Chapter IX: Part 9

DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY CARRIES THE DAUPHIN TO BRUGES, WHERE HE IS JOYFULLY RECEIVED WITH MANY HONOURS.--OTHER EVENTS MENTIONED AND REPEATED.

Soon after Easter in this year, the duke of Burgundy, accompanied by the dauphin, set out from Brussels for Bruges, passing through the towns of Oudenarde and Courtray. In both these towns, the dauphin was received most honourably. Thence they proceeded to Bruges,--and the principal inhabitants, to the amount of eight hundred, very richly dressed, came out to meet them, with a great concourse of common people, to do honour to the dauphin, and to please their lord.

On the first day of July, in this year, a meeting was held between St Omer and Gravelines, by the count d'Estampes and the bastard of Burgundy, on the part of the duke of Burgundy, and the earl of Warwick for the king of England, to repress and check the enterprises of the English on several parts of the duke's territories. The matter was so well managed that a truce was settled between them for eight years.

The 10th of this month, the lady Charlotte of Savoy, daughter to the duke of Savoy, and married to the dauphin, was conducted to him in the town of Namur by the lord de Montagu, whom he had sent to escort her; and then the marriage was perfectly consummated,--for although they had been married five years, it was said that they had never lain together. Duke Philip was not then at Namur, but in Picardy, whither he had gone to learn the intentions of the towns on the Somme, namely, St Quentin, Corbie, Amiens, and Abbeville; for it had been rumoured that the king of France had raised a large army, but no one knew how he intended to employ it,--and it was also reported that the king was much displeased with the duke of Burgundy, for detaining his son (as he thought) against his will, and out of contempt to him. The duke had therefore gone to these towns, which belonged to him by the treaty of Arras, to put them on their guard, and to entreat them not to admit any men of arms that the king might send to their towns. But should the king come in person, they were to admit him with every honour, as their supreme lord. These requests the several towns willingly complied with.

About the end of this month of July, upward of two thousand houses were destroyed by fire in the town of Dordrecht in Holland: many persons were also burnt to death, which was a most melancholy case.

The latter end of August, a large body of French sailed from Normandy, giving out that they were going to aid the Scots against the English; but they made a descent near to Sandwich, which they took by storm, before the country could be raised to oppose them. They, however, only staid there one tide; for had they remained longer, they would not have returned, from the great numbers of English that were hastening thither from all quarters. The commander in chief of the French was the lord de Varennes, seneschal of Normandy; and new knights were made, to the number of twenty gentlemen,--among whom were Flocquet, Charlot de Mares, Porrus de Liques, and others. At this attack, three hundred English were killed, and about thirty French. They sailed back to Normandy with their plunder, which was very considerable.

Some short time before this, a party of Bretons had invaded the English coast, and burnt and pillaged some villages: they made no long stay, for the English assembled in force to destroy them, had they not departed.

In the month of September, of this year, the king of France sent the bishop of Constance and a few others, as his ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy at Brussels, to remonstrate with the duke on several matters, especially on the dauphin's remaining so long with him, to the great displeasure of the king.

CHAP. LXXI.

A COOLNESS BETWEEN THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE COUNT OF ST POL.--OTHER MATTERS.

In the preceding year, the duke of Burgundy, as earl of Hainault, had taken possession of the lands of Enghien, belonging to the count de Saint Pol, and situated in the country of Hainault, although he had not touched any other lands of the count, situated in France or in the other territories of the duke. The count de St Pol was much displeased at this conduct; but, wishing to avoid an open rupture with the duke, he sent to require, if it were his good pleasure, that he might appear in his presence to hear what he had been guilty of, and to make such answers and defence as became him,--and for this purpose he demanded a passport from the duke. The duke replied, that he had no occasion to require a passport, unless he reputed himself his enemy. The count, in answer, said, that so far from reputing himself his enemy, he was his true and loyal subject, but that he had demanded a passport for the security of his person, to avoid the effects of the anger of his prince; for that he was surrounded by counsellors who loved him little, and who were seeking to create trouble between the duke and him,--and he had, therefore, been advised not to appear before him without first having a passport. The passport was at length sent him.

