THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars, London

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF

ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;

OF THE POSSESSION OF

PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;

THEIR EXPULSION THENCE;

AND OF OTHER

MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE, AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE FRENCH,

Beginning at the Year MCCCC. where that of Sir JOHN FROISSART finishes, and ending at the Year MCCCCLXVII. and continued by others to the Year MDXVI.

TRANSLATED

BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.

IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES.... VOL.VI.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.

1810.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SIXTH VOLUME.

HERE BEGINNETH

THE SIXTH VOLUME

OF THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

CHAP. I.

CHARLES VI. KING OF FRANCE, DIES IN HIS HÔTEL OF SAINT POL, AND IS INTERRED AT SAINT DENIS WITH HIS ANCESTORS.

In these days, Charles king of France was confined to his bed by illness; and on the 22d day of October, the feast of the eleven thousand virgins, he departed this life at his hôtel of St Pol. Only his chancellor, his first chamberlain, his confessor, almoner, and a very few of his household, were present at his decease.

Shortly after his death was made public, the lords of his council, the members of his parliament, the chamber of accounts, the university of Paris, many of the colleges, the sheriffs, burghers, and multitudes of the common people, went to see him as he lay on his bed.

His attendants placed the body in a leaden coffin, when it was very reverently borne by knights and esquires to the chapel within his hôtel, where it remained for twenty whole days, until the duke of Bedford were returned to Paris from Normandy in the following month of November. During these twenty days, masses were daily celebrated in the king's chapel, in the same manner as in his lifetime by the priests attached to it,—after which, the service for the dead was celebrated. The four orders of mendicant friars, and the canons from the different colleges, daily performed alternate services. The university caused one grand one to be celebrated, as did the college of the Quatre Nations, and in general this was done by all the parishes in Paris.

On the 10th of November, the king's body was carried from his hôtel of St Pol to the cathedral of Nôtre Dame, in grand procession, preceded by the members of the different churches dressed in their robes, each according to his rank. The prelates were on the right hand, namely, the bishops of Paris, of Chartres, of Terouenne,—the abbots of St Magloire, of St Germain des Pres, of St Maur, and of St Genevieve. On the left hand were the heads of the universities and doctors, equally near as the prelates to the body, which was borne by the king's foresters and by those of his stable. Then followed the maitres d'hôtel and the esquires of the stable.

On the left of the body were the provosts of Paris and of the merchants, having sergeants at arms between them; and near to the body was the king's first valet de chambre. The members of the court of parliament bore the pall, at the head of which was the king's first chamberlain, and the others in succession. After them came the king's pages, and then at a little distance, the duke of Bedford, as regent of the Kingdom. None of the princes of the royal blood of France attended the funeral, which was a melancholy consideration, when it was remembered what great power and prosperity the king had enjoyed during the early part of his reign.

Then came, after the duke of Bedford, the chancellor of France, the masters of requests, the members of the chamber of accounts, secretaries, notaries, burghers, and a great multitude of the commonalty of Paris.

The body was placed on a handsome litter, over which was a canopy of cloth of gold on a ground of vermilion and azure, besprinkled with flowers de luce. Over the coffin was an image of the late king, bearing a rich crown of gold and diamonds, and holding two shields,—one of gold, the other of silver: the hands had white gloves on, and the fingers were adorned with very precious rings. This image was dressed with cloth of gold on a vermilion ground, with close sleeves, and a mantle of the same lined with ermine: the stockings were black, and the shoes of blue velvet besprinkled with flowers de luce.

In this state was he solemnly carried to the church of Nôtre Dame, where a mass for the defunct was chaunted by the patriarch of Constantinople. When the service was finished, the procession moved to St Denis. The body was borne by the attendants of his stable as far as a cross, half way between Paris and St Denis, when the measurers and carriers of salt in Paris took it from them, having each a flower de luce on his breast. They carried the body to a cross near St Denis, where the abbot, attended by his monks and all the clergy of the town, with great multitudes of people bearing lighted torches, received it. Thence with chaunting and singing, recommending his soul to God, was it carried to the church of St Denis.

During this whole time, neither the duke of Bedford nor any of those before mentioned quitted the body. On the body being placed in the church, another service was celebrated by the patriarch of Constantinople; but a night intervened between the two services. No one but the duke of Bedford went to the offering.

There were full twenty thousand pounds of wax expended at these two services; and sixteen thousand persons attended the almsgiving, when three blancs of royal money were given to each.

