The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 10 [of 13]

CHAP. XLV.

THE DEATH OF THE COUNTESS DE CHAROLOIS.—THE COUNT DE NEVERS IS MADE PRISONER IN THE CASTLE OF PERONNE.—THE LIEGEOIS ARE DISCOMFITED AT MONTENAC.[45]—THE TREATY OF CONFLANS, BETWEEN THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE CONFEDERATED PRINCES.

On the 25th day of September, in this year, the countess de Charolois departed this life in the town of Brussels. She was the daughter of the late duke of Bourbon, and a good and devout lady. She left behind only one child, a daughter, named Mary, and had always the grace to be humble, benignant, and full of the best qualities a lady could have, and was never out of humour. The duchesses of Burgundy and Bourbon were present at her decease, and were in great grief for her loss.

A Burgundy-gentleman, named Arkembarc, had made frequent visits to the count de Nevers, in Peronne, for the space of a month, having passports from the lord de Saveuses and from the king: he had likewise been with the count de Charolois and the duke of Burgundy, to find means for the count de Nevers to surrender Peronne. It is to be supposed that there was some secret treaty entered into between them,—for on the 3d day of October, at four o'clock in the morning, the said Arkembarc accompanied by the lords de Roubaix and de Frommeles, and from five to six hundred combatants, advanced to Peronne as secretly as they could.

When he came near the town, he left his companions, and, attended by only twelve persons, approached the bulwark on the outside of the castle, which he entered by scaling ladders, and making prisoners those within, by their means entered the tower and dungeon of the castle. They there found the count de Nevers, the lord de Sally, and some others in bed, whom they laid hands on as day broke; but the count and his companions began shouting so loud that they were heard in the town, and the garrison hastily advanced in arms to enter the castle,—but before this, from sixty to four score of the duke's men had followed their companions into the castle, and, mounting the battlements, harangued those below, declaring they were the duke of Burgundy's men, who had sent them thither, and they now summoned them to surrender the town to the duke. The garrison and townsmen retired apart, to confer together, and, toward the evening, answered, that they were willing to obey the duke, and opened their gates to the lord de Roubaix and all his men.

Thus was the town of Peronne taken, and restored to the obedience of the duke of Burgundy. It was currently reported, that the count de Nevers had wished it to be thus managed, that it might appear to the king, to whom he had sworn allegiance, that it had been won without his consent: it was also added, that it was upon this condition he had made up the disagreements between him, the duke of Burgundy, and the count de Charolois. Whatever truth may have been in these rumours, the count de Nevers was carried a prisoner to Bethune, and Arkembarc remained governor of the town and castle of Peronne.

The 15th of this month of October, about five in the morning, the heavens seemed to open, and the brightest light appeared, resembling a bar of burning iron, of the length of a lance, which turned round, and the end that was at first very thick became suddenly thin, and then disappeared. This was seen, for more than a quarter of an hour, from the town of Arras.

On the 19th of the same month, about eighteen hundred combatants, on the part of the duke of Burgundy, entered the territories of Liege, under the command of the count de Nassau, the seneschal of Hainault, the lords de Groothuse and de Gasebecque, sir John de Rubempré grand bailiff of Hainault, and other knights and esquires. They burnt and destroyed the whole line of their march until they came near to the large village of Montenac, situated five leagues from the city of Liege, and which the Liegeois had fortified and garrisoned with a force of four thousand men, then within it.

These Liegeois, observing the Burgundians march so near, without making any attempt on the place because it was fortified, sallied out, and posted themselves where the duke's men must pass, with the intent to offer them combat. They surrounded themselves on all sides, except the front, with their baggage-waggons,—and there they drew up their artillery in a very orderly manner.

The duke's men, observing their enemies thus posted, and ready for battle, held a council, and determined to attempt drawing them from their strong position, and, in consequence, pretended to retreat from fear. The Liegeois seeing this manœuvre, and mistaking it for fear of them, instantly quitted their post, and began to pursue them. But matters turned out differently from what they had thought; for the duke's men wheeled about, and instantly attacked them with such vigour that they were immediately discomfited and put to flight, leaving dead on the field more than twenty-two hundred men; and as the duke's party lost but one archer, it was a splendid victory to them.

During this time, the king of France remained in Paris, and the confederate princes around it, while the negotiators on each side were busily employed in establishing a treaty of peace between them. This was at length accomplished, in manner following, which I shall relate as briefly as I have been able to collect the articles.

First, it was ordered, that to remedy the grievances of the realm, and to ease the people from the heavy exactions they had borne, the king should appoint thirty-six of the most able and discreet persons of his realm, namely, twelve prelates, twelve knights, and twelve counsellors, well informed as to law and justice, who should have full powers and authority to inquire into the causes of the grievances complained of, and to apply a sufficient and permanent remedy to prevent such in future; and the king promised, on the word of a king, that he would put into execution all that they should recommend on this subject. They were to commence their examinations on the 15th day of the ensuing December, and to finish the whole within forty days afterwards.

Item, all divisions were now to be at an end,—and no one was to be reproached for the part he had taken on either side, nor was any one to suffer for his late conduct. Each person was to have restored to him whatever had belonged to him before open hostilities commenced, notwithstanding any acts to the contrary.

Item, the count de Dunois was to be repossessed of all the lands the king had taken from him.

Item, the count de Dammartin was to have again his county of Dammartin, and all other his lands which the king might have given away as confiscated.

Item, the count d'Armagnac was to have again the lands the king had seized.

