CHAPTER CXLIII. PROLOGUE TO THE CHRONICLES OF THE MOST CHRISTIAN, MOST MAGNIFICENT, MOST VICTORIOUS, AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS KINGS OF FRANCE, LOUIS XI. OF THE NAME, AND HIS SON CHARLES VIII *. CONSIDERING the saying of Seneca, that it is right to follow the ways of our elders and governors, provided they have acted properly; and remembering the words of the sage, in his Proverbs, that right foolish is he who follows idleness, for according to Ecclesiasticus, she leads to wickedness; I have collected, with the utmost diligence, several facts relative to the reigns of those illustrious princes, Louis XI. and Charles VIII. his son, kings of France, that seemed to me worthy of remembrance; together with many marvellous events that happened during their reigns, as well in the kingdom of France as in the duchies of Brittany, Burgundy, Normandy, Savoy and Lorraine; the counties of Flanders, Artois, and Burgundy; including likewise what may have passed extraordinary in the adjacent countries, and also in the kingdoms of England, Spain, and Sicily, at Rome, in Lombardy, and the duchy of Milan, according to that famous chronicler, eloquent orator, and excellent historian, the late Robert Gaguint, during his lifetime doctor en decret, and general of the order of the Holy Trinity. I have also collected materials from other sources, and have attentively perused and examined the works of those renowned chroniclers master Jean Froissart and Enguerrand de Monstrelet; which last I have followed in what he has written concerning the acts of some of our kings, to the reign of Louis XI. inclusively; and, with reverence be it spoken, I have recapitulated some things omitted by him relative to the actions of king Louis, because, peradventure, he had not been truly informed of them, for it is very difficult to acquire a true knowledge of all the gallant and courageous deeds of such magnificent princes as the kings of France. From these causes, I have deliberately determined (soliciting the aid of an all-powerful God, who can do every thing,) to write and publish several things worthy of remembrance, while I am now in this far-famed and populous town of Paris, not with a view to correct or amend the said Enguerrand de Monstrelet or others, for I do not undertake that charge, but like a faithful and loyal Frenchman, and as such I wish to remain, to avoid idleness, the parent and nurse of iniquity, and to exhibit the acts of our sovereign princes, which ought to be remembered, if done justly and rightly. There are likewise many who take delight in hearing of the noble deeds, prowess and marvels that have happened in different parts of the world, that they may take example from them, by following the good, and avoiding the bad, as precedents to be eschewed. I have, therefore, composed this small work, trifling in regard to the author, but great in regard to the acts and triumphs of princes. I do not, however, wish that it may be styled a chronicle; for that would be unbecoming in me, for I have solely written it for an amusement and recreation to readers, praying them humbly to excuse and supply my ignorance by correcting whatever passage shall be found badly written. Many strange events which I have described have happened in such distant countries, that it is difficult for me or for any one else to know the exact truth of the facts I have related: however, without any partiality, I have endeavoured to describe the whole truly, according to the before ment son inclination et son devoir, en faisant leur bonheur on rendoit à ses vertus les respects dûs à son rang. Son commerce étoit aimable, il étoit sensible au plaisir, il aimoit extrêmement les femmes, et sa cour étoit la plus galante de l'Europe. En rendant justice à la vertu de ce prince, on ne doit pas dissimuler, qu'il s'en écarta quelquefois. Il porta trop loin sa vengeance contre ceux de Dinant; et son ambition, soutenue d'une conduite prudente, lui fit faire plusieurs usurpations." The count de Charolois was the only legitimate offspring that survived him. His illegitimate children were very numerous, and many of the principal families in the Low Countries were descended from them. Though very munificent and splendid on proper occasions, duke Philip had, by his wise administration, without in the least impoverishing his states, amassed a treasure amounting to 400,000 crowns of gold in monoy, and 62,000 marks of silver in plate, all which was soon dissipated by his son in his extravagant and unneces sary wars. *See the note at the end of Book II. Robert Gaguin-was born at Amiens, and died at Paris 1501, having been employed in divers embassics by Charles VIII. and Louis XII.-Seo Moreri, &c. mentioned authors, and shall begin where Enguerrand de Monstrelet left off, having first recapitulated some parts of his chronicle where there may have been any omissions, until the deaths of the aforesaid kings Louis and Charles. CHAPTER CXLIV.