It was reported that the count de St Pol considered the lord de Croy, first chamberlain and principal minister to the duke, as his chief enemy, although, a long time before, a marriage had been agreed to between the eldest son of the lord de Croy and the daughter of the count de St Pol; and the lady of Croy had received the damsel, and had educated her as her own child, because she was too young for marriage. I know not whether the count repented of this match, but he wanted to have his daughter again, probably to match her more nobly,--and he sent secretly one of his sons to the place where she was, to bring his sister back; but the lord de Croy, having had intimation of this, managed matters so dexterously that the young couple were married and bedded before the count de Saint Pol could provide a remedy. This was the cause of their hatred.

The count, having received his passport from the duke, came to Brussels grandly attended by noble men, and by more than two hundred horse. The next day, which was about the middle of September, he had an audience of the duke, and was accused of having slain, or caused to be slain, certain persons, and of having taken, or caused to be taken, effects wrongfully and contrary to justice. It was on these grounds the duke had laid hands on the lands of Enghien; and he was told that he made but a sorry return for the numerous acts of kindness that had been done to him and to his family by the duke and his predecessors.

To these charges the count replied, that he always had been, and still was, ready to serve and obey the duke in all things, whom he considered so good and benevolent; that if there were none who had prejudiced the duke's mind against him, he trusted he should satisfy him, as to these accusations, if it were his pleasure to hear him in private, for that he should submit himself wholly to his gracious mercy,--but that if he would not hear him in private, he was ready to reply instantly and publicly to the accusations that had been laid against him.

This was accepted; but, notwithstanding any defence or excuses that he made, he could not obtain the repossession of the lands of Enghien, and returned this time without effecting any thing.

In this year of 1457, a splendid embassy, consisting of upwards of seven hundred horses, arrived at Tours from Lancelot king of Hungary and Bohemia. Among them were an archbishop, twelve or thirteen great barons, and more than thirty gentlemen, who were followed by twenty-six waggons richly adorned and well equipped, to carry their baggage. Before they entered the city, king Charles sent out the principal lords of his household to meet and escort them into the town: the churchmen and people went out also to do them honour; but the king then resided at a favourite palace at Montils la Tours, where he had been ill, so that the ambassadors were forced to remain ten days at Tours before they could have an audience.

The ambassadors went to Montils les Tours on the 18th day of December, where they were presented to the king, the queen, their youngest son Charles, and the princess Magdalen. When the presentations were performed, the archbishop of Bolisdastain[236] made an harangue in Latin, in such terms as he had received from his sovereign, and discoursed first on the love and friendship that had always existed between the kings of France and the kings of Hungary and Bohemia,--adding, that it was in consequence of their mutual affection that the king of Hungary had sent this embassy. 'When,' continued he, 'peace and amity shall exist between you both, who in the world can hurt you? Thy predecessors and our sovereigns, the kings of Hungary and Bohemia, have been in alliance. Thou art the column of Christianity, and my sovereign lord is the shield: thou art the house of Christendom, and my sovereign is the wall.' Many other fine compliments he addressed to the king, and, at the conclusion, formally demanded in marriage the princess Magdalen for king Lancelot his lord, which had been before done in a private manner.

As the king was well inclined to this marriage, he ordered his ministers to confer on the subject with the ambassadors; but the first days were employed in feasting the ambassadors, which was done by grand and plentiful entertainments given them by one lord after another. At these feasts, all the nobles of the court of France were present in the most sumptuous dresses,--so that it was a splendid sight to view the dukes, counts, barons, knights, esquires, ladies, damsels, heralds, pursuivants, minstrels and trumpets out of number.

But above all these entertainments was the first given by the count de Foix, which, in variety and magnificence surpassed them all. The first ornament was a castle having four small towers at the corners, and in the middle a larger one with four windows: in every window was seen the fair countenance of a damsel with her yellow hair, like fine gold, scattered over her shoulders, and no other parts of her form were seen. On the summit of this tower was displayed the banner of king Lancelot, having his arms properly emblazoned, and around the smaller towers were attached the arms of the principal ambassadors. Within this large tower, but unseen, were six boys singing so very melodiously that they were supposed to be damsels.

