When mass was over, the king returned to the palace, and dined at the table of marble in the midst of the hall. On one side of him were seated the cardinal of Winchester, master Peter Cauchon, bishop of Beauvais, master John de Mailly, bishop of Noyon; and on the opposite side were the earls of Stafford, Mortimer and Salisbury, as representing the peers of France. Sir John, bastard de St Pol, was grand master of the household; and with him, preceding the meats, were sir Gilles de Clamecy, sir Guy le Bouteiller, and sir John de Pressy. The lord de Courcelles was on that day grand butler, and sir James de Painel grand pantler: an english knight, called sir Walter Hungerford, carved before the king.
During the dinner, four pageants were introduced: the first was a figure of our Lady, with an infant king crowned by her side; the second, a flower de luce, surmounted with a crown of gold, and supported by two angels; the third, a lady and peacock; the fourth, a lady and swan. It would be tiresome was I to relate all the various meats and wines, for they were beyond number. Many pieces of music were played on divers instruments; and on the morrow a gallant tournament was held at the hôtel de St Pol, where the earl of Arundel and the bastard de St Pol won the prizes, and gained the applause of the ladies for being the best tilters. King Henry, having made some days' stay at Paris, departed, and went to Rouen.
FOOTNOTES:
[5] Nine worthies. According to the Encyclopedie, vol. iv. supplement, the neuf-preux were named Joshua, Gideon, Samson, David, Judas Macchabeus, Alexander, Julius Cæsar, Charlemagne and Godefroy de Bouillon. For further particulars, I refer to the Encyclopedie, where mention is made of this procession to meet Henry VI.
THE DETACHMENT THE DUKE OF BAR HAD LEFT TO BLOCKADE VAUDEMONT MARCH AWAY ON HEARING OF THE ILL SUCCESS OF THE BATTLE.
Very soon after the defeat of the duke of Bar and his army, news of it was carried to the French before Vaudemont by those who had escaped; and it caused such an alarm among them that they instantly took to flight in a most disorderly manner, each man imagining the enemy at his heels, and leaving behind the artillery, stores and provision, that had been intrusted to their guard, and which were in great abundance.
The garrison, observing the confusion and disorder in the camp of the besiegers, concluded that the duke of Bar had been conquered, and instantly sallying out on horseback and on foot made a great slaughter, and took many prisoners. They gained so much that they were all enriched.
Intelligence of this defeat was spread throughout the countries of Bar and Lorraine, and that their lord had been made prisoner, which caused the severest grief to all attached to him. The place where this battle had been fought was called Villeman; and from that day it bore the name of the Battle of Villeman.