—SOME RECAPITULATIONS OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE OF MONTLEHERY BY MONSTRELET; WITH THE ADDITION OF FACTS WHICH HE HAD OMITTED. THAT master chronicler Enguerrand de Monstrelet, having described in his third volume the acts of several kings and gallant knights, concludes his work by relating the death and magnificent funeral of Philip duke of Burgundy, father to duke Charles, lately deceased in the town of Nancy in Lorraine. In the course of his chronicle, he has given an account of the pompous coronation of king Louis XI. at Rheims, and of his joyous entry into Paris, the capital of France. He afterward amply treated of the war and battle of Montlehery, which he has perhaps spoken of and described with partiality, according to his pleasure and feelings; for I have read, besides what he has related, that at this battle of Montlehery, which was fought on Tuesday the 6th day of July, in the year 1465, the king of France coming with all haste from beyond Orleans to Paris, halted at early morn at Chastres, under Montlehery, and that having taken scarcely any refreshment, and without waiting for his escort, which was, for its number, the handsomest body of cavalry ever raised in France, he so valiantly attacked the army of the count de Charolois and his Burgundians that he put to the rout the van division. Many of them were slain, and numbers taken prisoners. News of this was speedily carried to Paris, whence issued forth upward of thirty thousand persons, part of whom were well mounted; and in scouring the country they fell in with parties of Burgundians who were flying, and made them prisoners. They defeated also those from the villages of Vanvres, Issi, Sevres, Saint Cloud, Arcueil, Surennes, and others. At this rencounter, great booty was gained from the Burgundians, so that their loss was estimated at two hundred thousand crowns of gold. After the van had been thus thrown into confusion, the king, not satisfied with this success, but desirous to put an end to the war, without taking any refreshments or repose, attacked the main body of the enemy with his guards and about four hundred lances: but the Burgundians had then rallied, and advanced their artillery, under the command of the count de St. Pol, who did on that day the greatest service to the count de Charolois. The king was hard pressed in his turn, insomuch that at times he was in the utmost personal danger, for he had but few with him, was without artillery, and was always foremost in the heat of the battle; and considering how few his numbers were, he maintained the fight valiantly and with great prowess. It was the common report of the time, that if he had had five hundred more archers on foot, he would have reduced the Burgundians to such a state, that nothing more would have been heard of them for some time in war. The count de Charolois, on this day, lost his whole guard,-and the king also lost the greater part of his. The count was twice made prisoner by the noble Geoffroy de Saint Belin* and Gilbert de Grassy, but was rescued each time. Towards evening, the Scots carried off the king, that he might take some refreshments; for he was tired and exhausted, having fought the whole of the day without eating or drinking, and led him away quietly, and without noise, to the castle of Montlehery. Several of the king's army not having seen him thus led off the field, and missing him, thought he was either slain or taken, and took to flight. For this reason, the count du Maine, the lord admiral de Montaulban, the lord de la Bardet, and other captains, with seven or eight hundred lances, abandoned the king in this state, and fled, without having struck a blow during the whole of the day. Hence it is notorious, that if all the royal army who were present at this battle had behaved as courageously as their king, they would have gained a lasting victory over the Burgundians ; for the greater part of them were defeated, and put to flight. Many indeed were killed. on Bailli de Chamont. He was killed in the battle. Jean Sturer, lord de la Barde. the king's side, as well as on that of the enemy; for after the battle was ended, there were found dead on the field three thousand six hundred, whose souls may God receive! I shall not say more respecting this battle of Montlehery, as related by Monstrelet; for it has been amply detailed by him, although he may have been silent as to the whole truth of it. I have somewhere read, that, prior to this battle, the Burgundians arrived at the town of St. Denis on a Friday, the 5th day of July, in this same year, and attempted to cross the bridge of St. Cloud (as Monstrelet says), but were this time repulsed by the gallant resistance of the nobles and other valiant French. The Burgundians then made an attempt on the following Sunday, the 7th of July, to alarm Paris; but they gained nothing, for some of their men were slain by the artillery on the walls, and the rest returned in haste to St. Denis. The next day they appeared again before the walls of Paris, and some with all their artillery; but before they displayed the whole of their force, they sent four heralds to the four different gates. Over the gate of St. Denis, as commanders for the day, were master Pierre l'Orfevre, lord of Ermenonville, and master Jean de Poppincourt, lord of Cercelles, from whom the heralds required provision for their army, and permission for it to march through Paris. These demands they made with haughtiness and menaces; and while the captains were listening to them, and before they could give any answers, the Burgundians (thinking to surprise the Parisian guard, and those who were posted at the gates and barriers), advanced with a great body of men-at-arms as far as St. Ladre, and even farther, intending to gain the newly-erected barriers in the suburbs, and in front of that gate,-firing at the same cannons, serpentines, and other artillery; but they were so valiantly resisted by the inhabitants of Paris, and others resident therein, that they were repulsed. Joachim Rohault came in person with his men to this conflict, in which many of the Burgundians were slain and wounded, which caused them to make a precipitate retreat without attempting anything more. They were afterward drawn up in battle-array before Paris, as has been already related by Enguerrand de Monstrelet. CHAPTER CXLV.