the month of November, accompanied by the archbishop of Embrun, the lord de Malicorne, the bishop of Marseilles, the ambassador from the king of Sicily, who had come to Lyons to assist in promoting a general union of the church. The ambassadors from the duke of Saxony went also with them to Geneva; but the archbishop of Treves had returned home, and the commissioners from the archbishop of Cologne had gone to Rome. When they were all arrived at Geneva, they held many conferences with pope Felix, his cardinals and counsellors, and concluded on certain articles for a pacification, on condition that pope Nicholas would also agree to them. When this was done, the French commissioners returned with these articles to the king at Tours, and reported to him all that had passed. He approved of what had been done as a probable ground-work for a union of the church, and sent ambassadors to pope Nicholas to request that he would also approve of these articles, or otherwise arrange matters for a general pacification. CHAPTER VI. THE DUKE OF ORLEANS RECEIVES FROM THE HANDS OF THE DUKE OF MILAN HIS UNCLE, THE COUNTY OF ASTI IN PIEDMONT. THE KING OF FRANCE BESIEGES THE CITY OF MANS, WHICH SURRENDERS BY CAPITULATION. In this year, the duke of Milan yielded up to the duke of Orleans, his nephew, the county of Asti,-and shortly after, the duke of Milan departed this life*. The king of France, at this period, laid siege to the city of Mans, because the king of England, on his marriage with the daughter of the king of Sicily, had promised instantly to surrender that town, with all the other places he held in the county of Maine; and he had been deceived for three months by the specious promises of the English commissioners, who had not only refused to give it back but had introduced about fifteen hundred English into that town. The king, therefore, on being informed of this circumstance, ordered it to be besieged, and sent thither a great force of men-at-arms and archers, to the amount of six or seven thousand combatants, under the command of the count de Dunois. The siege was pushed forward with such vigour that those in the town found resistance would be vain, as they had not sufficient forces to oppose their enemies on that side of the sea. It would have been taken by storm had not the bishop of Gloucester, keeper of the privy seal, remonstrated with the king of France on the risk of the truces being broken between the two kingdoms were this to take place, and obtained a capitulation for them, by which they were to yield up the town, and march away in safety with their baggage and effects. The king of France then resided at Lavardin, near to Vendòme, attended by some of the princes of the blood-royal, and a large company of men-at-arms to support, should there be occasion, the besieging army of Mans. After its surrender, the king went to celebrate his Easter in the city of Tours, and those before Mans returned to their quarters and garrisons; while, on the other hand, the English that had been in Mans retreated to Normandy. CHAPTER VII.-THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AMBASSADORS TO POPE NICHOLAS V.—THE TOWN OF FINAL+ IS BESIEGED BY THE GENOESE.-IT IS REVICTUALLED BY SEA. THE DUKE OF ORLEANS MAKES PREPARATIONS TO RAISE THIS SIEGE BY LAND. [A. D. 1448.] In the year 1448, the king of France celebrated the feast of Easter in the city of Tours,— and immediately after, his ambassadors to pope Nicholas departed on their embassy. Some of them went by sea on board of vessels belonging to Jacques Coeur, master of the wardrobe to the king, and embarked at Marseilles. At the same time, a fleet of victuallers sailed from Marseilles, to the relief of the town and castle of Final, near to Genoa, then besieged *Philip Maria, last duke of Milan of the house of Visconti, died in 1448, leaving no issue by either of his wives, Beatrix de Tende, (the widow of the famous Facino Cane), and Mary, daughter of the duke of Savoy. His natural daughter, Bianca Maria, was married to Francis Sforza, who, in her pretended right, succeeded to the duchy, and transmitted it to his descendants. † Final,-a town on the western coast of Genos. by the Genoese. It was defended for the king by sir Galiot du Garet*, lord of the place, who had made war on the Genoese, and they in return had besieged him. Notwithstanding their opposition, the town and castle were revictualled, and the vessels returned to Marseilles. When this was done, Tanneguy and the master of the wardrobe, with three galleys, sailed for a port near Rome called Finette Viellet, where they arrived in safety, although pursued closely by a numerous fleet of the Genoese. The duke of Orleans was at this time in his town of Asti, and having heard of the relief thrown into Final collected a large body of men to raise the siege; but when the Genoese learned his intentions, they quitted their siege and marched away. The French ambassadors met, by appointment, in the city of Sienna; and, being all assembled, they set out for Rome, where they arrived on the 10th day of July in such grand magnificence that the like had not been seen or heard of before; with the king of France's ambassadors were those from the king of Sicily, and the dauphin. The English ambassadors had arrived at Rome long before them, and had laid before the pope the articles that had been