ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Launoy, sir Simon de Lalain, Jean bastard de St. Pol, and other warriors, some of whom were then knighted. The bastard de St. Pol received that honour from the hand of the duke of Bedford, and Jean de Crequi, Jean de Croy, Anthony de Bethune, Jean de Fosseux, and le Liegeois de Humieres*, by the hands of other knights.

When these matters were ordered, the English were drawn up together on the left wing, and the Picards, with those of the French in king Henry's interest, opposite to them. They thus remained in battle-array for a considerable time, and were so advantageously posted that the enemy could not attack them without very great risk to themselves; add to which, they were plentifully supplied with provision from the good town of Senlis, near to which they were.

King Charles had drawn up his men with his most expert captains in the van division, the others remained with him in the main battalion, excepting a few posted, by way of rearguard, toward Paris. The king had a force of men-at-arms with him much superior in numbers to the English. The Maid was also there, but perpetually changing her resolutions; sometimes she was eager for the combat, at other times not. The two parties, however, remained in this state, ever prepared to engage, for the space of two days and two nights, during which were many skirmishes and attacks. To detail them all would take too much

time; but there was one very long and bloody, that took place on the wing where the Picards were posted, and which lasted for an hour and a half. The royal army fought with the utmost courage, and their archers did much mischief with their arrows, insomuch that many persons thought, seeing the numbers engaged, that it would not cease until one or other of the parties were vanquished. They, however, separated, but not without many killed and wounded on each side. The duke of Bedford was very well pleased with the Picards for the gallantry and courage they had displayed; and when they had retreated, he rode down their ranks, addressing them kindly, and saying, "My friends, you are excellent people, and have valiantly sustained for us a severe shock, for which we humbly thank you ; and we entreat, that should any more attacks be made on your post, you will persevere in the same valour and courage."

Both parties were violently enraged against each other, so that no man, whatever his rank, was that day ransomed, but every one put to death without mercy. I was told, that about three hundred men were killed in these different skirmishes; but I know not which side lost the most. At the end of two days, the armies separated without coming to a general engagement.

CHAPTER LXVII.-KING CHARLES OF FRANCE SENDS AMBASSADORS TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AT ARRAS.

ABOUT this time, ambassadors were sent to the duke of Burgundy, at Arras, by king Charles of France, to treat of a peace between them. The principal persons of this embassy were, the archbishop of Rheims, Christopher de Harcourt, the lords de Dammartin, de Gaucourt, and de Fontaines, knights, with some councillors of state. Having demanded an audience, some few days after their arrival, they remonstrated through the mouth of the archbishop with the duke of Burgundy most discreetly and wisely on the cause of their coming, and, among other topics, enlarged on the perfect affection the king bore him, and on his earnest desire to be at peace with him,-for which purpose he was willing to make condescensions and reparations even more than were becoming royal majesty. They excused him of the murder committed on the person of the late duke of Burgundy, on the score of his youth, alleging that he was then governed by persons regardless of the welfare of the kingdom, but whose measures at that time he dared not oppose.

66

These and other remonstrances from the archbishop were kindly listened to by the duke and his council; and when he had finished speaking, one of the duke's ministers replied, My lord and his council have heard with attention what you have said; he will consider *Qy. Dreux, lord of Humieres, son of Philip and brother of Matthew, second lord of Humieres, and John of Humieres, who defended Corbie in 1431.

on it, and you shall have his answer within a few days." The archbishop and his compan ions now returned to their hotel, much respected by all ranks, for the majority of the states were very desirous of a peace between the king and the duke of Burgundy.

Even those of the middle ranks, although there was neither truce nor peace, came to the chancellor of France at Arras, to solicit letters of grace and remission, as if the king had been in the full possession of his power, which grants, however, they obtained from the archbishop as

chancellor.

The duke of Burgundy held many consultations with those of his privy council, which much hastened the conclusion of this business.

CHAPTER LXVIII.-TIE LORD DE LONGUEVAL CONQUERS THE CASTLE OF AUMALE FROM THE ENGLISH.

