leads to the open fields; for this castle had been, by orders of the dauphin's ministers, appointed for the lodgings of himself and his men, that he might not have any suspicions of mischief being intended. All the principal lords dismounted with him; and two hundred men-at-arms and one hundred archers were selected as his guard. The lady of Giac* accompanied him, who, as has been said before, had made some journeys to the dauphin on matters between the duke and him: she had chiefly persuaded the duke to come to Montereau, remonstrating that there could not be any fear of treasonable practices against him. The duke was very much attached to this lady, and put full confidence in all she said. He gave her in charge, with part of his jewels, to Philip Josquin, as to the most faithful of his servants. As soon as he was within the castle, he ordered Jacques de la Baûme to post all his menat-arms at the entrance of the gate leading to the town, for the better security of his person, and also to preserve the articles of the convention. In the mean time sir Tanneguy du Châtel came to him to say that the dauphin was ready and waiting for him. He replied, that he was going to him; and then calling to those who were to attend him, forbade all others to follow excepting such as had been so ordered. The duke was accompanied by ten persons, namely, Charles de Bourbon, the lord de Nouaille, John de Fribourg, the lord de St. George, the lord de Montagu, sir Anthony du Vergy, the lord d'Ancre, sir Guy de Pontailler, sir Charles de Lens, sir Peter de Giac, and a secretary, named Pierre Seguinat. In company with the above, he advanced to the front of the first barrier on the bridge, when many of the dauphin's people came to meet him, and again renewed the promises and oaths that had been taken before: they said, "Come to my lord: he is waiting for you on the bridge ;" and then they returned toward the dauphin. The duke demanded from his companions if they thought he might in safety advance to the dauphin, on the securities offered him. They, having upright intentions, answered, that certainly he might proceed with safety, considering the promises and assurances given by so many noble persons on each side, adding, that they were willing to run the same risk as he should. On this answer, he advanced, ordering some of his attendants to keep close behind him, and entered the first barrier, where he found others of the dauphin's men, who again said, "Hasten to my lord, for he is waiting for you." He replied, "I am going to him," and entered the second barrier, which was instantly closed and locked by those appointed to do it, so soon as he and his company were within it. As he advanced, he met sir Tanneguy du Châtel, and, from affection, slapped him on the shoulder, saying to the lord de St. George, "This is he in whom I trust." He then passed on until he approached the dauphin, who was completely armed and girt with his sword, and leaning on one of the barriers when near, to pay him greater honour, the duke dropped on one knee, and most respectfully saluted him. The dauphin, however, made no return, nor showed him the least sign of affection, but reproached him for not having kept his promise of discontinuing the war, and for not disbanding his forces from different garrisons, according to his engagements. At the same time, sir Robert de Loire, taking him by the right arm, said, “Rise, for you are too great a man thus to bend." The duke, as has been said, was on his knee; and his sword having turned too much behind him as he knelt down, he put his hand to replace it properly, when sir Robert cried out, "What! do you put your hand on your sword in the presence of my lord the dauphin !!!" : During these words, sir Tanneguy du Châtel approached him on the opposite side, and making a signal, saying, "It is now time," struck the duke with a small battle-axe he had in his hand so roughly on the face that he felled him on his knees, and cut off part of his chin. The duke, on this, put his hand to his sword to draw it, and attempted to rise to defend himself; but at the instant, Tanneguy with others repeated their blows, and laid him dead. While he was on the ground, Olivier Layet, assisted by Pierre Frotier, thrust a sword under the haubergeon into his belly. The lord de Nouaille, seeing this, drew his sword half out, to defend the duke; but the viscount de Narbonne held a dagger in his This lady of Giac was the favourite mistress of the duke of Burgundy; and her treason, which Monstrelet hints is expressly charged by the historians of Burgundy, who give her the name of Dalilah. At the siege of Montercau she was punished by the loss of all her property and reduced to the extreme of poverty. hand ready to strike him. The lord de Nouaille now turned toward him, and vigorously wrested the dagger out of his hand: however, while he was thus engaged he received a blow from a battle-axe on the back part of his head, which put an end to the scuffle and his life. BRIDGE OF MONTEREAU, WITH THE MURDER OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.