'Long live the valiant Burgundy!
With heart and voice we loudly cry.
Henceforth no other lord we own;
But place our trust in him alone.
Long live the valiant Burgundy!
Who now from sorrow sets us free;
Whilst on his entrance thus we cry,
Long live the valiant Burgundy!'
This entry was more grand and magnificent than ever prince made before; for by the side of the duke on horseback, with his hood thrown on his shoulder, was the bastard d'Armagnac, marshal to the lord dauphin,—and he was preceded by the ushers at arms, his first master of the horse bearing his sword. Immediately before him, his kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, clothed in their tabards of arms, were in great numbers; and before these heralds were from twelve to fourteen clarions and trumpets, who followed the count d'Estampes and sir Thibault de Neufchâtel lord de Blancmont, marshal of Burgundy. These were preceded by the lords and gentlemen of the dauphin, the two sons of the lord de Croy, and the two sons of the marshal of Burgundy. Before them rode the lord Adolphus of Cleves, the lord bastard of Burgundy and sir Philip Pol, all richly dressed, themselves and their heralds: they were preceded by the great lords of the court,—and before them other lords and gentlemen, two and two, without varlet or page: before these gentlemen were the principal burghers and gentlemen of the town in great numbers, dressed in black.
Immediately after the duke were fifty archers of his body-guard on foot, dressed in their jackets, each having a hunting spear in his hand: behind the duke were fifteen pages and numbers of gentlemen. The horses that were at this entry were estimated at more than two hundred, without including those of the pages, varlets and other attendants, which were already in the town. In short, it was the most triumphant entry that ever lord made into a town for these five hundred years past.
The illuminations were continued on the following night; and the townsmen acted many mysteries in the town-house, expressive of the praise of their lord, and of their own ill conduct. They did the same on the Tuesday evening, but without illuminations,—for it was said that the duke had desired they might not be longer continued. One of the burghers had covered the outside of his house with gold and silver, and had placed a great number of torches and lanthorns before it. In like manner did many others in the different streets ornament their houses with rich hangings and splendid illuminations, at a great expense, during the two days the feast lasted.
On the Tuesday, the municipal officers, and principal burghers, waited on the duke at his palace, to thank him humbly for having come to his good town of Ghent, and to make offer of their lives and fortunes, for which he expressed his obligations. Then, on their knees, they supplicated him that he would be pleased to sup with them, in the manner of a banquet, at the town on the following Sunday, the last day of April, which he granted.
It was rumoured that this banquet would be free to all comers, like an open court, and that it would cost more than ten thousand crowns of gold. On the morrow, the managers of the feast dispatched purveyors nine leagues round Ghent, to collect every delicacy they could lay hands on, so that a small chicken was sold for two patars[239].
Toward the end of April, the king of France sent ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy, to signify to him that he intended to give judgement on the duke of Alençon on the 10th of the ensuing month of June, in the town of Montargis, and to summon him to attend at the above place and time with the peers of France, of whom he was one, and dean of the said peers, and also to consider on other matters touching the welfare of the realm.
The duke instantly replied to these ambassadors,—'Although my lord the king, by the treaty of Arras, has no right to command me in any thing, and notwithstanding I am personally exempted from my dependance on him, nevertheless, I will, if it please God, be personally present at the time and place he has fixed on, to give sentence on the duke of Alençon, and respecting the matters touching the welfare of the kingdom of France.'
When the ambassadors, on receiving this answer, were departed, the duke sent Golden Fleece, the king at arms of his order, to king Charles, to deliver a certain message he charged him with. He then had it proclaimed in all his great towns, that all who had been accustomed to bear arms, and by their fiefs and oaths were bounden to serve him, should prepare themselves to be in readiness to accompany him, the first day of June, on his journey to the king of France at Montargis, whither he had been by him summoned to attend; and it was his intention, if it pleased God, to appear there with the greatest possible force he could raise.
On the other hand, the king of France had ordered the arriere ban of his realm to hold themselves in readiness the first of June,—which made many suppose that a renewal of war was about to take place; and it was currently reported in France that these preparations were made to oppose the English, who were intending to invade France.