Item, the duke of Bourbon was to have all his towns, castles, and lands, which the king had conquered, restored to him; and he was, besides, to receive an annual pension of thirty-six thousand francs, on account of his marriage with the king's sister, and to be appointed captain of the gens d'armes on the king's establishment.

Item, in consideration of the king having failed in his engagements with the duke of Calabria, respecting the conquest of Naples, he was to receive the sum of two hundred thousand golden crowns, and to have the command of three hundred lances of the gens d'armes on the king's establishment.

Item, the duke de Nemours was also to have the command of two hundred of the said lances, and to be appointed governor of the Isle de France.

Item, the count de St Pol was constituted constable of France; and the king invested him with his sword of office, with his own hand, publicly in the palace at Paris.

Item, the duke of Berry, only brother to the king, was to have given him, as his appanage, the duchy of Normandy, for him and the heirs-male of his body, to hold in the same free manner as the dukes of Normandy had anciently held the same from the kings of France; that is to say, by fealty and homage; and thenceforward the dukes of Brittany and Alençon should hold their duchies from the duke of Normandy, as they had done in times passed.

Item, the count de Charolois should have restored to him all the lands which had been repurchased by the king from the duke his father, together with the county of Guines, to be enjoyed by him and his heirs-male, in the manner as shall hereafter be expressed.

Item, the king promises, by this treaty, never to constrain any of the said princes to appear personally before him, whatever summons he may issue, saving on such services as they owe to the king on their fidelity, and for the defence and evident welfare of the kingdom.

Item, all such towns, castles, and forts as may have been taken during these said divisions, on either side, shall be instantly restored to their right owners, with all or any effects that may have been taken from them.

When these matters had been fully settled, each of the princes received letters-patent from the king, confirming all the articles that concerned each personally.

CHAP. XLVI.

A ROYAL EDICT RESPECTING WHAT THE KING OF FRANCE HAD CONCEDED TO THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS BY THE TREATY OF CONFLANS.

'Louis, &c. Whereas by the advice and deliberation of our said brother of Normandy, and of our very dear and well beloved cousins the dukes of Brittany, Calabria, Bourbon, Nemours,—the counts du Maine, du Perche, and d'Armagnac,—the presidents of our court of parliament, and other able and well informed persons of our realm, we have given, conceded, and yielded up, and by these presents do give, concede, and yield up to our said brother and cousin the count de Charolois, in consideration and in recompence of what has been before stated, and also because our said cousin has liberally and fully supported, as far as lay in his power, our said brother, and the other princes of our blood, in the settlement of the late divisions, and for the restoration of peace, for him and his heirs, males and females, legally descended from him, to enjoy for ever the cities, towns, fortresses, lands, and lordships, appertaining to us on and upon each side of the river Somme,—namely, Amiens, St Quentin, Corbie, Abbeville, together with the county of Ponthieu, lying on both sides of the river Somme, Dourlens, St Ricquier, Crevecoeur, Arleux, Montrieul, Crotoy, Mortaigne, with all their dependances whatever, and all others that may have belonged to us in right of our crown, from the said river Somme inclusively, stretching on the side of Artois, Flanders, and Hainault, as well within our kingdom as within the limits of the empire,—all of which our said uncle of Burgundy lately held and was in the possession of, by virtue of the treaty of Arras, prior to the repurchase we made of them,—comprehending also, in regard to the towns seated on the Somme on the side nearest our kingdom, the bailiwicks and sheriffdoms of these said towns in the same form and manner as our said uncle was possessed of them, to be enjoyed by our said brother and cousin, and by their legal heirs, males and females, descending in a direct line from them, together with all the revenues, domains, and taxes, in the same manner as enjoyed by our said uncle, without retaining to ourself any thing, excepting the faith, homage, and sovereignty, as lord paramount of the same.

'This mortgage we have made, and do make, in consideration of the repayment of the sum of two hundred thousand golden crowns of full weight, and of the current coin, and which neither we nor our successors shall be enabled to recover again, by repayment of the said two hundred thousand crowns, from our said brother and cousin during their natural lives; but it may be lawful for us, or our successors, to recover these lands from the direct heirs of our said brother and cousin, or from their heirs descending in a direct line, who may be in the possession of them, on paying back the said sum of two hundred thousand crowns. For the security of our being enabled to make such repurchase, our said brother and cousin shall deliver to us letters-patent, in due form, for the better confirmation of the same; and we will and understand that our said brother and cousin, and their legal heirs, that may be in the possession of these territories, shall have full powers to nominate and appoint, at their pleasure, all and every officer that shall be necessary for the government and regulation of these said towns and countries; and that such officers as shall be necessary for the collecting of all royal taxes, aids, or impositions, shall be nominated by us, at the recommendation of our said brother and cousin, and their heirs, as was done during the time our said uncle of Burgundy held these towns and countries.

'Whereas, by the treaty of Arras, it was agreed, among other articles, that the county of Boulogne should remain to our uncle of Burgundy, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten,—and whereas our late lord and father bound himself to recompense all who claimed any right to it,—we, for the causes and considerations before mentioned, and without derogating from the treaty of Arras, confirm the above article respecting the county of Boulogne, and declare that our said brother and cousin, their heirs, male or female, lawfully begotten by them, shall hold, during their lives only, the said county of Boulogne, in the form and manner specified in the treaty of Arras, and that they may reap the same advantages from it as if it were their own proper inheritance. And we engage to make those consent to the same, who may claim any right to the said county, and give them such compensation as we shall judge proper, so that our said brother, cousin, and their heirs, shall have peaceable possession of the same.

