Chapter III: Part 3

In regard to sir John de Luxembourg, he kept neuter, and joined neither party,--but filled his towns and strong places with men, artillery and provisions, to defend himself against such as should attempt to injure his country.

He had been several times admonished and summoned to take the oaths to king Charles of France, but had never complied, and was waiting the issue of events, to see what might happen. He was in the possession of sealed engagements from the king of England, the duke of York, and several english lords, promising him, on their faith and honour, that should the French attempt to make war upon him, they would come to his relief with so powerful a force that he should be delivered from his enemies, notwithstanding any other business they should have in hand, the which should be laid aside. Sir John de Luxembourg put great faith in these promises.

CHAP. XXI.

A QUARREL ARISES BETWEEN POPE EUGENIUS AND THE COUNCIL OF BASIL.--OTHER MATTERS.

In this year, ambassadors were sent to the king of France, the duke of Burgundy, and other princes of the blood royal, from our holy father pope Eugenius and from the council at Basil, who were quarrelling with each other. Each ambassador, when discoursing on the subjects in dispute before the king, most grossly abused his adverse party.

This dissention lasted a considerable time; but the king inclined more to the council of Basil, while the duke of Burgundy strongly supported the cause of the pope, as did also the king of England.

The duke of Burgundy at this time sent a solemn embassy to the pope, consisting of master Quentin Mayart, provost of St Omer, the prior of Lihons in Santerre, sir Simon de Lalain, Guillaume le Jeune, brother to the cardinal of Therouenne, with other noble personages. They were most graciously received by the holy father, and obtained the greater part of the object of their mission.

In these days, the lord de Crevecœur, a wise and prudent person, was sent by the duke of Burgundy to the french court, to treat on divers matters, and, among others, to negotiate a marriage between his only son, the count de Charolois, and the second daughter of the king of France. This lord was joyfully received as well by the king as by the queen; and because the princess he was come to demand in marriage was lately dead, the duke sent him orders to ask for the eldest princess, Catherine, which he did,--and his request was granted. Before the return of the lord de Crevecœur to Flanders, the dispute between the bishops of Tournay, namely, Jean de Harcourt, and master Jean de Chevrot, was settled by the king: so Chevrot remained bishop of Tournay, and Harcourt was archbishop of Narbonne. When all matters had been concluded, the lord de Crevecœur returned to the duke of Burgundy, who received him most graciously and honourably.

About this time, a knight attached to the household of the duke of Burgundy, having had the duke's licence, set out on his return to his own country of Savoy, and took the road to Guise, to visit sir John de Luxembourg, in whose good graces he was, and who feasted him nobly at his hôtel. On his departure, he was met on the road by some marauders, pretending to belong to sir John de Luxembourg, (among whom was one called Garmonset), who arrested and led him to the English at Meaux in Brie, and thence to Rouen, where he was some time confined as a prisoner. He died there from illness contracted, as was said, from vexation and anger at the treatment he had suffered.

The duke of Burgundy was much dissatisfied at this capture, and wrote sharp letters on this and other subjects to sir John de Luxembourg; but sir John clearly and frankly exculpated himself from this charge,--and it may be supposed that he was no way implicated in this capture, for he had executed several who had been concerned therein, and had also exerted himself as much as he could, through the means of his brother the cardinal of Rouen, to obtain the liberty of this knight, called sir Philibert de Savoye, from the hands of the English.

CHAP. XXII.

THE COUNT D'EU, WHO HAD BEEN PRISONER IN ENGLAND SINCE THE BATTLE OF AZINCOURT, OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY, AND RETURNS TO FRANCE.--HE RAISES LARGE ARMIES.

In this same year, the count d'Eu, who had been prisoner in England since the year 1415, returned in liberty to France. He had been taken at the battle of Azincourt, and was exchanged for the earl of Somerset, whom the duke of Bourbon brother to the count d'Eu, held prisoner, having bought him, or rather the duchess his mother having purchased him, from those who had captured him at the battle of Blangy, where the duke of Clarence was slain, as has been before fully related.

King Charles of France, the duke of Bourbon, and all the nobility, were greatly rejoiced at the return of the count d'Eu; and, shortly after his arrival, he was appointed by the king governor of Normandy, from the river Seine to Abbeville and as far as the river Somme.

He, in consequence, assembled a body of men at arms, and went to take possession of the town of Harfleur, where he was received by the lord de Rieux, marshal of France, and those of his party; but others disputed his authority, and withdrew into the towers, and fortified one of the gates, to the great displeasure of the count d'Eu, who instantly attacked them with such vigour that those in the gate surrendered to him. The others, who had taken possession of the towers, sent to Rouen for assistance from the English; but, in a short time, they made secret arrangements with the count,--so that when the English advanced to their support, conformably to their own request, they were deceived, and about thirty made prisoners: the rest, being aware of their treachery, returned back to Rouen very much vexed.

After the count d'Eu had subjected Harfleur, and other places in the country of Caux, to his will, and strongly garrisoned them, he departed for Brussels, to visit his brother-in-law the duke of Burgundy, who feasted him grandly, and presented him with very rich gifts. On leaving the duke, he went by short days journeys to Noyon, where he was congratulated on his liberty by the inhabitants. They made heavy complaints to him of certain pillagers that held some castles in their neighbourhood, and who daily committed on them great damages, advancing even to their gates, seizing and carrying away all they could lay hands on, calling themselves at one time partisans of the king of France; at others, of sir John de Luxembourg.