The second pageant was the resemblance of a tyger, a horrible beast, with a short thick body, two small pointed horns on his forehead, and with tusks of a wild boar. A man was concealed within the beast, who moved him at his pleasure, to appear as if alive; and he was borne by four gentlemen dressed in the fashion of the country of Béarn, and dancing after their manner.

The third was the resemblance of a great rock, on which were a fountain and great plenty of rabbits and other animals. From the rock issued five small children dressed as savages, who danced a morris-dance.

The fourth interlude was the appearance of a very able esquire as if on horseback; but the head and housings only were fastened to him, with which he pranced about the hall, holding in his hand a pot painted in various colours. From this pot there sprang roses, daisies, and other flowers; and, rising above all, was a handsome lily, loaded with flowers de luce. Having placed this pot on the table, another gentleman arrived with a live peacock in a dish, which he also put on the table, in order that all who wished to make any vows might then do so. Upon which, two knights of the embassy did make vows to perform a deed of arms, and the other to hold a tourney.

At length, dishes full of spices and all kinds of sweatmeats were brought to the great table, under the figures of stags, wild boars, bears, monkeys, lions and other beasts; and on each dish were the arms of those who were present at this dinner. When the dinner was ended, the dancings began.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 236: Bolisdastain. Q. In the former account of this embassy, the archbishop of Cologne and bishop of Passau, according to M. du Cange, are mentioned.]

CHAP. LXXII.

THE DEATH OF LANCELOT KING OF HUNGARY, WHICH CAUSES GREAT MOURNING AT THE COURT OF FRANCE.--THE DEATHS OF JOHN OF COIMBRA, KING OF CYPRUS, AND OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,--WHICH LAST IS SUCCEEDED BY HIS BROTHER ARTHUR COUNT DE RICHEMONT.

On Christmas-eve, in the year 1457, news arrived at Tours of the death of Lancelot king of Hungary, while his ambassadors were feasting, as has been said. This sad event changed their feastings into sorrow, and their grief moved the compassion of all; for they well knew the ardent desire their king had to marry the daughter of the king of France, not through any wish of obtaining lands or money with her, but through a strong passion to connect himself by marriage with the king of France, as he was then but eighteen years old. They also perceived, from the great respect and attentions that had been shown them in France, that the king was equally desirous of this match: you may therefore suppose that their grief was very great.

This event was concealed six days from king Charles, lest it might increase his disorder, and in order to afford time for its being broken gently to him. Funeral obsequies were performed in the church of St Martin at Tours, before the king was made acquainted with it; but on that day it was told him, and he much lamented it. On the morrow, the ambassadors set out on their return, very sorrowful at the unfortunate issue of their embassy.

Intelligence of the king of Hungary's death was carried to the duke of Burgundy on Christmas-day, for which he testified his grief; for king Lancelot and he were nearly related; although he well knew that the projected alliance between the two kings was meant for his disadvantage, and particularly to deprive him of the duchy of Luxembourg, which he had gained, as well by arms as by purchase. King Lancelot, it was said, claimed this duchy; and it was reported, that he had bequeathed it to the lady Magdalen of France, and had ordered his executor, king Charles, to put her in the possession of it. Notwithstanding that duke Philip had heard all this, he cared very little about it. Soon after Christmas, the duke ordered a grand funeral service to be performed in the cathedral church of Bruges for the soul of the king of Hungary. It was rumoured, that he had died of poison given him by some of his ministers, who feared, that should he marry the princess of France, they would be dismissed from the government; and it was said, that from the time he had swallowed the poison, he only lived three hours.

In this year, died also John of Coimbra, a Portuguese, nephew to the duchess of Burgundy. He had married the widowed queen of Cyprus, and in her right became king of that island. It was a great loss, for he had given great hopes of his being a good and virtuous prince.

The duke of Brittany departed this life without leaving any male heirs, so that the duchy fell to his brother Arthur count de Richemont, constable of France, who reigned as duke in his stead.

CHAP. LXXIII.

