the viscount de Lautrec his legitimate brother, sir Bernard de Béarn his natural brother, the barons of Nouailles, of Lausun, of Rez, of Couraze, sir Martin Gratian captain of the Spaniards, Robin Petit-Lot captain of the Scots, and many other knights and esquires; in the whole amounting to five hundred lances and archers, and two thousand cross-bows. They besieged the town on the side of Navarre and Béarn, and several gallant actions were performed on both sides. The besieged kept up a stout resistance, until they heard that those in Bordeaux had intentions of treating with the lieutenant-general or his commissioners; and a promise was made them, at the request of the count de Foix, that they should be comprehended in whatever treaty the Bordelois should conclude. Dax was thus delivered up to the king of France,- and the counts de Foix and d'Albreth, with four barons of Béarn, were appointed for the defence of the town and castle.

In the same month, siege was laid to Castillon*, in Perigord, by the count de Penthievre, the lord de Jalognes marshal of France, and master John Bureau treasurer of France. At this time, St. Emilion† surrendered; for the garrison saw resistance would be vain; and it was placed under the guard of the count de Penthievre.

CHAPTER XXXVII.—THE GREATER PART OF THE TOWNS AND CASTLES IN THE DUCHY OF GUIENNE ENTER INTO TREATIES FOR THEIR SURRENDER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BAYONNE.- BORDEAUX SURRENDERS.

On the 2d of June, the count de Dunois sent a detachment to lay siege to a town called Fronsac ‡, while he remained in Le Bourg to settle the future government of the country for the king's advantage. Having done this, he went in person against Fronsac, and sent a herald to summon Libourne § to surrender to the king. The inhabitants sent a deputation back with the herald to conclude a treaty with the count, which being done, the care of the place was given to the count of Angoulême.

To return to the castle of Fronsac, which was the strongest in all Guienne, and has been always guarded by a garrison of native Englishmen, because it has a chambre royalle ||, and is the key to Guienne and the Bordelois. The English, therefore, necessarily made the greatest possible exertions in its defence, during a severe and well-conducted siege of a fortnight. The English, then, seeing the prodigious force brought against them, which was not a fourth part of the chivalry the king had in those parts, with the numerous train of battering cannon, and other artillery, and that the franc-archers were then besieging four places at once, without a possibility of any one succouring the other, from the inundations of the Gironde and Dordogne, caused by the melting of the snows among the mountains, and also that the French army in Guienne was much superior to any the king of England could then bring against it: having considered all these things, the garrison in Fronsac demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and concluded a treaty on the terms that if they were not reinforced, so as to be able to offer battle to the French on or before the eve of St. John Baptist's day, they would surrender the place. In like manner were the barons of the country, and even the town, bounden to surrender; for the French depended on being powerful enough to reduce all the places in the duchy of Guienne, held by king Henry, to the obedience of the king of France; and, for greater security, hostages were demanded and given.

The counts de Penthievre, de Nevers, de Castres, de Clermont, de Vendôme, grandly accompanied with many knights and esquires, came toward Fronsac about St. John's day, to be present at the battle; and the whole made a most magnificent appearance. There were made knights the count de Vendôme, the viscount de Turenne ¶, the lord de la *Castillon-near Perigueux. examination and inquiry into the conduct of financiers and

+ St. Emilion-near the Dordogne, six leagues from exchequer-men. Bordeaux.

Fronsac on the Dordogne, six leagues from Bor

deaux.

§ Libourne-a city of Guienne on the Dordogne, ten leagues from Bordeaux.

Chambre royalle-Cotgrave says, is a court for the
VOL. II.

¶ Agne III. de la Tour, lord of Oliergues, of a younger branch of the family of La Tour counts of Auvergne, &c., became viscount of Turenne and count of Beaufort, in 1444, by marriage with Anne, daughter of Peter count of Beaufort, who possessed those dignities by the donation of his cousin Eleanor, heiress of the famous marshal Boucicaut.

