CHAPTER CXLV.-PIERRE DE LUXEMBOURG, COUNT DE ST. POL, BESIEGES THE TOWN OF ST. VALERY.-THE DEATH OF THE COUNT DE ST. POL.

In the month of July of this year, Pierre de Luxembourg count de Saint Pol, accompanied by lord Willoughby,* an Englishman, and twelve hundred combatants of the two nations, laid siege to the town of Saint Valery; in which were, on the part of king Charles, sir Louis de Vaucourt, Philip de la Tour, and sir Regnault de Versailles, with a garrison of three hundred men. They pointed artillery against the walls and gates; and after the siege had lasted for three weeks, the before-named knights entered into treaty with Robert de Saveuses, who had been commissioned by the count de St. Pol for the purpose, and agreed that they would surrender the place at a fixed day, should they not be relieved before then, on receiving a sum of money, and liberty to depart in safety with their prisoners and baggage. As no one appeared to their succour, they marched away, under passports, to Beauvais.

Shortly after, sir Louis de Vaucourt and sir Regnault de Versailles were met by one called Le Petit Roland, on the road to Senlis, who, though of the same party, from a private quarrel attacked them with the men he was leading to Chantilly; and in the end he defeated and robbed them, making sir Regnault his prisoner.

The count de St. Pol, having re-garrisoned St. Valery, gave the command of it to sir Robert de Saveuses. On marching thence, he fixed his quarters at a large village called Blangy, in the county of Eu, with the intent to besiege the castle of Monchas, held by sir Regnault de Fontaines for king Charles. Sir Regnault, not wishing to wait the event of a siege, capitulated with the commissioners of the count to surrender the place on the 15th day of next October, provided that neither king Charles nor any of his partisans should be in sufficient force to offer him combat on that day before the castle of Monchas, or on the plains of Santhois near to Villiers-le-Carbonel, one league distant from Haplain-court. This treaty was confirmed, the 26th day of August, by the count, and hostages given on each side for its due performance.

On the last day of this month of August, while the count was encamped near to Blangy, and giving his orders for besieging the castle of Rambures, he was taken suddenly ill, and died almost instantly. His men and all the English captains were grieved at heart for his loss, and retired to the garrisons whence they had come. His household had the body transported to St. Pol, where it was interred in front of the great altar of the abbey-church of Cercamps, of which his ancestors had been the founders. His eldest son, Louis de Luxembourg, then about fifteen years of age, took possession of all his estates and lordships, and thenceforth was styled the Count de St. Pol.

CHAPTER CXLVI. THE LORD DE LA TRIMOUILLE IS ARRESTED IN THE KING'S PALACE, AND MADE TO SURRENDER HIS PRISONER, THE VISCOUNT DE THOUARS.

WHILE these things were passing, king Charles resided chiefly at the castle of Chinon, and with him was the lord de la Trimouille, his principal adviser, but who conducted public affairs much to the dissatisfaction of Charles d'Anjou, and many other great lords.

They also hated him from their friendship to the lord d'Amboise viscount de Thouarst, whom he had detained in prison from the time the lord de Lessay and Anthony de Vivonne had been beheaded through his means at Poitiers, and also because the constable, by reason

Robert, lord Willoughby of Eresby, one of the greatest heroes of the English army,-present at the battles of Azincourt and Verneuil, and at almost all the celebrated actions of the day, was in 1432, invested with the title of Earl of Vendome, Beaufort, &c., and died in 1442, leaving only a daughter Joan, the wife of Sir Richard Welles, knight.-Dugdale.

+ Louis d'Amboise, Viscount of Thouars, prince of Fal

mont, &c. &c. had been deprived of his lands for adherence to the English party, but was afterwards restored to them, and served the king of France in his conquest of Guienne, He was grandson of Ingerger, surnamed "the great," who married Isabel heiress of Thouars, and widow of the marshal de Nesle, and was made prisoner at the battle of Poitiers.

of his interference could not regain the good graces of the king. Having therefore formed their plan, the lord de Bueil", sir Peter de Verseil, Pregent de Coetivyt, and other barons, to the number of sixteen, entered the castle of Chinon, and went to the chamber of the lord de la Trimouille, whom they found in bed. They made him prisoner, and carried him away,

RUINS OF THE CASTLE OF CHINON, THE RESIDENCE OF CHARLES VII., DURING THE OCCUPATION OF PARIS BY THE ENGLISH. From a Print in Stothard's Tour.

taking from him the government of the king. He afterward, by treaty, surrendered to them the lord d'Amboise, and promised never to return to the king, yielding up many forts that he held as security for keeping the said treaty. Shortly after, the constable was restored to the good graces of his monarch, who was well satisfied to receive him, although he was much vexed at the conduct that had been held to the lord de la Trimouille : nevertheless, new ministers were appointed for the management of his affairs.