KING CHARLES IS DANGEROUSLY ILL.--ON HIS RECOVERY, HE SENDS TO INFORM THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY THAT HE SHALL TAKE UNDER HIS WARD THE ESTATES OF THE YOUTH OF RODEMAC[237].--THE DUKE'S ANSWER.--OF THE STORMS OF WIND, FROST, AND SNOW IN THIS SEASON.

At this period, king Charles of France was so grievously ill at Tours that it was thought he could never recover, and processions and public prayers were made and offered up in several parts of the kingdom for the restoration of his health. He shortly after this recovered, and then sent a gentleman of his household with credential letters to the duke of Burgundy; and, having laid them before the duke, he said, that the king of France signified to him by his mouth, that he had taken under his wardship all the lands of the youth of Rodemac, as well those in France as elsewhere.

The duke instantly replied, that the lands of that youth were not in France but in the duchy of Luxembourg, and that, as he was his subject, the king had nothing to do with it. 'I would wish to know,' added he, 'whether the king means to keep the peace of Arras, which I shall not on my part infringe: tell him, I beg of you, to make me acquainted with his will, and recommend me to him; for I know that he has some in his council who are no friends of mine.' When the duke had given this answer, he sent off on the morrow a secret embassy to the king.

This youth of Rodemac, whose estates lay in the duchy of Luxembourg, had always been of the party of king Lancelot, in opposition to the duke of Burgundy, and was still against him. On the other hand, the count de St Pol, in the expectation of being constable of France, had attached himself to king Charles,--so that, from these circumstances, war rather than peace was looked for between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy.

In this year, the winter was so severe and long that the frost lasted from Michaelmas-day until the 18th of February, and the large rivers were so hard frozen that carriages passed over them. At length, the frost broke up with such falls of snow and rain that the country was greatly damaged by the inundations. These miseries were increased by storms of wind that blew down many houses and steeples, and chimnies without number: great damage was done to the vessels all along the coast.

Toward the end of this year, there were such numerous pilgrimages of Germans and Brabanters, men, women and children, to St Michael's Mount, that the like was never seen before; nor could any one divine the reason of their being so numerous at this time, but from a sudden fit of devotion that had seized them.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 237: Rodemac. Rodemacheron, or Rodemark,--a town in Luxembourg.]

[A.D. 1458.]

CHAP. LXXIV.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, AT THE REQUEST OF THE TOWN OF GHENT, GOES THITHER.--A GREAT FEAST IS MADE THERE.

On the 23d day of April, after Easter, in the year 1458, duke Philip of Burgundy made his entry into the town of Ghent, at the request of the inhabitants,--but not on their first soliciting it, for they had frequently made this request through the dauphin and other great lords. He would not, however, agree to go thither until that day, when he made his entry with the dauphin; for he would not, for particular reasons, take thither the count de Charolois, nor the lord de Croy his first chamberlain. He was there received with greater honours than any prince had ever obtained, for the whole town came out to meet him,--the churchmen, in their robes and copes, as far as a quarter of a league, followed by the officers of justice, as well those of the town as of the prince,--then the deacons of the different trades, to the number of seventy, each attended by ten of his trade, all variously and appropriately dressed: after them came the knights, esquires, and burghers of the town, to the amount of more than four hundred.

When they approached the duke, the bailiff of Ghent advanced and addressed him, saying, that the inhabitants of the town of Ghent were come out to meet him,--and he entreated that he would hear what they had to say. The chief magistrate of the town then stept forth, and made the following harangue: 'My most redoubted lord, behold your subjects of Ghent, who request and supplicate (here they all fell on their knees, with uplifted hands,) that you would be pleased to forget and forgive all their former outrages and ill conduct, for they are ready and willing to obey you in all things, to remain your faithful servants, and, should need be, to die for you.' He added other words nearly to the same purport.

With the duke were the count d'Estampes, the lord de Ravenstein, and others, to the number of three hundred knights. When this harangue was finished, the duke advanced to the town, the procession that had come out to meet him taking the lead, and the duke following, preceded by his heralds and trumpets in their tabards of arms. He was surrounded by fifty archers of his body-guard, clothed in their jackets, each having a hunting spear in his hand. When the duke approached the gates, he found them open, for they had been thrown into the fields; and as he passed, a virgin descended by machinery, who saluted him, and said, 'Inveni quem diligit anima mea.'

