their rude manners, and perceiving that
nothing was to be gained from them by fair means, began to appease them
by ordering the trumpets to sound for decamping. This was not done
without much loss,--for the duke, occupied solely with the attempt to
make the Flemings change their minds, had not ordered the tents to be
struck, nor the baggage loaded, so that the greater part of the tents
were burnt, with other things, from the fire of the houses caused
by the Flemings on their departure. The flames spread from house to
house, to the lodgings of the duke of Burgundy, who was troubled to the
heart,--for he well knew that his adversaries were in high spirits, a
short day’s march off, and he was anxious to give them battle; but from
this conduct of the Flemings his intentions would be frustrated,--and
what was worse, he knew for certain, that the moment they should hear
of it, they would publish that he had retreated, not daring to meet
them. He was, nevertheless, forced to submit to events which he could
not foresee nor prevent.
The Flemings had no sooner turned their faces homeward but they
advanced more in one day than in three before, and whatever they could
lay hands on was pillaged and thrown into their baggage-carts: they
had, moreover, many quarrels with the Picards and English, and it often
happened that stragglers were wounded or put to death,--and when they
were superior in numbers, they failed not to retaliate.
It must be remembered, that this retreat took place in the month of
September, when the grapes in the vineyards were ripe; and they robbed
every vineyard they passed, devouring so many that numbers were found
dead among the vines. On the other hand, they fed their horses and
cattle so very abundantly on the immense pillage which they every where
made, that very many were bursten.
The duke of Burgundy, on his arrival at Peronne with his men at arms,
went personally to thank the Flemings, who were encamped on the river
side, in the most humble manner for their services, and then had them
escorted by his brother, the duke of Brabant, to Flanders, when every
man returned to his home. The magistrates of the great towns were,
however, very much displeased when they heard of their behaviour; but
they did not at the time notice it, for there were too many of them
under arms.
Thus did the Flemings retreat from Mondidier contrary to the will of
their lord, the duke of Burgundy. On the same day, a knight of the
party of the duke of Orleans, called sir Peter de Quesnes, lord of
Garois, at the head of full two hundred combatants, made an attack
on Mondidier, about four hours after they had marched away. He found
there many people, especially merchants, and inhabitants of the
neighbourhood, whom he took prisoners: he slew many, and he and his men
made a very great booty.
He then returned to Clermont in Beauvoisis, whither the Armagnacs had
marched in pursuit of the count de Nevers. When they heard of this
retreat of the duke of Burgundy and the Flemings, they held a council
whether or not they should follow them into their own country. It
was at length determined by the wisest to return toward Paris, and
attempt to gain admittance by means of some connexions they had there,
principally in order to have possession of the person of the king,
which was their grand object.
They began their march, in consequence, towards Verberies, and crossed
the river Oise by a new bridge, which they erected, and thence advanced
for Paris. Those who had the guard of the king and the Parisians
were not well pleased to hear of their being so near, and made every
preparation to oppose their entrance to Paris. The Armagnacs, finding
it impossible to succeed, managed so well with the inhabitants of St
Denis that they were there admitted; and the princes lodged in the
town, and the army in the adjacent fields and villages. From that
situation, they made a sharp war on the town of Paris, and on all those
who sided with the king and the duke of Burgundy.
They advanced daily from different parts to the very gates of
Paris,--when sallies were made against them, particularly by sir
Enguerrand de Bournouville, who was one of the chiefs of the garrison
under the count Waleran de St Pol, the governor of the town. Severe
skirmishes often took place, and many gallant deeds were done by the
men at arms of both sides.
CHAP. XXXV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ASSEMBLES ANOTHER ARMY TO MARCH TO
PARIS.--EVENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME.
We will now return to the duke of Burgundy, who having, as I have said,
dismissed his Flemings, under the escort of his brother the duke of
Brabant, went from Peronne to Arras, where he met the earls of Pembroke
and of Arundel, and sir William Baldock, who had accompanied him on his
late expedition. As these earls were lately come from England, he paid
them every respect, in compliment to the king of England who had sent
them. They had brought full twelve hundred combatants, as well horse as
foot, all men of courage.
