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money according to what alloy the English pleased to put on it, or in ingots of refined gold and silver, which was not done in other countries; and this the deacons of the trades vouched to be true.

When this harangue, which was very long, was concluded, the majority of the sheriffs and deacons, without deliberation, or fixing a day to consult with the other members of their body, consented to support the war, and would not listen to some wise and ancient lords, who were of a contrary opinion. But what is more, when news of this was spread through the other towns of Flanders, the whole country was eager for war; and it seemed to many to proceed too slowly, for they were impatient to display how well provided they were with arms and warlike habiliments. They proceeded thus arrogantly and pompously; for in truth it seemed to them that Calais could not be able to withstand their arms. The duke of Burgundy made similar applications to the other towns and castlewicks in Flanders for their aid in the war, and all liberally supported him. He also went to Holland, to solicit from the Hollanders shipping against Calais, who complied with the greater part of his demands. He thence returned home to make great preparations for his war against the English, and to conquer Calais.

While these matters were going forward, several enterprises had been undertaken by the English and Burgundians against each other. The duke of Burgundy, on his return to Picardy, sent thence six hundred combatants, under the lord de Ternant, sir Simon de Lalain and other captains, to reinforce the lord de Isle-Adam at Pontoise, and to guard the frontier against the English, who were making a sharp attack on that town, although it was but lately won from them by the lord de l'Isle-Adam. A party of French joined these Picards, and made frequent attempts to gain the city of Paris.

During this time, king Charles's queen was brought to bed of a son, to whom the king gave the baptismal name of Philip, after the duke of Burgundy.* The sponsors for the duke were Charles duke of Bourbon and Charles d'Anjou, brother to the queen. When the christening was over, the king sent a pursuivant with letters to the duke of Burgundy, to inform him of what he had done, and to express a wish that it might be agreeable to him. The duke was much pleased with the news, and made the pursuivant presents becoming a prince. The duke, in the mean time, continued to make requests throughout his dominions for succours of men and money, to carry on with effect his war against the English.

CHAPTER CXCVIII. THE CITY OF PARIS IS REDUCED TO THE OBED IENCE OF CHARLES KING OF FRANCE.

[A. D. 1436.]

Ar the beginning of this year, the count de Richemont, constable of France, the bastard of Orleans, the lords de la Roche, de l'Isle-Adam, de Ternant, sir Simon de Lalain, his brother Sausse, with other French and Burgundian captains, collected a force of about six thousand combatants, and marched from Pontoise toward Paris, in the hope of gaining admittance, through the intrigues of the lord de l'Isle-Adam, with the partisans of the Burgundian faction within that city. Having remained there from four to five hours, seeing they could not succeed, they quartered themselves at Aubervilliers, Montmartre, and other places around. On the morrow, they attacked the town of St. Denis, wherein were from four to five hundred English, and won it by storm. About two hundred English were slain, and the rest fled to the abbey, where they were besieged, but soon surrendered on having their lives spared, with the reservation of some of the natives, who were to remain at the discretion of the conquerors.

The next day, which was a Thursday, sir Thomas Beaumont, lately arrived at Paris with six hundred fighting men from Normandy, marched from Paris to St. Denis, to inquire into the state of the French. When they perceived him, they made a sally with a large force, and almost immediately defeated him. Three hundred and eighty were killed or made

*This prince, the second son of Charles VII., died in his infancy.

prisoners, and among the last was sir Thomas: the rest escaped by flying to Paris, pursued to the very gates. The Parisians most inclined to the duke of Burgundy, namely, those in the quarter of the market-place, and some few of the university, with Michael Lallier and others of the principal citizens, seeing the great loss the English had suffered, and so large a force of French and Burgundians under their walls, assembled in parties, and resolved to This they made known to the drive out the English and admit the others into their town. He sent lord de l'Isle-Adam, that he might inform the other captains of their intentions. notice thereof to the constable and the nobles, who, eager to gain Paris, marched from St. Denis in handsome array, very early on the Friday morning. In the mean time, Louis de Luxembourg, bishop of Therouenne, the bishops of Lisieux and of Meaux, the lord Willoughby, and others of the English party, suspecting that the commonalty were about to turn against them, posted their men in the street of St. Antony, near to the Bastille, which they filled with provision and warlike stores. They kept their men armed, and on their guard, to retreat thither should there be occasion.