From this gate to the ducal palace, all the streets were hung with rich cloths; and at the windows of the houses were numberless lighted torches, and the people crying for joy at seeing their lord, and conducting themselves with the utmost humility.

At each of the squares on his way were temporary stages erected, whereon very magnificent historical pantomimes were acted, and great bonfires were made in every street. So many fine shows were exhibited that the whole seemed like a dream; and the duke was two hours before he arrived at his palace, from the pleasure he took in looking at such beautiful pageants.

At the entrance of his palace was a man dressed in skins to represent a lion, who took his horse by the bridle and led him into the court-yard. On the morrow, the town repeated these rejoicings, and placed tables covered with all sorts of refreshments in the streets, for all to partake of who would, showing the greatest joy and humility on the occasion.

CHAP. LXXV.

THE DEATH OF THE KING OF ARRAGON.--HIS BASTARD FERNANDO SUCCEEDS TO THE THRONE OF NAPLES.--OF POPE PIUS, AND THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ABOUT THAT TIME; SUCH AS THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, AND THE EMBASSY FROM ENGLAND TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

About St John Baptist's day, in this year, Alphonso king of Arragon, Naples and Sicily, departed this life in the city of Naples. He had been in his time very powerful, redoubted, and rich, as was apparent after his death; for it was commonly reported that he had left to his bastard son Fernando, besides the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, six millions of florins in coin, and his chapel, which was marvellously rich, together with all his jewels, estimated at more than a million of gold. He had formed the largest ship that had ever been seen at sea, which returned to the port of Naples the very day of his decease. It happened that in so doing she struck on a bank of gravel with such force that she was dismasted, and the mainmast falling on the deck split it into a thousand pieces, and the vessel sunk. The mast was so thick that five men could not encircle it with their united arms,--and the noise of its fall was horrible to hear.

Eight days after his death, a very richly gilt and painted tabernacle, that was placed over the seat he usually sat on in his hall, fell down just at the same hour that the king deceased.

King Alphonso had been brother in arms to the duke of Burgundy; and although they had never seen each other, they were so strongly attached that they wore their different orders.

Pope Calixtus, then on the papal throne, hearing that the kingdom of Naples had escheated to him from the late king's dying without legal heirs, claimed that kingdom from Fernando the bastard, and, because he would not give it up, excommunicated him and all his adherents. However, on the death of Calixtus, which happened soon after, his successor, pope Pius, restored the kingdom to Fernando. It was currently said, that Fernando had given to Pius a very large sum of money for his absolution, and to remain peaceably king of Naples.

When pope Calixtus had held the papacy about four years, he departed this life: the cardinal of Sienna, called Æneas[238], was elected in his room. He had been secretary to the emperor Frederic, was an eloquent man, and took the name of Pius II.

The summer of this year was so dry that it scarcely rained at all from the month of April to the middle of October,--and never, in the memory of man, was seen so dry a season. The wines of this year were very good, and corn at a low price; yet, notwithstanding this, a fatal pestilence reigned in many places, such as Paris, Abbeville, and in other great towns.

About Martinmas of this year, an embassy from England to the duke of Burgundy came to him at Mons in Hainault. It was reported, that the object was to propose a treaty of alliance by a marriage, and that the duke had replied, he could not agree to it, according to the articles of the treaty of Arras, without the knowledge and consent of the king of France, who was equally debarred from making any treaty with England without the consent of the duke. After this answer, they went to the king of France.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 238: Æneas. Æneas Silvius Piccolomini.]

CHAP. LXXVI.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO GHENT, AND IS MAGNIFICENTLY ENTERTAINED BY THE TOWN.--THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS TO SUMMON THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY TO ATTEND THE TRIAL OF THE DUKE D'ALENÇON.

The most excellent and potent prince the duke of Burgundy made his public entry into Ghent on Sunday after Easter, the 23d day of April, in the year 1458, about four or five o'clock in the afternoon. It was grandly conducted, and in the following order.

