quarters at a large village called Espoise, where the lord de Beaumont, marshal of Burgundy, accompanied by a party of nobles, overtook and attacked them, and the French were defeated, with the loss of numbers killed and taken.

Intelligence of this event was soon carried to the dauphin, who swore a round oath that he would march himself into Burgundy to revenge the loss. On the other hand, the duke of Burgundy having heard what the dauphin had said and sworn, declared that he would personally defend his country. Thus was the foundation laid for the ill blood between these two princes; but shortly after, by the mediation of prudent persons on each side, matters were made up, and the dauphin restrained his anger and resentment.

CHAPTER CCLXXV.

A TRUCE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE KINGS OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE, AND WITH ALL the ALLIES AND RELATIVES OF EITHER PARTY.

THE meetings for peace were, during this time, continued with much activity at Tours, whither came many of the high nobility of France and of England: such as could not personally attend sent their commissioners, with full powers to act for them. On the part of the duke of Burgundy came sir John de Croy, bailiff of Hainault, the prior de Vergy, master Oudart Caperal, and other notable men: there were likewise envoys from the principal towns. On the part of the king of England were sir William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk; master Adam Moleyns, keeper of the king's privy seal and dean of Salisbury; sir Robert Roos, and others*.

Several conferences were holden to conclude a general peace; but so many difficulties arose, that it was found to be impracticable at present to bring it about, and the meetings were continued until the terms of a truce were agreed to, the articles of which were as follow:

"Charles duke of Orleans and of Valois, count of Blois and of Beaumont, lord of Coucy and of Oisy; Louis de Bourbon, count of Vendôme and of Chartres, grand-master of the royal household of France; Pierre de Brésé, lord de la Varenne and of Bressac, seneschal of Poitou and of Anjou t; Bertrand de Beauveau, lord of Precigny, knight, counsellor and chamberlain to the most excellent king of France, our most redoubted lord and sovereign; to all to whom these letters may come, greeting.

"Conformably to the frequent requests and solicitations of our holy father the pope, and latterly by a renewal of them through his ambassador, the reverend father in God the bishop of Viese, to the king, our redoubted and sovereign lord, that he would condescend to take speedy measures for the accomplishment of a lasting peace, or long truce, with the most high and potent prince his nephew, king of England, who on his part has sent hither, with full powers to treat of the same, certain lords as his ambassadors; namely, William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk; master Adam Moleyns, keeper of his privy seal, doctor of laws and dean of Salisbury; sir Robert Roos, sir Thomas Hors§, knight; Richard Andrews, one of his secretaries. The king, our redoubted lord, from his reverence to God, and from the compassion he has ever felt for the afflictions and distresses the poorer people have so long suffered from each contending party, and to prevent the longer continuance thereof, and likewise to avoid further effusion of human blood, has liberally condescended to treat on these matters with the aforesaid ambassadors from his nephew the king of England, and has been pleased to commission us to act on his part in the said business, giving to us letters with full powers to treat of the same.

"Charles duke of Orleans, &c. Be it known that we have assembled, for several days,

* Page 53, vol. xi. of the Fœdera, contains the warrant for their wages for three months. The others were master Richard Andrews, king's secretary and doctor of laws, and John Wenlok, esquire.

† Peter II., the father of James count of Maulevrier, who married Charlotte, the daughter of Charles VII. and Agnes Sorel. This Peter was appointed to the command of an expedition sent to England in support of queen Mar

garet of Anjou, and was afterwards killed in the battle of Montlehery, in 1465. See Bayle, art. Brézé.

Second son of John III. lord of Beauveau, grand maître-d'hôtel to René king of Sicily and Naples. He died in 1474.