When the French and Burgundians were come before Paris, to the gate of St. James, on the other side of the Seine toward Montlehery, they sent the lord de l'Isle-Adam to hold a parley with the inhabitants on the ramparts. He displayed to them a general amnesty from king Charles for all that was passed, sealed with his great seal,-admonishing them, at the same time, to surrender instantly to their lawful king and lord, at the request of the duke of Burgundy, as they were now reconciled, for that they had been ever steadily attached to The Parisians, hearing the duke, and under his government they would still remain. these soft speeches from the lord de l'Isle-Adam and his confederates, were so much pleased Ladders were now hastily that they agreed, shortly after, to admit them into the city. placed against the walls, by which the lord de l'Isle-Adam mounted and entered the town. A large body of He was followed by the bastard of Orleans and numbers of their men. the Burgundy faction and of the commonalty met them, shouting, " Peace! Long live king Charles, and the duke of Burgundy!"

Soon after, the gates were thrown open, and the constable entered, with the other lords and their men-at-arms. They advanced toward the Bastille, whither the bishops and those of the English party had retreated, with a show of making some resistance; but it was vain, for their enemies were too numerous. They were, therefore, repulsed at the first onset, and a few killed and made prisoners. Barriers were now erected before the gate of the Bastille with large timber, and men-at-arms posted in the Tournelles and adjoining parts, to prevent the English from making any sallies. All their effects were now seized and plundered, and those who had been their principal supporters were imprisoned, and their property confiscated. New officers were also appointed, in the name of king Charles, for the government of the town.

The bishop of Therouenne, lord Willoughby, and the others in the Bastille, held a parley with the French; and, by means of the lord de Ternant and sir Simon de Lalain, it was concluded that, on the surrender of the Bastille, those within should be allowed to depart in safety, with all their effects. They had a passport from the constable, under which they went by land and water to Rouen. The Parisians, at their departure, set up a grand shouting at them, crying out, "à la queue! *" Thus was the city of Paris reduced to the obedience of king Charles. The English, after passing the gate leading to the country, went round to embark at the back of the Louvre. The bishop of Therouenne lost all the rich ornaments of his chapel; and the greater part of his jewels and valuable rings fell to the lot of the constable. However, he was much favoured by the lord de Ternant and sir Simon de Lalain; and they restored to him some of his wealth, which was dispersed in different parts of the town.

The standard of the duke of Burgundy was displayed at all the gates, as an inducement for the Parisians to turn to his party. Some new knights were created on this occasion by

In the French Dictionary of Richelet, it is thus ex- themselves in a file, and the leader, making a half-wheel plained: à la queue leu leu, (Continenti serie ludere) round, drags the rest after him, endeavouring to catch hold a kind of play, which means, "the tail of the wolf." To of the last in the file. play à la queue leu leu, is said when children place

the constable, from the country of Picardy, namely, Sausse de Lalain and Robert de Neufville, with others of the French. The constable remained for a long time in Paris after this conquest,--and with him the lord de Ternant, who was made provost. The aforesaid sir Sausse de Lalain, the bastard of Orleans, and others of the French and Picards, now returned to the places they had come from.

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CHAPTER CXCIX.-ARTHUR, COUNT DE RICHEMONT, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, MAKES WAR ON THE HEIR OF COMMERCY.

In this year, the count de Richemont, constable of France, advanced into Champagne with a large body of troops to make war on the heir of Commercy and others, who were disobedient to king Charles, and had greatly annoyed that and the surrounding countries. On his arrival, he took Laon, some leagues from Rheims, and thence marched to Braine *, belonging to the lord of Commercy; but as it was too strong and well garrisoned, and refused to submit, he passed on to Saint Menehould, in the possession of Henry de la Tour, who gave it up on capitulation.

The constable was here joined by the youth Everard de la Marche, who made an agreement with him for his men to lay siege to Chavensy†. The constable gave him several of his captains and their men: with these he commenced the siege of Chavensy about eight days after Easter, by erecting a strong block-house, wherein he quartered about four hundred of his troops and a number of common people, who came thither at times from the low countries. Everard had with him the constable's lieutenant named Jean de Malatrait, sir John Geoffry de Conurant, and the provost of the marshals, Tristan de l'Hermite, and also Pierre d'Orgy, Yvon du Puys, the Arragonian Estienne Diest, le grand Pierre, and others, men of renown, who remained full four months carrying on a severe war against this garrison, which, nevertheless defended themselves with prudence and ability.

While this was going forward, a party of the besieging army kept the open country, with the intent of harassing in other places the heir of Commercy, who was always on his guard, and well attended by men-at-arms. He learnt from his spies, that his adversaries were quartered at the village of Romaignet, in Champagne; and before they could be prepared to resist him, he made a sudden attack on them at eight of the clock in the morning, and totally defeated them. About sixty were slain, among whom were Alain Geron bailiff of Senlis, Geoffry de Morillon, Pierre d'Orgy, Alain de la Roche, Olivier de la Jouste, the bastard of Villebranche, and many other gentlemen. Six score were made prisoners,—and in the number was one Blanchelaine.