'We have also promised, and by these presents do promise, our said brother and cousin, that we will cause to be frankly and freely delivered up, as far as in us lies, and we restore, from this instant, the castles, towns, castlewicks and provostships, of Peronne, Mondidier and Roye, with all their dependances, discharged of whatever debts or mortgages may have attached to them, in the same full manner as they were given to our said uncle by our father, in consequence of the treaty of Arras, to enjoy the same in like manner as they were enjoyed before, according to that article in the said treaty; and we will procure that our very dear and well beloved cousin the count de Nevers, shall surrender to our said brother and cousin the right he lays claim to respecting these towns, castles, &c. and that he shall give possession of the same into the hands of our said brother and cousin, or to any commissioners appointed by them. In addition, we have likewise conveyed to our said brother and cousin the county of Guines, as a perpetual inheritance for them, their heirs and successors, to hold and enjoy all rights, taxes, and other emoluments within the same, as and in like manner with the preceding. In respect to any claim on this county made by the lord de Croy, or others who may pretend to such, we engage to satisfy the said lord de Croy and the others, on this head, and to assure to our said brother and cousin the possession of the said county, free from all let or hinderance on the part of the lord de Croy and all others.

'All the above articles we have promised, and do now promise, punctually to perform, on our royal word,' &c.

This ordinance was published at Paris, on the 5th of October, in the year 1465, under the great seal of France, and registered by the parliament on the 11th of the same month.

At the end of this ordinance, the king commands all his judges and other officers to see that these engagements and conveyances are carried into full and speedy effect,—and at the beginning of it were stated the causes and reasons which had moved the king to make such concessions to the count de Charolois.

First, to recompense him for the very great expenses he had been at to raise so great an army to join his brother, the duke of Berry, for the welfare of the kingdom.

Secondly, to appease the discords and divisions then existing between the king and the princes of his realm, in which the count de Charolois had greatly exerted himself.

Thirdly, because, in consequence of these divisions, the Liegeois had raised a considerable force, and had invaded the dominions of the duke of Burgundy, and had done great mischiefs.

Fourthly, respecting the repurchase of the towns and lands on the Somme, that had been mortgaged to the duke of Burgundy, who considered himself entitled to the enjoyment of this country, notwithstanding the repurchase, and that the king had taken immediate possession of the same.

And, lastly, to recompense the count de Charolois for the pension of thirty-six thousand francs, which the king had given him and afterward taken from him.

From all these considerations, the king had made such great concessions to the count de Charolois by the treaty of Conflans; and, in addition, at the request of the said count, the king had increased the jurisdictions of the provostships of Vimeu, of Beauvoisis, and of Fouilloy,[46] to avoid any disputes that might arise between the king's officers and those of the count, as these provostships are included within the bailiwick of Amiens, for the count and his heirs to enjoy on similar terms with those before specified, by letters under the great seal, dated Paris, the 14th day of the same month of October, and enregistered by the parliament on the 16th.

Thus were the quarrels between the king and the princes appeased.[47]

CHAP. XLVII.

THE KING IS PRESENT AT A REVIEW OF THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS' ARMY.—THE COUNT TAKES LEAVE OF THE KING, AND MARCHES HIS ARMY AGAINST THE LIEGEOIS.—THE DUKE OF BERRY DOES HOMAGE TO THE KING FOR THE DUCHY OF NORMANDY.

When this treaty was concluded between the king and the princes of France, they one day assembled together in the castle of Vincennes, wherein the lord de Saveuses was, for that day, lodged by orders from the count de Charolois, when Charles, the newly-created duke of Normandy, did homage to the king for that duchy; after which the other princes did homage for what each had individually obtained from him in lands or honours,—after which they took their leave of the king, and of each other, to return to their homes.

When these ceremonies were over, the count de Charolois made a review of his men at arms and other troops, as the king wished to see them,-and for this purpose they were drawn up between Conflans[48] and Paris. The king, on seeing them, was astonished, and could not refrain from saying, that he did not imagine the count de Charolois had been so powerful, or had such handsome and well-appointed men at arms.

The review being over, the count took leave of the king and the other princes, and departed from Conflans, the last day of October, with his whole army; but the king would accompany him, in spite of his entreaties to return, as far as Villiers-le-bel.[49] The king had very few attendants; but what was more, they remained together in this village three or four days, making good cheer, and discoursing secretly on their private affairs. The king showed the utmost possible affection for the count, and it was with difficulty that he parted from him.

At length the king returned, and the count proceeded to Senlis, wherein he was most honourably received, and thence to Compiègne and Noyon, where, and in all the other towns of France he passed through, the same honours were shown him,—for such had been the king's orders, and he was to be admitted with whatever company he pleased. He did enter with such a large body that he was superior to any of their garrisons; but his men paid regularly for every thing they wanted, without doing the smallest damage,—for such were the count's commands, on pain of death to all who should act to the contrary.

While the count de Charolois was at Conflans, he received several letters from the duke of Burgundy, to send him five or six thousand combatants to join those whom he was collecting to march against the Liegeois; for that his intention was to command them in person, and offer the Liegeois battle, which made the count the more anxious to leave France, to assist his father and revenge himself on those of Dinant, who had insulted him so grossly, as has been before mentioned.

