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wrought with his device, namely, "Du Fusil,"-to each of which, collars were suspended in front, like as great ladies wear crosses, clasps, or diamonds, and in the centre thereof was a golden fleece, similar to what Jason conquered in old times, as is written in the history of Troy, and which no Christian prince had ever before made use of. The duke, therefore, called this order, "The Order of the Golden Fleece."

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He, in conjunction with his council, selected twenty-four knights to be of this order: the names of some of them follow-First, the duke, the founder, then William de Vienne lord de St. George, sir Regnier Pot lord de la Roche, the lord de Roubaise, the lord de Montagu, sir Roland de Huquerque, sir Anthony du Vergy count de Dammartin, sir David de Brimeu lord de Ligny, sir Hugh de Launoy lord de Santes, sir John lord de Commines, sir Anthony de Toulongeon marshal of Burgundy, sir Petro de Luxembourg count de Conversan, sir John de la Trimouille lord de Jonvelles, sir John de Luxembourg lord de Beaurevoir, sir Gillebert de Launoy lord de Villerval, sir John de Villiers lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Anthony lord de Croy and de Renty, sir Florimont de Brimeu lord de Massincourt, sir Robert lord de Mamines, sir James de Brimeu lord de Grigny, sir Baudouin de Launoy lord de Moulembais, sir Peter de Bauffremont lord de Chargny, sir Philip lord de Ternant, sir John de Crequi, sir John de Croy lord de Tours sur Marne.

These knights and their successors were, on receiving the order, to enter into and sign solemn statutes and engagements for its preservation, and the maintaining it in due splendour, which shall be hereafter more fully detailed when the order shall have had its full number of knights,-for, after the first institution of it, many others were added to those above named. The heirs of any knight were bounden, on his decease, to deliver up the collar of the order to the duke of Burgundy, for him to give it to another knight.

CHAPTER LXXX.-THE LORD DE CREVECOEUR AND SIR ROBERT DE SAVEUSES ARE ATTACKED BY THE FRENCH ON THEIR MARCH TO CLERMONT IN THE BEAUVOISIS.

In the month of February of this year, the lord de Crevecoeur, governor of Clermont in Beauvoisis, set out from Amiens to go thither, accompanied by sir Robert de Saveuses and about eight score combatants, as an escort to carts and cars laden with provision for Lent. and other matters. Having passed St. Just, near to St. Remy en l'Aire, they were watched

by the French, who knew of their coming, and instantly attacked. The leaders of the French were sir Theolde Valperghue, sir Regnault de Fontaines, sir Louis de Vaucourt, and others, having a much superior force to the enemy. Notwithstanding this, the lords de Crevecoeur and Saveuses dismounted with their men, the greater part of whom were archers, and defended themselves valiantly for the space of four hours or more, during which many men and horses were killed and severely wounded on both sides. At length, the French, seeing their loss, and that they could not conquer the enemy, returned to their garrisons, and the lord de Crevecoeur and sir Robert de Saveuses continued their march to Clermont, where they remained until the ensuing year, waiting for the coming of the duke of Burgundy.

CHAPTER LXXXI.—FIVE FRENCHMEN COMBAT FIVE BURGUNDIANS AT ARRAS,- AND OTHER

MATTERS.

On the 20th of February, in this same year, a combat took place in the great marketplace at Arras, in the presence of the duke of Burgundy, as judge of the field, between five Frenchmen, of the party of king Charles, and five Burgundians, who had challenged each other to break a certain number of lances. The French knights were sir Theolde de Valperghue, Poton de Saintrailles, sir Philip d'Abrecy, sir William de Bes, and l'Estandart de Nully the Burgundians were sir Simon de Lalain, the lord de Chargny, sir John de Vaulde, sir Nicolle de Menton, and Philibert de Menton.

