It happened, at this time, that in the provostship of Peronne a heavy tax was ordered to be collected, and, among others, some villages within the lordships of Ham and Neel, then in the possession of sir John de Luxembourg, were taxed, who was very much discontented that such levies should be raised on his subjects; but, as the deed was done, he made an appeal against the officers of the duke of Burgundy who had laid the tax, and wanted to collect it.
The duke, dissatisfied on his part that this right should be questioned, sent a body of archers to support his officers in collecting the tax, who, on their arrival, carried the edict very rigorously into execution, by seizing all they could lay hands on,—insomuch that the sufferers went to Ham to make complaint to Jacotin de Bethune then in garrison.
On hearing what had passed, he instantly ordered his men to mount and go and see what could be meant by it, while he followed soon after. They advanced to where the duke's archers were, and, without further enquiry beat them soundly: a sergeant from Mondidier was wounded in many places; but when Jacotin came up, and saw that they belonged to the duke of Burgundy, he put an end to the affray, and made excuses for what had happened, saying, that he had taken them for a party of the Skinners attached to king Charles.
They were, however, very ill treated, and speedily returned to the duke their lord, to whom they made heavy complaints about what had passed.—The duke was so indignant with sir John de Luxembourg for this that he resolved to force him to make amends for it, cost what it would.
He wrote shortly after to sir John to order him to send to him Jacotin de Bethune and the others who had committed this offence; but sir John refused, excusing himself, by saying, that he did not think that his people should be meddled with. Thus was their quarrel mutually increased.
Not long after this, Jacotin overthrew with the garrisons under his charge, a body of men belonging to the counts de Nevers and d'Estampes; when a gentleman, called La Perriere, was killed, together with others, at which the above named lords were greatly vexed. Sir John de Luxembourg was, however, much feared, because he was possessed of some very strong places, such as, Coussy[26], Beaulieu[27], Ham sur Somme[28], Neel[29], La Ferté[30], St Goubain[31], Marle[32], Arsy[33], Montaigu[34], Guise[35], Herison[36], Bouchain[37], Beaurevoir[38], Honnecourt[39], Oisy[40], and others, all of which had numerous garrisons. He had not as yet broken off his connexions with the English: on the contrary, he depended much on their support,—for which reason many who were inclined to injure him, were afraid to attack any parts of his territories, lest he should fill his towns and castles with English, which would be the total ruin of the country. For fear of this, all who hated him dissembled their feelings; nevertheless, he did not slacken in providing means of defence, but retained in his different towns and castles men at arms, ready to oppose all who should wage war against him, as well French as Burgundians. These warriors, however, harrassed the country much, more especially the Cambresis.
The english garrisons of Creil[41] and of other places, under pretence of being his men, made frequent excursions, taking many prisoners, and collecting all they could find, which they drove away to places under their obedience. Several of sir John's captains were connected with the English; one in particular, called Perrinet Quatre-Yeux, who was from near Beauvais in the Cambresis, who had served them as a guide to make prisoners and ransom some rich men in those parts, but it happened that, in the course of these wicked pursuits, he had come to a farm near Oisy, called Gourgouche; which being told to Sir John de Luxembourg then in the castle of Oisy, he instantly sent thither his archers, who put him to death, and buried him in a ditch,—and sir John gained great praise from all the country for so doing.
FOOTNOTES:
[26] Coussy. Q. Courcelles? a town in Picardy.
[27] Beaulieu,—a town in Picardy.