On the 14th of April in this year, the duchess of Burgundy was brought to bed of a son in the town of Ghent. His godfathers were, the cardinal of Winchester, and the counts de St Pol and de Ligny, brothers,—and the countess de Meaux was the godmother. He was christened Josse, although neither of the godfathers bore that name, but it had been so ordered by the duke and duchess. They all presented very rich gifts to the child.
This year, the duke, with the consent of the estates, renewed the coin; and golden money was struck, called Riddes[8], of the value of twenty-four sols in silver coin called Virelans[9]. All the old money was called in at a fourth or fifth part of its value, and recoined. At this time, there were great quarrels between the towns of Brussels and Mechlin, insomuch that a severe war took place between them. In like manner, there was much dissention among the Ghent-men, so that several officers were banished from the town.
A PEACE CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BAR AND THE COUNTS DE ST POL AND DE LIGNY.
A treaty of peace now took place between the duke of Bar and the two brothers, the counts de St Pol and de Ligny, who had for some time been at war,—by which the whole country of Guise, parts of which had been conquered by sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny, and which was the hereditary inheritance of the duke of Bar, was given up to the said sir John de Luxembourg, in perpetuity to him and his heirs.
For the greater security of the above, the duke freely gave up the castle of Bohain, in the presence of many of his nobles and officers of the county of Guise, whom he had ordered thither for the purpose of witnessing it, as well as several imperial and apostolical notaries.
There were likewise some discussions relative to Joan de Bar, daughter of sir Robert de Bar, count of Marle, and the portion of property she was to have in the duchy of Bar, in right of her said father. There were also some proposals for a marriage between the second son of the count de Saint Pol and one of the youngest daughters of the duke of Bar: but these two articles were deferred to the next time of meeting. When this negotiation had lasted some days, and the duke had been most honourably and grandly feasted by the two brothers in the castle of Bohain, he departed thence, according to appearances, highly pleased with them, and returned to his duchy.
FOOTNOTES:
[8] Riddes,—of the value of five shillings.—Cotgrave.