First, the churchmen led a procession out of the town, after paying each their devotions in their respective churches. Then the bailiff and sheriffs, with some of the burghers on horseback, clothed in black, went out to meet their lord, and received him with the greatest humility,--the other sheriffs remaining at the gate of the town. At each place they paid him every reverence by kneeling on the ground, offering him at the same time their persons and effects. Then the deans of the guilds came forth in handsome array, each with a torch in his hand, and a deputation from the different trades, amounting to upwards of two hundred, clad in sky-coloured mantles, and as many in white mantles, sweeping the ground. Without the gate, and on both sides of the street on the other side of the river, were figures representing the prophets: the one that looked toward the duke displayed a roll, on which was written in large letters, _Ecce nomen Domini venit de longinquo_, Isaiah xxx. The other figure pointed to the trumpets over the gate, and on his roll was written, _Canite turba pariter omnes_, &c. Near to the gate was a sort of orchard or garden, in which was a young girl about ten years old, with her hair hanging down, and simply dressed in a damask mantle: on the duke's approach, she flung herself on her knees, and displayed a roll with uplifted hands, on which was written, _Inveni quem diligit anima mea_, Cantic. iii. The portal and inside of the gate were hung with black, grey, and crimson cloths: on the cloth over the portal at the barrier, the following was written in letters of gold, _Venit nobis pacificus Dominus, utere servitio nostro sicut placuerit tibi_, Judic. iii. On the cloth over the great gateway were the arms of the duke, emblazoned with helmet and crest. The streets, from the gate to the palace of the duke, were hung on each side with cloths of the before-mentioned colours, namely, black, grey, and crimson. On the black was written, in letters of silver, _Venit nobis pacificus Dominus_: on the grey, _Utere servitio nostro_,--and on the crimson, _Sicut placuerit tibi_. Above these cloths were five or six hundred torches, including those in the front of the houses, so that, comprehending all that were illuminated in the streets and in the boats on the river, there were from fifteen to sixteen thousand torches.

Near the gate of entrance, and within the city, was a pageant representing the prodigal son after he had been forgiven by his father; and on a roll over it was written, _Pater peccavi in cœlum et coram te_, Luc. xv. Not far distant was the figure of a prophet holding a roll, on which was written, _Lex clementiæ in lingua ejus_, Proverb. xxxi. A little farther was a scaffold, on which was acted a representation of the emperor Caius in the midst of twelve senators,--and before him stood Marcus Tullius, who harangued the emperor on his clemency, in liberating many prisoners on his capture of Rome, beginning, _Diuturni silentii_, &c. In this oration is the following expression, among others, _Nulla de virtutibus tuis major clementia est_. These words were written on the folds of the robes of the figure.

The next pageant represented a black lion holding in his paw the banner of the arms of the duke: before him was a white lioness humbly couched on the ground, and between them lay three young lion cubs half dead; but on the roaring of the lion, they recovered strength, life, and activity. There was a roll over them, with these words, _Quasi leo rugiens, et formidabunt filii ejus_, Hosea xi. Further on was another prophet, displaying a roll with these words written thereon, _Ecce venit desideratus cunctis gentibus et replebitur gloria ejus domus Domini_, Haggai ii.

Near to this last pageant was a representation of David's indignation against Nabal, which was appeased by Nabal's wife,--and over it was written, _Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel quoniam te misit_, Sam. xx.

The second gate was hung with black and grey cloth, on which were the arms of the duke properly emblazoned, with the arms of all the knights-companions of the Golden Fleece. A scaffold was erected close to this gate, having in the center a fountain, and surrounded by a representation of the triumphant state of the church, with the figure of a shepherd having recovered his lost sheep: he displayed a roll, which had written on it, _Congratulamini mihi quia inveni ovem quam perdideram_, Luc. xv.

Near the bridge was the figure of Pompey, governor of Rome, after having made the king of Armenia prisoner for his rebellions against the Romans; but, seeing his great submission and humility, he had restored him to liberty, which showed that he thought he gained as much glory by pardoning as by conquest. Over him was written, _Æque pulchrum est vincere reges_, &c. Valerius, v. c. There was the representation of another prophet near the bridge, pointing with one hand to the water, and holding a roll in the other, whereon was written, _Respice Domine in servos tuos_, Psalm. lxxxix.