Rochefoucault*, the son to the lord de Commercy, sir John de Rochedrouard†, the lord de Grimaux, sir Pierre des Barres, sir Pierre de Montingrin§, sir Ferry de Gransy, sir John de Bordeilles, the lord de Fontenelles, the bastard de Vendôme, sir John de la Haye, sir Tristan l'Hermite, sir John de l'Estrange, sir Pierre de Louvain, and others, to the amount of forty knights.

On the morrow, which was the eve of St. John's day, the English, receiving no succour, delivered Fronsac into the hands of the count de Dunois, who appointed Joachim Rohault to the government of it. The lieutenant-general then sent a herald with letters to the count d'Armagnac, who was besieging Rions ||, and a duplicate of the treaty of Bordeaux; in consequence of which Rions surrendered, and was given to the guard of the lord d'Albreth. The herald then continued his road to the count de Foix, with another copy of this treaty, and letters; and the city of Dax submitted to the obedience of the king of France. When the commissioners from the count de Dunois had settled everything for the surrender of Bordeaux, they returned to him, the chancellor, and other members of the king's council, with the articles of the capitulation mutually signed and sealed by each party. These lords and their companions were much rejoiced at this event; and the surrender was delayed for eight days after the time fixed, for troops to arrive from England. Nevertheless those in Bordeaux, contrary to their engagements, in the full hope of succours arriving, demanded that a day should be appointed for the combat, which was granted by the count; and the 22d of June was fixed on for the battle, should succours arrive, otherwise they were to deliver up the town on that day. The French, in expectation of a combat, or a surrender of the town, were drawn up in battle-array before it until sunset; when the men of Bordeaux, seeing no appearance of succour, ordered a herald to cry aloud for assistance from England for Bordeaux. No one making any answer, nor any reinforcements appearing, each party retired to their quarters, without more being then done.

The next morning, the chancellor and treasurer of France, with some others, came before the gates; when it was agreed, that on the following Wednesday, the townsmen were to be prepared to deliver up the keys of all the towers, havens, gates and barriers of the said town, and to take the oaths of allegiance to the king of France, and become henceforward his loyal subjects, according to the promises they had made. The treasurer, John Bureau, in reward for the great diligence he had shown in the recovery of the duchy of Guienne, was made mayor of Bordeaux. For similar causes was Joachim Rohault made constable of the place, and he directly took the oaths at the hand of the chancellor; and the mayor did the same in the hands of the chancellor and constable on the following Wednesday, the day fixed on for the delivery of the town.

The inhabitants of Bordeaux and the neighbouring barons made great preparations for the honourable reception of the count de Dunois and his company. By orders from the lieutenant-general, sir Thibaut de Valpergue bailiff of Lyon, and John Bureau, the new mayor, first entered the city, to take possession of it in the king's name; and all the different keys of the strongholds were presented to them. The franc-archers were not permitted to join in this entry, as it was said, by desire of the inhabitants, but sent to quarter themselves in and about Libourne.

The entry commenced at sunrise, by the gate where were stationed the lords de l'Esparre, de Montferrant, and some nobles of the town and country. All the churchmen, as well monks as others, dressed in their copes and robes, came out to meet the lieutenant-general, and gave him a most honourable welcome. The archers of the van-guard commenced the march, estimated at a thousand or twelve hundred men, under the command of Joachim Rohault, constable of Bordeaux, and the lord de Pavansac, seneschal of Toulouse. Then came the men-at-arms of the van on foot, estimated at three hundred, under their proper

* Foucault III. lord de la Rochefoucault, who married the sister of the lord Rochechouart.

† Q. Rochechouart? Foucault lord of Rochechouart was about this time governor of La Rochelle.

Q. Grimoard? Antoine du Roure lord of Grimoard, and Guige de Grimoard de Roure, lord of Beauvoir in the

Gevaudan, were the heads of two distinct branches of this family.