When the last service had been performed in the church of Saint Denis, and the king's body laid in the sepulchre of his forefathers, the patriarch gave his benediction in the usual manner,—on which the late king's ushers at arms broke their staves and threw them into the grave, and turned their maces downward. Then Berry, king at arms, attended by many heralds and poursuivants, cried over the grave, 'May God shew mercy and pity to the soul of the late most puissant and most excellent Charles VI. king of France, our natural and sovereign lord!' Immediately after Berry cried, 'May God grant long life to Henry by the grace of God king of France and of England, our sovereign lord!' which cry he again repeated. After this, the sergeants at arms, and ushers, returned their maces, and shouted together, 'Long live the king! long live the king!'

When the ceremony was over, the lords returned to Paris, which had been placed under the guard of sir Guy le Bouteiller and the bastard de Thian, with a very large body of men at arms. They had also under their command different detachments in the environs, with able captains, to prevent any surprise or attempts of the Dauphinois.

The duke of Bedford was now regent and sole governor of the realm, in the name of his nephew the young king Henry, in so far as to those parts under his obedience.

Thus ended the life of the most noble king Charles in the 43rd year of his reign, during great part of which the kingdom was sorely troubled and ruined by the continual quarrels of the princes of his blood with each other. May God, through his infinite goodness, have mercy on and receive his soul!

CHAP. II.

INFORMATION OF THE DEATH OF KING CHARLES THE WELL-BELOVED IS CARRIED TO HIS ONLY SON CHARLES THE DAUPHIN.—OTHER MATTERS.

News of the death of king Charles the well-beloved was soon carried to his only son the dauphin, then residing at a small castle called Espally, near to Puy in Auvergne, and belonging to the bishop of that place. The dauphin was very much grieved on receiving this intelligence, and wept abundantly.

By the advice of his ministers, he instantly dressed himself in mourning, and on the morrow, when he heard mass, was clothed in a vermilion coloured robe, attended by several officers at arms, in their emblazoned coats. The banner of France was then displayed in the chapel, and all present shouted 'Vive le Roi!' After this, the service of the church was performed without any other ceremony; but henceforth all that were attached to the party of the dauphin styled him King of France.

When the duke of Burgundy was returned to Artois, after the death of the king of England, he held a council of his captains in Arras, when it was determined, that sir John de Luxembourg should assemble a body of men at arms to subdue the Dauphinois in the county of Guise and in the adjacent parts,—for they were harassing greatly the Cambresis and the Vermandois. Sir John therefore fixed his place of rendezvous for his men at and about Peronne.

At this time, the lord de l'Isle-Adam obtained his liberty, through the solicitations of the duke of Burgundy. He had been for a long time prisoner in the bastille of St Anthony, by orders of the late king of England. He was restored to his possessions, and, in part, to the offices he had held.

Many knights and esquires of Picardy were now sent to St Valery to summon sir James de Harcourt to surrender the place according to his promise. The gates of the town were thrown open to their summons,—and sir John de Blondel was made governor thereof.

On Martinmas-night, by means that had been practised before, the town of Rue was given up to sir James de Harcourt, and the inhabitants swore allegiance to the dauphin, thus violating the peace that had been made. Sir James appointed the lord de Verduisant governor; and, as his force was inadequate for its defence, he sent for a reinforcement from the county of Guise, which, on its arrival, oppressed the country much.

About this same time, the lord de Bosqueaux, who had long been most active to serve the Dauphin and Orleans-party, was made prisoner in the castle of Thoisy-sur-Oise and carried to Paris, where he was beheaded and quartered, for having, some time past, maliciously murdered sir Guy de Harcourt, bailiff of the Vermandois.

CHAP. III.

CHARLES THE DAUPHIN IS CROWNED KING OF FRANCE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS FATHER'S DEATH.

After the death of the king of France, his only son Charles the dauphin, by the advice of the nobles of his party, was crowned king, in the town of Poitiers,—and from that day was called King of France by his adherents, as his father had been before him. A short time prior to this, he had narrowly escaped being killed; for while he was holding a council in the town of la Rochelle, part of the chamber in which he was sitting fell in, when John de Bourbon, lord of Prèaux, and some more were killed. The dauphin was slightly wounded; but his attendants hastily extricated him from his danger, and carried him to a place of security, where he soon recovered his health.

In this year, sir Mansart d'Esne was made prisoner in the castle of Vitry, of which he was governor, by la Hire, both of them being adherents to the dauphin, and notwithstanding they had long been intimate friends. Sir Mansart, however, was deprived of all his effects, of his castle, and a high price withal fixed for his ransom, while he was kept in close confinement for a length of time. It was commonly reported, that John Raoullet was a party concerned with la Hire in playing this trick.

