WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 08 [of 13] cover

The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 08 [of 13]

Chapter 83: FOOTNOTES:
Open in WeRead

About This Book

A year-by-year chronicle of mid-15th-century events in France and neighboring realms, recording military campaigns, sieges, urban revolts, assassinations and harsh reprisals, shifting control of towns between English and French forces, and the movements of notable captains. The narrative also covers civic negotiations with regional powers, diplomatic marriages and treaties, ecclesiastical disputes, and recurring calamities such as famine and pestilence. Entries mix battlefield reports, siege accounts, political intrigues, and vivid descriptions of punishments and public unrest, presenting a detailed compilation of contemporary occurrences and their immediate consequences.

CHAP. XLVIII.

THE FORTRESS OF MONTAIGU[87], BELONGING TO THE LORD OF COMMERCY, IS DESTROYED, AND RAZED TO THE GROUND, BY ORDERS FROM THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

Sir Robert de Sallebruche, lord of Commercy, pressed the king of France and his council for the restoration of his castle of Montaigu; but this lord de Commercy was not in the good graces of the duke of Burgundy, whose indignation he had incurred by injuries done to his country and subjects. He would not therefore consent that this castle should be restored in its present state, and insisted on its being demolished.

The towns of Laon, Rheims, St Quentin, and others joined in this request, because the garrison had made very oppressive inroads on all the country round. It was, therefore, concluded, with the king's approbation, that those within it should give security to the king for its due surrender in the beginning of June in such state, entire or demolished, as it might please the duke of Burgundy.

The duke instantly sent a numerous train of workmen, to destroy the castle: but, while this was doing, the lord de Commercy practised secretly to get possession of it from those to whose care it was intrusted by means of bribes. It was discovered,—and those suspected of being concerned were arrested, four of whom were beheaded: one of them was the governor of the town of Montaigu. In revenge for this attempt, the fortress was razed to the ground. It was seated very strongly on a high mountain, and the adjacent countries had suffered greatly from it.

FOOTNOTES:

[87] Montaigu,—a town in Picardy, near Laon.