Andrews' Hist. of England.
[58] Comines calls him sir John Cheam and Chaney.
CHAP. XX.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY DELIVERS THE CONSTABLE, LOUIS DE LUXEMBOURG, INTO THE HANDS OF THE KING'S OFFICERS, BY WHOM HE IS CARRIED PRISONER TO THE BASTILLE? AT PARIS.—THE COUNT DE ROUSSY IS CONDUCTED A PRISONER FROM BURGES TO MONTILS LES TOURS.—THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE KING AND HIM.—THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF THE CONSTABLE AT PARIS.—SOME OF THE OFFICERS IN THAT CITY ARE DISPLACED.—THE DUKE D'ALENÇON DELIVERED FROM THE LOUVRE.—A COUNCIL ORDERED BY THE KING.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY DEFEATED BY THE SWISS AT GRANSON.—THE DUKE OF NEMOURS MADE PRISONER AT CARLAT, IN THE KING'S NAME, BY THE LORD DE BEAUJEU.—OTHER EVENTS IN THIS YEAR OF MCCCCLXXV.
In one of the articles of the truce, between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy, was a stipulation for the delivery of the constable de St Pol into the hands of the king's officers. This was complied with by the duke; and the constable was given in charge to the lord admiral bastard of Bourbon, the lord de St Pierre, the lord de Bouchaige, master Guillaume de Cerisay, and others, by whom he was carried prisoner to Paris. They led him on the outside of the walls to the entrance of the bastile from the fields; but as that gate was closed, they took him to the gate of St Anthony, and thence through part of the town to that fortress.
The constable had on a short cloak of camlet, lined with black velvet, in which he was wrapped up, and mounted on a small courser in fine condition. When he dismounted, he was met in the court of the bastile by the lord chancellor, the first president of the court of parliament, and all the other presidents and councellors of that court; there was also sir Denis Hesselin, master of the king's household, to receive him. Those who escorted him delivered him over to the care of Philip L'Huillier, governor of the bastile: but the lord admiral, before their departure, addressed the chancellor and the presidents, in the presence of the constable, nearly in the following words: 'My lords who are here present, behold the lord de Saint Pol, whom the king ordered me to demand from the duke of Burgundy, in consequence of an article in the last truce concluded between them, and who performed his promise by delivering him into my hands. I have taken every care of him, and now surrender him up to you, for you to proceed on his trial with as much diligence as may be,—for this the king has charged me to say to you.' After which, the lord admiral quitted the bastile.
The constable being thus left in the hands of his judges, they lost no time in proceeding to his trial, and examined him on the various charges laid against him. To the interrogatories he made verbal answers, as to the different points of his imputed crimes, which were all put down in writing, copied out fair, and sent to the king.
On the 4th of December, one of the king's heralds, called Montjoye, a native of Picardy, and who had resided mostly with the count de St Pol, while constable, came to Paris with his son, to wait on master John de Ladriesche, president of the chamber of accounts, and treasurer of France, who was from the country of Brabant. He brought to him letters from the count de Marle, his wife and children, to induce him to aid, with all his interest, the constable, father to the count de Marle.
The president refused to receive the letters brought by the herald, except in presence of the lord chancellor and the other ministers of the king,—and, for this reason, carried the herald to the chancellor, that the letters might be opened and examined. But as John de Ladriesche remained long in conference with the chancellor, the herald and his son returned to their lodgings, and, mounting their horses, set out for Bourget[59]; although they told their host to say, if any one should inquire after them, that they were gone to sleep at Bourg la Reine. When John de Ladriesche had quitted the chancellor, he sought Montjoye, to have the letters, and, not finding him, sent for him to Bourg la Reine, where he had never been; but two archers of Paris discovered him at Bourget, and brought him and his son back to Paris. They were carried to the town-hall, and examined separately by some of the king's council, and their depositions were reduced to writing by sir Denis Hesselin. They were then delivered over to the care of Denis Baudart, an archer of Paris, in whose house they were confined twenty-five days, and strictly guarded by three archers of Paris.
At the beginning of December, the count de Roussy[60] was conducted, as a prisoner of war from the great tower in Bourges to Plessis du Parc, formerly called Montils les Tours, where the king then resided. The king remonstrated sharply with him on the foolish conduct he had long persevered in, and the great and manifold outrages he had done to his country and subjects as marshal of Burgundy for the duke, and how disgracefully he had been made prisoner, while bearing arms against his sovereign, by the duke of Bourbon. The count had pledged his word to the lord de Combronde, from whom the duke of Burgundy had purchased him for twenty-two thousand golden crowns. Of all this the king reminded him,—and frightened him so effectually that the count's blood ran cold.