CHAP. XXVIII.
OF THE KING'S PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.—THE FLEMINGS ARE ADMITTED INTO CAMBRAY.—SEVERAL TOWNS IN BURGUNDY REDUCED TO THE KING'S OBEDIENCE, WHO OFTEN VISITS CHAMPAGNE IN CONSEQUENCE.—AMBASSADORS ARRIVE FROM SPAIN.—THE DUKE OF ALBANY COMES TO PARIS.—THE DUKE OF AUSTRIA DEFEATED NEAR THEROUENNE, AND THE SON OF THE KING OF POULAINE TAKEN PRISONER.—THE KING'S TROOPS ARE AGAIN SUCCESSFUL, AND GAIN SEVENTEEN TOWNS.—FOUR SCORE FLEMISH VESSELS ARE CAPTURED, BY COULON AND OTHER ADVENTURERS FROM THE COASTS OF NORMANDY, IN THE COURSE OF THE ABOVE YEAR.
The king of France, immediately after Easter, made preparations for a renewal of the war, as the truce with Maximilian was nearly expired, and as no ambassadors had arrived from Austria to propose a prolongation of the truce, or to conclude a definitive peace, as had been hinted during the last conference.
In the month of May following, although the truce was not expired, the inhabitants of Cambray admitted into their town Flemings, Picards, and other enemies to the king, of the party of the duke of Austria, who drove out the royalist garrisons of the town and castle, notwithstanding the king had given the guard of it to the lord de Fiennes. Soon after, three or four hundred lances, Flemings, and Picards, appeared before Bouchain, in which were only sixteen lances as garrison for the king. They instantly retired into the castle, observing that the townsmen were determined to admit their enemies as soon as they should appear. The Flemings had no sooner gained possession of the town than they attacked the king's lances, whom they took, and put all to death, except one, who escaped by hiding himself in a chamber, and then dropping down, through one of the privies, into the ditch. The king was very indignant at this conduct, and not without reason, for the truce had been violated without the smallest blame attaching to him or his subjects.
He lost no time in sending large trains of artillery to the duchy and franche comté of Burgundy, and great reinforcements of men at arms and franc-archers to the governor of Champagne, whose appointment of lieutenant-general he had renewed. The governor exerted himself diligently, and took by storm the castle of Rochefort, killing all within it, and plundering it of its effects. He thence proceeded to Dole[90], which, after battering it some time, he also won by storm, when many of the chief merchants were slain, and the town was razed to the ground.
In the month of June, sir Robert d'Estouteville, lord of Beyne, departed this life, at Paris, having been provost of the same for forty-three years. He was succeeded in this office by Jacques d'Estouteville, son to the deceased, in recompense, as the king said, for his loyal services at the battle of Montlehery, and in other affairs. While the king was at Montargis, he was much rejoiced at the good news that was there brought him from sir Charles d'Amboise, and set out for the abbey of Nôtre Dame des Victoires, near Senlis, and make his offerings and thanksgivings. He thence came to the castle of Vincennes, where he only staid a night, and set out for Provins, on his road to Champagne, Langres and other places.
In the mean time, great stores of artillery, powder, saltpetre, and particularly sixteen very large bombards, were embarked on the Seine, to be transported to Châlons, Champagne and Bar le Duc, to attempt the conquest of Luxembourg,—but that expedition did not take place.
Saturday the 3d of July, a handsome embassy from Spain arrived at Paris, under the care of the bishop of Lombez and the abbot of St Denis, by orders from the king. The provost of marchands, and the sheriffs went out of the town to meet them, accompanied by different ranks of people. Having made their entrance into Paris, they went to St Denis, where they were grandly feasted by the abbot, having been entertained on their passage through Paris by certain of the king's officers.
In this year, the duke of Albany came to Paris, having been driven out of Scotland by the king his brother, to seek a refuge with the king of France[91]. Great honours were paid him; and the lord de Gaucourt, as king's lieutenant, with all the professions of Paris, went out to meet him, and accompany him on his entry into Paris, by the gate of St Anthony, on the road leading to Vincennes. He was lodged in the rue St Martin, although he had not more than ten or twelve horse in his company: and the king ordered that Monipenny and Concressault, two Scotsmen of rank in the french service, should attend upon him[92].
In the month of August, the Flemings, who were quartered in the frontier towns of Flanders, took the field with the intent to combat the king's forces, and advanced toward Therouenne. They battered the town much with their artillery; but it was gallantly defended by the lord de St André, lieutenant of a hundred lances under the duke of Bourbon, and other lords and captains of the king's army. While this was passing, the different royal garrisons in Picardy, collected together for the relief of Therouenne; and having taken the field, they came in sight of the flemish army within one league of Therouenne. This army was very numerous, and was said to have consisted of sixty thousand combatants, under the command of the duke of Austria, the count de Romont, and others of that party. A sally was made from Therouenne by the garrison the moment their friends were near, by several companies of lancemen, under the command of the lord des Cordes and other captains; and their attack was so rapid and vigorous that the vanguard of the duke of Austria was defeated, with great slaughter and loss of baggage.