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This tournament lasted five days; and a large spot was enclosed for the purpose, covered with sand, and the lists constructed with wood, with a division so that the horses of the two knights could not run against each other. The first day, sir Simon de Lalain and sir Theolde de Valperghue performed gallantly against each other; but toward the end sir Theolde and his horse were struck to the ground. In like manner were the ensuing days employed, and very many lances were broken. The lord de Chargny, however, at the thirteenth course against sir Philibert d'Abrecy, struck off the vizor of his helmet, and drove the lance into his face, so that he was instantly carried to his lodgings in the utmost danger. On the last day, sir l'Estandart de Nully was hit exactly in the same manner, by the same Philibert de Menton, and, like the other, was conducted to his lodgings in such great pain, that he could with difficulty s't his horse: he had behaved with much gallantry, and had broken several lances against his adversary.

The French were served with lances by an expert and active man-at-arms called Alardin de Mousay, and most of the Burgundians by sir John de Luxembourg. Each day the duke came to the seat prepared for him, grandly attended by his chivalry, and nobly dressed. When this tournament was over, and the French had been well entertained, and presented with handsome gifts by the duke, they departed from the town of Arras for Compiègue, very disconsolate that they had been so unsuccessful. They left the two wounded knights behind, to be attended by the duke's surgeons, who in the end cured them.

In these days the French on the borders of Beauvoisis, on the river Oise, made daily excursions against those of the Burgundy party, who returned the compliment, although a truce had been sworn to last until the ensuing Easter; and these continual excursions caused the villages and country to be nearly deserted. Duke Philip of Burgundy summoned a large body of men-at-arms to meet him at Peronne, where he and his duchess solemnised the feast of Easter. This done, he marched them to Mondidier, where he remained some days. During these tribulations, the town and castle of Melun surrendered to king Charles. It had been given in charge to the lord de Humieres, who had appointed some of his brothers to defend it, with a certain number of men-at-arms; but the inhabitants rose against them, and drove them out of the town. King Charles and his party were much rejoiced at this event, because they could, by means of its bridge, cross the Seine when they pleased; and it was, beside, the strongest place in all that part of the country.

CHAPTER LXXXII.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY QUARTERS HIS ARMY AT GOURNAY-SUR-ARONDE. [A. D. 1430.]

Ar the commencement of this year, the duke of Burgundy marched his army from Mondidier, and fixed his quarters at Gournay-sur-Aronde, in front of the castle, which belonged to Charles de Bourbon count de Clermont, his brother-in-law. He summoned Tristan de Maguillers, the governor, to surrender, or he would storm it. Tristan, seeing he could no way hold out against the duke's forces, concluded a treaty, by which he engaged to yield it up on the first day of next August, if he was not before relieved by king Charles or his party he also promised, that neither he himself nor his garrison would, during that time, make war on any of the duke's partisans,—and by this means Tristan remained in peace. This compromise had been hastily concluded, because the duke and sir John de Luxembourg had received intelligence to be depended upon, that the damoiseau de Commercy, Yvon du Puys, and other captains, with a very large force, had besieged the castle of Montagu. Commercy, to whom this castle belonged, had marched thither secretly a great number of combatants, with bombards, veuglaires, and other warlike engines, intending, by an unexpected and sharp assault, to recover the place; but it was well defended by those whom sir John de Luxembourg had placed therein. The principal leaders of the garrison were two notable men-at-arms, one of whom was an Englishman, and the other Georges de la Croix. They were frequently summoned to surrender, but would not listen to the summons, for they had not a doubt but that they should be very shortly succoured. At length the besiegers, having learnt that the duke of Burgundy was marching against them, and that they must stand the chance of a battle, were panic-struck, and so great was their fear, that they marched away about midnight for their own garrisons, leaving their cannon, bombards, and all their stores behind. Information of this was instantly dispatched to the duke and sir John de Luxembourg, who made all diligence to attack them, and the duke marched his whole army to Noyon.