Much intercourse took place at this time between the king of England
and the duke of Burgundy, respecting a marriage between Henry prince of
Wales and one of the duke’s daughters[73].--After he had magnificently
feasted these english captains in his town of Arras, and made them
handsome presents, he ordered them to march to Peronne, and hastily
summoned men at arms from all quarters to meet him personally at
Peronne, where he had commanded the nobles of his estates to assemble.
The duke of Brabant did not meet him this time, being detained in the
county of Luxembourg by affairs on behalf of his wife. The duke of
Burgundy left Peronne with no more than six thousand combatants, and
marched to Roye,--thence, by Breteuil, to Beauvais, and from Beauvais,
through Gisors, to Pontoise, where he halted for three weeks or
thereabout. During this period, great numbers of men at arms came from
different countries to serve him.
While these things were passing, it was ordered by the royal council,
in the presence of the duke of Acquitaine, the count de Mortain,
the lord Gilles of Brittany, Waleran count de St Pol, governor of
Paris, the chancellor of France[74], the lord Charles de Savoisy,
and other great nobles, that certain proclamations should be sent to
all the bailiwicks and seneschalships of the kingdom, respecting the
assembling of such large bodies of men at arms, daily done in defiance
of the king’s orders, by the duke of Orleans, his brothers, the duke
of Bourbon, the counts d’Alençon and d’Armagnac, and others of their
party, to the great mischief and tribulation of the kingdom at large,
and highly displeasing to the king and disgraceful to his dignity.
This proclamation again prohibited any one from daring to join the
aforesaid nobles, or any of their party in arms, under pain of being
reputed rebels and traitors to the king and his realm. It likewise
commanded all that had joined them to depart without delay, and return
peaceably to their homes, without further living on or harrassing the
people, and ordered that no hindrance should be given to prevent this
from being carried into effect. Such as should disobey these orders
would be most rigorously prosecuted without delay as rebels,--and from
that day forth no grace or favour would be shown them.
This proclamation was published in the usual places, and some few, but
in no great number, privately quitted the party of the Armagnacs, and
returned to that of the king. Those that were disobedient, when taken
by the royal officers, were in great danger of their lives. Several
were publicly executed; and among them a knight, called sir Binet
d’Espineuse, attached to the duke of Bourbon from being a native of
the county of Clermont, suffered at Paris. The cause of his death was
his having taken by force some flanders horses that were coming as a
present to the duke of Acquitaine from the duke of Burgundy. After he
was beheaded in the market-place, his body was suspended by the arms to
the gibbet at Montfaucon.
This punishment was inflicted by order of sir Peter des Essars, who, as
has been said, was lately re-established in his office of provost of
Paris, in the room of sir Brunelet de Sainct-Cler.
The duke of Orleans and his party were indignant at this execution, as
well as at the late royal proclamation; and the duke of Bourbon was
particularly angry at the disgraceful death of his knight.
Thus affairs went on from bad to worse. One day, the duke of Orleans
fixed his quarters, with a large force, at the castle of St Ouen, which
is a royal mansion, and thence made daily excursions to the gates of
Paris. He pressed the Parisians so hard that they were much straitened
for provisions; for they were not as yet accustomed to war, nor had
they provided any stores or assembled a force sufficient to repel the
attacks of their adversaries.
The archbishop of Sens, brother to the late grand master Montagu, had
joined the Armagnacs, but not in his pontifical robes; for instead
of a mitre, he wore a helmet,--for a surplice, a coat of mail,--and
for a cope, a piece of steel,--for his croisier, a battle-axe. At this
period, the duke of Orleans sent his heralds with letters to the king
and the duke of Acquitaine, to inform them that the duke of Burgundy
had fled with his Flemings from Mondidier, not daring to wait his
nearer approach. He took that opportunity of writing also to some
of his friends in Paris, to know if through their means he could be
admitted into the town. It was lost labour, for those who governed for
the duke of Burgundy were too active and attentive in keeping the party
together.