In the river were the figures of six apostles, among whom was St John, who addressed St Peter in writing, _Dominus est_, Matt. xiv. St Peter, seeing our Lord walking to him on the water, and fearing to be drowned, said also in the roll which he extended, _Domine salvum me fac_, Matt. xiv. Our Saviour held out to him a roll, whereon was written, _Modice fidei quare dubitasti?_ Matt. xiv. On this same river was a very large boat full of burning torches, and adjoining it another figure as a prophet, with a roll in his hand, pointing also to a large figure: it was written on the roll, _Exultabunt omnia ligna silvarum a facie Domini quoniam venit_, Psalm. xv.

Facing this last prophet was a large platform, on which was erected a fortress with two small towers, on the battlements of which were suspended shields, having emblazoned on them the arms of all the countries under the dependance of the duke of Burgundy. At the gate of this castle was the personage of a giant, called Mars, and surnamed the Victorious, having a lion by his side. In front of this castle was a wood, in which were dragons, wolves, foxes, and all sorts of wild beasts, that attempted to enter the gate and gain the castle, but were always repulsed. In the center of the gate was a man who represented the three conditions of men in the states of the duke, and was dressed, as to his head, like a priest: his right side was clothed with a long robe of cloth of silk for the gentry, and the left side was attired as the labourers in the field: there was written above him, _Diligam te Domine fortitudo mea. Et nisi custodieris civitatem frustra vigilat qui custodit eam_, Psalm. xxv. On each side were the figures of king Solomon and the queen of Sheba, over whom was written, _Major est gloria tua quam rumor quem audivi_, Reg. l. c. x.

On another part of the platform was a representation of Gideon after he had obtained the victory, and the Israelites humbly addressing him with these words, _Dominare nostri tu, hic est filius tuus et filii tui quia liberasti nos_, Judic. viii. Not far off was an elephant bearing a castle, in which were two men and four children who sang melodiously a new song, the words of which were as follows.

'Long live the valiant Burgundy!
With heart and voice we loudly cry.
Henceforth no other lord we own;
But place our trust in him alone.

Long live the valiant Burgundy!
Who now from sorrow sets us free;
Whilst on his entrance thus we cry,
Long live the valiant Burgundy!'

This entry was more grand and magnificent than ever prince made before; for by the side of the duke on horseback, with his hood thrown on his shoulder, was the bastard d'Armagnac, marshal to the lord dauphin,--and he was preceded by the ushers at arms, his first master of the horse bearing his sword. Immediately before him, his kings at arms, heralds, and pursuivants, clothed in their tabards of arms, were in great numbers; and before these heralds were from twelve to fourteen clarions and trumpets, who followed the count d'Estampes and sir Thibault de Neufchâtel lord de Blancmont, marshal of Burgundy. These were preceded by the lords and gentlemen of the dauphin, the two sons of the lord de Croy, and the two sons of the marshal of Burgundy. Before them rode the lord Adolphus of Cleves, the lord bastard of Burgundy and sir Philip Pol, all richly dressed, themselves and their heralds: they were preceded by the great lords of the court,--and before them other lords and gentlemen, two and two, without varlet or page: before these gentlemen were the principal burghers and gentlemen of the town in great numbers, dressed in black.

Immediately after the duke were fifty archers of his body-guard on foot, dressed in their jackets, each having a hunting spear in his hand: behind the duke were fifteen pages and numbers of gentlemen. The horses that were at this entry were estimated at more than two hundred, without including those of the pages, varlets and other attendants, which were already in the town. In short, it was the most triumphant entry that ever lord made into a town for these five hundred years past.

The illuminations were continued on the following night; and the townsmen acted many mysteries in the town-house, expressive of the praise of their lord, and of their own ill conduct. They did the same on the Tuesday evening, but without illuminations,--for it was said that the duke had desired they might not be longer continued. One of the burghers had covered the outside of his house with gold and silver, and had placed a great number of torches and lanthorns before it. In like manner did many others in the different streets ornament their houses with rich hangings and splendid illuminations, at a great expense, during the two days the feast lasted.