In the number, was one named Jean de L'Isle, who, with his brother, had under their command more than thirty companions, and had taken possession of an old castle called Bretigny, which they had repaired and fortified, with the intent of waging war against the whole country. Part of them wore the red cross, pretending to be English.

The count d'Eu, on hearing this, collected a number of men at arms to provide a remedy for it, and ordered thither the count d'Estampes, his nephew, with a party of his men. They marched to the castle of Bretigny, the fortifications of which were incomplete; and it was likewise badly provided with stores, artillery and provision; so that it was very soon forced to surrender to the will of the count d'Eu. He sent Jean de l'Isle and his brother to Noyon, where they were soon after beheaded, and about twenty of the others were hanged.

For these executions, sir John de Luxembourg conceived a great hatred to the count d'Eu, and to those who had been parties in the expedition. A few days afterward, in consequence thereof, while the count d'Eu was at Chargny-sur-Oise, sir John ordered an ambuscade to be formed on the road leading thence to Noyon, to attack the count on his return thither; but he, having received information of the plan, took another road, so that the ambuscade failed of the intended effect: a violent quarrel, however, ensued ever after between them.

CHAP. XXIII.

LA HIRE, BLANCHEFORT, AND OTHERS OF KING CHARLES'S CAPTAINS MAKE EXCURSIONS INTO GERMANY.

At this same period, several of king Charles's captains, such as La Hire, Blanchefort, Boussac, Anthony de Chabannes, Chappelle, Pierre Regnault, and others, to the amount of six thousand horse, marched from the frontiers of Bar and Lorraine toward Germany, and even advanced as far as the city of Basil, wherein the council was sitting. They gave it to be understood by some, that they were sent thither with the consent of pope Eugenius, in defence of his rights, and to lay waste the country with fire and sword.

They then directed their march to the country of Aussois[21], and toward Franckfort, taking and ransoming many small castles and large monasteries. While they were thus employed in wasting the country, the Germans assembled in great bodies to oppose and repulse them. They first ordered the farmers and peasants to retire into the strong castles and great towns with their corn and provisions,--and then made war on the French whenever they could do it advantageously, or when they went out to forage in small parties. In this manner they destroyed numbers, and always refused to accept a challenge for a general battle, although required by the French to name a day for a combat.

The French, therefore, seeing their numbers daily lessened, while the enemy were increasing, retreated from Germany toward Burgundy, doing great mischiefs, wherever they passed, and thence went into the Nivernois. Continuing their wicked conduct in those parts, they retreated, after a short stay, into Auvergne.

Their army was now increased by evil-disposed persons, and vagabonds, to the amount of ten thousand men: and they spared no person noble or not, nor any towns, although dependant on the king of France, or on the princes of his blood and alliance,--all were equally despoiled. No remedy could be applied to these evils, on account of their great numbers,--and they were called in all countries through which they passed, 'Skinners,' as has been before mentioned. The whole kingdom suffered intolerable hardships by this army, in addition to famine and pestilence.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 21: The country of Aussois is comprehended in the duchy of Burgundy.--See Martiniere's Geographical Dictionary.]

CHAP. XXIV.

THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES RECOVERS THE CASTLE OF ROULLET FROM THE MEN OF THE LORD DE MOY.--OTHER MATTERS.

Prior to this melancholy famine, the men of the lord de Moy, in the Beauvoisis, gained the castle of Roullet (two leagues distant from Mondidier) from those of Guy de Roye, who had the guard of it, and made war against Mondidier and the country around.

As this district was within the government of the count d'Estampes, and under his charge, he detached a body of men under the command of some of his captains--namely, Waleran de Moreul, Guy de Roye, and others--against this castle of Roullet, who attacked it so sharply that it was surrendered unconditionally to the will of the count d'Estampes, who hanged from twenty to thirty of the garrison, and again placed it under the guard of Guy de Roye.

The lord de Moy, who was governor of Clermont, from vexation at this loss, carryed on a severer war than before on Mondidier, which made it necessary to post garrisons of men at arms in all the towns and castles round to oppose it. Thus did the country suffer greater hardships from both parties than before peace was concluded, as each destroyed it at their pleasure.

In another quarter, the English won the castles of St Germain en Laye and Gerberoy by storm, and strongly garrisoned them, to the great annoyance of the Parisians.

At this time, a shocking and unheard of crime was detected at a village near Abbeville. A woman was arrested on the charge of having murdered several children, of cutting them in pieces, and of having kept them when salted in her house. She was accused of this crime by some robbers, who, having entered her house by night, had discovered parts of the bodies of these children. She confessed herself guilty, and was publicly burnt at Abbeville, according to the sentence of the law.