At this time, Philip lord de Saveuses resided in Mondidier with a sufficient garrison to oppose the French in Compiègne, Ressons, Morte-mer, Bretueil, and other places. These had made an excursion to the amount of about one hundred and fifty combatants into the country of Santhois, where they were met by the lord de Saveuses, who slew or made prisoners the greater part: the rest saved themselves by flight.

In this year, died in his town of Avesnes, in Hainault, the count de Penthievret, who

John V., count of Sancerre, son of John lord de Bueil, killed at Azincourt, and of Margaret, countess of Sancerre. He was a celebrated commander, and called le Fléau des Anglais.

Coetivy, the name of an ancient family of Lower Brittany. Pregent VII., lord of Coetivy, was eldest son of Alan III., killed at the siege of St. James de Beauvron, in 1424, and of Catherine, daughter of Hervé, lord of Châtel, killed at Jersey. This Pregent married Mary de Laval, daughter of the infamous marshal de Retz. He was

chamberlain in 1424, governor of La Rochelle, and in 1439 promoted to the high office of admiral of France. He was killed at Cherbourg in 1450. "Ce fut un gran dommage et perte notable pour le Roi, car il estoit tenu des vaillans chevaliers et renommés du royaume, fort prudent, et encore de bon age."-Hist. du Roi Charles VII.

Oliver de Bretagne, or de Blois, grandson of the famous competitor of John de Montfort, had been deprived of his large counties of Penthievre, Limoges, &c. &c. but never of the duchy of Brittany, to which he pretended no claim.

had been deprived of the duchy of Brittany, as has been elsewhere fully related. A great mortality took place throughout almost all France, as well in large towns as in the country; and there prevailed also great divisions between the nobles and gentlemen against each other, so that neither God, his church, nor justice, were obeyed or feared, and the poor people were grievously oppressed in various ways.

CHAPTER CXLVII.-WILLIAM DE CORAM PUTS TO FLIGHT JOHN BEAURAIN.-SIR

LUXEMBOURG RE-CONQUERS THE ASTLE OF HAPHINCOURT.

JOHN DE

ABOUT this period, William de Coram, an Englishman, in company with Villemer de Hainault, and some others of sir John de Luxembourg's captains, with three or four hundred combatants, overthrew and plundred near to Ivoy, between the Ardennes and Champagne, from five to six hundred men, whom John de Beaurain, and divers captains, had assembled in hopes of conquering them. John de Beaurain, however, and others, saved themselves by the fleetness of their horses.

In the month of September, the castle of Haphincourt, seated on the river Somme, two leagues distant from Peronne, was taken by a partisan of king Charles, called Martin le Lombard, and his accomplices. Within the castle was sir Pierre de Beausault*, a noble and ancient knight, with his lady, the mother to sir Karados de Quesnes.

The whole of the country of Vermandois was much alarmed at this conquest, for the inhabitants feared it would open an easy entrance for the enemy into those parts. They, however, lost no time in sending notice of it to sir John de Luxembourg, who, in a few days, assembled eight hundred Picards, and marched them, in company with his nephew the young count de St. Pol, sir Simon de Lalain, the lord de Saveuses, and other noble captains, to the castle of Haphincourt, and had his artillery instantly pointed against the walls. His attacks were so severe on the garrison that they were forced to surrender at discretion, when some were hanged and others strangled. As for Martin, Jacotin, and Clamas, they obtained their liberty on paying a heavy ransom. The castle was delivered into the hands of Jean de Haphincourt, and the knight and lady sent away. After this exploit, sir John de Luxembourg returned with his nephew, and the other captains, to the places whence they had

come.

