The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 04 [of 13]

CHAP. XIII.

THE DEATH OF LADISLAUS KING OF NAPLES.—HIS RIVAL KING LOUIS SENDS THE MARSHAL OF FRANCE TO NAPLES,—AND OTHER MATTERS.

In these days, intelligence was brought to the king of France, that king Ladislaus, the rival to Louis king of Sicily, was dead. The manner of his death was thus told. He had long had a passion for the daughter of his physician, who was uncommonly handsome, and had made frequent proposals to her father, that he might enjoy her; but the father had as often refused, alledging many sound reasons for it. At length, he was so much pressed by the king that, finding excuses would no longer avail, he pretended to consent, though it was against his will, as the end will shew. He went, in consequence, to his daughter, to command her to prepare to receive the king, for that he had granted his consent,—but he would give her a prescription that should secure her the king's affections for ever; and he presented her with a box of ointment, with which he ordered her to rub her body just before the king's arrival. This she faithfully did; but when the king had cohabited with her, he felt himself as it were all on fire, and the damsel was in like manner affected,—insomuch that they almost instantly died in very great torments. After this cruel deed, the physician fled the country before hands could be laid on him.

Intelligence of the event being made known to king Louis, he issued summonses for a large force to assemble and accompany him to Naples; but he sent before him the lord de Longny, marshal of France, with a considerable body of men.

During the residence of the king at Senlis, the duke of Acquitaine was appointed by him and the grand council to the whole management of the finances of the kingdom, which was very displeasing to the duke of Berry; and in consequence, he assembled the provost of merchants, the sheriffs, the citizens, the members of the university, of the chambers of parliament and of accounts, at a certain place in Paris, where he caused them to be harangued by the bishop of Chartres, and others of his friends, on the infirmity of the king, and on the youth of his eldest son, who, from that cause, was as yet incapable of holding the reins of government; and that from his near connection by blood, (for he was son, brother, and uncle to kings,) the government of the kingdom of right appertained to him and to none other; and he therefore most affectionately solicited those present to aid and support his pretensions. They replied, that it did not become them to interfere in such matters, but solely to the king and the grand council, and excused themselves to the duke for not complying with his request.

At the beginning of September, the king departed from Senlis and came to St Denis, where he remained until the fourteenth of that month, when he returned to Paris in great triumph, attended by his son the duke of Acquitaine.

He was also accompanied by the dukes of Orleans, Bourbon, Bar, duke Louis of Bavaria, the counts de Vertus, d'Alençon, de Richemont, d'Eu, d'Armagnac, de la Marche, de Vendôme, de Marle, de Dampmartin, and numberless other barons, prelates, knights and esquires. The duke went out of Paris to meet the king, with the provost of merchants, the sheriffs, members of the parliament and of the university, citizens and crowds of common people, who kept a continual shouting for joy on account of his majesty's return to Paris. They made great bonfires in all the principal streets and squares, during the ensuing night, eating and drinking, and shouting repeatedly, 'Long live the king, long live the queen, long live the king and his son the duke of Acquitaine!'

CHAP. XIV.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, ON THE KING'S DEPARTURE FROM BEFORE ARRAS, MARCHES A FORCE INTO BURGUNDY.—OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AT THAT PERIOD.

When the king of France had marched his army from before Arras, the duke of Burgundy had his Burgundians quartered in the country of the Cambresis, and in Tierrache, and went himself to the city of Cambray. Thither his brother, the duke of Brabant, came to meet him, when, after holding a conference with him on the state of his affairs, and giving proper orders concerning them, he took the road toward Burgundy, having with him sir Robinet de Mailly, master Eustace de Lactre, the late chancellor of France, John Legois, master John de Troyes surgeon, Denisot de Chaumont, and several others who had been formerly banished, with their wives and children, from France.

He collected all his Burgundians, who, with some Picards and others, amounted to about twenty thousand horse, to march them into Burgundy, following the road through Tierrache, where he halted. He thence went to Mezieres on the Meuse, in the county of Rethel, with his whole army. At this place he remained a short time with his brother Philippe, and thence made for Châlons where he intended to lodge; but the townsmen shut their gates against him, in consequence of orders from the king not to admit him or his people into their town. This was displeasing to the duke of Burgundy, for he had made his dispositions to cross the Marne at that city. He then marched to Vitry, where he was again disappointed, in consequence of the same orders that had been sent to Châlons.

He was forced to continue his march to St Dizier, where he crossed the river; and on the vigil of All-saints, he arrived at Dijon, and was received with the utmost joy by all his subjects as their lord and sovereign.