Great quarrels and dissensions now arose between those of Brussels and the towns of Lovain, Mechlin, and other places in Brabant, for having constrained all the farmers within the district of Antwerp to carry to them their corn, in prejudice to the inhabitants of Brussels; which caused a war against Mechlin,--and this last town closed the passage of the river with chains, so that no boats could go to Brussels. They met in arms, and very many were slain and wounded on each side; but the duke of Burgundy and his council found means to appease these discords.

CHAP. XXV.

A MEETING IS HELD BETWEEN CALAIS AND GRAVELINES BETWEEN THE CARDINAL OF ENGLAND AND THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY, TO DELIBERATE ON THE MEANS OF ESTABLISHING A LASTING PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

About the month of January in this year, the cardinal of England and the duchess of Burgundy met at a place agreed on between them, half way from Calais to Gravelines, to consider on the means of establishing a firm peace between England and France. Tents had been pitched for their meeting; and each party was grandly accompanied by nobles, as well ecclesiastical as secular.

The ambassadors from the king of France were a master of the household named sir Regnault Girard, knight and lord of Bazoches, and master Robert Mallien, councellor and master of accounts, to give their advice and aid toward the conclusion of a general peace, and also to treat of the ransom and deliverance of Charles duke of Orleans from his imprisonment in England.

Many proposals were offered on different days, but no conclusion was made, except to adjourn, to inform the respective kings of France and England of these proposals, and hold another meeting when they should have been fully discussed.

The time and place for another meeting was to be communicated to the duchess of Burgundy, that she might make it known to each party; and it was agreed that, at that time, the duke of Orleans should be conducted either to Calais or to Cherbourg, as the two parties should fix. When these matters had been settled, they all separated, and returned to the places they had come from.

In this year, the duke of Burgundy assembled about sixteen hundred combatants, whom he marched toward Calais, to cover and defend against the English a very great number of pioneers, carpenters and labourers, who had been sent thither to break down and destroy a sea-dyke, in order to drown the town of Calais and the surrounding country. The duke had been made to believe that this was possible to be done, and the town destroyed; but when the pioneers had worked a short space of time, they found that it was a work not easily accomplished, the enterprise was therefore abandoned; but they broke down the bridge of Nieulay, and some small dykes, which did very little harm to the English.

CHAP. XXVI.

THE KING OF FRANCE COMPELS RODERIGO DE VILLANDRAS, WHO WAS COMMITTING GREAT WASTE ON HIS TERRITORIES, TO MARCH AWAY AND MAKE WAR ON THE ENGLISH.

King Charles of France, in the course of this year, learnt that many of his captains were grievously harrassing divers parts of his kingdom, and that they kept large bodies of armed men under their command to overrun the provinces. The principal among them was Roderigo de Villandras, who had upwards of six hundred horse under his orders.

The king sent him his commands to quit his territories immediately, and to make war on those of the English, but he refused obedience to them. On this, the king, who was at Bourges in Berry, assembled an army to march against him in person, and force him to obey him; but Roderigo, having had information of the king's intentions, retreated toward Toulouse, and thence advanced into Guienne, where in conjunction with some of that country, he again collected a considerable force.

He carried on a severe warfare against the English, to their great loss, and won from them many towns and castles, which he garrisoned with his own men. He entered Medoc, and advanced as far as Soulac[22], destroying the country, which he found very rich in all sorts of commodities. In like manner he conquered the territory of Blanchefort, and came to a fort called Châtel-neuf, belonging to the Captal de Buch, which he took by storm.

He was soon after joined by the lord d'Albreth with a strong power of men at arms, when they advanced nearer Bourdeaux, and took the church of St Severin, which is but a bow-shot distant from that city. There they quartered themselves, and in the course of the night placed a strong ambuscade among the vineyards close to the town--for the vines there are as high as an arbour--and on the morrow pretended to decamp. The Bourdelois, seeing this, sallied out in great numbers, to the amount of full two thousand, and were surprised by those in ambush, when a sharp conflict took place, which lasted a long time, for it was desperately contested by each party; but the French were superior in numbers,--and the English were forced to retire into Bourdeaux, after leaving about eight hundred dead on the field.

Large detachments of men at arms were now posted round Bourdeaux, who destroyed, without opposition, that part of the country, which was abundant in all things,--for until then, it had been a long time without suffering the miseries of war.

In consideration of these valuable services, and for his courageous actions, the king of France pardoned Roderigo de Villandras all the offences and evil deeds he had done against him. However, in the course of a year, the English reconquered the greater part of these places that had been won from them.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 22: Soulac,--a small town near Bourdeaux.]

[A.D. 1439]

CHAP. XXVII.

POPE EUGENIUS SENDS BULLS TO DIVERS PARTS OF EUROPE.--THEIR TENOUR.

At the commencement of this year, pope Eugenius published bulls against the members of the council at Basil, the tenour of which was as follows.

'Eugenius bishop, and servant of the servants of God. Every example from the Old and New Testaments admonishes us not to pass over in silence, or to leave unpunished, crimes and misdemeanours,--more especially such as may bring on slander against, or cause a division among, the people committed to our charge. Should we delay pursuing and avenging those faults which have given just offence to God, we should most certainly provoke the divine Wisdom to anger; for the delay of pursuing crimes deserving punishment, according to the judgements of the holy fathers of the church, would be sinful. Those also who contemn the divine commands, and are disobedient to paternal ordinances according to our holy institutions, deserve the severest chastisements, to make others ashamed of similar conduct, that fraternal concord may rejoice, and all take warning from such examples.