CHAPTER CXLVIII.-THE COUNTS DE LIGNY AND DE ST. POL KEEP THE APPOINTED DAY AT VILLIERS LE CARBONEL, AND AFTERWARD DEFEAT THE FRENCH FROM THE GARRISON OF LAON.

On the 15th day of October, the young count de St. Pol, sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny, with from four to five thousand combatants, whom they had summoned from Picardy and Hainault, under the command of sir William de Lalain, sir Simon his brother, the lord de Mailly, sir Colart de Mailly his brother, the lord de Saveuses, Valleran de Moruel, Guy de Roye, and others expert in arms, marched to keep the appointment at Villiers le Carbonel, according to the capitulation signed at the castle of Monchas in Normandy. They were also joined by twelve hundred English, under the orders of the lord Willoughby and sir Thomas Kiriel.

Neither sir Regnault de Fontaines, governor of Monchas, nor any others on the part of king Charles, made their appearance at Villiers le Carbonel; and thus their hostages were left in very great danger. The two counts, however, remained all that day in battle array on the plain, and toward evening quartered themselves and their men in the adjoining villages, seeing there was not a probability of an enemy showing himself. On the morrow, they returned, by a short march, to the place whence they had come.

His brother, John de l'Aigle, was restored to Penthièvre soon after, and died 1454. Charles, the third brother, succeeded, whose only daughter and heir, Nicole de Blois, marrying Jean de Brosse, the county of Penthièvre passed into that family.

* Peter de Montmorency, lord of Plessis Cacheleu, son of Jobn II., lord of Beausault, and uncle of Anthony, who was slain at Verneuil, and of John, in whom the direet line of this younger branch ended in 1427.

Within a few days after this, when the two counts were at Guise, news was brought them, that the lord de Penesach, governor of Laon, had made an excursion, with four or five hundred combatants from different garrisons into the country of Marle, and had nearly taken Vervins, the hereditary inheritance of Joan de Bar, sir John's daughter-in-law, and had set fire to the suburbs of Marle. Sir John was much troubled on receiving this intelligence, and instantly mounted his horse, together with the count de St. Pol, sir Simon de Lalain, and those of his household. He sent in haste for reinforcements from all his garrisons that were near, and sir Simon ordered his men, who were quartered in a village hard by, to follow without delay; so that he had very soon upwards of three hundred fighting men, whom he boldly marched to meet the enemy.

He overtook them on their retreat at Disy, not far from Laon; and although they were very superior in numbers, he no sooner saw them, than without waiting for the whole of his men to come up, he most gallantly charged them, and did wonders by his personal courage. The French took to flight even under the eyes of their commander, excepting a few, who were defeated, and the most part put to death, to the number of eight score. The principals were, Gaillart de Lille, Anthony de Bellegarde, de Mony, le borgne de Vy, Henry Quenof from Brabant, and others, to the number aforestated. From sixty to eighty were made prisoners, the greater part of whom were on the morrow hanged; among them was one named Rousselet, provost of Laon. A gentleman of arms, called L'Archenciel, was taken in the engagement, but given up to sir Simon de Lalain, whose life he had formerly saved at St. Vincent, as has been related.

In return, sir Simon was desirous of saving his; but he could not succeed, for sir John de Luxembourg caused him to be put to death, which angered greatly sir Simon; but he could not remedy himself. The French were pursued as far as Laon, and many killed and taken. On this day the young count de St. Pol was entered a warrior,-for his uncle made him slay several, in which he took much delight. After the defeat, they all returned to Guise in high spirits on account of their happy success.

CHAPTER CXLIX. LA HIRE AND OTHER FRENCH CAPTAINS OVERRUN ARTOIS AND

CAMBRESIS.

In the month of September of this year, La Hire, with others of king Charles's captains, such as Anthony de Chabannes, Blanchefort, Charles de Flavy, Regnault de Longueval, and full fifteen hundred combatants, whom they had assembled in Beauvais, crossed the Somme at Cappy into Artois, and made a number of peasants prisoners, who were unsuspicious of such an inroad, and returned with them and their plunder to Beauvais, where they were all quartered. They also made great seizures of men and cattle in the Cambresis, by whose ransoms they acquired large sums of money.