In these days sir John de Luxumbourg advanced against Beauvais, and on the countries of the enemy, particularly against sir Louis de Vaucourt and his men, who had remained there for a considerable time during the winter, and set fire to a castle which they had repaired. The enemy retired within the town of Beauvais ; and sir John encamped before the castle of Prouveulieu, which some Englishmen had refortified, and, by their excursions from thence, frequently oppressed the town of Mondidier, and the territories of the duke of Burgundy. They were soon forced to submit to sir John, who had the greater part executed and the rest sent to different prisons: having done this, he returned to the duke of Burgundy at Noyon.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF
CHOISY, WHICH HE CONQUERS IN A FEW DAYS.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy had remained for about eight days in Noyon, he departed, to lay siege to the castle of Choisy sur Oise, in which was Louis de Flavy, holding it for sir William de Flavy. The duke's engines did so much mischief to the walls of the castle that the garrison capitulated, on being allowed to march away with their baggage in safety. So soon as they had quitted the castle, it was demolished and razed to the ground. The duke built a bridge over the Oise, to enable himself and his army to cross toward Compiègne on the side of Mondidier. During this time the lord de Saveuses and John de Brimeu had been appointed to guard the suburbs of Noyon, with their men, and those of the lord Montgomery and of other English captains quartered at Pont l'Evêque, to prevent the garrison of Compiègne from cutting off the supplies from the duke's army.

It happened on a certain day, that those in Compiègne, namely, Joan the Maid, sir James de Chabannes, sir Theolde de Valperghue, sir Regnault de Fontaines, Poton de Saintrailles, and others of the French captains, accompanied by about two thousand combatants, came to Pont l'Evêque between day-break and sun-ris, and attacked the quarters of the English

with great courage. A sharp conflict took place; and the lord de Saveuses with John de Brimeu, with their men, hastened to their support, which renewed the vigour of the English; they together repulsed the French, who had made good progress in their quarters. About thirty were killed on each side,—and the French retreated to Compiègne, whence they had come. The English from that day strengthened their position on all sides, to avoid a similar attack. Shortly afterward, John de Brimeu, going to the duke of Burgundy with about one hundred combatants, was suddenly attacked by a party of French in the forest of Crespy in the Valois, who had come from Attichy for this purpose, and to seek adventures, and without much defence made prisoner. The reason of his being thus taken was because his men followed in a file, and were unable to form into battle-array until the attack had commenced. He was put into the hands of Poton de Saintrailles, who, in the end, gave him his liberty on paying a heavy ransom.

When the duke of Burgundy had demolished the castle of Choisy, he quartered himself in the fortress of Coudun, within a league of Compiègne, and sir John de Luxembourg was lodged in Claroi. Sir Baudo de Noielle was ordered to post himself with a certain number of men-at-arms on the causeway of Marigny, and the lord Montgomery and his men were quartered along the meadows of La Venette. The duke was joined by some reinforcements from his different countries, having the intention to besiege the town of Compiègne, and reduce it to the obedience of king Henry of England.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.—JOAN THE MAID OVERTHROWs franquet d'arras, and

HAS HIS HEAD CUT OFF.

At the beginning of the month of May, a valiant man-at-arms named Franquet of Arras, attached to the duke of Burgundy, was overthrown and taken. He had made an excursion with about three hundred combatants toward Lagny sur Marne, but, on his return, was met by Joan the Maid and four hundred French. Franquet and his men attacked them valiantly several times, and, by means of his archers whom he had dismounted, made so vigorous a resistance that the Maid, finding they gained nothing, sent hastily for succours from the garrisons of Lagny and other castles under the dominion of king Charles. They came in great numbers with culverines, cross-bows, and other warlike instruments, so that in the end the Burgundians, after doing great mischief to the enemy's cavalry, were conquered, and the better part of them put to the sword. The Maid even caused Franquet to be beheaded, whose death was exceedingly lamented by his party, for he was a man of most valiant conduct.

CHAPTER LXXXV.—RENE DUKE OF BAR LAYS SIEGE TO CHAPPES, NEAR TO

TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.