When sir John de Luxembourg had collected his men at arms at Peronne, he entered the country of Guise, and having soon subdued the forts of Buissy-sur-Fontaines, Proisy and some others, and conquered that country, he returned homeward, and disbanded his troops, when they all retired to the places they had come from.

CHAP. IV.

THE PARISIANS SEND AN EMBASSY TO ENGLAND, TO YOUNG KING HENRY AND TO HIS MINISTERS.—OTHER MATTERS.

In this year, the Parisians sent a solemn embassy to king Henry, and to the queen of England, to request they would speedily order a sufficient force to France, to oppose the daily advances of the party of the new king of France, the late dauphin of Vienne.

The ambassadors were, the bishop of Terouenne, master John de Mailly, sir Bourdin de Salignies, Michault Lallier, and other persons of note. They took their road through Lille, to have a conference with the duke of Burgundy, and thence to Calais, where they embarked for England.

They were joyfully received by the king and queen, and promised effectual and speedy succours by their ministers. Having thus accomplished the object of their embassy, they returned to France.

On the 14th of January in this year, the fortress on the bridge of Meulan was surprised by the French under the command of sir John de Grasville. He had with him some able captains and a body of five hundred combatants who slew all the English they found there, and used great diligence to put the place in better repair, and to revictual it; for they intended to defend the town and castle against their enemies.

At this time, the countess-dowager of Hainault was defied by a noted plunderer of the name of L'Escremont Castel, a native of Ligny, in the Cambresis, and then captain of the tower of Beaumont under sir John de Luxembourg. Having sent his defiance to the countess, he attacked many of her towns, and made war on her subjects and vassals for a considerable space of time.

About Christmas in this year, some of the burghers of Paris formed a conspiracy against king Henry, with the intent to deliver up Paris to the Dauphinois; but it was discovered, and many arrested, some of whom were beheaded. A woman that had been concerned therein was burnt: the rest saved themselves by flight (among the latter was Michault Lallier), and their property was confiscated to king Henry.

At this period, the town of La Ferté-Milon was won by the French, with the consent of the inhabitants; but the castle was well defended by the garrison, who sent in haste for succour to the lord de l'Isle-Adam, to the lord de Castillon, and to the bastard de Thiam. The lord de l'Isle-Adam collected a force of five or six hundred men, and marched them secretly in the rear of the castle, whence, at an hour previously agreed on with the garrison, they made a joint attack on the town, which was soon gained without any great resistance being made; and the greater part of those found within it were put to death without mercy, and all their effects carried off.

Shortly after the capture of Meulan, the duke of Bedford, who styled himself regent of France, assembled a large body of combatants, English, Normans, Picards and others, and led them to lay siege to the bridge of Meulan on each side of the river. He had bombards, and other warlike engines erected against the gates and walls to destroy them, and continued this siege with great perseverance from the beginning of January until the following March, when the besieged offered to capitulate.

In the month of February, while this siege was carrying on, sir John de Luxembourg conquered the forts of Franquemez, Neufville, Endorans, Vironfosse and Canaple. He had with him the lord de Saveuses, sir Daviod de Poix, and many expert and tried men at arms. After these conquests, he returned before the town of Guise, and had a grand skirmish with its garrison. Having thus succeeded, sir John returned to his castle of Beaurevoir, where he dismissed his captains and men at arms.

CHAP. V.

THE CAPTAINS OF KING CHARLES ASSEMBLE IN GREAT NUMBERS TO RAISE THE SIEGE OF MEULAN.—THE DUKE OF BEDFORD TREATS WITH THE GARRISON.

Toward the end of February, a large body of combatants attached to king Charles, from the country of Berry, assembled under the command of the count d'Aumarle, the earl of Buchan, a Scotsman, the viscounts de Narbonne, d'Annechy, de Châtel Breton and others: they amounted to about six thousand men, and were marched to within six leagues of Meulan, where they formed themselves in battle-array; but a quarrel arose among their leaders, so that they broke up in a very disorderly manner, and departed without advancing farther. They lost great numbers of men from the sallies made by the garrisons of Chartres, and other places in the hands of the English, while retreating in such disorder.