agreed to at Geneva; but he had replied, that they were unworthy of his attention, and that he would not by any means consent to them. These ambassadors had on this left Rome for Viterbo, where they met the French embassy, to whom they related what had passed, and said that they would stay a short time at Viterbo, to learn from them whether it would be expedient for them to return to Rome,- -as in fact they did, from the intelligence they received from the French ambassadors. pope, On the 12th day of July, the ambassadors from the kings of France, of Sicily, and from the dauphin, had an audience of the pope on the matters they were come upon,-when the archbishop of Rheims, having declared the solemn obedience of their princes to the explained the articles that had been agreed on as a ground-work for a general union of the church, reserving to himself to discuss them hereafter more fully in detail. The pope made them a solemn answer, and from that day treated them with greater kindness and attention than ever any former embassy had experienced. They had several conferences with the pope and the cardinals on the articles of union,-to some of which the pope agreed, to others not. When they had obtained all they could from the pope, they departed, and went to Lausanne, where pope Felix resided. Having explained to him all they had done at Rome, and what pope Nicholas was willing to agree to, they persuaded him to give peace to the church by renouncing his claims to the papacy. Pope Felix replied, that he would consult with the duke of Savoy his son who was on his road to Lausanne, and his principal counsellors, how he should act, and requested the ambassadors to wait the return of those he intended to send to the king of France in the city of Geneva, which, for the furtherance of peace, they assented to. They also, in compliance with the wishes of pope Felix, desired the lord de Tollette, ambassador from pope Nicholas, to come to Lausanne from Lyons, where he was waiting the effect of their conferences with pope Felix, with the bulls, to publish them, in case he should agree to the articles as settled at Rome. Pope Felix, and his son the duke of Savoy, lost no time in despatching ambassadors to king Charles, to solicit his interference with pope Nicholas, that he would consent to more of the original articles than he had done. The king, on this, assembled his council, and, after mature deliberation, it was resolved to send other ambassadors with those from Savoy, to assist the archbishop of Rheims in the procuring a peace. He had with him the patriarch of Antioch, the bishop of Poictiers and the bishop of Alet, who, with sir John le Boursier, were to proceed to Rome to obtain certain letters, the form of which they were to draw up, for the more speedy accomplishment of union in the church. After many persuasions, the above-mentioned letters were obtained from pope Nicholas, and the ambassadors returned with them to Lausanne, when pope Felix V. relinquished all right or claim he might have to the papacy. He was after this made perpetual legate of all Savoy. Those who had assembled at Lausanne, pretending to be the general council transferred from Basil, declared their submission to pope Nicholas as the true father of the church. and dissolved their assembly as a council. Sir Galiot du Garet. De Caretto.-MS. Du CANGE. † Finette Viello. Q. Civita Vecchia ? This being done, the ambassadors returned to their respective princes. The patriarch of Antioch, the bishop of Alet, and sir John le Boursier, took the road to Rome, with the ambassadors from the pope, for the confirmation of all the acts done at Lausanne, and then returned to the king of France with the bulls of confirmation. Thus was this whole assembly broken up, and each went whithersoever he pleased,—and thus was healed that deep wound in the church, by the re-establishment of peace and union, through the indefatigable exertions of the king of France, who had taken great personal pains to bring it about, and had expended very large sums in sending embassies to the different kings in Christendom to unite them in so praiseworthy an object; for the kings of France would never support any schisms,— taking for their guide the Holy Scriptures, which have always led them in the right way. At this time, the king of France ordered every parish throughout his realm to have one archer ready armed to march whithersoever he might be commanded, to make war, should there be occasion; and that they might the more readily obey this order, they would be relieved from paying any future subsidies. The bailiffs were commanded to select the most expert and able in all the parishes throughout their bailiwicks. CHAPTER VIII.