THE lord de Longueval, having been deprived of his estates, had turned to king Charles, and, by the means of a priest resident in Aumale, had gained the castle of the town, the chief place of that country, and held by the English. Four or five Englishmen were found within it, who were put to death; but the inhabitants were spared, on their making oath to behave in future like good Frenchmen, and paying a heavy ransom for their deliverance. This castle was shortly after repaired, re-victualled, and reinforced with men-at-arms, who carried on a continual warfare against the English and their allies in these parts. The duke of Bedford was much vexed at this; but he could not, by reason of more important matters, at the time go thither, nor provide any remedy. At this time also the castle of Estrepagny was taken by storm from the lord de Rambures and his men; but on the other hand, the fortress of Château-Gaillard was reduced to the obedience of king Charles, which is excellently situated and is very strong. In this castle had been confined for a long time that valiant knight the lord de Barbasan, who had been made prisoner, as has been said, by king Henry's army at Melun. By means of this lord de Barbasan was Château-Gaillard won, and himself freed from prison. He gave the command of it to some of his people, and soon after joined king Charles, by whom he was most joyfully received and honoured.

The castle of Torcy was also put into the hands of the French by some of the country people, who had connexions with the English, and who betrayed it to the enemy. Thus in a short time were four of the strongest castles of the enemy recovered; and in consequence of their capture, those parts were very much harassed, both by the French and English.

CHAPTER LXIX.-THE TOWN OF COMPIEGNE SURRENDERS TO THE FRENCII.-THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY WHICH HAD BEEN SENT TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

WHEN King Charles was marching from near Senlis, where he and the duke of Bedford had been within sight of each other, he was detained at Crespy in Valois, and there ho received intelligence that the town of Compiègne was willing to submit to his obedience. He lost no time in going thither, and was received by the inhabitants with great joy, and lodged in the royal palace. His chancellor and the other ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy, there met him, and informed him, that although they had held many conferences with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy, nothing had been finally concluded, except that the duke had agreed to send ambassadors to king Charles to confer further on the subject. They had learnt that the majority of the duke's council were very desirous that peace should be established between the king and him, but that master John de Tourcy, bishop of Tournay, and sir Hugh de Launoy, had been charged by the duke of Bedford to remind the duke of Burgundy of his oaths to king Henry, and were against a peace with the king of France. This had delayed the matter,—and further time had been required by the duke to send his ambassadors. He had, however, nominated sir John de Luxembourg, the bishop of Arras, sir David de Brimeu, with other discreet and noble persons, for the purpose.

VOL. I.

00

About this time, sir Lyonnel de Bournouville, who had lost his town and castle of Creil, requested some men-at-arms from the duke of Bedford to re-conquer one of his castles called Breteictre, which the French had won. His request was granted, and he took the fort by storm, putting to death all within it, but he was so severely wounded himself that he died soon after.

CHAPTER LXX. THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES AN ATTACK ON THE CITY OF PARIS.

DURING king Charles's stay at Compiègne, news was brought him that the regent-duke of Bedford had marched with his whole army to Normandy, to combat the constable near to Evreux, where he was despoiling the country. The king did not leave Compiègne for ten or twelve days, when he marched for Senlis, appointing sir William de Flavy the governor. Senlis surrendered on capitulation to the king, who fixed his quarters in the town, and distributed his army in the country about it. Many towns and villages now submitted to the king's obedience; namely, Creil, Beauvais, Choisy, le Pont de St. Maixence, Gournay sur l'Aronde, Remy la Neuville en Hez, Moignay, Chantilly, Saintry, and others.

The lords de Montmorency and de Moy took the oaths of allegiance to him; and, in truth, had he marched his army to St. Quentin, Corbie, Amiens, Abbeville, and to other strong towns and castles, the majority of the inhabitants were ready to acknowledge him for their lord, and desired nothing more earnestly than to do him homage, and open their gates. He was, however, advised not to advance so far on the territories of the duke of Burgundy, as well from there being a considerable force of men-at-arms, as because he was in the expectation that an amicable treaty would be concluded between them. After king Charles had halted some days in Senlis, he dislodged and marched to St. Denis, which he found almost abandoned, for the richer inhabitants had gone to Paris. He quartered his men at Aubervilliers, Montmartre, and in the villages round Paris. The Maid Joan was with him, and in high reputation, and daily pressed the king and princes to make an attack on Paris.