'Should we be remiss in our vigour or solicitude for the welfare of the church, its discipline would perish through our indolence, which would be of the greatest injury to all good and true Christians. To cut off, therefore, the unsound flesh from the sound,--to separate the scabby sheep from the rest, that the whole flock be not infected, is a duty imposed upon us; for as that glorious doctor St Jerome says, 'Arius, when at Alexandria, was but a spark of fire,--but, from not being instantly extinguished, the flame was increased, and spread throughout Christendom.'

'It was for this cause that our Saviour gave to the bishop of Rome the keys, to bind and unbind such as wandered from the ways of truth, that they may be constrained to return by the bonds of correction and obligation. We may say, therefore, of the apostolical authority, that when in the judgement of the church, it has consigned those over to Satan who have led others into error, it has exerted its power for the salvation of their souls, and to teach others not to blaspheme.

'The blessed pope Sixtus says, 'We keep in our remembrance that we govern under the name of that church in which our greatest pleasure is to glorify our dear Saviour JESUS CHRIST, whose faith nourishes not heresy but totally destroys it. For this reason, we hold it unlawful to exert our powers, except when the interest of the whole church shall call for it.

'In truth, during the latter days, our very beloved sons master Hutin de la Plante, doctor of laws, master John de Plato, doctor of laws, and master Venture du Chastel, licentiate,--all of them presidents at the congregation of the general council of the holy church, the second enjoying the office of proctor, and the last procurator of the said council,--have exposed before us the account of the lamentable quarrels that have taken place in the said council, in these words: 'Most holy and reverend father, although this sacred and œcumenical general council has been legally assembled for the preservation of the peace of the catholic and apostolical roman church, which the blessed Holy Spirit, under the person of our Lord, in the book of Canticles, plainly points out, by saying, 'My dove, my undefiled, is but one: she is the only one of her mother: she is the choice one of her that bare her.'

'St Paul demonstrates the union of the church, and the sacredness of this union, by calling it the body, soul, and hope, of our vocation: one Lord, one faith, one baptism,--by baptism, one God; and as the blessed St Cyprian says, she is the head, a fruitful mother, and, as spouse to JESUS CHRIST, as pure and unadulterated, chaste and holy. The same Cyprian declares, in another place, that there is no ecclesiastical ordinance that does not maintain the unity of the Christian church. Pope Pelagius affirms the same from the words of the blessed St Austin a celebrated doctor in the church, and that it has an apostolical throne, irradiated by a succession of bishops.

'Nevertheless, from the commencement of this church, the wickedness and wanton conduct of mankind have ever sought to deny and destroy the peace thereof,--against which wickedness, according to the authority of the holy fathers, divine vengeance has been excited. Whoever therefore shall dare sacrilegiously, and with diabolical intention, to deny this spotless unity, the sacred canon points him out as an enemy to the church, and declares that he cannot have God for his father, unless he hold the unity of the universal church; for, since CHRIST died for the church, the church is the body of CHRIST--there can therefore be no doubt but that he who divides the church is guilty of dividing and tearing asunder the body of JESUS CHRIST.

'When Dathan and Abiran formed a schism against the honour of God, Divine vengeance caused the earth to open and swallow them,--and their adherents perished by fire from heaven. The more inseparable the holy sacrament is with the union of the church, the greater guilt do they incur who attempt to divide them,--and who, leaving the legal spouse of the church choose to follow a false doctrine.

'Examples of similar wickedness, and the punishments that ensued, are displayed in the book of Kings; for when the Jews made a distinction between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the other ten tribes, and, laying aside their lawful king, elected another, the lord was indignant against the seed of Israel, and held them in derision: he also turned away his face from them.

'The anger of God is always excited against such as create schisms and division. When the prophet was sent to Jeroboam to reproach him for his sins, and to foretel to him the vengeance that God would take on him and on his race, God forbade him to taste meat or drink with Jeroboam. The prophet however, disobeyed the commandment, and in consequence, on his return was attacked by a lion, who slew him on the road. From these instances, as St Jerome says, no one can doubt but that the crime of schism will be severely punished by God.

'For some time past, and since the holy general council at Constance, this pernicious schism has laboured to afflict the church of God, and the Christian religion, not only in regard to individuals, but whole cities and provinces have suffered persecution for a length of time, to the ruin of their souls; but at last, through the ineffable mercy of God, and by the labours of many kings and princes, as well secular as ecclesiastic, and of many universities and other loyal Christians, this abominable schism was put an end to.

'The church was then believed to enjoy that perfect peace which every one desired, as well by the election of the late well beloved pope Martin as after his decease by the undoubtedly canonical and legal choice of your holiness to the apostolical throne. But we are now constrained to exclaim with the prophet Jeremiah, 'We have looked for peace, but behold tribulation!' and also with Isaiah, 'We have looked for light, and behold darkness!' for several children of perdition, few in number, and of little authority in the council of Basil, have done their utmost, by force and deceit, to put end to these flattering hopes.