§ Sir Thomas Hors-must be a mistake; for only the four mentioned in the preceding note are contained in the warrant in the Fœdera.

in the town of Tours, to treat of a peace or truce with the ambassadors from England; and at their request, in the full persuasion that we may in the end conclude a final and lasting peace between our redoubted lord and sovereign and his aforesaid nephew for the two kingdoms of France and England, have consented and agreed to a truce in the name of our sovereign lord, conformably to the powers granted to us, with the before-mentioned earl of Suffolk, and the other ambassadors from England, on the following terms :

"A general truce on the part of the king, our sovereign lord, and his kingdom, as well by sea as by land, his vassals and subjects, including those most powerful princes the kings of Castille and Leon, of the Romans, of Sicily, of Scotland; the dukedoms of Anjou, Bar, and Lorraine; the dauphin of Vienne; the dukes of Orleans, Burgundy, Brittany, Bourbon, Alençon; the count du Maine; and generally the whole of the princes of the blood-royal of France, and all allies of our sovereign throughout Europe: including, likewise, all their vassals, subjects, and adherents, provided they be not of suspicious character to either party, and shall wish to be included in this truce,-promising, at the same time, on oath, to preserve the truce inviolate, and to make reparations for any infractions that shall be committed. This truce shall take effect throughout the kingdom of France in manner following: -In the duchy and country of Gascony, and in the seaports and adjacent isles, on the 15th day of May next ensuing, at sunrise, and in all other parts of the kingdom. But in regard to the sea, the truce shall not commence on the coasts of England, Ireland, and Wales, until the first day of July, at sunrise; and throughout the other parts of the dominions of the said high and potent prince, nephew to our said lord, on the same day and hour. With respect to the allies on each side, the truce shall take effect from the moment they shall have signified their acceptance to either of the parties. It shall be sufficient for the acquittal of the king, our sovereign lord, that he declare the acceptance of any of his allies to the person who shall have the government of the territories of his nephew, the king of England, on this side of the sea, in Guienne or Normandy. And it shall be sufficient for the said high and potent prince, his nephew, king of England, to make similar declarations to the court of parliament of Paris. This truce shall last until the complete revolution of the year, which, according to the usual mode of counting in France, will be on the first day of April, in the year 1445, before Easter day.

“Item, during this truce our sovereign lord will put an end to all warfare between the two kingdoms and their allies; and the said high and potent prince, his nephew, shall not aid or abet any of the king's subjects in designs prejudicial to his honour or dignity. In like manner will our said sovereign act towards the said high and puissant prince, his nephew.Item, during this truce neither of the parties shall attempt to gain any city or town by force or stratagem, by sale or seduction, or under any colour or manner whatever; and our said redoubted lord and sovereign will order all captures of persons, whatever may be their rank and ransoms, to cease (excepting, however, the ransoms of such as may have been made prisoners prior to the signing of the truce), together with all plunderings, robberies, and every misery attendant on war. Those who have borne arms on one side ought not to intermix with such as have borne arms on the other, nor seek the doing of mischief.

“Item, should it happen that the men-at-arms of either party take possession of any city, town, or castle, that party shall be bounden to yield it back again fully repaired, should any damage have been done to it; and in case those who have thus taken it shall refuse to give it back unless forced thereto, the party to whom they belong shall be bounden to recover the same by force of arms, and at their expense; and supposing there may not be time sufficient during the existence of the truce to finish all the repairs, the party that had taken it shall be bounden to complete it wholly.-Item, during the truce the subjects of either shall have free liberty to pass to and from each country with their merchandise (excepting always military stores) freely and securely, and to transact their business in whatever manner they shall choose, without any let or molestation whatever, free from arrest for any debt or obligations contracted prior to this truce, on paying duly all the accustomed tolls through the different provinces or jurisdictions they may pass : provided always that none of the subjects of either party, noble or men-at-arms, shall enter any castle, inclosed town or fort, without having previously demanded leave from the governor or his lieutenant of all such places, and then

without arms and in small parties. In respect to real pilgrims, they may travel in small or large parties, according to the usual mode of pilgrims going on pilgrimages to the accustomed shrines. In regard to merchants and common people, it will be enough for them to demand leave of entrance from the porters at the gates of any towns or castles.

"Item, whereas several of the subjects of our said redoubted lord and sovereign possess lands under the obedience of his said nephew, the revenues of which, or in part, they have enjoyed by the hands of farmers or otherwise, they may now again enjoy the same during the truce in the manner and form as before.-Item, in regard to the contributions which have been customarily levied by each party, the conservators of the truce and others commissioned from the two kings shall regulate them according to their pleasure.-Item, should any attempts be made to infringe the truce, which God forbid! it shall not be broken, nor shall war be declared on either side, but the truce shall remain in full force, as if nothing had been done contrary to the meaning and purpose of these articles. Such attempts shall have due reparation made for them by those who committed them, and be punished corporally by the aforesaid conservators of the truce.-Item, if, during the truce, any dispute or quarrel shall arise between one of the parties and the subjects or allies of the other, the latter party shall not form any alliances for his support with those who have commenced the dispute.