In consequence of the treaty of Conflans, several of the lords of his army had left him and disbanded their men; but he issued his summons throughout the dominions of his father the duke, for those who had been with him in France, and all others accustomed to bear arms, to John him at Mezieres, on the Meuse,[50] the 15th day of November next, in arms, and as well mounted as possible, under pain of corporal punishment and confiscation of effects, whither the count marched with the remainder of those who had accompanied him to France. On the day appointed, the gens d'armes of the states of the duke of Burgundy appeared round Mezieres; but several came thither much against their wills, for they had been badly paid for their expedition to France: of the twenty-two weeks they had there served, they were only paid for seventeen; but they dared not complain, so much was the count redoubted and feared.

There was now in and about Mezieres a larger and better appointed army than had ever been in France; for the large towns under the dependance of the duke sent thither archers and cross-bowmen,—and there repaired thither several knights and esquires of those countries that had been redeemed from the crown of France, and other warriors who had not been of the late expedition, and even some who had been in the late quarrels of the king's party against the count de Charolois.

CHAP. XLVIII.

THE ENTRY OF THE DUKE OF BERRY INTO ROUEN.—THE KING OF FRANCE GOES INTO NORMANDY AND RETAKES POSSESSION OF THAT DUCHY.—HE CAUSES SOME OF THE LORDS OF THAT COUNTRY, WHO HAD SUPPORTED HIS BROTHER, TO BE EXECUTED AND DROWNED.

When the confederated princes had separated at Conflans, Charles the new duke of Normandy, accompanied by the duke of Brittany, the count de Dunois, and other lords, set out to visit his duchy of Normandy, and went first to Mont St Catherine, above Rouen; for the whole of the country, as has been said, had submitted to his obedience. He was advised to make his public entry into Rouen on the feast of St Catherine,—and the inhabitants had made great preparations for his reception.

The duke of Brittany, however, for some private reasons, had the entry deferred, which much displeased the inhabitants of that town; and finding that the duke had not given any orders for so doing, they assembled in arms, and went to their new duke in a numerous body, to request that he would instantly make his entry into their town. The count de Harcourt, then his principal adviser and favourite, urged him to comply with their request without farther delay; which he assented to, whether the duke of Brittany would or not, and followed the townsmen into Rouen, where he was grandly feasted, to the great vexation of the duke of Brittany, who could not at that time prevent it,—for he had not then his men at arms with him, and was forced to dissemble. He was so much enraged that he departed for Brittany with those he had with him; and, on going away, they carried off the bedding and sheets of the good people where they had been lodged, as if they had been in an enemy's country.

They seized also some of the towns in Normandy, wherein the duke left a party of his men to guard them,—and among others, he took possession of the town and castle of Caen, where he placed a larger force to guard and defend the castle.

On these things coming to the king's knowledge, he hastily assembled as many men as he could, and marched first to Caen, which was surrendered to him by the duke of Brittany; and shortly after, all the other towns in Normandy surrendered to the king, excepting Rouen, Louviers, Pont de l'Arche, and some castles. The new duke resided at Rouen, where those who had received him as their lord had promised to stand by him until death; but the duke perceived clearly that they would not long keep their promises; and for that reason he quitted the town of Rouen, and sought an asylum with the duke of Brittany, who received him with kindness.

Soon after the departure of the duke, those of Rouen surrendered to the king,—and their example was followed by Pont de l'Arche and Louviers; so that the whole of the duchy of Normandy was repossessed by the king, notwithstanding the promises he had made to his brother in the treaty of Conflans.

The king recalled to his person the duke of Bourbon, and attended more to his opinion than to that of any other prince. As soon as he found himself master of Normandy, he began to persecute such as had been of the party of his brother, and had supported him: among others was the lord d'Esternay, whom he caused to be arrested and drowned. This lord had been, during the late reign, general of Normandy, and was exceedingly beloved for his wisdom and moderation,—and he had not his equal in the whole country for devotion. Many other lords the king caused to be executed or drowned, so that several quitted their country, abandoning their houses and estates for fear of his tyranny,—and the king was greatly blamed for these measures by all who heard of them.

CHAP. XLIX.

THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS ENTERS THE COUNTRY OF LIEGE WITH HIS ARMY.—THE LIEGEOIS DEMAND AND OBTAIN A TRUCE,—BUT, ALTHOUGH A PEACE IS MADE, IT DOES NOT LAST LONG.

The Liegeois, hearing of the peace concluded between king Louis and the count de Charolois, imagined that they were included in the treaty; but when they learnt the contrary, and that the count was marching an immense army against them, they sent a grand embassy to the duke of Burgundy at Brussels, offering to make great reparations for what they had done. They supplicated, in all humility, for peace with him and the count de Charolois, and were so urgent that they obtained from the good duke a truce for fifteen days.

At this moment, the count de Charolois was at St Tron,[51] a large town belonging to Liege, which surrendered to him as soon as he came before it. On receiving information of this truce, he caused proclamation to be made throughout his army, that no one should do any damage to the territories of Liege, on pain of death, notwithstanding that his men had not received their pay: they were, therefore, obliged to forage the country of the duke of Burgundy that lay nearest at hand, and it suffered very much from it. They even spread as far as Lorraine and other distant countries, to seek provisions,—for so large an army could not otherwise have existed without money.

On the expiration of the fifteen days, the truce was prolonged for eight more, then for another eight days, and at last to the 12th day of January; which caused the adjoining country to be sorely pillaged and devoured, for it was daily overrun for so long a space of time. The count de Charolois, perceiving that the Liegeois were only seeking delays, and did not perform what they had promised, collected his army, and entered the territory of Liege, and wrote to the duke his father to send him as many reinforcements as he could, for that he now intended to combat the Liegeois.