During this time, the epidemical flux continued in Picardy, which carried off great numbers of persons, nobles and others. The duke of Burgundy before he left Picardy disbanded the army of his captains of that country, such as sir John de Luxembourg, the lords de Croy, de Beau, Vergier, de Fosseux, de Jumont, de Ront, de Beaufort, de Noyelle, de Hymbercourt, Hector and Philippe de Saveuses, Louis de Warigines, and other leaders; but these lords remained as guards to the country. He appointed on his departure, his only son, Philippe count de Charolois, sole governor of Flanders until his return.

On his arrival in Burgundy, he had attacked and taken the castle of Tonnerre, which was pillaged and destroyed by his people. The count de Tonnerre had fled from the castle with his men at arms, not daring to wait the arrival of the duke's forces, who were commanded by sir Elion de Jacqueville, Fierebourg, and some others.

Shortly after, the duke of Burgundy sent letters to the king of France, to inform him of the route he had taken from Flanders to Burgundy, at what places he had paid his expenses, and where not, with his reasons for not paying. At the same time, he made him acquainted with the destruction of the castle of Tonnerre, and that he had destroyed it, because the count, his vassal, had frequently rebelled against him, had defied him, and had made enterprises on his territories, whence he had carried away much booty. This he had explained, lest it might be thought he was breaking the peace lately made before Arras, which he was firmly resolved to keep.

The duke had besieged also Château-Belin, in the county of Burgundy, which likewise belonged to the count de Tonnerre; and although it was very strong, it was won by the great length of the siege. This castle he gave to his son, the count de Charolois, who during the lifetime of his father, styled himself count de Charolois and lord of Château-Belin.

A council was now held at Constance, by many cardinals, patriarchs, bishops, archbishops, prelates and ambassadors from different kings and princes. There was a great schism in the church from the refusal of Pietro della Luna, entitled Pope Benedict to resign this dignity, although, for many reasons, the greater part of Christendom had withdrawn itself from his obedience. He had no power but in Spain and Arragon, in which last kingdom he resided, in a strong town on the sea-shore.

In this year, the emperor of Germany caused the cardinal of Bologna, called pope John, to be arrested, and confined in prison in the duchy of Bavaria, for various crimes alledged against him. To restore peace to the church, the emperor had caused this council to be holden in Constance: it continued for the space of two years, before any persons came to attend it from Spain or Arragon. In the month of August, in the year 1416, a noble company of prelates and knights being assembled, the election of a true pope was proceeded upon. In the year 1417, the choice fell on the cardinal de Colonna, a Roman, who assumed the name of Pope Martin.

CHAP. XV.

COUNT WALERAN DE ST POL MARCHES ABOUT SIX HUNDRED COMBATANTS INTO THE DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG.—THE DUKE OF ACQUITAINE GOES TO MEHUN-SUR-YEVRE.

At this period, Waleran count de St Pol, still calling himself constable of France, left his county of St Pol with about six hundred combatants, men at arms and archers, of whom sixty at least were English.

He marched them from his town of Bohain to that of Laon, but the gates were closed against him. He was much displeased thereat, and fixed his quarters below it. He thence marched by Rheims and Châlons to his town of Ligny in Barrois, whither his countess, sister to the duke de Bar, speedily followed him; and they there solemnised the feast of All-Saints.

Shortly after, leaving his countess in the castle of Ligny, he advanced through Luxembourg, to Thionville, and to others of the principal towns in that duchy, of which he had been appointed governor, as well as of the county of Chigny, by duke Anthony of Brabant, his son-in-law, then sovereign of it, by right of the duchess his mother. After visiting the chief towns and fortresses in that country, he made preparations, about St Andrew's day, to lay siege to the town of Neufville on the Meuse, in which were some vainglorious and overbearing persons, posted there by John d'Authe, lord of Orchimont, who were constantly making inroads and plundering the duchy of Luxembourg and the county of Chigny. They were consequently besieged by the count, who had in his company some notable warriors, namely, Garnot de Bournouville, sir Colart de Fiennes, Allain de Vaudonne, and several others. However, although the besieged were sorely harrassed by the engines of the count, and their bulwark had been taken by storm, they refused to surrender, and he remained for six weeks before the place.

Other matters demanding his presence elsewhere, he fortified a church, within cross-bow shot of the castle, in which he posted a certain number of soldiers, under the command of a gentleman of that country, called Vatier Disque, in conjunction with Robinet Ogier; and they were for another six weeks skirmishing and fighting with their enemies, who at the end of that time submitted themselves to the obedience of the count de St de Pol.

The count, on quitting the siege of Neufville, went to Dampvilliers[16], and thence to Yvoix[17], where he passed the whole of Lent with his nephew, sir John de Luxembourg, who had come a little before to visit him at the siege. When sir John had remained about a month, he took leave of his uncle, who never saw him afterwards, and went to Avignon, to visit and pay reverence to the holy Peter of Luxembourg, his uncle, who had formerly been a cardinal.

