THE BURGUNDIANS AND BRETONS QUARTER THEMSELVES ROUND PARIS; ON WHICH ACCOUNT, THE CITIZENS ADD TO THE FORTIFICATIONS OF THEIR TOWN DURING THE KING'S ABSENCE IN NORMANDY.—THE KING RETURNS TO PARIS, WHEN SEVERAL SALLIES ARE MADE THENCE ON THE ENEMY, DURING THE LIEUTENANCY OF THE COUNT D'EU.—OTHER EVENTS OMITTED BY MONSTRELET.
The Burgundians and Bretons, having recruited themselves in Brie and the Gâtinois, returned, on the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, to Lagny sur Marne, and, on the ensuing Friday, fixed their quarters at Creil, and other places on the river Seine, around Paris. The Parisians were alarmed lest an attempt should be made on their town during the king's absence, as it had been rumoured among them, that one called master Girault, a cannonier of the Burgundians, had boasted that he would plant a battery on the dung-heaps fronting the gates of St Denis and St Anthony, that should destroy that part of the town, and greatly damage the walls. It was therefore ordered, that one person from each house in Paris should go, on the morrow, with shovels and pick-axes to these dung-heaps, and level them with the ground: little, however, was done,—and the heaps remained as they were. On this occasion, sheds, bulwarks and trenches, were made on the outside of the walls, not only for the better defence of the town, but for the security of the guards.
The following Saturday, a number of the principal inhabitants, and others, waited on the count d'Eu, the king's lieutenant, and remonstrated strongly with him on the necessity of concluding a permanent peace between the king and the rebellious princes, for the general welfare and comfort of the kingdom. The count replied to them, that as the king, when he made him his lieutenant, had given him full powers to act for him, and for his kingdom, in such wise as might be the most profitable for both, the which he was bounden to do,—he would employ every possible means to bring about a general pacification, and, if necessary, would go in person to the enemy's quarters. Many fair offers were made to this effect to the Parisians by the count d'Eu, and master John de Poppincourt, his adviser.[78]
The Burgundians and Bretons advanced, on the Monday, nearer to Paris; and on the following day, the count d'Eu sent the lord de Rambures to them, to learn their intentions, and if they had any propositions to make. On the morrow, the lord de Rambures returned; but little was said of what he had done in his conference with the confederated lords. On the Thursday following, the 22d of August, the Burgundians and Bretons intended to have skirmished before the walls of Paris, but a large force issued out against them. At this moment, a breton archer of the body to the duke of Berry, accoutred in brigandines, covered with black velvet, with gilt nails, wearing a hood on his head ornamented with tassels of silver gilt, struck a horse on the flanks and thighs which bore one of the king's men at arms, who wheeling about to return to Paris, his horse fell dead under him; but an archer of the count d'Eu's company, seeing what had passed, hastily advanced, and thrust a half pike through the body of the archer, who fell dead on the spot. He then despoiled him of his dress, and carried that and his horse into Paris, leaving him naked all but his shirt.
At this time, the king removed the queen from Amboise to Orleans; and on the following Thursday he supped in Paris, at the house of the lord d'Ermenonville, where he made good cheer. He carried with him the count du Perche, William de Bischguiot, Durie, Jacques de Crevecœur, the lord de Craon, sir Yves du Sau, sir Gastonnet du Léon, Nuast de Mompedon, Guillaume le Cointe, and master Regnault des Dormans.—The women were, the damsel d'Ermenonville, La Longue Joye, and the duchess of Longueil: the other women of low degree were, Estiennette de Paris, Perrette de Châlons, and Jeanne Baillette.
On the 22d of this month, the king went to meet the confederated princes, with few attendants and without any guards, as far as La Grange aux Merciers; but the duke of Berry was not there. The duke of Bourbon had some conversation on the Thursday with the king, in the open space before Paris, beyond the ditch of La Grange de Ruilly. The king was that day more decently dressed than usual, for he had on a purple flowing robe, fully trimmed with ermine, that became him much more than those short dresses he generally wore.
On the following Saturday, the count de Charolois quitted his army, and had it proclaimed through his camp, that all should be ready prepared, under pain of death, to march instantly against the Liegeois, who were destroying his country with fire and sword.
On the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, the duke of Berry, who was lodged at St Maur des Fossés, was attacked with fever, which lasted these three days, when he was cured.