The duke instantly sent back to him the lord de Saveuses with all his men, and wrote him word, that he would shortly join him in person, and that he desired he would not give battle until he should arrive. As the duke was preparing to set out for the army, notwithstanding the severe illness from which he had scarcely recovered, his son wrote him word, that the Liegeois had come to him with a treaty, such as he approved of, sealed with their city-seal,—that they implored his mercy, and begged he would be satisfied with them,—that he had accepted the treaty, provided it were his good pleasure to ratify it. The duke, on receiving this news, remained quiet at Brussels.

On the 20th of January, the Liegeois, knowing that the count de Charolois had entered their country with his army, and that his van, under the command of the count de St Pol, was far advanced, sent from four score to a hundred of the principal persons of the country to wait on the count de Charolois, well mounted and well armed for fear of several who had been banished their city, and other evil-disposed persons, who only wished for war, and hindered the completion of a peace. They met the count between St Tron and Tongres,[52] two good towns belonging to the Liegeois, and presented to him the treaty such as had been agreed to by the city of Liege, and sealed with their seal: the deputation offered, at the same time, to answer with their lives for the consent of the other towns to this treaty.

The terms of this treaty were precisely what the duke of Burgundy and his son had insisted upon,—and the deputies, on their knees, besought the count's mercy and pardon, promising, that henceforward the inhabitants of the whole country would be his faithful servants and good neighbours.

The count, having examined the treaty, accepted it on consideration of the great sums they were to pay by way of recompensing the damages done, and forgave them. The sum for damages was six hundred thousand florins of the Rhine, which they were to pay the duke in the course of six years; and the duke of Brabant and all future dukes of Brabant were to be their mainbrugs, or governors of the whole country of Liege, with a yearly salary of two thousand florins of the Rhine. The Liegeois were not in future to undertake any measures of weight, without having first obtained the consent of their mainbrug. Many other articles were inserted in the treaty, which I omit for the sake of brevity; but, notwithstanding, they soon after broke this treaty, without keeping any one article of it.

The count de Charolois having acceded to the requests of the deputies, peace was proclaimed throughout his army,—and the whole was ordered to appear before him, on the morrow, near to Tongres. This was done that the deputation might see his army in battle-array, to inspire them with fear of his power, and thereby check any future rebellion. The army, when drawn up on the following day, delighted and astonished the ambassadors and those who had come from St Tron, Tongres, and other towns to see it, for they never could have imagined that the count would have been able to raise such a force at once. In truth, according to common report, this army consisted of upwards of twenty-eight thousand horse, not including the infantry, which was very numerous, although many had returned home with leave, and without leave, in default of being regularly paid.

When the army was thus drawn up, the count rode along the line, thanking most courteously all the captains and men at arms, begging they would hold him excused for having so badly paid them, for that he could not now have avoided it,—but he would make them full amends at another time by more regular payments, so that every one should be satisfied.

Addressing himself to the poorer cavaliers, he asked if any of them had been banished the countries of the duke his father, and desired such to come to him at Brussels, when he would make representations of their case to his father, and they should be allowed to return. Saying this, he took his leave of them, and went from St Tron to Hasbain,—and the troops were dismissed to their several homes.

CHAP. L.

AFTER THE TREATY CONCLUDED AT SAINT TRON, THE INHABITANTS ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE MEN OF THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS, BUT ARE OVERPOWERED.—THE COUNT RETURNS TO HIS FATHER AT BRUSSELS.—THE KING OF FRANCE RAISES A LARGE ARMY,—IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH, THE COUNT DE CHAROLOIS PUTS HIMSELF ON HIS GUARD.

One Sunday after peace had been made with the Liegeois, and while the count de Charolois was in St Tron, detachments of his army were passing through that town on their road homewards; when the inhabitants, thinking the whole were passed, sought a quarrel with a body of the men at arms attached to the bastard of Burgundy, and killed two of them. Having done this, they closed the gate by which these detachments entered from Tongres, and guarded the others. This conduct seemed as if they intended to put to death all of those who were in the town; but the gens d'armes forced the gate, and marched straight to the market-place, where they formed themselves in order, to resist the mob of the town, who had there assembled with a great noise. They soon drove this mob before them, who fled for safety,—not, however, without having had nineteen or twenty of their companions killed.

Had not the count been timely informed of what was passing, and given proper orders for checking his men, they would probably have destroyed all the inhabitants, and plundered the town; for they were then beginning to break down doors and windows, and enter the houses: however, they lodged themselves wherever they pleased, and took whatever provisions they found within them.

Some of the townsmen, who had begun this riot, had retreated into a kind of fortified house, wherein they were besieged, and at length taken, when the riot ceased. This happened on the 22d day of January, in the year 1465.

The count de Charolois, on leaving St Tron, went strait to Brussels, where he was received by the duke his father with as much joy as ever father received a son. When they had remained some days together, the count set out on a pilgrimage to Boulogne, which he had vowed to perform on foot; and on his return to Brussels, he went to Ghent, Bruges and Saint Omer,—and in all of these towns he was received with the greatest honours. While he was at St Omer, the count de Nevers came to him, and asked his pardon for whatever he might have done to offend him, which was fully granted; and they remained together some time, when the count de Nevers was so much restored to the count's good graces that, on his departure, the count de Charolois wrote to the officers of the different towns he was to pass through, to show him the same honours and attention as if he had come himself in person,—and this was done in all the towns he came to.