It was at length determined that on Monday, the 12th day of the month, the city should be stormed, and, in consequence, every preparation was made for it. On that day, the king drew up his army in battle-array between Montmartre and Paris; his princes, lords, and the Maid, were with him; the van division was very strong; and thus, with displayed banner, he marched to the gate of St. Honoré, carrying thither scaling-ladders, fascines, and all things necessary for the assault. He ordered his infantry to descend into the ditches; and the attack commenced at ten o'clock, which was very severe and murderous, and lasted four or five hours. The Parisians had with them Louis de Luxembourg, the bishop of Therouenne, king Henry's chancellor, and other notable knights, whom the duke of Burgundy had sent thither, such as the lord de Crequi, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Simon de Lalain, Valeran de Bournouville, and other able men, with four hundred combatants. They made a vigorous defence, having posted a sufficient force at the weakest parts before the attack began. Many of the French were driven back into the ditches, and numbers were killed and wounded by the cannon and culverines from the ramparts. Among the last was the Maid, who was very dangerously hurt; she remained the whole of the day behind a small hillock until vespers, when Guichard de Thiembronne came to seek her. A great many of the besieged suffered also. At length the French captains, seeing the danger of their men, and that it was impossible to gain the town by force against so obstinate a defence, and that the inhabitants seemed determined to continue it, without any disagreement among themselves, sounded the retreat. They carried off the dead and wounded, and returned to their former quarters. On the morrow, king Charles, very melancholy at the loss of his men, went to Senlis, to have the wounded attended to and cured.

The Parisians were more unanimous than ever, and mutually promised each other to *John II. lord of Montmorency, Escouen, and Dam- royal cause, that he disinherited his two song for being ille, grand chamberlain before 1425.-So faithful to the Burgundians.

oppose, until death, king Charles, who wanted to destroy them all. Perhaps, knowing how much they had misbehaved by forcing him to quit Paris, and by putting to death some of his most faithful servants, they were afraid of meeting with their deserts.

CHAPTER LXXI.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AMBASSADORS TO AMIENS, TO KEEP UP HIS INTEREST WITH THE INHABITANTS.

In these days, the duke sent as ambassadors, to Amiens, the bishops of Noyon, of Arras, the vidame of Amiens, and others, to remind the mayor and townsmen of the good affection which he and his predecessors had ever shown them; and to say, that if there was any thing he or his friends could do for them, they were at their commands; requesting them, in return, to persevere in their attachment to his interests, like good friends and neighbours. The townsmen of Amiens, seeing themselves thus honoured and courted by such ambassadors from so mighty a prince, were in the highest spirits, and said among themselves, that it would be well to put their town under his protection, on his abolishing all taxes. They replied to the ambassadors, that they would shortly send commissioners to the duke to declare their intentions. They did send commissioners in conjunction with deputies from Abbeville, Montrieul, St. Riquier, Dourlens, and others, who were instructed to demand an abolition of taxes. This was not granted by the duke; but he promised them his support and assistance to obtain their demand from king Henry.

At this time the duke of Burgundy summoned from Picardy and the adjacent parts, all those who had been accustomed to bear arms, to be ready prepared to join and march with him where he might please to lead them. They were soon assembled in great bodies, and passed muster at Beauquêne, where they took the oaths before sir James de Brimeu, constituted marshal for this purpose. They advanced toward Abbeville and St. Riquier, where they remained a considerable time waiting for the duke of Burgundy, which was a heavy oppression to those parts.

CHAPTER LXXII.-CHARLES KING OF FRANCE RETURNS TO TOURAINE AND BERRY.

:

KING Charles, finding the city of Paris unwilling to submit to his obedience, resolved with those of his council to appoint governors to all the towns and castles which had surrendered to him, and to return himself to Touraine and Berry. Having determined on this, he made Charles de Bourbon, count of Clermont, governor in chief of the Isle de France and of Beauvoisis his chancellor had the command in the town of Beauvais, the count de Vendôme at Senlis, William de Flavy, at Compiègne, sir James de Chabannes at Creil. The king, atended by the other great lords who had come with him, went from Senlis to Crespy, and thence, by Sens and Burgundy, to Touraine; for the truce between the Burgundians and French did not expire until Easter. The passage of the Pont de St. Maixence, of which the French now had possession, was again intrusted to the hands of Regnault de Longueval,— so that all that part of France was at this time sorely distressed by the French and English garrisons making daily inroads on each other; in consequence of which the villages were deserted, by the inhabitants retiring to the strong towns.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.-DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY CONDUCTS HIS SISTER BACK TO PARIS, IN GREAT POMP, TO HER LORD THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.