ABOUT this period the duke of Bar, called Réné of Sicily, collected from his duchies of Lorraine and Bar, and the borders of Germany, a considerable force of men-at arms, commanded by that prudent and valiant knight the lord de Barbasan, who, as has been said, was detained by the English for a long time prisoner. The duke's troops might amount to three or four thousand combatants; and he led them to besiege the town of Chappes, three leagues from Troyes, in which were the lord d'Aumont, his brother and many warriors, who diligently applied themselves to its defence. They also sent to the lords of Burgundy, to entreat that they would come to their aid in this time of need. In consequence, sir Anthony de Toulongeon marshal of Burgundy, the count de Joigny, sir Anthony and sir John du Vergy, the lord de Jonvelle, the lord de Chastellux, le veau de Bar, and in general the greater part of the Burgundian nobles, to the number of four thousand combatants, assembled, and advanced toward the quarters of the duke of Bar, to offer him battle.

The duke, knowing of their coming, was drawn up ready to receive them, when the Burgundians were soon thrown into disorder, and returned to their own country. About

sixty were killed or taken: of the latter number were the lord de Plansi and Charles de Rochefort. The lord d'Aumore was also made prisoner, with several of his men, when sallying out of the town to support his friends. His brother was likewise taken, and he was forced to deliver up the castle to the duke of Bar, who completely destroyed it.

CHAPTER LXXXVI.—THE MAID IS TAKEN PRISONER BY THE BURGUNDIANS BEFORE COMPIEGNE.

DURING the time that the duke of Burgundy was quartered at Coudun, and his men-atarms in the villages between Coudun and Compiègne, it happened, that about five o'clock in the afternoon, on Ascension-eve, the Maid, Poton, and other valiant French captains, having with them from five to six hundred combatants horse and foot, sallied out of Compiègne by the gate of the bridge leading to Mondidier, with the intent to attack the post of sir Baudo de Noielle, at the end of the causeway of Marigny. At this time, sir John de Luxembourg, the lord de Crequi, and eight or ten gentlemen, but with very few attendants, were with sir Baudo. They had rode thither to consult with him on the best mode of directing their attacks on Compiègne.

The French were very near to Marigny, before the greater part of the men who were unarmed could prepare themselves; but they soon collected together, and a severe conflict commenced, during which the cries of "To arms!" were echoed through all the English and Burgundian quarters. The English, who were encamped on the meads of Venette, formed themselves into battle-array against the French, and were near five hundred men. On the other hand, sir John de Luxembourg's men quartered at Claroi, hastened to the relief of their lord and captain, who was engaged in the heat of the skirmish, and under whom the most part rallied. In this encounter the lord de Crequi was dangerously wounded in the face.

After some time, the French, perceiving their enemies multiply so fast on them, retreated toward Compiègne, leaving the Maid, who had remained to cover the rear, anxious to bring back the men with little loss. But the Burgundians, knowing that reinforcements were coming to them from all quarters, pursued them with redoubled vigour, and charged them on the plain. In the conclusion, as I was told, the Maid was dragged from her horse by an archer, near to whom was the bastard de Vendôme, and to him she surrendered and pledged her faith. He lost no time in carrying her to Marigny, and put her under a secure guard. With her was taken Poton the Burgundian, and some others, but in no great number. The French re-entered Compiègne doleful and vexed at their losses, more especially for the capture of Joan: while, on the contrary, the English were rejoiced, and more pleased than if they had taken five hundred other combatants, for they dreaded no other leader or captain so much as they had hitherto feared the Maid.

The duke of Burgundy came soon after from Coudun to the meadows before Compiègne, where he drew up his army, together with the English and the troops from their different quarters, making a handsome appearance, and with shoutings and huzzas expressed their joy at the capture of the Maid. After this, the duke went to the lodgings where she was confined, and spoke some words to her; but what they were I do not now recollect, although I was present. The duke and the army returned to their quarters, leaving the Maid under the guard of sir John de Luxembourg, who shortly after sent her, under a strong escort, to the castle of Beaulieu, and thence to that of Beaurevoir, where she remained, as you shall hear, a prisoner for a long time.

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