THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS HEAVY TAXES ON HIS ESTATES, TO DEFRAY HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST THE TURKS.
Five days after the arrival of the duke in Arras, and when the feasts of his coming were over, he assembled the three estates of Artois, and declared to them the vow he had made of undertaking a war against the Turks, and of marching thither in person with his whole force, provided the king his lord would promise to keep and guard for him his estates during his absence. To accomplish this vow, he said, that it would be necessary for him to call for the aid of his good vassals and subjects; and he required that they would grant him supplies, amounting, in the whole, to the sum of fifty-six thousand francs, royal money.
The three estates having consulted together, agreed to grant him three aides, instead of four, which he had demanded, amounting to forty-two thousand francs,—but on condition, that if this expedition was not undertaken, they should not be paid. The good duke replied, that in truth, if the expedition failed, he should not want any thing.
The duke then visited Flanders, Hainault, and Brabant, where he made similar requests; and those countries granted him very great supplies to carry on the war against the infidels.
[A.D. 1455.]
CHAP. LXII.
THE BISHOP OF UTRECHT DIES.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY GOES TO HOLLAND TO PROCURE THE ELECTION TO THE BISHOPRICK FOR HIS BASTARD SON DAVID, THEN BISHOP OF THEROUENNE.
In the year 1455, died the bishop of Utrecht, which is in Holland, bordering on Germany. Duke Philip of Burgundy had for a long time thought of obtaining this bishoprick for his bastard son David, then bishop of Therouenne, and had even during the life-time of the late bishop solicited the canons to elect this his son on the first vacancy. They, however, paid no attention to his solicitations, but elected the provost of their church, brother to the lord de Brederode, a great baron in Holland, and a relative to duke Philip.
The duke was much dissatisfied at this conduct, and sent to Rome, and managed so well with the pope that he gave this bishoprick to his bastard son: he had even promised him the succession before the death of the last bishop. The duke went, therefore, to the Hague in Holland, where he endeavoured, but in vain, to gain over to his interest the chapter of Utrecht by every kind means, that they might receive his son for their bishop; and for this purpose he remained in Holland from the feast of St Remy[186], in the year 1455, until St John Baptist's day in the ensuing year.