On the 20th of September in this year, the duke of Burgundy left Hêdin, with his sister the duchess of Bedford, grandly accompanied, and lay that night at Dourlens. They proceeded the next day to Corbie, where they remained some days to wait the arrival of men-atarms who were coming to them from all quarters. From Corbie they went to Mondidier, and thence to Chastenay, quartering the men-at-arms, who amounted to from three to four thousand, in the country round. They crossed the river Oise at Pont St. Maixence, and, passing by Senlis. were lodged at Louvres-en-Parisis.

The duke marched his men in handsome order, sir John de Luxembourg commanding the van, and the duke the main body. Near to him was his sister, mounted on a good trotting horse, attended by eight or ten ladies on hackneys. The lord de Saveuses and other knights, with a certain number of men-at-arms, followed by way of rear-guard. The duke was much looked at by the French, who had come out of Senlis in great numbers on foot and on horseback, armed or not as they pleased, on account of the existing truce. He was completely armed except the head, and mounted on a beautiful horse, and handsomely dressed and equipped, followed by seven or eight pages on excellent coursers.

The archbishop of Rheims, chancellor of France, came first to meet and do him reverence in the plains without Senlis, and shortly after came the count de Clermont, with about sixty knights. When they had drawn near to the duke they both pulled off their hoods, bowed their heads, and addressed each other in obliging terms, but did not embrace through love and joy, as those nearly allied by blood are accustomed to do. After these first salutations, the count de Clermont went to embrace his sister-in-law the duchess of Bedford, who was on the right hand of his brother-in-law the duke of Burgundy,—and having made a short acquaintance with her he returned to the duke; but observing that he did not seem willing to enter into any conversation, or have much to say to him, they took leave of each other and separated on the spot where they had met. Charles de Bourbon and the chancellor went back to Senlis, and the duke pursued his march to Louvres, where, as I have said, he intended to pass the night.

On the morrow, he directed his march toward Paris, whither the duke of Bedford was returned from Normandy. On their meeting, joyous was the reception on both sides, and great and numerous were the embracings. The men-at-arms of the duke of Burgundy were drawn up in array near to Paris, where they waited a considerable time before the harbingers had settled their quarters within the town. This done, the princes and the duchess made their public entry with their men-at-arms. The Parisians were highly delighted at the arrival of the duke of Burgundy, and sung carols in all the streets through which he passed. They conducted the regent and his duchess to the palace of the Tournelles, and then the duke to his hôtel of Artois.

Great councils were held on the following day respecting the present state of public affairs; and, among other things the duke of Burgundy was required by the Parisians to be pleased to take on him the command of Paris, whose inhabitants had so strong an affection for him, and were ready and willing to support his and his late father's quarrels. They added, that it was absolutely necessary that he should comply with their wishes, considering the very many weighty matters the regent had on his hands in Normandy and elsewhere. The duke of Burgundy granted their request until the ensuing Easter, but it was very much against his inclinations. The two dukes then determined to bring forward all their forces about Easter, in the spring of the year, to reconquer those towns in the Isle of France and on the Oise which had turned against them. Having arranged these matters, the duke of Bedford, with his duchess and the English, departed from Paris. The duke of Burgundy appointed the lord de l'Isle-Adam governor of Paris, with a small number at men-at-arms at St. Denis, the Bois de Vincennes, at the bridge of Charenton, and at other necessary posts. Having settted this business, and tarried in Paris the space of three weeks, he took leave of the queen of France, mother to king Charles, and returned, by the same route by which he had come, to Artois, and thence to Flanders. With him departed several of the burghers of Paris and some merchants.

CHAPTER LXXIV.—THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS ATTACK EACH OTHER, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRUCE.

ALTHOUGH a truce had been concluded between king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, it was very little respected on either side, for they frequently attacked each other. To cover their proceedings, some of the Burgundians joined the English, with whom no truce had been made, and thus carried on open war against the French. The French acted in the same way, by making war on the Burgundians, under nretence of mistaking them for

« 前へ次へ »