The besieged in Meulan, hearing of what had happened, were exceedingly enraged that they had failed of having the promised succour. In their rage, they tore down the banner of king Charles that had been displayed over the gate, and flung it to the ground. Many gentlemen ascended the battlements, and in sight of the English tore to pieces the crosses they had worn as badges of king Charles, and loudly abused those who had been sent to their relief for perjured traitors.

The garrison was not long before they held a parley with the duke's officers; and persons were chosen on each side to conclude a treaty. On the part of the English were deputed the earl of Salisbury, sir John Fastolfe, sir Pierre de Fontenay, sir John de Poulligny lord de la Motte, Richard Widville, Nicholas Bourdee, grand butler of Normandy, and Pierre le Verrad. The deputies from the town were sir John de Grasville, sir Louis Martel, sir Adam de Croisines, knights, John d'Estainbourg, Jean de Mirot, Roger de Boissie, Oudin de Boissie and Jean Marie, esquires. These deputies having met several times, at length agreed to a treaty, the terms whereof were as follow.

CHAP. VI.

A COPY OF THE TREATY OF MEULAN.

In the first place, the besieged shall surrender the bridge and fortress into the hands of my lord duke of Bedford, or to his commissaries, fully repaired, and with all its cannons, powder, cross-bows and all other warlike stores, without fraud or deceit, and without committing any damages to these articles. The said bridge and fort shall be thus honestly surrendered three days after to-morrow; that is to say, on the 5th day of this present month of March.

Secondly, all persons now within the fort of the bridge of Meulan, whatever may be their rank, shall submit themselves, with the utmost humility, to the will of my lord the regent, who, in consideration of this their very humble obeisance, and from motives of mercy and religion, in honour of God, and with due reverence to this holy time of Lent, shall grant them their lives, excepting those who shall have formerly been subjects to the late king of England, (whose soul may God pardon!) and such as shall have sworn to the observance of the last peace between the kingdoms of France and England; those who shall have been in any way accomplices in the murder of duke John of Burgundy; all Welsh, Irish and Scots, should any there be, are also excepted; and more particularly so, John Dourdas, Savary, a bernardine monk, Olivier de Launoy, the cannoneers, and those who formed the ambuscade by which the bridge was surprised: all these last are to remain at the disposal of the lord regent.

Thirdly, it is agreed, that if any gentleman or others (excepting such as have been before excepted) be willing to submit themselves to the obedience of the king our sovereign lord of France and of England, and to my lord regent, as true and loyal subjects, and carry on a war against his enemies, in the manner they had done against the king,—my lord regent will receive them into his favour, and acquit them of all imprisonment and ransom, provided they give sufficient pledges for their future good conduct.

Item, all persons now within the fort of the bridge of Meulan who may hold any towns or castles, by themselves or others, against our said king, shall deliver them up to the lord regent, or to his commissioners deputed for that purpose; and they shall exert themselves to the utmost that their relations or friends shall in like manner surrender all castles or towns they may be possessed of. And until all these things shall be done, they are to remain at the disposal of the regent, who engages, on their due accomplishment, to restore them to liberty.

Item, if any persons now within the fort of the bridge of Meulan shall detain there, or elsewhere, any prisoners, english, french or burgundians, or merchants having sworn allegiance to the king of England, they shall release them without calling on them or their securities for any ransom whatever.

Item, it is agreed, that the besieged shall, the day after to-morrow, either by themselves or others, carry to one or more appointed places, all their armours, without any way damaging the smallest article of them; and they will also have carried to another part all gold and silver plate, money, jewels, and every article of value within the said fortress, without concealing any part thereof or destroying it. They will deliver to the commissaries of the lord regent exact lists of the same without fraud or deception, under pain of forfeiting all benefit of this treaty, and of the grace of the lord regent.

Item, they will also deliver up their horses at an appointed place in the state they are now in, with their armours, to the said commissaries of the lord regent, on pain of forfeiture as above.

Item, under similar penalty, the besieged shall not, until the full accomplishment of the treaty, suffer any person or persons to depart from, or to enter the said fortress, without the express leave of the lord regent first had and obtained.

Item, under pain of the above, they shall denounce and deliver up to the said commissioners all those who have been especially named. And in order that all these articles may be fully complied with, the commissioners and deputies of either party have thereto set their seals, this first day of March; in the year 1422.

This treaty was fully completed; and in consequence of it, the fortresses of Marcoussy, of Montlehery, and several others held by the besieged were yielded up to the regent. On the day Meulan was surrendered, one hundred gentlemen, and two hundred others of the garrison, took the oaths before required, and swore faith and allegiance to the lord regent: even the lord de Grasville took these oaths: when they were conducted prisoners to Rouen, until all the articles of the treaty should be accomplished. The lord de Grasville certified to the regent's commissioners, that king Charles was in full health when he parted from him to come to Meulan,—but that he had been hurt by the falling in of a room at la Rochelle, where he was holding a council, as has been before mentioned.