"All the above articles, and each of them, we duke of Orleans, and the other commissioners for our said lord the king, have solemnly promised on oath to observe, and do solemnly promise and swear for and in the name of our said lord and king to observe, and to make these said articles agreeable to our most potent and redoubted sovereign; and we will, according as the case shall require, send ratifications of the same to the person who may have the government of the town of Rouen, on or before the 15th day of July next ensuing, provided that the same be done within the aforesaid term by the most potent and noble prince the nephew of our said lord and sovereign.

"In testimony whereof, we, each of us, have signed these articles with our hands, and sealed them with our own seals.-Given at Tours, the 20th day of May, in the year 1444." While this treaty was going on, several other matters were introduced, and a treaty of marriage was proposed between king Henry of England and the daughter of René king of Sicily, duke of Lorraine and Bar, which was afterwards concluded*.

*The genuine work of Monstrelet ends with this book, according to M. Buchon, who has bestowed much pains and labour in investigating the proofs of the authenticity of the succeeding book, which has heretofore passed as the work of the author of those preceding. A fourth book even-undoubtedly spurious, since it relates to events which occurred after the death of the pretended author has been attributed to Monstreiet; and the latter parts of

the succeeding book must lie under the same imputation, since it carries up the narrative to 1516, many years after the death of Monstrelet, which took place in 1453. From the year 1444 to 1497, the whole materials seem to be drawn from other "Chronicles ;" but from the latter date to the conclusion (1516), the work appears to be original, M. Buchon himself being unable to point out the book from whose pages it has been "clipped.”—ED.

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

CHAPTER L-THE

BOOK III.

ENGLISH PROLONG THE TRUCE FOR EIGHT MONTHS.-THE KING OF ENGLAND IS BETROTHED TO THE DAUGHTER OF RENE KING OF SICILY.-THE KING OF SICILY DEMANDS SUCCOURS FROM THE KING OF FRANCE.

[A. D. 1444.]

TOWARD the end of April, and after Easter, in the year 1444, the English prolonged the truces for eight months, and at the same time betrothed the daughter of René king of Sicily to king Henry of England, in the hope that this measure would establish peace between the two kingdoms. The English ambassadors then returned to England, to report to their king and parliament what they had done, and to accelerate a peace.

In this state of affairs, the king of France determined with his ministers to send his menat-arms, as well French as foreigners, to take up their quarters in Germany during the truce, under the command of the dauphin. In consequence, the dauphin marched from Troyes in the month of July, and, by short marches, came before the town of Montbelliart in Germany, bordering on the country of Burgundy, which he laid siege to, because the bailiff of that place had made an inroad as far as the city of Langres in France, had carried away men and cattle, and done many other mischiefs, which had greatly displeased the king. The town and castle of Montbelliart surrendered on capitulation. The king shortly after followed the dauphin with a large army, by slow marches, to the city of Langres, whence he detached his van to a castle called Arlay, on the borders of Lorraine, held by the bastard of Vergy, who had done from thence, and others of his forts, great damages to the country of Champagne. All these castles the bastard yielded up to the king, except that of Arlay, which he said he possessed as a pledge for money advanced to René king of Sicily: it was very strong, in excellent repair, and well victualled.

The king advanced his army to a town called Espinal, on the frontiers of Lorraine and Germany, which was held by the bishop of Metz, and the castle by the commonalty: both surrendered to the king on his appearing before them. He thence marched to Nancy. While he was there, René king of Sicily earnestly entreated that he would assist him to conquer the city of Metz and other towns in Lorraine, which, although his own personal domain, were in rebellion against him. The king, in compliance with his request, sent to summon Metz to surrender, otherwise be would march his army to besiege it. The inhabitants having remonstrated on this, and declared that they were independent of the king of Sicily and of any other lord, they were closely besieged for the space of five months

or more, when they concluded a treaty with the king, and the blockade was raised. During this siege, a great lord from Germany, called the lord Bourgalemoine *, came thither, having been sent by the emperor to the dauphin, as his guide to the countries round Basil, Montbelliart, Coulombaria †, Selestat+, Strasbourg, Hagenau, in the district of Aussays§, to conquer the Swiss and Germans, who had thrown off their dependence on the emperor.