'This council had been transferred from Basil to Florence[23], in the laudable expectation, (so much wished for by every sect of Christians) of the union of the eastern and western churches and went on for some time, through your authority, with vigour.

'When those before mentioned, who had remained at Basil, had failed in their promises to the Greeks, and perceived from the leaders of the oriental church, that the most noble prince and emperor, John Paleologus, together with Joseph, of happy memory, patriarch of Constantinople, and numbers of prelates and dignitaries of the eastern church were about to attend the œcumenical council at the place appointed by your holiness, and that you, with a multitude of prelates and churchmen, were already gone thither at great expense,--in order to prevent the emperor from meeting you at this council, these aforesaid persons published a detestable monitory against your holiness and against our reverend lords the cardinals of Rome.

'This not having the desired effect of putting an end to the intentions of the emperor to come to Florence, they published a suspension of your holiness from the functions of the papacy. Notwithstanding these iniquitous and sacrilegious proceedings, by your labour and care, together with the energy of the council, and by divers arguments and disputations, every attempt was made to remove this schism between the eastern and western churches, which had lasted five hundred years.

'At the head of these disturbers of the union of the church was that most disloyal and diabolical Amadeus, late duke of Savoy, who had long before premeditated what he executed, through the instigation of several accursed men and women, who, laying aside all religion, have been converted to Satan by the wicked delusions of devils, who, in common language, are called Sorceresses Frangules, Straganes, or Vaudoyses, of whom there are numbers in this country.

'By such means, he has for a long time been seduced from the right faith; and in order that he might be elected as the monstrous and deformed head of God's church, he put on the frock of a hermit, _aux avichoix_[24], of a most false hypocrite, that under cover of sheep's cloathing, he might indulge his wolfish appetite, confident that, in process of time, his adherents in the council of Basil (many of whom were his subjects and the idols of this new Beelzebub) would constitute and elect him pope in opposition to your holiness, the undoubtedly-true vicar of God and legal successor to St Peter, to the profanation and pollution of the Christian church.

'An unbounded ambition has induced the execrable Amadeus to undertake this diabolical project, which, according to the apostle, is the servitude of devils; and by the advice of a blasphemous synagogue of abandoned men, the stinking abomination of all Christendom, who have deputed for electors certain men, or rather devils disguised under the figures of men, who (like the idol of Nebuchadnezzar) elevated themselves in the true church of God.

'This Amadeus, in consequence of his profane election, which he gained by means suited to his vast ambition, felt no remorse, or horror, in clothing himself with a papal vesture, and in exercising the powers of a roman pontiff, causing himself to be reverenced as such.

'He has neither been ashamed nor afraid to send his bulls sealed, to divers parts of the world, in which he styles himself Pope Felix V. proclaiming himself thus the most wretched man on earth, and endeavouring to scatter abroad the poison of his pestilent mind.

'Now most holy father, and most sacred council, what should we first seek or demand, or by what tears and groans may we deplore such an unfortunate event, and wipe away the horrid disgrace that must ensue from it to the church? for the greatness of the offence is more than language can express. But we know, most holy and sacred father, that no delay must arise to provide a remedy against the complainings of our dear mother the church, your legal spouse, who, having enjoyed a short peace is again constrained to cry out and lament the loss of it, to the reverend members of this council, saying,--'Have mercy on me, each of you, my friends: my bowels are filled with bitterness, for lions destroy the vineyard of the God of sabaoth,--and the church, the unsullied robe of JESUS CHRIST, is rent asunder by the wicked. Let God now arise and destroy his enemies.' And thou, holy father, as these things are manifest, and so notorious that they can no longer be concealed, exert thyself in conjunction with this council: judge the cause of thy spouse,--and have in remembrance the reproach cast on thy children.

'O, most powerful, gird the sword on thy thigh, and verify the words of the Psalmist: 'I will pursue mine enemies, to destroy them, and will not return until I shall have laid them all under my footstool, that they no more disturb my peace.' Such transgressions ought to be punished with the utmost severity to prevent any from imitating them in future.

'The words of Moses, the friend and servant of God, should be repeated to the people of Christendom: 'Depart, all of you, from the tabernacles and towns of the wicked.' Attend to the example of thy blessed predecessor, who according to a general council of the church at Ephesus, condemned Dioscorus and his followers to banishment in Calcedonia[25].

'Follow the examples of the holy bishops who have preceded thee on the sacred throne, who have ever exterminated the enemies of God and of his church, from the communion of devout and loyal Christians, and punished them likewise according to their deserts. Avenge, therefore, this new schism that has arisen to thy personal wrong and to that of the roman church, as well as to the slander of all Christendom, and call to thy aid the powers of this holy œcumenical council to excommunicate from the pale of the church, by the authority of GOD, and of St Peter and of St Paul, all the wicked aforesaid, and more especially that grand heresiarch Amadeus, this new antichrist in the church of God, together with all their abettors, and those who have so daringly and illegally taken upon themselves the part of electors. Let them be cast out as the antichrist, and invaders and destroyers of all Christendom, and never on any account, admit them to thy presence. Let them and their heirs be deprived of all ecclesiastical and worldly dignities, and be condemned to a perpetual sentence of excommunication. Let them be confounded with the wicked, and feel the indignation of the blessed apostles St Peter and St Paul, whose church they presume to disturb. May their habitations become a desert and may no one inhabit their tabernacles! May their children become orphans, and their wives widows, and their existence become so heavy, through misery, that death may be looked to for relief from a life of torment! May all hands be raised against them, and the elements oppose them, and public vengeance be poured on them; and, like Coran, Dathan and Abiran, may the earth open and swallow them up alive! In short, should they not speedily turn from their wickedness, and sufficiently and satisfactorily expiate their sins against the holy and universal church, may they be condemned by the just judgment of God to infernal darkness and perpetual torments!