At this period, the duke of Acquitaine, leaving Paris, travelled through Melun, and Montargis in Berry, to Bourges, where he arrived on the night of All-Saints, and was magnificently received and feasted by the burghers and inhabitants of that town in the palace of the duke of Berry. On the morrow he departed, unknown to the inhabitants, and went to the castle of Mehun-sur-Yevre[18], which the duke of Berry had given to him at Paris, and was the cause of his journey into Berry. The castle pleased him very much, and, having taken possession of it, he did not return to Paris until near the feast of St Nicholas.

This sudden expedition of the duke of Acquitaine, with only seven persons, surprised many; but he was instantly overtaken by the counts de Vertus and de Richemont, who accompanied him as he went and returned.

CHAP. XVI.

THE EARL OF WARWICK AND OTHERS FROM ENGLAND ATTEND THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE.—THE KING OF FRANCE HAS SOLEMN OBSEQUIES PERFORMED FOR HIS BROTHER, THE DUKE OF ORLEANS.

The earl of Warwick, three bishops, four abbots, and other noble knights, clerks and doctors in theology, to the number of about eight hundred, travelled from Calais, through Flanders, with a handsome retinue, as commissioners from the king of England, his realm, and the university of Oxford, to the council of Constance. They were well received by the new emperor, whose coronation some of them had attended as ambassadors from the king of England, the pope and the whole council.

As the day was drawing near when the countess of Hainault and her brother, the duke of Brabant, with the deputies from Flanders, were to meet to ratify the late peace at Senlis, between the duke of Burgundy and the king of France; and as the grand council was then very much engaged in business, Louis duke of Bavaria, sir Colart de Calville and others were sent as ambassadors from the king to prolong the day.

On Saturday, the eve of the Epiphany, the king ordered a solemn service to be performed in the cathedral church of Nôtre Dame in Paris, for his late brother the duke of Orleans, which had not been as yet done. It was celebrated with a multitude of wax lights and torches, and attended by the duke of Orleans and the count de Vertus, the dukes of Berry, of Bourbon, Louis of Bavaria, the counts d'Alençon, de Richemont, d'Eu, de la Marche, and many more, all dressed in deep mourning. The duke of Acquitaine was not present, he had gone the preceding day to visit the queen his mother, and his sister the duchess of Brittany at Melun.

At these obsequies the sermon was preached by the chancellor of the cathedral, doctor John Gerson, much renowned for his theological learning; and it was so strong and bold that many doctors and others present were astonished thereat. When he praised the manners of the deceased duke and his government of the realm, he declared that it had been by far better administered by him than it had ever been since his death. He seemed, in this discourse, more desirous of exciting a war against the duke of Burgundy than of appeasing it; for he said, he did not recommend the death of the duke of Burgundy, or his destruction, but that he ought to be humiliated, to make him sensible of the wickedness he had committed, that by a sufficient atonement he might save his soul. He added, that the burning, last Lent, of the propositions advanced by the duke's advocate, John Petit, against the duke of Orleans, before the gates of the cathedral, as wicked doctrines, had been well done; but that all that was necessary had not yet been executed. He concluded by declaring, that he was ready to maintain and defend what he had said against the whole world.

The king was present, but not in mourning, in an oratory on the right hand of the altar; and near him was the duke of Orleans, who took precedence of all others, on account of this service that was performed for his late father; then the duke of Berry, the count de Vertus, and several princes seated according to their rank, listening to the words of the preacher. Two cardinals, namely, those of Rheims and of Pisa, many bishops, and such crowds of clergy, knights and common people assisted, that the church could scarcely contain them. When the sermon was ended, the dukes of Orleans and Berry, and the count de Vertus, recommended the preacher to the king's notice.

On the ensuing Monday, the king had similar obsequies performed for the late duke of Orleans, in the church of the Celestins in Paris, where he had been buried. They were attended by all who had assisted at the former ceremony. Master John Courbecuisse, doctor of divinity, preached the sermon, and pursued the same course of arguments as doctor Gerson.

The king likewise had vigils, funeral orations and masses, said for his late brother, in the chapel of the college of Navarre in Paris, at which he and the other relations of the deceased assisted.

CHAP. XVII.

THE KING AND HIS GRAND COUNCIL SEND FORCES TO ATTACK THE BURGUNDIANS.—OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED.

True it is, that after the destruction of the castle of Tonnerre, as has been mentioned, many men at arms and archers, who had been there employed, formed themselves into a company of full seven thousand horse, and committed much mischief on the country around, as well on the territories of the king in the Auxerrois as elsewhere.

In consequence, the king and council ordered the lord de Gaucourt, and Gassilin du Bos, to march against and conquer them. They obeyed, and so vigorously pursued them that from two to three hundred were killed or made prisoners. These last were carried to Paris, and confined in the prisons of the Châtelet, whence, after a short time, they were brought to trial, and some of them executed, but not before the king had paid their ransoms to those who had taken them.