They again took the field, but after some little time they divided; and Anthony de Chabannes, with Blanchefort and their men, went toward Cambray, and, passing by it, they took the straight road to Haspres, as a free fair had been held the preceding day at the town of Ivoy; and because the townsmen would not compound according to their pleasure, they burnt most part of the town and the church. They then advanced to Haspres, which was full of people and merchandise, and entered it by surprise. They made many prisoners; but several retired with some monks into a strong tower, which was long attacked in vain by the French. In revenge for not being able to gain it, they plundered all they could lay hands on in the town, and then set it on fire, by which several houses were destroyed, with the church and abbey of St. Akaire. They also committed other enormous mischiefs.

Having packed up their plunder, they departed, and, traversing the Cambresis, took many prisoners, and burnt numbers of houses, and went to lodge at Mont St. Martin*, where La Hire was waiting for them. On this same day, La Hire had set fire to the town of Beaurevoir, the mill, and a very handsome country-seat called La Mothe, situated near to

Mont St. Martin. Q. If not Thun-St.-Martin ?

the town, and belonging to the countess de Ligny. Many detachments scoured the country, committing numberless mischiefs without opposition; for sir John de Luxembourg was absent with his nephew the young count de St. Pol, on business relative to matters that had happened in consequence of the death of sir Peter de Luxembourg, his father. This was the cause why the French met with no resistance on this expedition, wherever they went. From Mont St. Martin they took the road toward Laon, carrying with them multitudes of prisoners, and great herds of cattle. They halted at Cressy-sur-Serre, and thence, without any loss, returned to Laon, where they divided their spoils, and went to the different garrisons whence they had come.

About this period the lords de Croy and de Humieres returned, with about two thousand horse, from Burgundy, where they had been for a considerable time under duke Philip, assisting him in his various conquests from the French.

The duchess of Burgundy was delivered of a son at Dijon, who was knighted at the font: his godfathers were Charles count de Nevers, who gave him his own name, and the lord de Croy. He was also made a knight of the order of the Golden Fleece, and in addition the duke his father gave him the county of Charolois.

CHAPTER CL.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY HOLDS THE ANNIVERSARY FEAST OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE IN THE CITY OF DIJON. HE ATTENDS THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF SAVOY'S SON.

Ar this time the duke of Burgundy held the feast of the Golden Fleece in the city of Dijon; and shortly after messengers arrived from the duke of Savoy, to request that he would come to the wedding of his son the count of Geneva, about to marry the daughter of the king of Cyprus*, which wedding was to be celebrated in the town of Chambery in Savoy. The duke of Burgundy complied with the request; and having arranged all his affairs about Candlemas, he left the duchess at Châlons in Burgundy, with his army in that neighbourhood, and departed for Savoy, attended by about two hundred knights and esquires.

After some days' travelling he arrived at Chambery, and was met by the duke of Savoy and the count de Geneva, who received him with every respect. On the day after his arrival, the wedding was celebrated, and the feast was most plentifully served. On the right of the great table were scated the cardinal of Cyprus, uncle to the bride, the queen of Sicily, consort to king Lewis, and daughter to the duke of Savoy, and the duke of Burgundy; in the centre was the bride, and then the duke of Bar, the count de Neverst, and the heir of Cleves. At the second table were placed the duke of Savoy, the count de Fribourg, the marquis de Fribourg, the prince of Orange, the chancellor of Savoy, with several noble men and ladies. At other tables were many knights, esquires, ladies and damsels, from various countries, all most richly dressed; and every table was abundantly and properly served according to the rank of the guests.

This feast lasted for several days, in which the company amused themselves with dancings, and in divers sports and pastimes. The duke of Burgundy, after staying three days, presented the bride with a magnificent clasp of the value of three thousand francs,—on which occasion he was heartily thanked by the duke of Savoy and his son,—and, taking leave of the company, returned to Burgundy.

*Lewis, count of Geneva, eldest son of Amadeus, duke of Savoy, married Charlotte, only daughter of John, king of Cyprus, and Helen of Montferrat.

+Charles, count of Nevers, eldest son of Philip, count

of Nevers, killed at Azincourt, was born in the year preceding his father's death, and died in 1464. His mother was Bona d'Artois, daughter of Philip, count of En.