[A.D. 1464.]
OF THE EXPEDITION OF THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY.—THE KING OF FRANCE DETAINS PRISONER PHILIP OF SAVOY, NOTWITHSTANDING HE HAD GIVEN HIM A SAFE CONDUCT.—THE COUNT DE ST POL PACIFIES THE KING OF FRANCE.—A BATTLE SHORTLY NOTICED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN ENGLAND.—OTHER MATTERS.
On the 18th day of March, in the year 1463, the duke of Burgundy, dissatisfied that the king had prevailed on him to retard his expedition to Turkey, assembled the three estates of his country at Lille, and there told them, that the king of France had induced him to delay going to the east for one year; but that in order that the pope, and the other Christian princes, might be satisfied with him, he had the intention of sending thither his bastard Anthony, with two thousand combatants, accompanied by Baldwin his other bastard, then about eighteen years old; and that, should it please God, and he be neither dead nor ill, he would be in person in Turkey by St John's day, in the year 1465, with the largest army he could possibly assemble.
The king of France, at this time, sent a third summons for the count de St Pol to appear in person before him, or take the consequences, and sent him a passport. The count, fearing he should be banished if he further disobeyed, determined to go to the king; and on his arrival, he met with so many zealous friends at court that the king received him with much pleasure, and his peace was made,—and he did homage for the lands he held under the king. It was said at the time, that king Louis required that he would no longer serve the count de Charolois,—but that he had replied in excuse, that it was impossible for him to comply with this requisition, as he was under obligations, by faith and oath, to the count de Charolois, and could not break them.
Soon after Easter, in the year 1464, at the command of the king of France, Philip of Savoy, third son to the duke of Savoy, set out to wait on him. The king had sent to him his first equerry, with credential letters, to desire that he would accompany him to France. These letters were signed by the king himself, and displayed by the equerry, who assured him, in the king's name, that he should come and return in perfect safety.
Notwithstanding this, on his near approach to the king, he was arrested, and carried prisoner to the castle of Loches, in Touraine, a very strong castle, wherein he remained confined two whole years. I know not the cause of this, if it were not that the king was envious that he had greater command in Savoy than the duke, and that the people more willingly obeyed him than the duke. However, at the end of two years, the king, of his own accord, had him set at liberty.
At this time, Charles count de Nevers departed this life, without leaving male heirs, and was therefore succeeded in his counties of Nevers, Rethel, and other places, by his brother John.