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with her attendants at Châtillon-sur-Seine, while the duke marched to lay siege to Mussil'Evêque, in the possession of the French. Great preparations were made, and many pieces of artillery were pointed against the gates and walls. The garrison once intended making an obstinate defence; but when they saw how numerous and well-appointed were the duke's forces, and found they had no hope of succour, after eight days' siege, they capitulated to surrender the place, on having their lives and fortunes spared. On the conclusion of this treaty, they marched away under the duke's passports for St. Florentin.

When the duke had appointed a new garrison, he went to the duchess at Châtillon, and his men-at-arms advanced toward the county of Tonnerre.

CHAPTER CXLI.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RECONQUERS SEVERAL PLACES WHICH THE FRENCH HAD WON IN BURGUNDY.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy had sojourned some days at Châtillon, he ordered the duchess to go to Dijon, where she was most honourably received, and he himself went after his army. He had Lussigines and Passy besieged; and the first was so hard pressed that the garrison surrendered on having their lives spared, but giving up their effects. Those of Passy also gave hostages to surrender on the first day of September following, unless the duke and his army should be fought withal and beaten by his adversaries before that time. Many other castles and forts held by the French, who were much alarmed at the great power of the duke of Burgundy, were yielded up to him; namely, Danlermoine, Herny, Coursaint, Scealefloug, Maligny, Saint Phalle, Sicry, Sabelly, and others, to the amount of twenty-four. After these surrenders, the duke went to Dijon, and his captains and menat-arms were quartered over the country. Sir John de Croy was the commander-in-chief at all these sieges of places that submitted to the obedience of the duke of Burgundy,

CHAPTER CXLII.-GILLES DE POSTELLES IS ACCUSED OF TREASON TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND BEHEADED.

In this year a gentleman of Hainault was accused of treason against the duke of Burgundy. His name was Gilles de Postelles, who had been brought up as a dependant on the dowagercountess of Hainault, aunt to the said duke. He was charged with having practised with divers of the nobles of that country to put the duke to death by shooting him with an arrow, or by some other means, while hunting in the forest, whither he would accompany him. For this cause, he was arrested in the mansion of the countess, at Quesnoy, by sir William de Lalain*, bailiff of Hainault. When he had been strictly examined and tortured, he was beheaded and quartered in the market-place of Mons, and his quarters were sent to be placed in the four principal towns of that country. One of his servants was beheaded with him; but John de Vendeges, to whom he had discovered his plot, fled the country, and afterward, by means of different excuses, and through the interest of his friends, was pardoned by the duke. The countess of Hainault was strongly suspected of being implicated in this affair, but nothing was clearly proved against her.

* Of this family, ("a family," says Comines, "of great and brave men, who for the most part found their deaths in fighting for their native princes,") was Otho lord de Lalain, who died in 1441, at the advanced age of 108 years. His eldest son William, who succeeded him in his honours, and was bailiff of Hainault and Holland, is the person here

mentioned. He died in 1444. Sansay, the second son of Otho, married the heiress of the family of Robesarte, and Simon, the third son, has been already mentioned, unless that be another Simon, the first-cousin of Otho. See ante, p. 585.

CHAPTER CXLIII.—THE FRENCH WIN BY SCALADO THE TOWN OF CRESPY IN THE VALOIS.OTHER MATTERS.

WHILE these things were passing, a party of king Charles's adherents won by scalado, at day-break, the town of Crespy in the Valois from the English. The bastard de Thian was governor; and he, with part of the garrison, and the inhabitants were made prisoners: innumerable mischiefs were done to the town, for the French treated it in their usual manner to a conquered place.

On the eve of the feast of the Ascension, in this year, the commonalty of Ghent rebelled against the duke's officers and the magistrates. But the principal sheriff posted himself with the banner of the counts of Flanders in the market-place well accompanied, before the rebels had time to collect together, who, perceiving that they could not now carry their intentions into effect, fled from the town; some of them, however, were taken, and punished by the magistrates of Ghent.

In these days the town of Bruyeres, in the Laonnois, was won from king Charles by sir John de Luxembourg's men, commanded by Villemet de Hainau, governor of Montagu. This capture caused great alarm in the adjoining places, for they expected a strong garrison would be posted therein to attack them; and they, consequently, reinforced themselves as much as they could, to be enabled to resist them.

CHAPTER CXLIV. -THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT BEFORE PASSY.HE BESIEGES THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF AVALON.

WHEN the first day of September was come, the duke of Burgundy (having previously sent his orders to all those who had been accustomed to serve under him) made his appearance before Passy according to the terms of the capitulation. He was there joined, by orders of king Henry, by the lord de l'Isle-Adam marshal of France, and sir John Talbot*, with sixteen hundred combatants. The duke received them joyfully, and made very handsome presents to these lords and to their men. The French, however, did not appear; and the garrison, in consequence, surrendered the place to the duke of Burgundy, and marched away under his passports.

The duke then sent a detachment to surround Avalon, of which was captain one called Fort Espice, having under him two hundred men-at-arms, the flower of the army, and renowned in war. They made an obstinate defence. The principal Burgundian lords among the besiegers were, the lord de Charny, Philibert de Vaudray, and others,—from Picardy were, sir John bastard de St. Pol, the lord de Humieres, and many noblemen, who advanced with great courage, and encamped near to the ditches. Several engines were pointed against the gates and walls, and damaged them greatly, breaches being made in divers parts.

The besiegers now thought to take the place by storm, and made a vigorous attack, but were gallantly repulsed. However, the garrison, foreseeing that they could not hold out longer, and having no hopes of succour, they fled by night in much disorder, through a postern that had been neglected by the enemy. Their flight was soon known, and the Burgundians lost no time in arming and pursuing them, so that falling courageously upon them, they took and slew many. Fort Espice and some others saved themselves by flight. The town was now suddenly attacked, and won without resistance. The wife of Fort Espice was made prisoner, with many of his men and some peasants,—and everything that was found in the place was plundered and carried away.

This is the great Talbot, created earl of Shrewsbury in 1442.

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 ariny,-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 Guienue. He was grandson of Ingerger, surnamed "the great," who married Isabel heiress of Thouars, and widow of the mar shal 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,

[graphic][subsumed]

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 Penthievre, who

John V, count of Sar cerre, 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 JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG RE-CONQUERS THE ASTLE OF HAPHINCOURT.

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 Martiu 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 John II., lord of Beausault, and uncle of Anthony, who was slain at Verneuil, and of John, in whom the direct line of this younger branch ended in 1427.

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