-From an original drawing. While these things were passing, the dauphin leaned on the barrier, looking on, but soon drew back, as one much frightened, when he was immediately conducted to his lodgings by Jean Louvet, president of Provence, and others his counsellors. On the other hand, Jean de Fribourg drew his sword, but was soon forced to drop it by dint of blows. In short, the whole of the ten, with the secretary who had accompanied the duke of Burgundy, were without delay made prisoners, excepting the lord de Nouaille, who was killed, and the lord de Montagu, who escaped over the barriers to the castle. The lord de St. George was wounded in the side by the point of a battle-axe, and the lord d'Ancre by a cut on the hand. The lord de Montagu, when clear of the barriers, loudly cried out, "To arms!" upon which sir Anthony de Toulongeon, sir Symon Othelimer, Saubertier, and John Demay, with some others, hastened to the barriers, and began to skirmish with their lances with those within them. In this conflict sir Symon was wounded in the head; for their opponents, and the rest within the town, began to shoot lustily at them with cross-bows: finding, therefore, they could not gain entrance to the barriers, they retreated to the castle. Thus was the duke of Burgundy cruelly murdered, trusting to the promises and securities of the duke de Touraine, dauphin of Vienne, and his ministers. The act and the manner of perpetrating it were most horrible; and the hearts of noble and worthy men, natives of France, must suffer the greatest shame and grief thus to witness the noble blood of the flower de luces, and princes so nearly allied destroy each other; and the kingdom, by these and other acts done prior to this, put to the infinite risk of changing its sovereign, and all things thrown into confusion and peril. The principal actors in this conspiracy against the duke of Burgundy were Jean Louvet, president of Provence, the viscount de Narbonne, sir Guillaume Batiller, sir Tanneguy du Châtel, sir François de Grimaulx, sir Robert de Loire, Pierre Frotier, Olivier Layet, sir Ponchon de Namac, seneschal of Auvergne, and several more. They had for a considerable time before confederated, and sworn to bring the matter to the conclusion they had just accomplished; and, as I have been informed, they intended to have put their plan in execution at the moment of the meeting of these two princes at Pouilly le Fort, when peace was made between them, but were then forced to abandon it because the duke was too powerful in arms, and because the armies of each were drawn up so near that great mischiefs must have ensued. The lord de Joinville and the others in the castle of Montereau, to whom the duke had confided the guard, were greatly alarmed, and not without cause, when they noticed the conduct that was observed toward their lord, whose real situation they were as yet ignorant of, and those who had accompanied him. They were likewise very uneasy as to themselves, for they were unprovided with any stores of provision or of ammunition excepting what they had brought with them, which were not in any great quantities; and before their arrival, the castle had been dismantled of artillery, and every other store carried away. They held many consultations whether they should depart or not, but at length determined to remain where they were until they should receive more certain intelligence respecting their lord than they had hitherto had. Notwithstanding the lords de Joinville and de Montagu most earnestly and often begged of the duke's men to stay with them in the castle, they would not listen to their words, but set off in haste, and in a most disorderly manner gallopped away for Bray-sur-Seine, whence they had come that morning. However, a large body of the dauphin's army pursued them, and killed and wounded great numbers without any resistance. The lords de Joinville and de Montagu remained, as I have said, in the castle, and with them sir Robert de Marigny, sir Philip de Servoiles, sir John de Murat, the lord de Rosmat, John d'Ermay, John de Caumaisnil, Sabertier, Philip de Montant, Regnault de Chevilly, Regnault de Rethel, Guillaume de Biere, the lady of Giac and her woman, Philip Josquin, with about twenty varlets and pages of the household of the late duke of Burgundy. CHAPTER CCXI.-THE CONDUCT OF THE DAUPHIN, AND OF THOSE WITH HIM, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.