-A TRUE ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL EVENTS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE REIGNS OF KING CHARLES VII. AND HIS SON LOUIS XI. WHICH HAVE BEEN OMITTED, OR SLIGHTLY MENTIONED, IN THE CHRONICLE OF ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET. In order to make a regular report of many events that happened in France and in the adjoining countries, I shall begin at the year 1460, during the reign of king Charles VII. of France. At the commencement of this year, the rivers Seine and Marne were greatly swelled; and the Marne, near to St. Maur des Fossés, rose in one night the height of a man, and did very great damage to all the country round. This river caused such an inundation at the village of Claye* that it swept away a mansion of the bishop of Meaux, which had lately had two handsome towers added to it, with fair apartments, having glass windows and mats, and richly furnished with beds, tapestry, and wainscoting; all of which the river destroyed and carried away. An unfortunate accident happened at the same time to the steeple of the church of the abbey of Fêcamp, in Normandy, by lightning striking it and setting it on fire, so that all the bells were completely melted into one mass, which was a heavy loss to that abbey. At this same time, all France was wondering at the intelligence of a young girl about eighteen years old, doing many wonderful things in the town of Mans. It was said, that she was tormented by the devil, and from this cause she leaped high in the air, screamed, and foamed at the mouth, with many other astonishing gestures, by which she deceived all who came to see her. At length it was discovered to be a trick of a wicked mad girl, instigated to these follies and devilments by certain officers of the bishop of Mans, who maintained her, and did with her as they pleased, which they wished to conceal, by means of those tricks which they had induced her to play. *Claye, a village in Brie, between Paris and Meaux, four leagues from Meaux. I have found, towards the latter end of the chronicle of king Charles VII. by the aforesaid Robert Gaguin, that in consequence of outrages offered to king Henry of England by Richard duke of York and the earl of Warwick, the duke of York was, shortly afterward, put to death on the plains of Saint Albans, by the duke of Somerset, cousin and friend to the said king Henry, accompanied by others of his relatives and party, (as has been more fully related by Monstrelet), and for this cause the most victorious king Charles VII. had proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, on the 3d of February, in this same year, at Rouen, and throughout the towns on the sea-coast of Normandy, his will and pleasure that all Englishmen, of whatever rank, dress, or numbers, of the party of king Henry of England and of queen Margaret, should be suffered to land without any molestation or hinderance, without the necessity of their having any passports from him, and that they should be allowed thenceforward to remain peaceably in his kingdom so long as they should please. This conduct shows the great courtesy and liberality of Charles VII.; for he offered the free entrance into his kingdom to that king Henry, and to his adherents, who had oftentimes done all in his power to annoy him, as his most mortal enemy. On Tuesday the 21st day of July, in the year 1461, and on the day preceding the death of king Charles VII. a very bright comet was seen traversing the firmament, which, according to some, was a sign of the death of so great a prince, and of other great events that were to happen. Wednesday the 22d, the feast of the glorious virgin Mary, king Charles departed this life, about two hours after mid-day, at the town of Mehun-sur-Yevre. I pray, therefore, devoutly to God that his soul may repose in the blessed regions of Heaven; for he had ever been a prudent and valiant prince, and left his kingdom free from all external enemies, in peace, with justice restored to his subjects. But his death, and noble interment in the church of St. Denis, has been already described by Enguerrand de Monstrelet, who also speaks of the coronation of king Louis XI. at Rheims, and of his joyous entry into Paris, and the feasts celebrated on the occasion. But I find in another chronicle of king Louis what has been omitted by Monstrelet, that the said king when making his entry, on the last day of August, passed over the Pont-aux-Changes, whereon were represented many pageants,—and it was hung all over. At the moment the king passed, two hundred dozen of birds, of all descriptions, were let fly, which the birdcatchers of Paris are bounden by charter to do on such occasions; for it is on this bridge that on feast-days they have their market for the sale of all sorts of singing-birds, and others, according to their pleasure. All the streets through which the new king passed were hung with tapestries. He went to the church of Notre Dame, to perform his devotions, and thence returned to sup and lodge at bis royal palace, as is customary, and which has been before related. On the morrow, the first of September, the king quitted the palace, and fixed his lodgings at his hôtel of the Tournelles, where