-SIR FRANCIS DE SURIENNE, CALLED THE ARRAGONIAN, TAKES THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF FOUGERES*, BELONGING TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRUCE BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND OF ENGLAND. THE GREAT MISCHIEFS HE DOES THERE. On the eve of the feast of our Lady in March in this year, sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, knight of the order of the Garter, and a great captain for the king of England in those parts of France under his dominion, took the town and castle of Fougeres, belonging to the duke of Brittany, situated on the borders of Normandy, notwithstanding the truces were not expired between the kings of England and France, and their allies. This town was of great antiquity, and full of people and wealth. Sir Francis had with him seven hundred men, as well English as from other countries, who committed every mischief by pillaging the houses, killing the inhabitants, and ravishing the women. Not satisfied with this, he overran the adjacent parts of Brittany, making prisoners, and doing every exploit usual in war. The duke of Brittany was very indignant when he heard of this conduct, and sent the bishop of Rennes to the king of France at Chinon, to complain that the English had, notwithstanding the truce, taken his town and castle of Fougeres, and had despoiled many other parts of his duchy, and requesting of him, as his relative, lord paramount and protector, that he would aid him by declaring war against England, for that he was prepared to do so without any way sparing his own personal exertions. The king replied, that he would never abandon him, but make common cause with him, as was just. In order, however, to have Heaven on their side, and to throw the blame wholly on their enemies, he would first demand reparation from the king of England, and also from the duke of Somerset, his lieutenant-general on that side of the sea, for the wrongs that had been done him,—the duke having had full powers to make any reparation for evils that might ensue from the infringement of the truce. The king added, that he hoped the duke would make reparation, to avoid the inconveniences that must ensue from a renewal of war. King Charles sent to England to make this demand, his esquire-carver, Jean Havart, and master John Cousinot, one of the masters of requests of his household, and to the duke of Somerset, Pierre de Fontenay, equerry of his stables. They brought answers from king Henry and the duke, that they disavowed what sir Francis de Surienne had done, although it had been currently reported that this capture had been made by their order and connivance. The duke of Brittany, who was much interested in this capture of Fougeres, sent his herald at arms to demand a surrender of the place from the duke of Somerset, that it * Fougeres, a town in Brittany, on the frontiers of Normandy, diocese of Rennes. -- should be completely repaired, and restitution be made for all the plunder of houses, jewels, and effects, amounting, in the whole, according to a valuation, to the sum of sixteen hundred thousand crowns. The duke of Somerset made answer that he would no way avow any concern in the said capture. When the duke of Brittany's herald was departed, the duke of Somerset, desirous of repairing the fault that had been done in those parts by sir Francis de Surienne, sent ambassadors to the king of France more amply to excuse himself from having been any party in the business, declaring his disavowal of it, and how very unpleasant it had been to him; which was frivolous, for he made no mention of any offer to repair the place, nor of making restitution for the wrong, but requested, for the general safety, that everything might remain on its present footing. The king replied, that if the duke of Somerset was so very much displeased at what had happened he should do his duty, according to the full powers vested in him, and make due restitution for the plunder so unjustly carried away, and restore the place in sufficiently good repair: and that if he would not do this, he might be assured that he would support his nephew of Brittany: that in regard to giving up to the English certain places as pledges for the maintenance of peace, he would do no such thing; adding, that his nephew of Brittany was allied to the greatest lords of his realm, and had many able commanders in his duchy, all of whom were very indignant at this capture of Fougeres, and who, it must be believed, would be eager to revenge it, by making conquests from the English: they would, therefore, attend to the guard of their own towns and castles; that for his part, he would take especial care to guard his own. The ambassadors, having had this answer, requested the king to send to Louviers commissioners fully instructed; for that on their return to Rouen, they knew well the duke of Somerset would send persons properly authorised to meet them, and endeavour to bring about an accommodation. The king, ever wishing to avoid the effusion of human blood, and more desirous of employing gentle measures than force, complied with their request, and appointed commissioners accordingly. The English now returned to the duke of Somerset, and told him all that had passed at the court of France, and that the king had sent to Louviers commissioners to settle the dispute respecting the capture of Fougeres. The duke immediately ordered thither commissioners to make up the dispute, if possible, with those of France. This year, the English repaired the town of St. James de Beuvron, which was what they ought not to have done; for by the articles of the truce, no places were to be repaired during its continuance, either by the French or English. In this year also, the English surrendered the towns and castles of Mayenne, and of Juliez in the county of Maine, which they had promised to yield up when they marched away from Mans. THEY CHAPTER IX.