CHAP. VII.

THE FRENCH TAKE THE FORTRESS OF DOMMART IN PONTHIEU BY SCALADO.—AND MANY OTHER EVENTS.

On the 20th day of March in this year, the French escaladed and won the castle of Dommart in Ponthieu,—in which were the borgne de Fosseux, knight, and Jacques de Craon his son-in-law, who made their escape, with a few attendants, by a postern, on hearing the tumult and the numbers of the enemy. Sir Simon de Boulenviller, John de Douceure, and others within the castle, with the lady of de Fosseux, were detained prisoners.

All the effects, which were very abundant, were seized as lawful prey and carried off.

Shortly after, the lord de Crotoy, with three or four hundred combatants, fixed his quarters at a castle belonging to the bishop of Amiens, called Pernois, about a league distant from Dommart, to make head against and oppose the farther progress of the French. A treaty was concluded with the French some days after the lord de Crotoy's arrival, by which they were to return unmolested, with their plunder, on condition they surrendered Dommart. The chief of this expedition was one called Dandonet.

At this period, the duke of Glocester married Jacqueline duchess of Bavaria, countess of Hainault and of Holland, who had for some time resided in England, notwithstanding that Jacqueline had been married to duke John of Brabant, then living. This marriage astonished many persons.

In this same year, the king of Arragon went to Italy, at the request of queen Johanna, wife to sir James de Bourbon, as her elected heir. On his arrival he drove the duke of Anjou, who styled himself king of Sicily, and all his people, out of that country. He then attached to his service all the great captains of the queen of Naples, namely, Sforza, Braccia-Monte and Tartaglia, with others of the leading men in Italy, who, uniting with the king of Arragon, made the queen Johanna prisoner. Thus was she punished in the same way she had treated her former lord sir James de Bourbon. The king of Arragon, by these means, remained for a considerable time master of great part of Italy: even the pope joined his party, and sent the cardinal of St Angelo to conclude a treaty of friendship with him. This cardinal, while on the journey, fell from a plank, as he entered a fort, into the ditch, and was so grievously bruised that he died soon after.

News was now brought to France that the heretics at Prague were in great force, and attempting to subdue all the Christian castles and fortresses. Their heresy was more powerful and extended than it had ever been, in so much that the emperor, unable to resist them, was returned to Hungary without effecting any thing.

About this time also, sir James de Harcourt's men made several secret inroads to the countries of Vimeu, Ponthieu and Artois, and seized and carried away many ploughs from the farmers of Mont St Eloy, near to Arras, which they sold, with other booty, in the town of Crotoy, so that the farmers were afraid of residing on or working their lands.

On the other hand, the French, quartered at Guise, made frequent visits to Crotoy and Rue, by which the country was sorely harrassed by each party,—and justice was no where obeyed.

The Burghers and commonalty of Tournay had, at this time, great dissentions, and assembled in arms under the banners of the different trades, that is to say, the great against the small. The commonalty admitted the lord de Moy into the town, who was attached to the party of king Charles, as well as themselves; and they elected several men of low degree for their captains, in place of the provost and their rulers. This time, however, the quarrel was appeased without coming to blows; but similar agitations and changes frequently took place afterward within the town of Tournay.

Two thousand five hundred English were now assembled in Normandy under the command of the lord de la Pole, sir Thomas Berry and other captains, who marched them through the country of Maine, wasting every part they passed through, to Angers, where they did much damage, and made numbers of prisoners. They returned with them and their plunder to a large town, called Busignes de la Graville, where they halted many days.

While these things were passing, John count d'Aumarle, who had received from the country people intelligence of this expedition together with the baron de Colilouvre, the lord de Fontaines in Anjou, and sir Peter le Porc, collected a large body of men at arms and common people, and lay wait for the enemy in handsome array not far from La Graville. When the English perceived them, they dismounted, and posted the baggage in their rear. The French were mounted, and began the attack with great vigour, but the English defended themselves with such courage, the conflict was very severe and doubtful; but at length the English were conquered, and left full twelve hundred men on the field. The lord de la Pole, was made prisoner, and thirty other gentlemen at the least. Of the commonalty on the side of the French, six score persons were killed.

[A.D. 1423.]