'We and all true Christians having in abomination such heresies, detest this accursed heresiarch and such like antichrists; and thou vicar and lieutenant of JESUS CHRIST and of his holy church, (whom we confess, and with devout reverence obey) may the grace of God, all-powerful, protect thee always, and, through his eternal mercy, lead thee to joys everlasting! "Amen."

'We, therefore, having had the fullest and most authentic accounts of the great impiety which has been committed, are much grieved thereat, as may readily be supposed, from the enormity of the offence and more particularly in regard to Amadeus the antipope, whom we have ever held in the most affectionate love and charity, attending to all his prayers and requests; but, at the same time, we are determined to exert our powers to resist such heresies, according to the duties of our pastoral office.

'Since therefore, we have been so publicly called upon in the face of the church, we shall lose no time, with the help of God to crush these heresies in the bud, lest they may expand to greater lengths; and with the aid of this holy council, we will propose remedies according to the ordinances of the church. In consequence of what has been said and requested by the proctor and procurator of the holy council, we will examine whether it is consonant to divine and human laws, and agreeable to the decrees of our apostolical chamber; and although the truth of the charges be sufficiently notorious, yet for greater caution, and with the approbation of the holy council, we have commissioned divers intelligent persons to inquire into all these matters, and to report the result of their inquiries, without favour or affection to either party, to us and to the holy council.

'These commissioners having made a diligent inquisition into what regarded the schism and the division between us and the council of Basil, reported the same most faithfully to the council assembled in congregation synodal,--and the facts were by them made so clear and public that we might without fearing the scandal of wicked tongues, have condemned those sinful men according to the ordinances of the church; but the synod in imitation of the divine mercy which wishes not for the death of a sinner, but would rather that he repent and live, have determined to resort to the means of conciliation, that they may have time to leave their wicked ways, and if they return to the bosom of the church, we shall receive them like to the prodigal son, and with paternal charity embrace them.

'Let therefore, the antipope, Amadeus, and his adherents, renounce their errors, and we will receive them through the mercy of our God, who has shed his blood for the redemption of sinners and the edification of his church, with our whole heart; and so soon as they shall desist from their wicked and scandalous excesses, they will be accepted of us and this sacred council with paternal affection, when they shall appear, as they are bounden so to do, before it.

'But should the love of justice and virtue be unable to withdraw them from their sins and wickedness, we admonish them on the reverence and obedience they owe to our holy church, to turn from their evil ways, on pain of excommunication for their heresies, and of being condemned to other penalties; and we strictly command and enjoin, that Amadeus, this antipope, do, within fifty days from the date of these presents, lay aside his title of pope of Rome, and all others appertaining thereto, and that henceforth he do not presume to exercise any of the functions attached to the papacy in any manner whatever.

'The aforesaid electors and adherents to this antipope are strictly forbidden, under pain of being prosecuted by the apostolical chamber for schism, henceforward to favour or support the said antipope in any way whatever; and we order them to acknowledge us as the true bishop of Rome, vicar of God, and the legal successor to the holy apostles St Peter and St Paul,--the which, we as their father and pastor of their souls, expect them to obey, and appear before us at the time fixed on.

'Should the aforesaid antipope, Amadeus, and his followers, contumaciously refuse obedience, within the said fifty days, we will that they suffer every penalty attached to their disobedience; but should it be otherwise, we are desirous of their appearance personally before us and the holy council precisely within fifteen days after the said term. Should that day be a feast-day, then on the day following, to hear from each of them their reasons for having thus acted; and we now summon them to appear before us on the day specified, on pain of being declared heretics, guilty of high treason, and sentenced to punishment for these crimes; and we shall then proceed to pass such sentences as their contumacy may require, according to the strict letter of the law, and as they may be found deserving.

'That these our summons may be fully made known to them, we shall order copies thereof to be attached to the doors of the new church of our Lady in Florence, that ignorance of them may not be pleaded,--and we shall otherwise make them as public as possible.

'We also will, and ordain, by our apostolical authority, that this our bull be personally served on each of the principal delinquents, and proclaimed in every large town. To prevent any of them from excusing themselves from obeying these summons, under pretence that the court of Rome and the place where the council is held are not safe for them, and that they would run risks of their personal safety by going and returning thence, we, by these presents most earnestly exhort all patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and other prelates, whether attached to monasteries or to churches, all dukes, earls, princes, knights, and others, of whatever degree, together with their lieutenants, and all commonalties whether of towns, castles, or townships, to suffer the aforesaid persons to travel to the court of Rome, and to return thence without molestation in person or effects. All who shall in the smallest degree, infringe on these our orders will incur our highest displeasure; and should any one attempt it, he will be in danger of the anger of God and of his holy apostles St Peter and St Paul.

