THE GARRISON OF GUISE CAPITULATE TO SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG AND SIR THOMAS RAMPSTONE.
When sir John de Luxembourg and sir Thomas Rampstone had, with great perseverance, continued their siege of Guise and its castle until the month of September,—the garrison finding provisions grow short, and losing all hope of relief offered to capitulate with the two aforesaid lords, on the following terms.
'To all to whom these presents shall come, we John de Luxembourg lord de Beaurevoir, and Thomas Rampstone knight, chamberlain to the lord regent, and governors of this district for the king of France and of England, our sovereign lord, by the appointment of my lords the regent and the duke of Burgundy, send health and greeting.
'Know ye, that we have this day signed a treaty in the names of our lords aforesaid, with John de Proisy governor and captain of the town and castle of Guise, and with the churchmen, gentlemen, men at arms, and the burghers of the said town, according to the terms and articles hereafter to be declared.
'First, the governor and the persons aforesaid, residing within the town and castle of Guise, do promise truly and faithfully to surrender the said town and castle to one of us, or to such other person or persons as the king of France and England may depute for that purpose, on the first day of March next ensuing, provided that on or before that day they be not relieved by the princes or others of the same party as themselves, by combating us between the town of Sains and the house of Fouquausuins, which spot we have fixed on, in conjunction with the garrison of Guise, for the field of battle.
'Should those of the party of king Charles be defeated in fair combat, by the forces of the king of France and England, or put to flight, the garrison of Guise shall hold themselves bounden to deliver up the town and castle. In case the contrary should happen, and we of the party of the king of France and of England be beaten, or afraid to appear on the appointed day, we shall be bounden to return without ransom the hostages which shall have been given to us for the due observance of this treaty.
'Item, my lord the regent, and my lord of Burgundy, or those commissioned by them, shall be bound to appear with such force as they may please on the first day of March, to hold the wager of battle namely, from sun-rise of that day until sunset; and if they shall not then be fought with nor defeated, the garrison shall, without fail, or any fraud whatever, surrender the town and castle immediately after sunset, on receiving back the hostages whom they had given.
'Item, during the term of this treaty, and within one month afterward, the governor and all others within the said town and castle, of whatever rank they may be, shall have free liberty to depart singly or in companies across the river Seine, to such places as are held by their party, and carry with them, or have carried, their armour, horses, baggage and all their effects; and for their greater security we promise to deliver to them sufficient passports in the name of my lord the regent, if so required, that shall include not more than twenty in a company. Should any of them wish to go out of the kingdom, even to Hainault, they must do so at their peril.
'Item, should any now resident within Guise be inclined to remain there, or elsewhere, under the dominion of our lord the king, or of our lords the regent and the duke of Burgundy, they shall have full liberty, on taking the oaths of allegiance, and on swearing to preserve the last-made peace between the kingdoms of France and England, with the free enjoyment of all their effects and inheritances that may not before have been disposed of. Should they wish to depart, they shall not carry with them any of their moveables.