The heir of Commercy § retreated after this defeat,—and when news of it was carried to the besiegers of Chavensy, they were greatly surprised. Everard de la Marche || was not cast down by this misfortune, but gained to his party the count de Vernembourg, who in person, attended by his two sons, and accompanied by four or five hundred combatants, went to this siege. He carried with him, likewise, sir Hugh Tauxte and sir Herault de Gourgines, governors of Ainville¶, the children of Brousset, and many more great lords, who remained at this siege until the night of St. John's day,-when the besieged made a grand sally, and set fire to the quarters of the besiegers. They were successful in throwing the enemy into confusion, and slew from two to three hundred, among whom were Estienne Diest and the Arragonian. Another skirmish took place, when one of the sons of the count de Vernembourg was killed, and the great block-house set on fire by means of rockets. The besiegers, having suffered severely in these sallies, decamped, when their quarters were burnt.

* Braine, near Compiègne.

+ Chavensy. Q.

La Romaigne,-near Rethel in Champagne.

§ Robert de Sarbuck, lord of Commercy, son of Amé, lord of Commercy, and Mary, daughter of John lord of Chateau-Vilain, married, in 1417, Jane countess of Roucy and Braine; and John, their eldest son, here called the

heir of Commercy, became count of Roucy and Braine by the donation of his mother in 1439.

|| Everard III., de la Marck, lord of Aremberg, &c. and by marriage of Sedan, was of a younger branch of the family of the counts of la Marck, dukes of Cleves, &c.

¶ Ainville, on the frontiers of Champagne and Lorraine.

Angillebert de Dolle and Girard de Marescoup commanded in Chavensy, during this siege, for the lord de Commercy, with about two hundred fighting men. During this time, the constable had reduced to obedience the towns of Nampteuil-sur-Aine*, *, Han-les-Moinest, Bourg, and other castles, on his presenting himself before them.

CHAPTER CC.-THE BISHOP OF LIEGE AND THE LIEGEOIS DESTROY BOUSSEUVRES, AND

OTHER FORTS THAT HAD MADE WAR AGAINST THEM.

At the end of the month of April, the bishop of Liege raised a large force to combat and reduce to obedience several forts in the forest of the Ardennes, held by a set of plunderers, who had done much mischief to the inhabitants of his territories. The principal leaders and supporters of these marauders were Jean de Beaurain, Philipot de Sergins, the lord d'Orchimont, and others, who made the castle of Boussenoch, Villers opposite to Mousson, Aubigny, Beaurain, Orchimont, and several other castles in these parts, their retreats. Some of them gave out that they were attached to the king of France, others to the duke of Burgundy, but the greater part to sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny; while two of them, John de Beaurain and Philipot de Sergins, made war on their own account, to recover sums due to them for services they had done the Liegeois.

The bishop, through the aid of the nobles of the country, assembled from two to three thousand horse, and from twelve to sixteen thousand infantry, well equipped, and armed each according to his rank he had also three or four thousand carts laden with provision, military engines, and stores of all kinds. The bishop, on quitting Liege, advanced to Dinant, and thence across the river Meuse. Having marched through woods for five leagues, his forces halted two days at Rigniues, to wait for the baggage, which travelled slowly on account of the badness of the roads. At this place, the bishop formed his army into four divisions, namely, two of cavalry, and the same number of infantry,-and, riding down their fronts, admonished every one to perform his duty well.

He despatched part of his cavalry to post themselves before the castle of Boussenoch, while he followed with the main body, and on his arrival surrounded it on all sides, placing his bombards and engines against the walls and gates of the castle, in which were about twenty pillagers, greatly surprised to see so large an army before the gates. The Liegeois set instantly to work, and soon drained the ditches by sluices which they cut, while others brought faggots and filled them, so that they began to storm the place with such vigour that the bulwark was instantly won. Those within retreated to a large tower, and defended themselves for a long time; but it was of no avail, for they were overpowered by fire and arrows, and surrendered at discretion to the bishop, who had them all hanged on trees near to the castle, by a priest who acted as their captain,—and he, after hanging his companions, was tied to a tree and burnt, and the castle razed to the ground.