-THE POPULACE OF LONDON RISE AGAINST THE KING'S OFFICERS. INHUMANLY MURDER THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER, AND IMPRISON THE MARQUIS OF SUFFOLK, BUT THE KING SETS HIM AT LIBERTY. ABOUT the end of Lent, in this year, there was a great commotion of the populace in the city of London, headed by the mayor of that city. Instigated by their evil inclinations, they inhumanly murdered the bishop of Gloucester, keeper of the king's privy seal,—a good plain man, and very learned. They also arrested the marquis of Suffolk, who was a great lord, and imprisoned him in the Tower of London. This mayor had great influence in the city; and, wherever he went, a sword was borne before him. The king was, at this moment, three miles distant from London, at one of his palaces on the Thames, and greatly astonished when told what was going forward in London. He instantly sent for the lieutenant of the Tower, who lost no time in obeying this order; and, after having heard a true account of what had been done by the mob, he commanded him to bring the marquis of Suffolk in safety to him, without delay, or that his own life should answer for it. The lieutenant found means of delivering the marquis of Suffolk without the knowledge of the mayor or people, and of carrying him to the king's presence. After a short conver sation, the king made the marquis mount his horse and fly toward the northern part of his kingdom, where he might find convenient means for passing over to France. He was, however, met by some of the duke of Somerset's men, who cut off his head, and sent it, with the body, to London. In the mean time, the king summoned the mayor and townsmen of London before him. They were much discontented that he had set the marquis at liberty, and insisted that those of his council who had advised his deliverance should be given up to them, which was done for fear of enraging the populace still more, who instantly had them beheaded. Thus for some time were the citizens appeased*. CHAPTER X.-THREE MALEFACTORS, TWO MEN AND ONE WOMAN, ARE CONDEMNED ΤΟ DEATH BY THE COURT OF PARLIAMENT AT PARIS. [A. D. 1449.] On the 18th day of April, in this year, three malefactors, two men and one woman, were condemned to be hanged. Two high gallows of wood were consequently erected, that the punishment for such evil deeds as they had committed, might be exhibited to the public. They had confessed themselves guilty of thrusting out the eyes of a child of two years old, whom they had in wardship, of putting it to death by running thorns into its body, which was most cruel, and of being great thieves. One gallows was erected without the gate of St. James, on which one of the two men was hanged, and another without the gate of St. Denis, between the chapel and windmill, on which was hanged the other man, who had been a player on the hurdy-gurdy, as also the woman; and although they were both married, they had lived together in double adultery. They were delivered to the executioner from the prison of the Conciergerie, but were attended by almost all the ushers of the parliament, because they had been sentenced by that court. Great multitudes assembled to see the execution, more especially women and girls, from the novelty of the fact; for this was the first instance of a woman being hanged in France. The woman was hanged with her hair all dishevelled, in a long robe, having her two legs tied together below the knees. Some said, that she requested that it should be thus done, as it was the custom of her country; while others said, that she was thus sentenced as a memorial for the longer remembrance of women, and that her crimes were so enormous she was deserving of a severer punishment. Many prisoners were afterwards hanged from the dungeons of the Châtelet, who had been therein detained some time until others of their gang could be apprehended. They had gone to different parts of the kingdom where pardons were obtained, such as the dedication of Saint Denis, that of St. Maur, of St. Fiacre, of St. Mathurin, and elsewhere, and had attacked travellers in forests and on the high roads, under pretence of asking alms; but the greater part of them had been arrested, confronted with their companions, and executed by the king's officers of justice. CHAPTER XI.—IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE CAPTURE OF FOUGERES, THE ALLIES OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY GAIN THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF PONT-DE-L'ARCHIE FROM THE ENGLISH. GERBEROY IS AFTERWARDS TAKEN. On the 16th day of May, in this year, while the commissioners from the king of France and the duke of Somerset were assembled, according to appointment, in the town of Louviers, some of the friends and allies of the duke of Brittany found means to gain the town and castle of Pont-de-l'Arche, on the river Seine, four leagues distant from Rouen. This capture * I copy from Fabian what he says of this business."A.D. 1449.-Thomas Chalton, mayor.-And continuing the said parliament, the duke of Suffolk was arrested and sent as a prisoner (to content some minds) unto the Tower, where he was kept at his pleasure a month, and after delivered at large, the which discontented many men's minds; for to him was laid the charge of the delivery of Anjou and Maine and the death of the noble prince Humphrey duke of Gloucester," &c., &c.-For further |