[44] Hall, following this part of Commines's narrative, on mentioning this English herald, adds, "whome Argenton (meaning Commines,) untrewly calleth Garter borne in Normandy, for the rome of Gartier was never geven to no estraunger." The office of Garter was at this time occupied by John Smert, who was appointed in 28 Hen. VI. and died in 18 Edw. IV. He was the son-in-law of Bruges his predecessor in the office: and there are large materials for his biography in Anstis's Collections on the heralds, at the College of Arms, but containing no evidence either to prove Commines's assertion, or Hall's denial, of his being a native of Normandy.
[45] The constable of France, Jacques de Luxembourg, comte de St. Pol. After temporising between Burgundy and France at this crisis, he paid the penalty for his vacillation, the duke surrendering him to Louis, by whom he was decapitated before the end of the year (Dec. 19, 1475).
[46] Jacqueline duchess of Bedford, the mother of the queen of England, was one of the constable's sisters. The constable was also connected by marriage with king Louis, who called him "brother" from their having married two sisters. The relationship of all the principal actors in the transactions described in the text is shown in the following table:—
Pierre Comte de St. Pol. Louis Duke of Savoy. Charles VII. King of France. Richard Duke of York.
=== === === ===
| | | |
+------+-------------+ +--+-----------+ +--+----+ +--+-------+
| | | | | | | |
Jacqueline===Richard Louis Comte===Mary of Charlotte===Louis Katharine===Charles Duke===Margaret |
Duchess of | Earl de St. Pol, Savoy. of Savoy. XI. of of Burgundy. of York. |
Bedford. | Rivers. the Constable. France. |
| |
+-+-------------------------------------+ +------------------------------+
| | |
Anthony Lord Scales, and Earl Rivers. Elizabeth Wydville.===King Edward the Fourth.
[47] Afterwards the first duke of Norfolk and earl of Derby of their respective families.
[48] The narrative is continued on the authority of Commines.
[49] See the extracts from the register of the Burgundian maistres d'hostel already given in p. xxiii. The English camp is described as near Fauquemberghe on the 22d of July, and near Aichen on the 1st of August. Its position near Peronne is believed to have been at St. Christ, on the river Somme, and it appears to have remained there for a considerable time.
[50] The duke was at Peronne from the 6th to 12th of August. See the [note] on his movements before, p. [xxiv].
[51] The last was afterwards the husband of the king's daughter the lady Anne of York, and ancestor of the earls and dukes of Rutland.
[52] The prudent and conciliatory conduct of Louis XI. towards the English at this crisis seems to have had a precedent in that of his ancestor Charles V. "Le sage roy de France Charles quint du nom, quant on lui disait que grant honte estoit de recouvrer des forteresses par pecune, que les Anglois à tort tenoient, comme il eust assez puissance pour les ravoir par force, Il me semble (disoit-il,) que ce que on peut avoir par deniers ne doit point estre acheté par sang d'homme." (From the end of the twelfth chapter of the second book of the Faits d'armes de Guerre et de Chevalerie par Christine de Pisan.)