The dauphin, accompanied by many lords and captains, advanced as far as Basil; but when he had come within a league of that place, he was met by about eight hundred Swiss, who took possession of an hospital and garden, where, considering the smallness of their numbers, they made a gallant defence, and killed the German nobleman whom the emperor had sent as a guide to the dauphin, with several others, although they lost the greater part of their own men. The dauphin now approached Basil, and the townsmen thinking his army must be fatigued, sallied out against him; but at this affair upward of a thousand Germans were slain, and from two to three hundred made prisoners: the rest took to flight. The dauphin next marched to the town of St. Hippolyte || to take it by storm, but it capitulated, as did that of Vau-du-Lieure. The army began now to pillage and commit great devastations on the country round, insomuch that the Swiss and Germans rose in large bodies and killed numbers of the men. Their captains, perceiving that the whole country was rising against them, and that their leader, who was acquainted with all the passes, was dead, returned with the army to the king of France at Nancy.

With the king were René king of Sicily, and numbers of great lords and knights, the queens of France and Sicily, the dauphiness, and the daughter of king René, whom the earl of Suffolk had come with a splendid embassy to demand in marriage for the king of England. After a few discussions, everything was agreed on; but before their departure with the new queen, a magnificent tournament was held, in which the kings of France and Sicily, the lord Charles d'Anjou, the counts de Foix and de St. Pol, the lord Ferry de Lorraine, and several other great lords, tilted. These feasts lasted eight days,—and the ladies were most splendidly dressed.

The kings of France and of Sicily escorted the queen of England two leagues from Nancy, where the king took leave of his niece with many tears, and recommended her to the protection of God: their grief was so great that they could not speak. The king returned to Nancy; but her father, the king of Sicily, accompanied her as far as Bar-le-Duc, where he and her mother took their leave of her, with floods of tears, and prayers for her welfare.

Soon after the return of the dauphin, the Germans, in contempt of their oaths, gained the towns of St. Hipolyte and Vau-du-Lieure, by force, and set fire to both of them. At this moment, the archbishop of Treves, elector of the holy Roman empire, and the count de Blancquemain T, came to the king of France from the Germans, to propose a perpetual peace and alliance

I had forgotten to say, that during the long siege of Metz many vigorous sallies were made by the garrison, but courageously repulsed by the besiegers. Several small castles were won by the king's troops without interrupting the business of the siege. One belonged to a gentleman called William Chance, governor of Harfleur. Two or three were held by the duke of Burgundy's men, but no attempts were made on them, because they had been given *Bourgalemoine.

Q. Bourgumoine?

Du Cange MS. has Belleforest.

**To keep the disbanded soldiers out of mischief, (during the truce,) the dauphin leads twenty thousand of + Coulombaria, Columbaria, the Latin name for them, of whom eight thousand were English, to assist the Colmar.

duke of Lorraine and the town of Zuric against the

Selestat, or Schlestadt, a town in Lower Alsace, Switzers. Near Basil, they attack four thousand men, who about four miles from Strasburg. § Aussays. Q. Aussois ?

St. Hippolyte, a town formerly of Germany, now of the duchy of Lorraine, a few leagues distant from Schlestadt.

Blancquemaine. Blanquevau.-MS. Du CANGE. Q. Blankenheim: William de Loz, count of Blankenheim, married Mary, a daughter of Anthony de Croy, count of Poreien, who afterwards had for her second husband George count of Wirnemburg.

had come to assist that town. The dauphin, after an obstinate resistance, slays them all but sixteen; nay, some say one, and that he, on returning to his canton, had his head cut off for cowardice. The French retreat, and abandon the war in that district. They then besiege Metz, and raise vast contributions from the towns around to buy their absence. With this money the dauphin pays his soldiers, and discharges all but fifteen hundred.”—Andrews from Mezeray.