From St Omer, the count de Charolois went to Boulogne, and thence to Rue, to Abbeville, to Amiens, to Corbie and to Peronne,—in all which places he was most honourably received, although several of these towns were dissatisfied that they no longer belonged to the king of France.—During the stay he made at Peronne, he was informed that the king was raising a greater army than he had ever done, and that it was marvellous the quantity of artillery he had cast: he had even taken the bells from some steeples to have them cast into serpentines and other artillery. At the same time, the king was writing the most affectionate letters to the count, as to his dearest friend; but the count did not put too much confidence in these appearances, always suspecting the changeful temper of the king. In consequence, he had it proclaimed through his father's dominions, that every one that had been accustomed to bear arms should be ready to join the king on the 15th day of June, in Normandy, to oppose the landing of the English, who would then attempt it with a considerable army.

This was the report the king had caused to be spread over the realm, and that the English were making great preparations to invade the duchy of Normandy the ensuing summer, although he knew to the contrary; but his projects were pointed at other objects than what was generally imagined. He had sent the bastard of Bourbon to England some time before, and, by means of a large sum of money given to the English, had obtained a truce between the two nations for twelve months.

The count, nevertheless, had a conference with the English at St Omer, whither he sent his bastard-brother of Burgundy, as his representative, to meet the earl of Warwick and other lords from England, to obtain the alliance of the king of England and the english nation, should the king of France make war upon him, as, from his preparations, was too apparent.

[A.D. 1466.]

CHAP. LI.

THE LIEGEOIS IN DINANT BREAK THE PEACE, AND RECOMMENCE THE WAR AGAINST THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—DINANT IS BESIEGED AND BATTERED WITH CANNON.

Between Easter and the middle of August, in this year, so many marriages took place in the county of Artois, and the adjoining countries, that the like was not heard of in the memory of man.

Early in this year, those of Dinant, tired of the peace which they had obtained by their humble solicitations from the duke of Burgundy, and having their courage puffed up by those more inclined to war than peace, suffered many evil-disposed persons, that had been banished, to return to their town, who were eager for all kinds of mischief. They soon after sallied out of Dinant, and overrun and pillaged many villages in Hainault and Namur, which they afterward burnt, violated churches and monasteries, committing, in short, every wickedness.

The duke of Burgundy, on hearing this, instantly ordered a greater assembly of men at arms than he had ever before made, to be at Namur on the 28th day of July. But notwithstanding the summons was so pressing, the men at arms delayed as much as possible to equip and prepare themselves; nor did they offer to assist in mounting their poorer brethren, being doubtful of the expense, and remembering, that in the preceding campaign, they had been badly paid. The duke was told of this backwardness while at table, the beginning of July, and was so much vexed that in his passion he kicked the table from him, saying, that he saw clearly how much he was governed, and that he was no longer the master; for that he had paid last year for the army upwards of two hundred thousand crowns from his treasury, and he knew not how they had been spent. The more he spoke, the more angry he grew, insomuch that, at last, he dropped to the ground, from rage and apoplexy. It was, for three days, thought that he could never recover, but it happened otherwise.

He then issued another summons, commanding all to obey it instantly, on pain of death. While this was passing, the count de Charolois was at Peronne, and had renewed the tax on salt, which he had abolished on his march to France, to the great joy of the people; but this renewal changed their joy to grief, and caused great discontents, because the count had ordered the arrears of this tax, during the year it had been abolished, to be collected.

The duke of Burgundy was busily employed in his preparations to march the army against Liege, and had ordered copies of the sentence of excommunication which the pope had given against those of Dinant to be stuck against the doors of all the churches throughout his dominions.—This excommunication had been issued against those of Dinant, their allies and accomplices, as a punishment for the numerous evils they were daily committing, contrary to the treaty of peace, and for their disobedience to the holy apostolical see.

By this sentence, the pope gave permission to the duke of Burgundy and his allies to punish them and force their obedience,—for the doing of which, they would obtain a full pardon for their sins, as ministers of the church. In this sentence, the pope had forbidden divine service to be performed in the churches of Dinant.

Nevertheless, those in Dinant, obstinate in their wills and opinions, and disobedient to the commands of the head of the church, constrained their priests to perform divine service, and to chaunt the mass as before; but, as some priests would not act contrary to the positive interdict of the pope, they drowned them.

Just as the duke's army was ready to march to Dinant, the bastard de St Pol, lord de Hautbourdin, who, like the others, was fully prepared for this march, was suddenly taken ill,—and the disorder became so serious that he died of it, which was a great pity and loss, for he was valiant and prudent, and one of the best warriors the duke had in his army, handsome above all others, and a knight of the Golden Fleece.

Toward the beginning of August, the duke of Burgundy's army was ready to march to Namur, according to the orders he had issued for all who loved him to follow him thither. This was the largest army that had been seen, for it was more than as numerous again as that which had marched to France: indeed, common report said, they were upwards of thirty thousand who received pay.

The principal nobles in it were the count de Charolois, the count de St Pol constable of France, the lord de Ravenstein, the three sons of the count de St Pol, the two bastards of Burgundy, the count de Nassau, and so many barons, lords, knights and gentlemen, that it would be tiresome to name them all. The marshal of Burgundy was also there, but in his private capacity, for the army of Burgundy had remained at home. The duke of Burgundy would likewise be present, and went from Brussels to Namur on the 14th day of August.

