CHAP. XL.
THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY ARRIVES IN LONDON.—THE BROTHER TO THE KING OF CYPRUS COMES TO PARIS.—THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY.—MANY EMBASSIES TAKE PLACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
In the beginning of this year, the emperor of Germany arrived at London; and the king, accompanied by his princes, nobles, great multitudes of the clergy and citizens, went out to meet him. During his stay, every honour was paid to him, and he was treated with great magnificence.
A few days after his arrival, duke William of Hainault came thither also, attended by six hundred horse, to endeavour to make a peace between England and France. Ambassadors likewise arrived at London from various countries, and in the number were one hundred persons from the duke of Burgundy.
At this same time, the brother to the king of Cyprus, who was count of three cities, came to visit the king of France in Paris. The constable, Charles son to the duke of Bourbon, the provost of Paris, and many more went to meet him; and they escorted him to the presence of the king and queen, who received him most graciously.
On the 16th day of May, Jennet de Poix, Jacques de Fosseux, the lord de St Leger, Binet d'Auffeu, Hue de Sailly, master Philippe de Morvillier, Guillaume Sanguin, and others of the Burgundy faction, were publicly banished at Amiens from the kingdom of France, on suspicion of having been concerned in the late plot against the royal family.
In these days, the duke of Berry, who was now at a very advanced age, was taken ill at his hôtel de Neele in Paris, and was frequently visited by the king his nephew, at that time in perfect health, and by other princes of the blood. Notwithstanding the care of his physicians, he departed this life on the 13th day of June, without leaving a male heir,—so that the duchy of Berry and county of Poiteu reverted to the crown, and the king gave them to John de Touraine, his eldest son, and godson to the defunct.
The heart of the duke of Berry was interred at St Denis, his bowels in the church of St Pierre-des-Degrez, and his body was carried to Bourges, and there buried in the cathedral church. He left two daughters; the eldest was countess d'Armagnac, mother to Amadeus duke of Savoy, and the youngest was duchess of Bourbon. The duke of Berry had, during his lifetime, given to his nephew and godson John duke of Burgundy, the county of Estampes, on certain conditions. On the duke of Berry's decease, the king appointed his youngest son Charles, afterward Dauphin, to the government of Paris, under the management of his father in law the king of Sicily, and likewise gave him the duchy of Touraine.
The ambassadors from France, who had accompanied the emperor of Germany to England, namely the archbishop of Rheims, the lord de Gaucourt and others, now returned to the king; but, at the instance of the emperor, the bishop of Norwich and sir Thomas Erpingham, a knight of great renown, grand master of the king's household, attended by seventy horsemen, went with him to Calais, as ambassadors from king Henry. At Calais they received passports from the king of France, and went to Montrieul, thence to Abbeville and Beauvais, where commissioners from the king met and honourably received them. A negociation was opened for a truce to take place between the two kings for a certain time, and also respecting the ransoms of some prisoners who had been carried to England in consequence of the victories of king Henry; but nothing was concluded, because the constable had besieged Harfleur by sea, and would not break up the siege, in consequence of which the English ambassadors returned home.
Soon afterward the king of England sent the earl of Warwick and others, as ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy at Lille, who concluded a truce between England and the duke, from St John Baptist's day in this year to Michaelmas day in 1417, but only for the counties of Flanders, Artois and the adjacent parts. The duke of Burgundy caused this truce to be publicly proclaimed at the usual places, to the great astonishment of many who were surprised that such a truce should have been concluded independantly of France.
[CHAP. XLI.]
JENNET DE POIX AND OTHERS, BY COMMAND OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, MARCH SECRETLY TO SAINT DENIS, AND MAKE INROADS ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF FRANCE.
In the month of June, sir Jennet de Poix, with the approbation of the duke of Burgundy his lord, collected four hundred men, who, hiding their arms in casks, divided themselves into companies, and went by different roads, disguised as merchants, to the frank fair of St Denis. As the king was at St Germain-en-Laye, and the constable in Normandy, many hid themselves on the road-side, and others entered the town as merchants, chiefly with the intention of seizing the chancellor and Tanneguy du Châtel provost of Paris. But while they were eating and drinking, the chancellor and Tanneguy passed unmolested through the town and returned to Paris.
When they heard of this, they hastened back in confusion to Picardy, carrying with them some prisoners, and spoils from the king's territories, which greatly incensed the people.
On the other hand, Ferry de Mailly, with many men at arms, invaded the towns of Quesnel and Hangest, in Santerre, where he and sir Martelet had been made prisoners, and carried off a large booty with many captives, whom, after they had miserably tortured them, they set at liberty for heavy ransoms.
In like manner, sir Mauroy de St Leger crossed the Seine, and during the night, formed an ambuscade near to the castle of Chaulnes[46]; and in the morning when the draw-bridge was lowered, his men rushed into the castle, and made themselves masters thereof, which was full of rich effects. Soon afterward, the peasants of Lihons[47], and from other villages who had therein deposited their goods, entered into a treaty with sir Mauroy; and, for a considerable sum of money paid him and his people, he surrendered the castle to the lady-dowager, and marched away.