FOOTNOTES:
[48] Pont-Avaire. Q. if we should not read Pont-St. Maixence, for the other is not in any map or gazetteer.
[49] La Chappelle,—a village close to Paris.
[50] Champlost,—a town in Champagne, election of St Florentin.
[51] Chablis,—diocese of Langres, famous for its wines.
[CHAP. XLIII.]
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY INCREASES HIS MEN AT ARMS.—THE MARRIAGE OF THE LORD DE LA TRIMOUILLE.—THE DUKE OF CLARENCE EMBARKS A LARGE ARMY FOR HARFLEUR.
The duke of Burgundy, when he heard of this edict, so prejudicial and disgraceful to himself and his friends, was more than ever indignant and irritated against those who governed the king. He very much increased the number of his men at arms, and even consented to their quartering themselves on his own territories in the Cambresis, Tierrache, Vermandois, Santerre, and the whole country from the Somme to the sea-coast, toward Montrieul and Crotoy. Justice was now no longer attended to or maintained in those parts; and the powerful nobles cruelly treated churchmen and the poorer ranks. With regard to the provosts, and others of the king's officers of justice, few, if any of them, dared to do their duty. The tradesmen could not venture abroad with their goods out of the fortified towns without paying tribute for passports, under risk of being robbed and murdered.
At this time the widowed duchess of Berry espoused the lord de la Trimouille, who was not beloved by the duke of Burgundy; and because this duchess was in her own right countess of the Boulonois, the duke sent the lord de Fosseux, then governor of Artois, to take possession of the town of Boulogne. This was done, but the lord de Moruel remained governor of it in the king's name, against the English.
At this same period, the duke of Clarence, brother to the king of England, sailed from the port of Sandwich with three hundred vessels full of English, whom he led to Harfleur, and destroyed the french navy under the command of the constable of France, who had for some time besieged that town. Many were killed on board the fleet; but when the duke of Clarence had revictualled it, and supplied his losses, he sailed back to England much rejoiced at his good success.
[CHAP. XLIV.]
THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY AND THE KING OF ENGLAND COME TO CALAIS. DUKE JOHN OF BURGUNDY MEETS THEM THERE.—THE MATTERS THAT WERE THEN TRANSACTED.
About the feast of St Remy, in this year, the emperor of Germany and the king of England came to Calais, attended by numbers of nobles. The duke of Burgundy there met them, and was most honourably received; and the duke of Glocester, brother to king Henry went to St Omer as hostage for the duke of Burgundy, where he was nobly entertained by the count de Charolois, and by other great lords appointed for that purpose.
However, when the count de Charolois visited the duke of Glocester the day after his arrival attended by some of the lords of his council, to do him honour, and keep him company, the duke had his back turned towards him as the count entered the apartment, and was so engaged in talking to some of his attendants that he forgot to make the usual salutations to the count, but said, shortly enough, 'You are welcome, fair cousin,' but without advancing to meet him, and continued his conversation with the English. The count de Charolois, notwithstanding his youth, was much hurt and displeased at this conduct, although at the moment he showed no signs of it.
In the conferences held at Calais, the king of England earnestly requested the duke of Burgundy not to assist the king of France against him; in which case, he would divide some of his future conquests with him; promising, at the same time, not to attack any of his territories, or those of his allies or well-wishers. The duke refused to agree to this; but the truce that existed between them was prolonged until Michaelmas-day in the year 1419.
At that time, as I was informed, the duke of Burgundy did homage to the emperor for his counties of Burgundy and Alost. When he had remained in Calais nine days, and finished the business on which he had come, he took leave of the king and returned to St Omer, whence the duke of Glocester came to Calais. The king of France and his ministers were much astonished at this visit of the duke of Burgundy and believed for certain that he had allied himself with king Henry, to the prejudice of the king and kingdom of France.
[CHAP. XLV.]
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY GOES TO VALENCIENNES, IN OBEDIENCE TO A SUMMONS WHICH HE RECEIVES FROM THE DAUPHIN. THEY MUTUALLY SWEAR FRIENDSHIP TO EACH OTHER.
On the return of the duke of Burgundy from Calais, duke William count of Hainault sent ambassadors to him, to request that he would meet the dauphin his son-in-law, which he refused, because he had frequently sent to his brother-in-law, duke William in Holland, to desire he would bring the dauphin into those parts, and it had not been complied with. The dauphin, nevertheless, wrote letters with his own hand to the duke of Burgundy, to come to him at Valenciennes, who promised the messengers that he would be there,—and indeed he went thither on the 12th day of November.