'Given at Florence, at our public synodal session, in the new church of our Lady at Florence, in which city we are now resident, the 10th day of April, in the year of the incarnation 1439, and in the 10th year of our pontificate.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 23: This council, the eighteenth general council was first held at Basil, and, after many quarrels had arisen between it and the pope, he transferred it first to Ferrara, and thence to Florence, for the better accommodation of the Greeks. Many of the members of the council, however, remained at Basil, deposed pope Eugenius, and elected Amadeus duke of Savoy pope, under the name of Felix V.

See Hist. des Conciles, L'Art de Verifier les Dates, &c. &c.]

[Footnote 24: _Aux avichoix._ Denys Sauvage, in his annotations seems as much puzzled about this word as I have been. He says, that, 'avichoix' may perhaps mean advice or counsel,--and adds that the whole of this bull is full of faults, from his not having a latin one to correct it by.

I have endeavoured to find it in Dumont's Corps Universel Diplomatique. There is in that collection a bull of pope Engenius, dated Florence, November 1439, condemning the acts of the council at Basil toward the pope. It is indeed a decree of the council of Florence; but it has not any resemblance to this bull, for it was issued to annul the celebrated decree of the council of Basil, declaring the powers of a general council superior to those of the pope.]

[Footnote 25: This was not a general council. It was held at Ephesus in the year 449. The reigning pope was St Léon.--See L'Art de Verifier les Dates.]

CHAP. XXVIII.

SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG, IN CONSEQUENCE OF BEING IN THE ILL GRACES OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, SENDS LETTERS TO THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE.

From reports that had been made to the duke of Burgundy injurious to sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny he was greatly displeased with him, and chiefly because he retained in his towns and castles large bodies of men at arms, who made frequent inroads on his subjects and country. Sir John, having been informed of this, sent letters to exculpate himself to the knights-companions of the Golden Fleece, the contents of which were literally as follows.

'Very dear brothers, and companions, I have lately learnt from some true friends, that my redoubted lord the duke of Burgundy is angered against me, by reason of some reports that had been made to him. In consequence, I sent John Taillemonde and my secretary Huet with letters, to supplicate him that he would have the kindness not to be angered against me, nor hold me in his indignation, without first hearing me in my own justification and defence.

'He sent me by them credential letters,--and told them verbally the grounds of his discontent against me, from the reports that had been made him. As the charges seemed to them very heavy, they required to have them put in writing, but never could obtain it, which appears to me very surprising. However, they repeated them to me as well as they were able, and thereupon I wrote to my said lord my justification.

'I had hopes that some of you might have been present, to have heard it,--but as that was not the case, I now write to repeat it, that you may have it fresh in your memories.

'I shall begin with the charge against my loyalty, as what most touches my honour and hurts my feelings. It has been declared, that my lord has been informed by the English, that a short time after the peace of Arras, they wrote to my brother the archbishop of Rouen, that if it were agreeable to my lord the duke of Burgundy and his allies to keep the peace in respect to them, they and their allies would do the same in regard to him, his subjects, allies and countries; and that my lord and brother had pressed me to touch on this matter with the duke, and endeavour to have it accomplished,--but that, although my lord the archbishop had thus written to me, I had concealed the matter, which has been the cause of numberless and great evils, that would not have happened if I had acted loyally.

'In my excuse, I must say (saving the reverence due to my lord duke), that these great evils have not been caused by my fault or neglect; nor has the war been commenced or advised by me. I know for a truth, that if my said lord had but remembered my actions in respect to this business, no such charge would have been made against me.

'It is a fact, that on the morrow after I had this information from my brother the archbishop of Rouen, dated Rouen, the 29th day of January, in the year 1435, and which I received on the 8th of February, I dispatched some of my people to Brussels, where they arrived on the 10th, with credential letters from me, charging them to declare the intelligence I had just received from Rouen, and which they reported to me had been done. They received for answer, by the mouth of the bishop of Tournay, that for certain causes, which he then told them, my lord duke was not determined how to act in regard to the intelligence contained in my brother the archbishop of Rouen's letter, which had been in substance laid before him.

'It has been a matter of great wonder to me, that this bishop, who has such dignities and honours, in the church, who is reputed so wise and prudent, and who is the principal adviser of my lord duke, should send a verbal answer by my people, and did not inform my lord of the necessity of otherwise acquitting himself toward me,--for had this been done, no such imputation could have been thrown on me.

'Should what I have now said be insufficient for my acquittal, I can produce letters signed by the hand of my lord to prove that I duly informed him of the contents of my brother's letter,--and that he declares in these letters, that he was not fully resolved how to act respecting the proposal from the English. You will, therefore, clearly perceive, that I have faithfully performed my duty; and henceforward I intend, if it be the good pleasure of God my Creator to exculpate myself by every means in my power, so that all the world may know that I have been no way to blame.

