There was open war between Burgundians and Armagnacs. The Duke of Burgundy had placed his own people in the household of his son-in-law, and tried by all means to gain influence over him, which seemed to be easy enough, and to retain it, which was not easy at all, as no dependence whatever could be placed on any friendship, affection, or opinion of his lasting a single week. The Comte de Clermont, Duc de Bourbon by the death of his father, was like him, an Orléanist. In company with the Ducs de Berry and Orléans, the Comtes d’Alençon and Armagnac, and the Sire d’Albret he had entered into a treaty with the English, offering, among other concessions, to restore to them the duchy of Aquitaine. This treaty was discovered and the above-named princes, who had taken refuge in Bourges, were besieged there by the Burgundians about the end of June, 1412.
BOURGES.
But the Duc d’Aquitaine began to get tired of these constant quarrels of Burgundians and Armagnacs, for whose sake the kingdom, which was his own inheritance, was being wasted and destroyed, and he resolved to put a stop to the war. To the consternation of his father-in-law he forbade the gunners and engineers to fire any more, or to demolish or destroy the walls, gates, or fortifications of Bourges, saying that the war had gone on long enough. The Duke of Burgundy said that the sooner it was finished the better, only it must be by the complete subjection of the Armagnacs. To which the Duc d’Aquitaine rejoined that he would doubtless welcome their submission to the King, his father, but that in any case this had gone on too long already, to the detriment of the kingdom; that the discredit would fall upon him, the heir of France, and that the opposing party were his uncles, cousins, and near relations, against whom he refused any longer to fight. The Duke of Burgundy was obliged to submit, the siege was raised and peace for a short time restored.[246]
The princes and court returned to Paris, where the usual amusements and festivities began again. The Duc d’Aquitaine was the leader of all the follies and dissipation that went on. He was as extravagant and licentious as his uncle Louis d’Orléans had been, without his intellect or charm.
Louis d’Orléans, in spite of his countless infidelities, lived on good terms with his wife, but the Duc d’Aquitaine seems not only to have been unfaithful, but brutal. He was not without cultivation, spoke Latin almost as well as French, and was exceedingly fond of music, but he cared nothing for the affairs of state, spent his nights in balls, suppers, and entertainments, and stayed in bed all day. His life seemed even more full of dissipation and debauchery than those of his father and uncle, while it was not redeemed by any of the gallant, warlike deeds of a soldier’s life, such as had won them popularity even in early boyhood. Every one complained of the Duc d’Aquitaine; his father-in-law was indignant at his behaviour to his wife, very serious apprehensions were entertained for his health amongst the members of the royal family, the people pointed to the example of his father, whose manner of life had caused his madness, and predicted that if he went on so he would lose his reason in the same way, and even the Queen several times threatened that unless he reformed his conduct in some degree the succession to the throne should be transferred to his brother Jean, Duc de Touraine, who, in the charge of his father-in-law, the Comte de Hainault, was being better brought up.
CHAPTER VIII
1413–1435
Riots led by Burgundy—The Duc d’Aquitaine’s ball—His quarrels with Burgundy—The Comte de Charolais—Battle of Azincourt—Death of Aquitaine—The Dauphin Jean—His court—His death—Imprisonment of the Queen—Jean Sans-peur rescues her—Enters Paris by night—Massacre of Armagnacs—The Dauphin Charles—Murder of Jean Sans-peur—Marriage of Catherine de France to Henry V.—Departure for England—Birth of a son—Return to Paris—Festivities—Death of Henry V.—Death of Charles VI.—Retirement of the Queen—Henry VI. enters Paris—Treaty of Arras—Death of Isabeau.