The commanders of these marauders were Jacqueville, Fierbourg, and some others, who, when they heard that the king was sending a force against them, retired into the duchy of Burgundy.

Not long after, Sir Jeninet de Pois, nephew to sir James de Châtillon, lord de Dampierre, and admiral of France, going to the duke of Burgundy, attended by only two hundred lances or thereabout, was attacked, killed and robbed of every thing. Only one man, named Tambullan, of his whole company, escaped, and he saved himself by flight: all the rest were slain or taken. This action was very displeasing to the duke of Burgundy.

In like manner Hector de Saveuses, who had made a successful war on the king's forces, when before Arras, was captured when on a pilgrimage to Liance[19], and carried to Paris: had it not been for the earnest solicitations of the countess of Hainault, he would have been executed. Philip de Saveuses, his brother, had also made prisoners of Henry de Boissy, lord de Chaulle, and Eustace Dayne, lord de Sarton, who had warm friends among the king's ministers; and they exerted themselves so effectually for their liberty, that Hector was given in exchange for them.

These, and many similar facts, shewed that, notwithstanding the peace of Arras, there was very little security in the kingdom for travellers or others: for the Orleans party had so surrounded the persons of the king and the duke of Acquitaine, that those attached to the duke of Burgundy or his allies were deprived of all share in the government, and treated very harshly. This treatment, however, was but a retaliation for what the Orleans party had suffered when the Burgundians were in power.

Peace was somehow or other preserved; and the countess of Hainault came, with a noble attendance, through the Vermandois, Noyon and Compiegne to Senlis: the deputies from Flanders followed her, handsomely escorted; and last came the duke of Brabant, with the chief ministers of the duke of Burgundy, namely, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, master Thierry du Roy, and some others.

The council of the king of France requested them to proceed to Paris, for the purpose of more conveniently discussing the subject, which was complied with by all except the countess of Hainault, who had been forbidden by her lord and husband to go farther than Senlis, where she had been very honourably received by the dukes of Acquitaine and Berry, who had come from Paris to meet her. She was visited by other princes of the blood, and even by the duchess of Bourbon, who with the consent of her duke, had come from Clermont to entertain her, and remained in her company until she quitted Senlis.

CHAP. XVIII.

AMBASSADORS ARRIVE AT PARIS FROM ENGLAND.—THE KING OF FRANCE HOLDS A GRAND FESTIVAL.—THE PEACE IS EVERY WHERE PRESERVED.

At this period, there came to Paris the earl of Dorset, uncle to the king of England, the lord Guy, admiral of England, the bishops of Durham and Norwich, and others, amounting, in the whole, to six hundred horse, as ambassadors to treat of a marriage between the king of France's daughter and the king of England[20]. They were lodged on their arrival at the Temple, and they carried themselves so magnificently, as well at home as when they rode abroad, that the French, and particularly the Parisians, were very much astonished.

On the 10th day of February, the king of France gave at Paris a very grand festival of eating, drinking, tilting and dancing, at which the english ambassadors were present. The king tilted with the duke d'Alençon, whom he had lately raised to that dignity. The duke of Brabant tilted in great cordiality with the duke of Orleans; and during this festival, which lasted three days, the princes of the blood conducted themselves kindly and honourably toward each other. The queen of France, the duchess of Acquitaine, and many other noble ladies and damsels, assisted at the feast.

On the 24th day of February, after many conferences with the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, as well at Paris as at Senlis, and with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy, the peace was finally concluded, and proclaimed with sound of trumpet through Paris, according to royal letters of the following tenor:

'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to all present and to come. Whereas many acts have been done since the conclusion of the peace at Pontoise, to our very great displeasure, and damage to our subjects and kingdom; for which cause we have held our beloved cousin, the duke of Burgundy in our indignation and disfavour, and have marched a considerable body of men at arms and archers against the town of Arras. During the time, we lay before that town, our well-beloved and dear cousins the duke of Brabant and countess of Hainault came thither, accompanied by our dearly-beloved the deputies from the three estates of Flanders, as commissioners, and having full powers to treat on the part of our said cousin of Burgundy, with so much humility and obedience that we were contented therewith.

'In confirmation of the duke of Burgundy's willingness to submit himself to our obedience, they offered on the part of the town of Arras to display our banner on the walls and towers thereof, and also to place under our subjection all the towns and castles which our said cousin of Burgundy held from us. We therefore, in our abundance of affection, have received him back into our good graces.