Duke William went out of Valenciennes the length of a league to meet him, carrying with him the dauphin. On the morrow such matters were discussed and agreed on as shall be hereafter mentioned, in the presence of the countess of Hainault, the count de Charolois, the count de Conversan, and many other able knights and esquires, and the ministers of the three parties, namely sir Jean de Luxembourg, sir Jacques de Harcourt, the chancellor to the dauphin, Baudouin de Fresnes treasurer of Hainault, Robert de Vandegrès, Jean bastard of Blois, master Eustace de Lactre, the lord d'Antoing, the vidame of Amiens, the lord de Fosseux, the lord d'Ancre, the lord de Robais, the lord de Humbercourt, sir Hue de Launoy, sir Guillaume Bouvier governor of Arras, sir Athis de Brimeu, sir Andrieu de Valines, master Philippe de Morvillers, and many more.
First, the duke of Burgundy offered himself and his services to the dauphin, and promised on his oath to serve the king his father and himself, to the utmost of his power, against all their enemies. This promise the dauphin received with pleasure, and, in return, made oath, that he would aid and defend the duke of Burgundy against his enemies and all ill wishers to him or to his subjects.
The dauphin then affectionately requested the duke to join the king in the defence of his realm against the attacks of the English, which he promised and swore he would. He next required of the duke, that he would keep the peace that had been concluded at Auxerre. The duke replied, that he would most willingly do so, for he was very desirous of maintaining that peace, and that he wished ill to no one but to the king of Sicily.
The dauphin was satisfied with this answer, and made offer to the duke, that if there were any articles in the peace which he wished to have altered, or if he desired others to be added, as well in regard to what had passed then as since, it should be done. All present then made oath to the duke of Burgundy for the observance of what had been said, and duke William and the duke of Burgundy mutually swore to maintain brotherly affection; and that they would endeavour to establish a good government for the king of France and the dauphin, that they would mutually support each other, as well when absent as present, by risking their persons in maintaining whatever they should have agreed upon.
Duke William added, that in respect to the war between France and England, his predecessors had no way interfered, and that he intended in this matter to follow their example, lest his countries should suffer for it. Duke William afterward promised the duke of Burgundy, that he would not intrust the dauphin to the hands of any person of whom he was not sure, for the better security of the engagements just entered into; and that within fifteen days he would visit the queen of France, and would arrange matters with her, so that he should regain her friendship and support for the good of the king and realm. When all these matters had been concluded, the duke of Burgundy and his people returned to Douay.
[CHAP. XLVI.]
DUKE WILLIAM COUNT OF HAINAULT CARRIES HIS SON-IN-LAW THE DAUPHIN TO ST QUENTIN, AND THENCE TO COMPIEGNE, WHERE HE DIES.—THE CONDUCT OBSERVED ON THIS JOURNEY.
On the 14th day of November, duke William carried back the dauphin to his castle of Quesnoy, whither ambassadors of different ranks were sent by the king and queen to recal the dauphin to the presence of the king in Paris; but, notwithstanding their remonstrances, he remained at Quesnoy until after Christmas. Duke William then conducted him to St Quentin in the Vermandois, where they waited for the queen until the epiphany; and because the queen would not come to St Quentin, the duke carried the dauphin to Compiegne, where he was lodged in the king's palace. Shortly after, the countess of Hainault came thither with her daughter the dauphiness, and a large company.
The queen came in great state from Paris to Senlis, accompanied by her son the duke of Touraine and her son-in-law the duke of Brittany, and the great council of the king. At the same time, the young duke d'Alençon, and other lords of his age, went to Compiegne to pay their court to the dauphin. Negotiations now took place between Senlis and Compiegne. The countess of Hainault carried the dauphiness to visit the queen at Senlis, when, after spending some time together in much cheerfulness, they went back to Compiegne, and the queen returned to Paris, whither the negociations were transferred between duke William, the ministers of the dauphin and ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy.
True it is, that at this time, the dauphin sent letters, sealed with his great seal, to the bailiffs of Vermandois and Amiens, and other places, commanding them to proclaim a cessation of warfare on all sides, on pain of corporal punishment and confiscation of effects; but they were of little service to the poor people, for the men at arms did not the less overrun and oppress the country.
On the last day but one in March, duke William declared in the full audience of the king's council at Paris, that he would unite the dauphin with the duke of Burgundy or carry the dauphin back to Hainault, if measures were not instantly taken for restoring peace to the kingdom. The ministers, hearing this, resolved that the duke should be arrested and confined until he had given up the dauphin to the king his father.
The duke was secretly informed of this by a friend; and on the morrow very early, under pretext of performing a pilgrimage to St Maur-des-Fosses, and returning to Paris in the evening, he hastened with only two attendants to Compiegne. He found the dauphin most dangerously ill, insomuch that he died on Palm Sunday: his disorder was an imposthume in the ear, which burst and suffocated him. When dead, he was put into a leaden coffin, and buried at St Corneille[52], in the presence of duke William, his lady, and the dauphiness, who gave large sums for masses to be said for the welfare of his soul. The duke and his family returned in great grief to Hainault.
It was commonly reported, that the dauphin had been poisoned by some of those who governed the king, because he and his elder brother had been too much attached to the duke of Burgundy.