-HE SENDS LETTERS TO DIFFERENT TOWNS. WHEN the duke of Burgundy had been thus cruelly murdered, the dauphin's people stripped him of his tabard, his coat of mail, his rings, and of everything except his doublet and drawers; and in this state he remained on the ground until midnight, when he was carried on a table to a mill near the bridge, and, on the morrow morning, was interred in front of the altar of St. Louis, in the church of Our Lady at Montereau, in his doublet and drawers, with his bonnet drawn over his face, and twelve masses were hastily said for him. At this moment there were several noble persons with the dauphin, who had been kept in ignorance of the plot against the duke, many of whom were highly displeased at what had happened, considering the great evils that would probably result from it, as well to the kingdom in general as to the person of their lord the dauphin. In this number were John de Harcourt, count d'Aumale, and the lord de Barbasan. The last loudly reproached those who had contrived this murder, saying, that they had ruined their master in honour and reputation; and that he had rather have been dead than present at that day, although perfectly ignorant of what was intended to be done. The dauphin, however, on his return to his lodgings after the murder, ordered, by the advice of his ministers, two hundred menat-arms to march to the castle and demand its surrender. On their arrival, admittance was denied them, for those within had posted a party over the drawbridge, and another party in the tower facing the suburbs of the town, where they remained the whole of the night. The detachment from the dauphin walled up the gate leading to the town, and continued inactive until the ensuing morning, when they opened a battery of cannons against one of the gates, and, shortly after, some four or five knights went from the dauphin to signify that the castle must be surrendered, otherwise they would win it by storm, and those that should then be found therein would have their heads cut off. The lords de Joinville and de Montagu made answer, that my lord of Burgundy, their commander, to whom the dauphin had delivered this castle, had intrusted them with the guard thereof, and that they would not surrender it but upon some tokens sent them from their lord. The knights on this went back to the town, and soon returned with sir Anthony du Vergy, who calling to the two aforesaid lords, they replied by asking after his health. He made no answer to this, but said, "Brothers, my lord the dauphin bids me tell you, that if you do not yield the castle to him, and you should be taken within it by storm, he will have you beheaded; but that if you will surrender it and join his party, he will show you every kindness, and divide between you very liberally the different offices in the realm." On hearing this speech, the two lords asked sir Anthony if he knew anything of their lord the duke. To which he made no other reply than by pointing his finger to the ground, and then said, "I would advise you to surrender the castle to my lord the dauphin ;” but they repeated as before, that until they should have some certain intelligence of their lord the duke, who had intrusted them with its defence, they would not surrender. The knights of the dauphin now advanced, and said, "Put on paper what terms you expect, and you shall have an answer." Both parties withdrew, and those in the castle wrote down as follows: In the first place, they demanded to restore the castle into the hands of the duke, who had confided to them the guard of it, or to have a discharge from the same, signed by the duke.—Item, that all those who had been made prisoners by the dauphin's party, and those attending the duke, should have their liberties without paying any ransom.-Item, that all persons, of whatever rank, and of both sexes, now within the castle, should have permission to depart freely with all their effects, and be allowed to go whithersoever they should please.— Item, that a delay of fifteen days be granted for them to continue in the said castle, or until their horses shall arrive.-Item, that passports be given for two hundred men-at-arms that shall come to fetch them, and escort them to such places as they may choose; the said passports to be of force for fifteen days. When these articles had been examined by the dauphin and his council, they were returned to the castle by the same knights who had brought them, who said, that in regard to the person or signature of the duke of Burgundy nothing need be said, for it could not be obtained. With respect to the prisoners, they belong to my lord the dauphin, who will divide among them the several offices in the kingdom, so that no more need be said on that subject. As to the effects in the castle appertaining to the duke of Burgundy, they are the property of my lord the dauphin, who will receive them according to an inventory made thereof, and give a receipt conformable to such inventory to those who have the charge of them. Those within the castle shall be permitted to carry away whatever effects they may have brought thither. With regard to the fifteen days' delay required, it cannot be granted; but my lord the dauphin will have them escorted as far as Bray-sur-Seine. With respect to the passports for two hundred men-at-arms, there will not be any need of them, as they will have a sufficient escort. After much parleying, the lords de Joinville and de Montagu concluded for themselves and their companions a treaty with the dauphin, on condition that they should freely depart, with all their baggage, on yielding up the castle,—and that all the effects of the duke of Burgundy should remain in the possession of the dauphin, and also the lady of Giac, who, as was commonly reported, was consenting to this murder of the duke of Burgundy. Philip Josquin remained behind also: he was