'Our said cousins the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, and the deputies from Flanders, engaged to deliver to us, or to any person whom we might depute, the castle of Crotoy, as well as the castle of Chinon; and that they would, to the utmost of their power, see that they were fully restored to us, or to any person whom we should commission to receive them. Many other matters relative to the restoring of peace were then discussed, and, in consequence, we ourselves withdrew with our army from before Arras. For the further consolidation of this agreement for peace, our said cousins of Brabant, Hainault, and the deputies from Flanders have again come to us, as ambassadors from our cousin of Burgundy, with whom, in the presence of our dearly beloved son the duke of Acquitaine, dauphin of Vienne, the preliminaries before mentioned have been confirmed.

'Know ye, that from the pity and compassion which we must feel for all who have suffered oppressions and vexations which ever ensue during a state of warfare, and which our faithful and beloved subjects have lately undergone; and that they may cease, so that tranquillity, justice, and legal government may take place within our realm; that labourers may do their work, and tradesfolk travel throughout the kingdom unmolested wherever they shall judge proper, without let or hindrance whatever. Considering also the value of peace, which is inestimable, and the great evils that ensue from war, of which we have lately had such bitter experience; and that all creatures may have better opportunities to amend their lives and turn toward their Creator, we of our own knowledge, and with full power and royal authority, by the advice of our council, and after the mature consideration of our eldest son, of many of the princes of our blood, prelates, barons and knights of our council and courts of parliament, so will, order and command, that a firm peace be established within our realm, between our subjects, and that all rancour and malice cease, forbidding all persons, whatever may be their rank or condition, under pain of our highest displeasure, to bear arms or to proceed against any one otherwise than by legal means.

'For the better preservation of this peace, and out of reverence to God, wishing to prefer mercy to rigorous justice, we from the plenitude of our power and by our full royal authority, do grant a general and free amnesty to all persons whether natives or foreigners, of whatever rank or condition they be, who shall have aided, abetted, counselled or supported our said cousin, the duke of Burgundy, contrary to our royal will and pleasure, since the said peace of Pontois until this day,—excepting, however, from this amnesty five persons, who are not noble, nor subjects nor vassals to our said cousin of Burgundy, and whose names shall be given to our cousins of Brabant and Hainault before the feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist next ensuing. We likewise except from this general pardon all who may have been banished by our courts of justice by legal processes, with the usual ceremonies and solemnities.

'For the further preservation of this peace, and to avoid all causes of sedition and dispute hereafter, we will and ordain that all persons who may have quitted their dwellings in Paris for the space of two years, shall not return nearer than within four or five leagues of our said town of Paris, reserving to ourself any favours which we may be inclined to show to the contrary. We will, however, that the said absentees may go any where throughout our realm, excepting to our town of Paris, without any molestation whatever, either in body or goods.

'To maintain our subjects in peace and to obviate any disputes of office, which, having formerly happened, may do so again, we will and order, that all offices given by us since the said peace of Pontoise, shall remain in our full disposition and power, without those who may have been deprived of them having any claim or pretence of being restored to them. With regard to the prisoners, we will do strict justice; for it is our pleasure that no lord, baron, knight, esquire, or other persons, under pretence of services not performed to us, or for services done to our said cousin of Burgundy, shall be prosecuted or molested in body or goods, but that all lands, castles, or any territories whatever, that may have been taken possession of, and held by our officers for us, on account of the late war, shall be fully and completely restored to their true and lawful owners, without any fees or charges claimed in regard to us; and we now impose silence on our attorney-general, although the different cases be not specified particularly by us, in order more effectually to put an end to all disputes and suits at law that may have arisen from the events of the late war.

'We will, order and enjoin, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do forbear, by himself or others for him, to disturb or any way molest, either by open or secret means, such of our subjects and vassals of every degree, as shall have served us in our warfare against him; and such of his subjects and vassals as, through fear of offending us, have not served him in conformity to the different ordinances issued by us; and that he be particularly cautious, under pain of incurring our displeasure, that this article be truly attended to, for we positively forbid our said cousin of Burgundy to take any cognizance whatever of the above acts.

'We likewise forbid all others of our blood and lineage to commit, or cause to be committed by others for them, any acts of hostility against our said vassals and subjects, as well as against those of our said cousin the duke of Burgundy; for we strictly ordain, that they do not take any cognizance of offences that may have been caused by the late warfare.

'We will and command, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do punctually restore all castles, lands, or fiefs that he may have taken from our vassals and subjects, as well as from his own, on account of services performed to us or neglected to have been done to him, and that he order away from him all who may be inclined to disturb the lawful owner in the possession of them.

'We in like manner enjoin all those of our blood and lineage who may have possessed themselves of any castles, lands, or other effects of any lord, baron, knight, esquire, or others, under cover of the late warfare, to restore them instantly to their proper owners, without further molestation, or making them pay any fees or charges for their restitution, in order that this said peace may be faithfully and religiously maintained.