The bishop, after this exploit, marched away toward the upper Châtelet; but many of his army wanted to march to Hirson** and other places of sir John de Luxembourg,-because, they said, he was the supporter of those they were now making war on. But this same day the bastard of Coucy met the bishop, and said that he was sent by sir John de Luxembourg to assure the bishop that sir John was only desirous of living on neighbourly terms with him, and to request that he would not suffer any injuries to be done to his country or vassals; that if anything wrong had been done to the Liegeois by those who gave out that they were dependent on him, he wished to be heard in his defence, and would refer the matter to friends of either side as arbitrators. At the same time, letters were brought from the duke of Burgundy to the bishop, to require that he would not do any injury to sir John de Luxembourg, nor to the lord d'Orchimont, which put an end to their intended plan. The bishop, with a part of his army, then marched to the castle of Aubigny, when, finding || Dinant, on the Meuse, sixteen leagues from Liege. Rigniues. Q.

Nampteuil,-near Rheims.

† Han, near Rheims.

Bourg, near Rheims.

§ Bousseuvre,-is called afterward Boussenoch. Q.

**Hirson,

of Guise.

-or Herisson, a town in Picardy, election

that the garrison had fled through fear of him, he ordered the castle to be burnt. From Aubigny he went to upper Châtelet, wherein a body of his men were, for the garrison had abandoned it,—and it was destroyed as the others had been. The bishop had intended marching to Villiers; but his intention being known to the inhabitants of Mousson and Ivoy, they destroyed the castle of Villiers, fearful of the damages that would be done to the country should the Liegeois once enter it. On hearing this, the bishop took the road to Beaurain, which castle John de Beaurain, its lord, had lately repaired and strengthened with the addition of four towers: one he called Hainault, another Namur, the third Brabant, and the fourth Rethel, because it was from those countries he had gotten the money to build them. However, when he heard of the march of the Liegeois, he was afraid to wait their coming, and fled with his men, but not before he had set the castle on fire. This did not prevent the bishop from completely demolishing it to its foundations; then, without proceeding further, he marched his men back to their own country, and went himself to the city of Liege.

At this season, the town of Gamaches in Vimeu, which had long been held by the English, surrendered to the lord d'Aussi* and to sir Florimont de Brimeu, seneschal of Ponthieu, by means of certain friends they had in the town. The seneschal regarrisoned it with men atarms for the duke of Burgundy. In like manner, the English were driven out of Aumarle, which surrendered to a gentleman called David de Reume, attached to king Charles. About the same time, the constable laid siege to Creil, in the possession of the English, and erected a block-house at the end of the bridge on the road to the Beauvoisis, wherein he remained for a long time, but at length marched away in disgrace, which grieved him much,-for he had lost many men, together with very large quantities of military stores and artillery.

CHAPTER CCI.-THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF ORCHIMONT ARE DESTROYED BY EVERARD DE LA MARCHET.

BERNARD DE BOURSET kept quiet possession of the town of Orchimont and its castle,— but one day, having as usual sent out a detachment of about fifty to lay waste and plunder the country of Liege, they were observed and pursued by the Liegeois, under the command of the provost of Rebogne. Their passage being cut off on the way they meant to have returned, they fled for Dinant, and entered Bouvines, thinking they should be safe there, but were mistaken, inasmuch as they were detained prisoners. Although the officers of justice from Liege made frequent applications to those of Bouvines to have them punished according to their deserts, they were set at liberty, for these two towns did not much love each other. While this matter was passing, Everard de la Marche, who was in alliance with the bishop of Liege, and had also many subjects of complaint against these pillagers, assembled in haste as many men as he could, and, being joined by some forces from Dinant and the surrounding country, advanced to Orchimont, and took the town by storm. Bernard had at this moment but few men with him, and therefore retreated to the castle, whither he was gallantly pursued by the Liegeois. They pressed him so hardly that, at the end of four days, he surrendered, on capitulation, to Everard de la Marche. The castle and town were after this razed to the ground, to the great joy of all the neighbouring country,-for they had been inhabited by a set of wicked vagabonds, who had annoyed all within their reach.

CHAPTER CCII.-THE ENGLISH MAKE EXCURSIONS FROM CALAIS TOWARD BOULOGNE AND GRAVELINES.-LA HIRE CONQUERS GISORS, AND LOSES IT SOON AFTERWARDS.

WHILE the war was on the point of breaking out between the English and Burgundians, for each party was now watching the other, the English suddenly came before Boulogne, thinking to win it by surprise, but it was too well defended. They burnt part of the

* John IV., son of David sire et ber d'Auxi, killed at Azincourt, and of Margaret de la Tremouille. He was lord of Fontaines sur Somme, seneschal of Ponthieu,

knight of the Golden Fleece, and finally master of the cross-bows of France.

† See before, page 30.

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