The army soon marched from Namur toward Dinant, where a skirmish ensued in the suburbs of that town, between about three hundred of the Burgundians, commanded by the count de Charolois and the marshal of Burgundy, and the townsmen, who sallied out to the attack. This was renewed twice or thrice, but the townsmen were always repulsed. It was horrible to see the engines that were used in the town, although they killed none, and three or four of the townsmen were slain.

The count de St Pol, sir James his brother, with numbers of other lords, advanced on the other side of the Meuse in all diligence,—while the lord de Saveuses was posted at Bovines, a tolerably good town in the county of Namur, about half a league from Dinant.

News was brought to the army, that the Liegeois had mustered their forces, which amounted to full forty thousand combatants, of whom they had sent four thousand to Dinant, and had boasted in Liege, that if Dinant were besieged, they would raise the siege or die in the attempt.

On the 18th of August, the whole of the burgundian army moved toward Dinant, having their baggage in the center. The lord de Cohen bore the standard of the bastard of Burgundy, who commanded the van, the count de Charolois having the main body under his orders,—and the count de Marie, grandly attended, had charge of the rear battalion. On its near approach to Dinant, the garrison briskly played off their artillery, while a detachment made a sally, and set fire to a large farm-house above an abbey; but they were roughly treated on their return: they hastened to the town as quickly as they could, and abandoned their suburbs, so that the duke's men were near entering the town with them. In this manner were the suburbs of Dinant won, although inclosed by a ditch and good walls as strong as those of a town. In these suburbs was a handsome church of the Franciscans, a nunnery, a parish church, and beyond them an abbey of white monks.

In gaining this advantage, the count de Charolois lost not more than five or six men. When these suburbs had been won on the side toward Bovines, those in the town lost no time to set fire to those on the opposite side, before the count de St Pol could advance thither, and made it impracticable for any lodgement to be made there. On the following night, the count de Charolois fixed his quarters in the abbey of white monks, and had a bombard pointed against the gate of the town; and within the inclosures of the Franciscans a large detachment was posted, who kept up a good guard during the night. This bombard battered the gate so well that it broke it down,—but the inhabitants lost no time in walling of it up with stones and bags of earth. In another quarter, the constable, who was quartered on the river side, below the mountain, battered down with his artillery a corner tower that terminated that side of the wall.

CHAP. LII.

DINANT IS FORCED TO SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—THE TREATMENT IT RECEIVES, FOR A PERPETUAL EXAMPLE TO OTHER TOWNS IN A LIKE SITUATION.

On the ensuing Tuesday, all the walls of the abbey of the Franciscans, and the other inclosures, were thrown down, to erect a battery against the town; and the artillery was briskly played on both sides. Four of the count de Charolois' men were killed by arrows from the walls, and among others the master-cannonier of the bombard, as he was picking up a rod from the ground. The burgundian army now advanced nearer the walls, and the count de Charolois posted himself at the Cordeliers, only a stone's cast from the gate,—and this day the duke his father came from Namur to Bovines.

Provision was now so dear in the army that a twopenny loaf sold for twelve pence, and other food in proportion,—and they were forced to go three or four leagues to seek forage for their horses.

The batteries having been completed, the town was summoned to surrender to the duke of Burgundy; but they within replied, that they had no such intention, continuing their abusive language against the duke and his son even more than before. Speaking of the duke, they said, 'What has put it in the head of that old dotard, your duke, to come hither to die? Has he lived long enough to come and die here miserably! and your count, little Charley, what! he is come to lay his bones here also? Let him return to Montlehery and combat the king of France, who will come to our succour: do not think that he will fail, in the promise he has made us.—Charley is come hither in an unlucky hour: he has too yellow a beak; and the Liegeois will soon make him dislodge with shame.'

With such villainous language did the Dinanters address the duke and his son,—and they made use of many other expressions tiresome to relate, and which they incessantly continued, proceeding from bad to worse. Those of Bovines, as good neighbours, sent letters to Dinant before the siege commenced, to advise them to surrender to the duke, before a siege took place; but, out of spite, they had the messengers who brought these letters publicly beheaded.

Notwithstanding this outrage, those of Bovines, desirous to save them, sent an innocent child with other letters to the magistrates, by which they again admonished them to make their peace with the duke before he approached nearer, to avoid the evil consequences that would inevitably follow their obstinacy. The wicked people, instead of listening to such friendly counsel, put the innocent child to death, from spite to the duke and the townsmen of Bovines. Some say, that, in their rage, they tore the poor child limb from limb.

Other outrages and insults they had committed before they were besieged; but when they knew that a siege would commence, once, in particular, they went in a large body to Bovines, and over the town-ditch, which was stinking, and full of all kind of filth and venomous creatures, they threw a plank, on which they seated an effigy of the duke of Burgundy, clothed in his arms, bawling out to those in Bovines, 'See! here is the seat of that great toad your duke!' Of this and many other villainous insults on the father and son, they were duly informed, which only served to irritate them the more, and to make them the more eager to take vengeance on such wicked people.

When the batteries began to play on the town, which they did in a most terrible manner, for three or four hours together, neither man nor woman therein knew where to shelter themselves. The smoke was so thick, and the fire so terrible, that it resembled a hell, and very many were killed by the balls. In the mean time, the duke had constructed, at Bovines, two bridges of wood, to throw over the Meuse, to surround and attack them on all sides.