'With regard to another charge made against me, namely, that I have, since the peace at Arras, sent a body of men to join the English in Calais, without the knowledge of my said lord, or of my most redoubted lady the duchess of Burgundy, or of the members of his council. It is true, that when I heard, my lady duchess was at Gravelines, I did send thither some of my people on business with my lord cardinal of England, thinking that he was there, as had been reported, I ordered them to treat on this business with him, the which I had formerly mentioned to my lord duke, who had consented that I might send to England on this subject. I wished not that this matter should be transacted privately, or in secret, but openly before all the world and even in the presence of my lady duchess and her council, should it then happen to be brought forward.

'Since my lord cardinal was not there, nor, as it was said, expected to arrive for some time, those whom I had sent thither, seeing many persons go to Calais, took on themselves to go thither also on their own affairs; but they first asked the permission of the lieutenant of Gravelines, who granted it, and they set off, not imagining any harm in so doing, as they have informed me. I certify to you, that I never charged them to signify any thing whatever to the English prejudicial to the realm or to my said lord, or any way tending to retard the negotiations that were to commence at Gravelines,--and I should suppose that I, of all persons, should be clear from the smallest suspicion of treasonable practises; for were I inclined that way, which God forbid! you may imagine I would have acted otherwise, and employed unknown emissaries, or merchants who daily repair thither; but never, please God, shall I have the will or courage to do any contrary to the honour or interest of my said lord, or unbecoming a knight of unsullied honour.--Respecting the summonses I had issued for guards, which was ascertained during a late meeting of the three estates at Arras, when it was discussed, that as my said lord was, through God's mercy, more powerful than ever any counts of Artois, his predecessors, had been, it seemed to this meeting that no other person but himself required guards; and, among other things, it is said, then and there determined upon, it was resolved that none but my said lord should have guards.

'I have no remembrance whatever of being present at this meeting of the three estates at Arras when such conclusions were made; but I perfectly recollect, that at Lille, in the house of the lord de Roubaix, where my lord duke held his court, it was determined, in the presence of many of his council, that in future no one should have guards,--when I joined in opinion with the others, and said, that I would not summon any, if the rest would do the same. On this, I departed from Lille; but observing some time after, that several had their guards, I did the like, but did not suppose that my lord could be angered by my so doing, or that he wished to keep me in greater servitude than others. My lord even wrote me several letters with his own hand, and signed by him, on this subject, as did my lady duchess, assenting to my having these guards. It should seem, therefore, that my lord was not then displeased with my conduct.

'In regard to Riflart de Neufville, who is said to have been killed on account of this business, and the lord des Bosquets, who was driven out of his house and grossly injured,--although I had many reasons to be displeased with both, yet when my lord shall be completely informed of the whole truth of these matters, I shall expect that the tales he has heard will be found lying and falsely wicked.

'As for the disobedience alleged against my officers and commissaries to the bailiff of Amiens, to the king's officers, and to those of the duke, whom they will not permit to execute any warrants saying and maintaining that I have not taken any oaths of allegiance but to the king of England,--I have never before heard any mention made of this, nor do I know what private wrongs may have been done, nor to whom: of course, I am unable to make any reply to this charge. I should have expected that the bailiff of Amiens, whom I consider as my particular friend, would have informed me of any misconduct in my people, for had he done so, I should have exerted myself in such wise that my lord should have been satisfied. In regard to the provost of Peronne, who has charged my officers with waylaying and chacing him into the town of Cambray, with the intention of ill-treating and perhaps of killing him,--I have inquired of my officers, and they tell me, that when they were amusing themselves twenty leagues from Cambray, they were informed, that the said provost had vauntingly declared, that if he could lay hands on them, he would hang them by the necks; on which they suddenly pursued him, to know if what they had heard were true,--and learning that he had not said any such things, they had quietly left him.

'As for the threats which my said officers have held out to the abbot of St Aubert of Cambray, they beg to be held excused.

'With regard to the complaints of the receiver-general of Peronne, that he cannot exercise his office, nor the toll-gatherers at Bapaume, from the hinderance of my officers,--my lord will cause further informations to be made on this subject, and will then write to me fully thereon, according to his pleasure, when I shall make such answers as ought to be satisfactory.

'In respect to master Ador Caperel, who has told my lord that I have caused him to be waylaid, to abuse and ill treat him, I assure you that this is not true,--and I beg that further information may be had thereon. Should it clearly appear, after I have been heard, that I have caused him to be waylaid, I am willing to receive such punishment as justice shall order; but should the contrary be proved, I entreat that you will beg my said lord to lay hands on the said Caperel and others, who have been guilty of such lying reports, that they may be severely punished, for an example to all others, to prevent them from doing the like, and that it may be publicly known that my said lord, and the members of his council, will not suffer such scandalous reports to be made against me, or others of his servants, with impunity.

'As for you, my very dear brothers and companions, whose prudence, valour, and wisdom, I am acquainted with, you would not that one of your brethren should be unjustly accused,--and in this confidence I have written thus fully, for your information, of the charges alledged against me, entreating you fraternally, at the same time, that you would exert yourselves toward my said lord, to induce him to withdraw his indignation from me, and be satisfied with the explanations and excuses contained in this letter, and no longer give faith to any reports made against any one without that person being first heard in his exculpation, that it may be proved on which side the fault shall be.