afraid to return to the duchess of Burgundy, or to her son the count de Charolois, for he was not in their good graces. This Philip Josquin was a native of Dijon, and son to an armourer of Philip of Burgundy, and for a long time had been beloved more than any of his other servants by the late duke John, who even intrusted him with his private signet, and made him sign his letters, insomuch that there was scarcely any difference between the handwriting of the duke and that which counterfeited it. All this great favour and authority created him many enemies among the princes and lords who repaired to the duke's court; but notwithstanding their hatred, from the situation he was in he amassed great wealth, and built a very handsome house in Dijon. On his leaving that place, he disposed of his money in various parts of Burgundy, Flanders, and elsewhere, which was seized and confiscated by the count de Charolois and given by him to some of his servants,—and this Philip was consequently thus deprived of all his riches. On Monday, the 11th day of September, after the dauphin had held a grand council in the town of Montereau on the state of his affairs, he wrote and despatched letters to the towns of Paris, Rheims, Châlons, and others, to gloss over his having broken the peace, and having perjured himself. The contents of that sent to Paris were as follow: "Dear and well-beloved,—we understand that you are fully sensible how lately we agreed with the duke of Burgundy at a place called Pouilly on the terms of peace, for the obtaining of which we acceded to all his demands. To prevent the destruction of my lord the king and of our realm, among other articles the said duke did engage on his faith and oath, that within one month he would wage war against the English, the ancient enemies of this kingdom. It had been also agreed, that in consequence of this we were to unite our mutual endeavours to reform the grievances and disorders of the government and to join in expelling the common enemy out of the country. On this account we came to the town of Montereau, and waited there the space of eighteen days for the coming of the duke of Burgundy, for whose accommodation we had dislodged from, and assigned to him, the castle, as his residence. Afterward, when we did meet on the terms he had demanded, we amicably remonstrated with him, that notwithstanding his promises and that peace was now between us, he had not waged war against the English, nor had disbanded the troops from the garrisons under his command, according to his solemn engagement, and which we now again required him to do. The duke of Burgundy, in reply, made use of several foolish expressions, and even laid his hand on his sword to attack and disfigure our person, intending, as we were afterward informed, to seize and keep us under his subjection, but from which, however, through Divine mercy, and the attachment of our loyal servants, we were preserved, and he for his mad conduct was put to death on the spot. "We signify the above matters to you, well knowing how much you will rejoice that we have been preserved from such imminent danger; and we most earnestly entreat and command, on that loyalty you have alway had for my lord the king, and for us, that whatever events may happen, you do not fail to make a strong resistance to the enemies of my lord and us; and that you prepare yourselves for war, in which we will aid and comfort you to the utmost of our power, and, thanks to the grace of God, that is sufficiently great. We will that everything that has passed be pardoned and forgotten, and that no retaliations be made on any one, but that an entire oblivion may cover the whole, and that the peace be maintained, the which we promise to keep on the faith and word of the son of a king. Το this effect we have sent our letters to the provost of merchants, the sheriffs and citizens of Paris, that they may be proclaimed and published wherever it may be thought necessary; and for the due observance of what we have said, we are willing to give such securities as may be demanded. We are desirous of preserving the peace with the duke of Burgundy and his friends, and all of his party, on the terms concluded, without infringing it in the smallest degree, being anxious to unite all the faithful subjects of my lord the king to oppose the common enemy. We shall in this warfare personally serve; and we will that you do proclaim these our intentions in all the towns and villages near to and within your several jurisdictions. Dear and well-beloved, may the Lord have you in his holy keeping. Written at Montereau-faut-Yonne, the 11th day of September," and countersigned, "CHARLES CHAMPION." This paper was indorsed, "To our very dear and well-beloved the burghers, clergy, and inhabitants of the town of Paris." To these letters, especially from the towns subject to the Burgundian party, no answer was given. In like manner, sir Clugnet de Brabant, whose quarters were at Vitry, wrote to many of the large towns to detach them from the dauphin; but when he found by their answers that he could not succeed, he made a severe war upon them. |