§ Q. Montmorin? Peter lord of Montmorin, bailiff of St. Pierre le Moustier, and a chamberlain of the king, was one of the knights made on this occasion.

deaux.

Rions 3-a town in Guienne, three leagues from Bor

commanders, the marshals de Lohéac and de Jalognes, superbly mounted: then the counts de Nevers and d'Armagnac, and the viscount de Lautrec, brother to the count de Foix, with three hundred men on foot also. These were followed by the archers of the lord de la Bessiere, lieutenant to the count du Maine, in number three or four hundred: then a whole battalion of archers, estimated at three thousand, under the command of the lords de la Bessiere and de la Rochefoucault: then three of the lords of the king's great council, namely, the bishop of Aleth*, master Guy Bernard, archdeacon of Tours, and the bishop duke of Langrest; the chancellor de la Marche, and others the king's secretaries, who were followed by sir Tristan de l'Hermite, provost to the marshals, on horseback, with all his sergeants.

Four trumpeters of the king, with heralds and pursuivants dressed in the royal tabards, and in the coats of arms of the lords present, next entered the town, followed by a white hackney, covered with housings of crimson velvet, and on his crupper a cloth of azure velvet, with flowers de luce embroidered thereon: a small coffer, covered with azure velvet, with flowers de luce of solid silver in raised work was placed on the saddle, containing the great seal of the king. This hackney was led by a valet on foot, having two archers on each side in the king's livery. The chancellor followed on horseback, armed in a corslet of steel, over which was a jacket of crimson velvet. The lord de Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry and master of the horse to the king, came next, mounted on a large war-horse covered with silk trappings. He was in full armour, and held one of the royal banners: the other was displayed on his left hand by the lord de Montagu, mounted also on a richly dressed war-horse. They rode immediately before the lieutenant-general, who was mounted on a white courser with trappings of blue velvet, loaded with raised work of solid gold. He was alone, and in full armour, but followed by the counts of Angoulême and Clermont in armour, and their horses and pages most richly dressed. Then came the counts de Vendôme and de Castres, with numbers of other barons and great lords, splendidly equipped. After them came the battalion of the men-at-arms, amounting to fifteen hundred lances, under the orders of sir James de Chabannes, grand-master of the household, in complete armour, and his horse covered with rich housings.

Then entered the men-at-arms of the count du Maine,-in number one hundred and fifty spears,-under the command of Geoffry de St. Belin, bailiff of Claumont in Bassigny. The march was closed by the rear-guard, consisting of the men of Joachim Rohault and the menat-arms of the lord de Saintrailles. The whole advanced unto the cathedral, where the lieutenant-general, the counts of Angoulême, of Vendôme, of Armagnac, of Castres, the chancellor, and several others, dismounted. The archbishop of Bordeaux met them at the gate of the church, clad in his pontifical robes, and attended by the canons of the cathedral. The archbishop having sanctified the count with incense and presented him with some relics and the cross, took him by the hand, and led him through the choir to the great altar, to perform his prayers. With the lieutenant-general, two of the king's heralds entered the church, dressed in tabards of the royal arms. All the nobles then followed, and they left the king's banners in the church.

When the count and the other lords had ended their devotions, the archbishop took a missal, and made them swear, that the king would faithfully preserve and maintain them in their ancient rights and privileges. Having taken this oath, the count de Dunois made the archbishop swear that the count de l'Esparre, and the other lords having authority within the town, would behave always loyally and submissively to the king of France and to his government. In this oath he made all the commonalty present join, which they did, by extending their hands toward heaven, as is usual in such cases. From this oath the captal of Buch was excepted, as he was then a knight-companion of the Garter, the order of the king of England.

When the lieutenant-general had devoutly heard mass, which was celebrated by the archbishop, and the "Veni Creator," &c. and "Te Deum laudamus," &c. that preceded it, to the ringing of all the bells at the different churches, he retired to his lodgings (as did the • Aleth-a small city in upper Languedoc.

