CHAP. XXXVI.
THE ARTICLES PROPOSED BY THE AMBASSADORS FROM FRANCE AS THE GROUND-WORK FOR A TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE MEN OF GHENT AND THEIR LORD,—BUT WHICH ARE NOT AGREED TO BY THOSE IN GHENT.
On the 22d day of July in the year 1452, the men of Ghent sent a deputation of fifty commissioners to Lille, to treat of a peace with the ministers of the duke of Burgundy and the ambassadors from France: they were also accompanied by master John de Poupincourt, advocate in the parliament. The duke refused at first to attend the conferences, and each party delivered in writing to the ambassadors their separate proposals; but at the entreaty of the ambassadors and his ministers, the duke set out from Brussels, and arrived at Lille on the 27th of August.
When the deputies saw that the time for the expiration of the truce was near at hand, they were afraid to remain longer, and returned to Ghent, leaving behind only two heralds and an interpreter. Notwithstanding the departure of the deputies, the French ambassadors soon after gave judgment respecting their dissensions with the duke, and sentenced the men of Ghent to perform the following articles before they obtained peace.
They were ordered, in the first place, to close up the gate by which they had marched out to besiege Oudenarde, once every week, on the same day they passed it.
Item, the gate by which they had marched to the battle of Rupelmonde was to be shut up for ever.
Item, they were to lay aside their white hoods, as having been their badge of rebellion.
Item, foreign merchants should no longer be amenable to the bye laws of Ghent, but only to those of the town and ban lieu.
Item, no one should be in future banished the town without the cause being specified, which had not been done before.
Item, as to the new regulation of the laws, four noble persons, officers of the duke, and four of the municipality, shall be selected for this purpose; and whereas formerly four-and-twenty persons formed the municipality, twelve of whom were always chosen from the company of weavers,—this shall now be abolished.
Item, whereas, when any troubles existed in the town, the banners of the trades were displayed, and the populace assembled in the market-place: it is ordained, that such proceedings be abolished, and that the banners be placed in a coffer fastened with five locks,—one key shall be delivered to the bailiff of Ghent,—the first sheriff shall have another,—the high deacon of trades the third,—and the other two shall be given in charge to two discreet persons elected by the townsmen,—and there shall be no more assembling in the market-place.
Item, neither the sheriffs nor any gentleman in Ghent shall issue public mandates in their names.
Item, the whole of the municipality, the deacons, governors, and two thousand of the commonalty shall advance half a league out of the town, clad only in their shirts, and humbly on their knees, beg pardon of their lord, saying, that they had wickedly and wrongfully made war against him their lord, for which they crave his mercy.
Item, should any of the duke's officers henceforth misbehave, his offence was not to be cognizable by the municipality,—but it must be referred to their lord and his council.
Item, whereas formerly the municipality of Ghent had usually extended their government over the country of Waes, Alost, Dendermonde and Oudenarde,—it was ordered, that the said ambassadors should, within the year, make a reformation, either by new ordinances or by resigning their jurisdiction altogether.
Item, to satisfy their lord for his expenses in this war, they were to pay him two hundred and fifty thousand riddes[141].
Such was the sentence of the ambassadors on those of Ghent,—who, however, notwithstanding their promises, refused absolutely to abide by it.