he resided for some time. While there, he made many new regulations for the better government of his kingdom, and displaced several from their offices, such as the chancellor Juvenal des Ursins*, the marshal† and admiral ‡ of France, the first president of the parliament of Paris, the provost of Paris§, and many others,-and in their places appointed others. He also dismissed some of the masters of requests, secretaries, counsellors, and clerks of the treasury, of the court of parliament, of the chamber of accounts, and from the treasury and mint, replacing them with new ones. The 3d of September in this year, king Louis, with some of his nobles and gentlemen of his household, supped at the hôtel of master William Corbie, then counsellor in his court of parliament, but whom he created first president of his parliament of Dauphiny. At this entertainment were present many notable damsels and citizens' wives of Paris. During the This chancellor was succeeded by Pierre de Morvillier, who held the seals to the year 1465. The marshal, who was thus displaced, appears by 1st. of Cominges, and 2nd. Joachim Roualt, lord of Boismenard. The admiral, the count de Sancerre, succeeded by the lord de Montauban. § John d'Estouteville, lord of Beyne, succeeded by Jacques de Villiers, lord of l'Isle Adam.-See afterwards chap. 152. king's stay at Paris, he partook of several entertainments, in divers hôtels of that city, with the utmost good-humour. Having taken handsome leave of that town, he departed for Amboise, as has been already told in the chronicles of Monstrelet, who speaks at great length of the actions of Philip duke of Burgundy and of his son the count de Charolois. In the year 1460, nothing memorable happened, that deserved being noticed in any of the chronicles. The ensuing year was, I find, very productive in wines of a good quality in different countries: as for other matters relating to princes, they have been fully detailed in the chronicles before-mentioned. CHAPTER CXLVI.-THE KING OF FRANCE COMES TO PARIS, AND RETURNS TO ROUEN.THE BASTARD DE REUBEMPRÉ IS ARRESTED ON THE COAST OF HOLLAND. THE KING GOES TO TOURS AND OTHER PLACES, AND THEN TO POITIERS, WHITHER THE PARISIANS SEND HIM A DEPUTATION RESPECTING CERTAIN OF THEIR FRANCHISES.-AMBASSADORS ARRIVE THERE FROM THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, WHO CARRY OFF THE DUKE OF BERRY.-THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS.THE DUKE OF BOURBON MAKES WAR ON THE KING OF FRANCE, AND OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE YEAR MCCCCLXIV. OMITTED BY MONSTRELET, AND SOME FACTS RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF THE GOOD POPE PIUS II., AND CONCERNING POPE PAUL II., MORE THAN IS CONTAINED IN THE SAID CHRONICLES. On the 7th day of May, in the year 1464, the king of France came to Paris from Nogentle-Roi*, where his queen had been delivered of a fair daughter. The king supped that night at the hôtel of master Charles d'Orgemont, lord of Mery, and discussed some public affairs. He left Paris for the borders of Picardy, expecting to meet there the ambassadors from king Edward of England, who did not keep their appointment: finding they did not come, the king departed thence for Rouen and other places in Normandy. At this time, a bylander was taken off the coast of Holland, by some Flemish vessels,-which bylander had on board the bastard of Reubempré, with others, who were all made prisoners. The Flemings and Picards, after this capture, published everywhere, that the king of France had sent the bastard de Reubempré with an armed force to seize and carry off the count de Charolois, of which there were no proofs. The king soon left Normandy on his return to Nogent-le-Roi, and thence went to Tours, Chinon, and Poitiers. At this last place, a deputation from Paris waited on him, respecting certain of their privileges; but they obtained little or nothing, except a remission of the tax on fairs, which was a trifle, and even that they did not enjoy, although a donation had been made them of it, because the court of accounts, to whom the orders for the remission had been addressed, would not expedite the proper powers. Nearly at the same time, ambassadors from the duke of Brittany arrived at Poitiers, with some propositions to the king, who, having heard what they had to say, assented to the greater part of their demands. On this being done, the ambassadors promised that the duke should come to Poitiers, or elsewhere, according to the good pleasure of the king, to ratify and confirm what had been agreed on and granted by his majesty. The ambassadors then took their humble leave of the king, and, on their departure, pretended to return home; but their intentions were otherwise,- for, on setting out from Poitiers on a Saturday, they only went four leagues, and remained there until the Monday, when the duke of Berry left Poitiers secretly, during the absence of his brother the king, and joined them. The ambassadors received him with joy, and made all haste to carry him with them to Brittany, fearing they would be pursued the moment the king should learn his brother's escape. After the departure of the duke of Berry from Poitiers, many others went into Brittany; among the rest, the duke of Orleans left Poitiers; but he was shortly after seized with so dangerous an illness at Châtelherault, that it proved fatal to him, and he was buried in the church of St. Sauveur, in the castle of Blois. Nogent-le-Roi,-a town in Beauce, near Maintenon. |