† Langres—a large city of Champagne, and one of the six ecclesiastical peerages of France.

other lords to theirs) to partake of some refreshments, excepting the chancellor of France, the grand-master of the household, and the chancellor de la Marche, who remained to administer the oath to sir Olivier de Coictivy, seneschal of Guienne. The seneschal made a grand appearance, as he was attended by many of the king's officers, the barons and knights of Guienne, and the burghers of Bordeaux. He presented his commission to the chancellor of France, who, after reading it, made him swear that he would strictly administer justice, without partiality to poor or rich, as well in the said city of Bordeaux as throughout the whole duchy of Guienne. When this was done, the chancellor commanded all persons to obey the seneschal, in all things respecting his office, as they would the king in person.

When the lieutenant-general had regarrisoned Fronsac, he had the king's banner displayed on the castle, and another was placed on the highest towers of the said town. He then issued a proclamation in the king's name, and in his own, to forbid any persons from taking the smallest article from the inhabitants without paying its full value, prior to the quartering of his troops, which was then done by persons appointed for that purpose. Scarcely was the dinner hour passed, when great murmurings were heard in the city against one of the king's troopers who had transgressed the proclamation. He was soon arrested and brought before a court of law to be examined; and when the lieutenant-general heard of it, and that he had confessed himself guilty, he ordered him instantly to be hanged. This act of justice gave great pleasure to the inhabitants of Bordeaux and the country round. The count de Dunois had also a new gallows erected, to hang thereon five troopers who, instigated by William de Flavy, had wounded sir Pierre de Louvain while on the king's service. They had watched him several days with the intent to murder him, in consequence of a quarrel that had taken place between the said Louvain and Flavy. Thus did the lieutenant-general deal strict justice to all; and the execution of these malefactors was a good example, of great comfort to the burghers; for during the time they were under the English, they were kept so much in awe that they only received blows when they complained against any of them.

The count de Dunois remained in Bordeaux fifteen days, to regulate its future government; and those whom he appointed for the purpose acted with such prudence and moderation, that not the smallest extortion or mischief was done to the city. Thus was the whole duchy of Guienne subdued, with the exception of the city of Bayonne. During this conquest, the count and all his officers, military and civil, showed the utmost activity and courage. The count de Clermont was made governor of Bordeaux, and sir Olivier de Coictivy his lieutenant, who commanded the men-at-arms of his brother, Pregent de Coictivy, then admiral of France.

On the reduction of Bordeaux, the counts de Nevers, de Clermont, and de Castres were ordered to wait on the king at the castle of Taillebourg, and then to march to the cantonments that had been assigned them. The counts d'Armagnac, d'Angoulême, and de Penthievre were to return with their men to their own countries. The franc-archers were also ordered home; so that of the whole of this army, estimated at twenty thousand combatants, which had conquered Guienne, there only remained a small part in the duchy for the king's service.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.—THE CITY OF BAYONNE IS BESIEGED BY THE COUNTS DE FOIX AND DE DUNOIS, LIEUTENANTS-GENERAL TO THE KING. IT SURRENDERS. THE REGULATIONS MADE IN CONSEQUENCE.-POPE NICHOLAS MARRIES THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY TO THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL.-THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN ENGLAND.

Ar this period, the king determined in council to lay siege to Bayonne, which was still held by the English, and for this purpose issued his orders from the castle of Taillebourg * to his lieutenants-general, the counts de Foix and de Dunois, to march thither with a large body of lances, archers, and guisarmes. Of these, four hundred lances were supplied by the king, and four hundred were attached to the count de Foix and his vassals; it was a fine sight to see their handsome equipment in horses, armour, and splendid helmets. The count had also with him two thousand cross-bows and targeteers from his own country. When the count de Foix had commenced the siege, he created several knights; such as the

* Taillebourg-a town of Saintonge, on the Charente, three leagues from Saintes.

son to the master of the king's household, the lord de Tessac, brother to the lord de Noailles*, Bertrand de l'Espagne, seneschal of Foix, Roger de l'Espagne, the lord de Benac, and others, to the number of fifteen. About the middle of this day, the count de Dunois and de Longueville arrived, and posted his men on the side toward Béarn, between the rivers Adour and Nive, which are so wide that the two divisions could not succour each other. The count de Dunois had under him six hundred lances, archers, and guisarmes, who commenced the siege gallantly.