On Friday, the walls and towers were so greatly damaged that eight of the principal inhabitants came, under passports, to the army, hoping to negotiate a peace,—but they could not succeed. On the Saturday, it was ordered, that every man should be prepared to storm the town on the morrow, and provide himself with a faggot to fill the ditches. But when the day arrived, the duke would not have it then stormed, but ordered the batteries to continue their fire. This was so severe that the garrison now despaired of their lives, and fled. The inhabitants would now have surrendered, on having their lives spared, but the duke would not grant it! At this moment happened an unfortunate accident, by a spark falling into a barrel of powder, which had been left uncovered. The explosion killed twenty or thirty of the count's men, and burnt or wounded many more; but they afterward recovered.

The bishop of Liege, then resident at Huy,[53] sent information to the duke his uncle, that thirty or forty thousand men had left Liege, with the intent to raise the siege of Dinant, and advised him to be on his guard. The duke, on this, called a council of war,—and he was advised to storm the town before the Liegeois could come to its relief; and orders were given to this effect, although it was about five o'clock in the afternoon.

The townsmen, however, fearful, from the demolition of their walls and towers, that they could not make any defence, if stormed, and that, if they were taken, they would be all put to death, surrendered to the duke, bringing the keys to the bastard of Burgundy, who sent them to the count de Charolois,—but he would not receive them until he had had the consent of his father.

This same night, the bastard of Burgundy took possession of the castle of Dinant, which was delivered up to him. The marshal of Burgundy and other lords took possession of the different gates, and, with their men, entered the town, which they guarded that night. The count de Charolois would have entered the place on the morrow, at mid-day; but he wished first to know the intentions of his father concerning it, and would have waited on him for that purpose; but he was advised to the contrary, as he was told the duke had resolved to destroy it!

The count, on hearing this, abandoned the town to plunder, when a scene of the greatest confusion ensued; for each wanted to save the pillage to himself, and to guard it in his respective quarters; but the strongest had the advantage, and murder and every sort of misery were now exhibited throughout the place. Each made his host prisoner, although he had been robbed before of his whole fortune,—and immensely rich was the plunder made, for Dinant was one of the most wealthy and strongest towns in all those parts; and this enormous wealth was the cause of its ruin, for it had filled the inhabitants with pride and insolence, so that they feared not God, nor the church, nor any prince on earth,—and this may be supposed to be the cause why God suffered them to be thus punished.

The Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday were wholly employed in plundering the town,—and boat-loads of effects were on the river,—and the streets were crowded with waggons full of goods,—and every man was carrying off on his back all that he could bear. Many of the men at arms gained riches enough to support them for three or four years. Inquiry was then made after those in the town who had been the most forward in their insulting language to the duke and his son. Some were discovered, who were tied back to back, and thrown into the Meuse, where they perished. The count ordered the chief cannonier of the town to be arrested, and hung on the mountain above the church, and those who had been most culpable in renewing the war to be drowned in the river.

From the moment the town had been given up to pillage, the count de Charolois had it proclaimed, that whoever should violate a woman should be instantly punished with death; but, notwithstanding this, three were arrested, and found guilty of this crime. The count ordered them to be marched thrice along the ranks, that every one might take warning from them,—and then they were hanged on a gibbet. He swore, at the same time, that should any others be guilty of the like crime, whether noble or not, they should suffer a similar punishment, which prevented any woman, in future, being forced against her will.

The count ordered all the women and children out of the town, and had them escorted as far as the city of Liege; but it was most melancholy to hear and see their pitiful lamentations, on being driven from their town, and there was no heart so hardened but had compassion on them.

On Friday, the 28th day of August, when the town was quite emptied of its wealth, and the houses and churches unroofed, and the lead carried away, a fire burst out at the lodgings of the lord de Ravenstein, near to the church of our Lady, about an hour after midnight; but it was not known whether it had happened accidentally or had been done on purpose, to force the men at arms out of the place, or to burn such as remained. The count, however, ordered it to be extinguished by all who could assist, and great exertions were made to accomplish it; but, in the mean time, it spread to the town-house, in which was a magazine full of powder, that caught fire, and exploded with such force as to break through the roof of the church of our Lady; but, as this was arched with stone, the fire did not extend rapidly,—and some relics, and the ornaments of the church, were saved: all of them that came to the count's knowledge he had carried to Bovines,—for many had been stolen and taken away before he came thither. Great numbers were burnt by this fire, and their plunder, that had remained packed in the street, was destroyed. Those plunderers who attempted to save effects from the fire were miserably burnt,—and the flames followed them so closely that it seemed as if Divine vengeance was resolved to punish the pride and insolence of this town by totally destroying it.

While Dinant was in flames, a large embassy came from Liege to the duke of Burgundy at Bovines, to negotiate a treaty of peace,—and the sight of the destruction of Dinant made a serious impression on them. The count de Charolois, observing that all attempts to put out the fire were ineffectual, determined that the whole should be destroyed, and caused such parts, in the town and suburbs, as had hitherto escaped to be set on fire, so that all was burnt. He then sent for great numbers of peasants from the neighbourhood, to demolish the walls, towers and fortifications, to each of whom he gave three patars[54] a-day, with every thing they might find in the ruins.

They laboured so diligently that, within four days after the fire had ceased, a stranger might have said, 'Here was Dinant!' for there now neither remained gate nor wall, nor church, nor house, for all had been burnt and razed to the ground. It unfortunately happened, that when the great church caught fire, many prisoners of note that had been therein confined were burnt, and such as had retreated to different towers and forts also perished. Thus was destroyed the town of Dinant by reason of its presumption and folly!