'We likewise will and command, that all the articles of the peace concluded at Chartres, and of others which have since been made, be most particularly observed; and we strictly enjoin all those of our blood and lineage, that they do not, on any pretence whatever, form any alliances with the English, or with others, to our prejudice or to the prejudice of this peace; and should any such have been formed, we positively command that all treaties be returned and annulled, and that any person who may have concluded them do deliver to us sufficient security for the due performance of these our orders.

'And we further enjoin, for the better security of this peace, that our said cousin of Brabant, the ambassadors from our cousin of Burgundy, and the deputies before named from Flanders, in the name of themselves, the three estates in that country, and in behalf of our said cousin of Burgundy, our very dear and well-beloved cousins the counts de Charolois and de Nevers, do each of them swear and promise,—those who are now present in our hands, and those absent in the hands of our deputies,—on their faith and oath, and on the cross and holy evangelists of God, that they will loyally and honestly observe this peace, and all the articles of it; and that they will not, by open or other means any way violate or infringe the same, under pain of incurring our highest displeasure and indignation.

'And should it happen that any person, whether noble or not, do interrupt this peace, or act contrary thereto, they shall promise not to give them any encouragement, aid or advice, but shall endeavour to stifle all such attempts before they gain any head.

'Copies of these oaths and engagements shall be delivered into our chancery, signed by each party, and sealed with their seals, that a perfect remembrance may be had of this transaction.

'Similar oaths and promises shall be taken and made, under the like penalty, by our very dear and well-beloved cousins, uncle, son and nephew, the cardinal de Bar, the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry, de Tours, d'Orleans, de Bretagne, de Bourbon, d'Alençon, and de Bar; the counts de Vertus, d'Eu, Richemont, de Dreux constable of France, de la Marche, de Vendôme grand master of the household, de Marle, le Bouteiller de France, d'Armagnac, de St Pol, de Penthievre, and de Tancarville, with all others of our blood and lineage, and the members of the three estates in their countries. Those present will take the oath in our hands, and the absent in the hands of our deputies: they will each deliver into our chancery copies of their oath and promise, signed and sealed by them, that the remembrance of it may endure for ever.

'We also ordain, that the aforesaid oath and engagement shall be taken before our commissioners, under pain of the above-mentioned penalties, by all prelates, knights, barons, captains, bailiffs, seneschals, provosts, and others our officers, vassals and subjects of all ranks, ecclesiastical and secular, noble and not noble, who shall each of them sign and seal his separate engagement, which shall be transmitted to our chancery for the aforesaid purpose.

'Item, our said cousin of Burgundy, and all the afore-mentioned princes of our blood, shall send letters to their subjects and vassals, requiring them to take their oaths in like manner. And for the better security of this peace, our said cousin of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, and the deputies aforesaid, shall exert their utmost power to prevail on our very dear and well-beloved cousins duke William of Bavaria, count of Hainault, the duke of Lorraine, the count of Savoy, the bishop of Liege, the count of Namur, and such others as they think proper, to take a similar oath and promise to observe all the articles of the peace.

'We also will and command, that should any excesses be committed which might endanger the aforesaid peace, it shall not therefore be broken; but the party who shall feel himself injured shall appeal to our courts of justice, when such reparation shall be made him as the case may legally require.

'We consequently, give it strictly in charge to our dear and loyal the constable, the chancellor, the members of our courts of parliament, the marshals of France, the master of the cross-bows, the high admiral, the provost of Paris, to all our seneschals, bailiffs, governors, mayors, sheriffs, and all others our officers whatever, to each and to all of them, that they do pay attention to the articles of of the said peace, and that they do not suffer the smallest of them to be in any wise violated or infringed; and should any thing be done contrary to their true tenour and meaning, they will cause such persons to be instantly arrested as disturbers of the public peace, and punish them as guilty of high treason toward us and toward the state, so that they may serve for examples to all others who may be inclined to act in the same way.

'We ordain that these presents be proclaimed in the most public manner in the usual places, that no one may pretend ignorance thereof; and we enjoin all persons who may hear or know of any one that shall utter words in public or otherwise against the honour of the aforesaid persons of our blood and lineage, or to the disgrace of this said peace, that they do denounce him or them to our officers of justice, that punishment may ensue according to the exigence of the case, and that they may be proceeded against as rebels to our commands and ordinances.

'That these presents may have their due weight, we have hereunto set our seal. Given at Paris in the month of February in the year of Grace 1414, and of our reign the 35th.' Signed by the king and his grand council. Countersigned, 'Estienne Mauregard.' As this peace was proclaimed throughout Paris, so was it published in divers parts of the kingdom of France.

CHAP. XIX.

THREE PORTUGUESE PERFORM A DEED OF ARMS AGAINST THREE FRENCHMEN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.—THE PORTUGUESE ARE VANQUISHED.

At this period, there was a combat between three Portuguese and three Frenchmen, performed at the king's palace of St Ouen near to Paris. The names of the Portuguese were the lord d'Alenton, sir Jean Cousaille knight, and sir Peter Cousaille. The three Frenchmen were sir François de Grignaulx, Marigon, and la Rocque.