On the morrow, which was the 6th day of the month, the garrison of Bayonne destroyed the suburbs of St. Léon, on the side opposite to the count de Foix, which were very strongly fortified with ditches and mounds of earth; but the continued fire from the batteries of the French made them abandon them,—not, however, before they had set fire to the houses and churches, especially when they saw that the besiegers were advancing to attack them. The French gained this suburb, and pursued them so closely, that had there been one hundred men with scaling-ladders, the town would have been won, as they would have entered the gates with the enemy; but the ditches were deep, and they could not mount the walls from want of ladders. The besiegers took possession of this suburb, having extinguished the fires. The count de Foix fixed his quarters in the convent of the Augustins, for it had been little burnt. Six days afterward, the count d'Albreth and the viscount de Tartas, his son, came from Bordeaux, and quartered themselves at St. Esprit +, at the end of the wooden bridge, which was broken down the following night by the men of the lord d'Albreth, who had in his company two hundred lances, and three thousand archers and cross-bows. The next day the besieged made a sally by a bulwark on the sea-side, intending to fall on the enemy unawares. At this same moment, sir Bernard de Béarn led his men to skirmish almost within the town; but when returning he was struck by a ball from a culverin, which pierced his shield, and entered his leg between the two bones: it was extracted, and, by the care of the surgeons, he was soon out of danger.

The next morning, a church was won that was strongly fortified with ditches and palisadoes, by this same sir Bernard. When those within found they could not hold out, they retreated to the town, with the loss of five or six in killed and wounded: a garrison was posted in this church, and the town was blockaded on all sides. The count de Dunois pushed forward his approaches with vigour, to bring his batteries to bear on the walls, without waiting for the heavy artillery: had he waited for its arrival, the place must have been won by storm, considering the numbers and eagerness of the besieging army. The garrison, understanding that the battering-train was near at hand, proposed a parley which took effect on the 26th day of August. The counts de Foix and de Dunois, with some of the king's counsellors, met the deputation from the city; and after several adjournments, the following articles were agreed to,-namely, that the governor, don John de Beaumont, brother to the constable of Navarre, of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, should be delivered up to the king, and remain his prisoner, together with all the men-at-arms, so long as it might please him, and that the inhabitants should submit themselves to the king's will; and for their disobedience in not complying with his former summons, they should pay forty thousand golden crowns. The same day, they gave up their governor, who, in the presence of all the commissioners and many of the inhabitants, took the oaths of allegiance in the hands of the grand-master of the king's household.

Thus was a treaty concluded with the city of Bayonne. While the siege lasted, the king's army was amply supplied with all sorts of provision from Biscay, for the king had written to the inhabitants for this purpose. Some provisions came from Béarn and Navarre, but it was with difficulty, from the numbers of robbers that infested those parts. The army, however, was never in any want for man or horse. The Biscayners equipped a fleet of twelve vessels, called pinnaces, and a large ship manned with six hundred combatants, which they stationed half a league from Bayonne, to cut off the escape of the garrison by sea.

* Francis lord of Noailles and Noaillac, who died after the year 1472, had but one brother of whom Moreri makes mention, viz., John de Noailles lord of Chambres and Montclar, who became also lord de Noailles after the

death of his nephew, the son of Francis, in the year 1479.

† St. Esprit-a town on the Nive, opposite to Bayonne, to which it is considered as a suburb.