The Portuguese, as the challengers, were first introduced into the lists by the earl of Dorset and the other english lords. The French were conducted by Clugnet de Brabant, admiral of France, John brother to the duke de Bar, and several more.

After the accustomed proclamations had been made, in the king's name, the combat began, and was hard fought, but at length the Portuguese surrendered themselves as vanquished, to save their lives, to the great indignation and displeasure of the English, who had conducted them to the lists. The Portuguese were, by the king's command, put out of the lists, and the French honourably escorted home very much rejoiced at their victory.

When the business of the peace had been concluded, the countess of Hainault left Senlis, and returned to her country and to her lord duke William. The English, about the same time, departed from Paris, after having been magnificently feasted and honoured by the king and his princes, and having likewise been presented with rich gifts. They did not, however, succeed in the object of their mission, namely, the marriage of their king with the lady Catherine of France, because their demands for her portion were unreasonable and excessive, such as the duchy of Normandy, the county of Ponthieu, with the duchy of Acquitaine, to be held as inheritances for ever. The king of France, in reply, told them that he would shortly send ambassadors to England with his final answer to the request they had made.

CHAP. XX.

THE PEACE OF ARRAS SOLEMNLY SWORN TO IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.—IT IS AFTERWARDS SWORN TO IN DIVERS OTHER PLACES.

On the 13th day of March, in this year, the duke of Brabant, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, counsellors and ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, and the deputies from the three estates of Flanders, having full powers from the duke of Burgundy for this purpose, swore in the name of the said duke, and in his behalf in the presence of the king of France, on the true cross and holy evangelists of God; and in like manner the duke of Brabant and the others above mentioned, for themselves in their own private capacities, swore to the full observance and preservation of all the articles of the peace first treated of before Arras and confirmed at Paris.

The dukes of Berry, Orleans, Alençon and Bourbon, the counts d'Eu, de Vendôme, grand master of the household, the lord de Prayaux, the chancellor of France, the archbishops of Sens, Bourges, Rouen, the bishops of Laon, Lisieuz, Paris, Chartres, the chancellor of Acquitaine, the count de Tancarville and others, took the same oath in the presence of the king and the grand council.

Commissioners were then sent by the king from Paris, namely, the master of the cross-bows of France, the lord de Rambures, and master Jean de Vailly, first president of the parliament, to Tournay, where they arrived in the month of March. The duke of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, Philip of Burgundy count of Charolois, the nobles and prelates of Ghent, and other great towns in Flanders, there met them. When the king's letter had been read, the count de Charolois, and all present, took the oath required, in the hands of the said commissioners, and in the presence of the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, promising on their own behalf to keep the said peace, and to pay attention to the contents of the king's letter. In like manner did the prelates, nobility, and others of the town of Tournay and the adjacent countries, make oath, delivering their certificates signed and sealed by them, as the count de Charolois and the Flemings had done to the commissioners, to be carried to Estienne Mauregard, the master of the rolls, at Paris.

The count de Charolois, after the holy week, convoked, at Arras, all the nobility, clergy, and inhabitants of the country of Artois and its dependancies, who all swore, and delivered in certificates, as those of Tournay had done. Commissioners were afterward sent into Burgundy, to receive the oaths of the duke and of the estates of the duchy and its dependancies. These commissioners were the lord de Tynouville and master Symon de Vanterre, president, of the parliament, who received the oaths and certificates, and sent them to the master of the rolls at Paris; but the duke himself refused to swear, and said he must speak to the king and the duke of Acquitaine before he made oath to keep the peace, on certain causes that affected him.

[A.D. 1415.]

CHAP. XXI.

THE COMMONALTY AND CLERGY OF AMIENS ARE ASSEMBLED TO SWEAR TO THE OBSERVANCE OF THE PEACE OF ARRAS.

At the beginning of this year, those of Amiens wrote such letters as follow.

'The mayor, sheriffs, and commonalty of Amiens make known, that on the 18th day of the month of April, in the year 1415, by orders from master John de Vailly, president of the parliament and commissioner in these parts in the name of the king, the inhabitants of this town were collected in the market-place by sound of bell from house to house, when we being present, with the principal inhabitants, this said president caused to be read to us letters from the king of the following purport: 'Charles, by the grace of God, king of France,' &c. (and similar to what I have before detailed),—which being ended, we, and all the people assembled, made oath, and faithfully promised on the cross and holy evangelists of God, and we now by these presents do swear and promise punctually to observe and keep all the articles of the peace lately ratified, as far as it shall concern us, and conformably to the will and pleasure of the king our lord, as contained in these his said letters. In testimony whereof, we have to these presents affixed the common seal of the town of Amiens. Given on the day and year before mentioned.'

The substance of the above was copied by two apostolical notaries, who certified that the aforesaid ordinance had been published, and the colleges assembled in the chapter-house of the cathedral of Nôtre Dame of Amiens, who had sworn to the same. These were sealed with the seal of the bishop of Amiens, of the chapter, and of the other chapters and colleges, and given to the bailiff of Amiens to carry to master Estienne Mauregard, master of the rolls in Paris. The bailiff caused the king's proclamation to be published every where within his jurisdiction, except within the lands of the duke of Burgundy: he received the oaths of all ranks of persons to the due observance of the same, and the proper certificates from each prelate, noble, and others resident within his baliwick.

Thus were these ordinances respecting the peace proclaimed throughout all the bailiwicks and seneschalships in the realm, at the usual places; and then oaths and certificates were demanded by the commissioners from the clergy, nobles, and chief towns, and delivered at Paris in the same manner as the others had been.

CHAP. XXII.

THE COUNT WALERAN DE ST POL DIES AT YVOIX, IN THE COUNTY OF CHINY IN LUXEMBOURG.—THE PRINCES OF THE BLOOD GO TO MELUN, BY ORDERS FROM THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF ACQUITAINE.

On the 9th day of April, in this same year 1415, Waleran count de Saint Pol and de Ligny, calling himself constable of France, fell ill in the castle of Yvoix, in the county of Chiny. His disorder, as it was reported, was occasioned by his physician having administered to him too strong a clyster; and about twelve days after, he departed this life, and was buried in front of the great altar in the principal church in Yvoix, amidst the tears and lamentations of his attendants,—although he had ordered, by a will made in his lifetime, that his body should be carried to the abbey of Cercamp, of which his ancestors the counts de St Pol had been the founders.

In the course of his illness, he had sent for his countess, the sister to the duke of Bar, having an earnest desire to converse with her before his last hour; but, notwithstanding the diligence she made to comply with his request, she did not arrive, accompanied by a niece of the count's, sister to sir John Luxembourg, until about two hours after his decease, although they had rode a straddle, on hard-trotting horses, to make the more speed. They were much shocked on hearing of his death. When the countess had remained at Yvoix about eight hours, and disbanded the men at arms of her late lord, she returned to Ligny-en-Barrois, where she had the obsequies of the count celebrated in the cathedral church.

She publicly renounced, by her attorney, all the debts and estates of her late lord excepting her dower, by placing on his tomb his belt and purse, of which act she demanded from the public notaries present to have certificates drawn up. The count's heirs were the two sons of the duke of Brabant by the daughter of his first wife.

In this same month, the princes of the blood then at Paris went to Melun, by command of the queen and the duke of Acquitaine, who were there resident. While they were occupied on business with the queen, the duke of Acquitaine set off for Paris with few attendants; and thence he sent the princes word that they were not to return to Paris until ordered by the king or himself, and commanded them to retire to their estates, and to attend to their own affairs.

After this, the duke knowing that the queen his mother had deposited large sums in the hands of three persons in Paris, who were her confidents, namely, Michault de l'Allier, Guillaume Sanguin and Picquit de la Haye, suddenly entered their houses with his people, and seized all the money found therein and carried it to his hotel. He then summoned the provosts of Paris, the university, and the principal inhabitants to come to him at the Louvre, where he caused to be laid before them, by the bishop of Chartres, his chancellor, article by article, the whole history of the government of the kingdom, from the coronation of the king his father until that moment, showing how the duke of Anjou had seized the treasures of king Charles his grandfather, and wasted them in Italy, as well as the portions of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, last deceased; then mentioning the death of the late duke of Orleans and his government, and concluding with the administration of the present duke of Burgundy, who had consumed the whole of the finances, and despoiled the kingdom. He then declared, that as duke of Acquitaine, dauphin of Vienne, and presumptive heir to the crown, he would no longer suffer such waste to be committed on the public revenues, or on his father's demesnes.

To this end, therefore, and for the security and welfare of the king and realm, he had thus assembled them, to make known to them, and all the world, his resolution of taking on himself the government of the kingdom, with a firm determination to provide a remedy against such abuses in future.

When the above had been eloquently and elaborately explained to the assembly, it broke up, and every one returned to his home.

The princes of the blood, on receiving the orders from the duke of Acquitaine, took their leave of the queen, and separated from each other. The duke of Berry went to Dourdan[21], in his county of Estampes, the duke of Orleans to Orleans, and the duke of Bourbon to his duchy of Bourbon. The duke of Burgundy was before, as has been mentioned, in his duchy of Burgundy.

The king was very ill at his hotel of St Pol at Paris. The next step of the duke of Acquitaine was to take away his duchess from the company of the queen, which he did in person, accompanied by the count de Richemont, and had her placed at St Germain-en-Laye.