On the Tuesday, the municipal officers, and principal burghers, waited on the duke at his palace, to thank him humbly for having come to his good town of Ghent, and to make offer of their lives and fortunes, for which he expressed his obligations. Then, on their knees, they supplicated him that he would be pleased to sup with them, in the manner of a banquet, at the town on the following Sunday, the last day of April, which he granted.

It was rumoured that this banquet would be free to all comers, like an open court, and that it would cost more than ten thousand crowns of gold. On the morrow, the managers of the feast dispatched purveyors nine leagues round Ghent, to collect every delicacy they could lay hands on, so that a small chicken was sold for two patars[239].

Toward the end of April, the king of France sent ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy, to signify to him that he intended to give judgement on the duke of Alençon on the 10th of the ensuing month of June, in the town of Montargis, and to summon him to attend at the above place and time with the peers of France, of whom he was one, and dean of the said peers, and also to consider on other matters touching the welfare of the realm.

The duke instantly replied to these ambassadors,--'Although my lord the king, by the treaty of Arras, has no right to command me in any thing, and notwithstanding I am personally exempted from my dependance on him, nevertheless, I will, if it please God, be personally present at the time and place he has fixed on, to give sentence on the duke of Alençon, and respecting the matters touching the welfare of the kingdom of France.'

When the ambassadors, on receiving this answer, were departed, the duke sent Golden Fleece, the king at arms of his order, to king Charles, to deliver a certain message he charged him with. He then had it proclaimed in all his great towns, that all who had been accustomed to bear arms, and by their fiefs and oaths were bounden to serve him, should prepare themselves to be in readiness to accompany him, the first day of June, on his journey to the king of France at Montargis, whither he had been by him summoned to attend; and it was his intention, if it pleased God, to appear there with the greatest possible force he could raise.

On the other hand, the king of France had ordered the arriere ban of his realm to hold themselves in readiness the first of June,--which made many suppose that a renewal of war was about to take place; and it was currently reported in France that these preparations were made to oppose the English, who were intending to invade France.

During this interval, those of Utrecht rebelled against their bishop, which caused the duke of Burgundy, his father, to send sir Anthony his bastard to Holland, with eight score lances, and from seven to eight hundred archers. But the rebels, hearing of this, made up their quarrel, and returned to their obedience to the bishop as before; and this armament marched back to the duke of Burgundy.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 239: Patart,--a low-country coin, worth about one penny English.----_Cotgrave._]

END OF VOL. IX.

H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-street,
Blackfriars, London.

NOTES AND EMENDATIONS.

Page 5. line 7. from the bottom. _Household._] Charles lord de Culant and Chateauneuf, elder brother of the marshal de Jaloignes, mentioned p. 335, was appointed grandmaster of France in 1449.

Page 5. line 8. from the bottom. _Combatants._] Florent, lord d'Illiers d'Entragues, was distinguished for valour, and for his great retinue at the siege of Orleans, and on several subsequent occasions. His father Geoffrey lord d'Illiers was grandson of Philip one of the sons of Bouchard lord of Vendôme, who married the heiress of the antient house of Illiers, and assumed his wife's family name on account of a stipulation in the marriage contract.

Page 18. last line. _Sir Thomas Hos._] _Q._ Hoo. Sir Thomas Hoo, knight, in 1436 suppressed a rebellion in the Pays de Caux. In 1442 he obtained a grant of revenue from the crown in consideration of his great services in war. In 1448 he was created lord Hoo and Hastings, and knight of the Garter, and was summoned to parliament from 26 H. 6 to 31 H. 6 inclusive. Thomas, his only son, died in his life time without issue.

Page 28. line 10. _Viscount de Longmaigne._] Should be Lomagne.

Page 28. line 13. _John lord of Lorraine._] John lord of Lorraine. Qu.

Page 31. line 12. _Roche-Guyon._] Guy VII, lord de la Roche-Guyon, son of Guy VI, who was killed at Agincourt, and of Perette de la Riviere died in 1460, leaving issue one daughter only, who by marriage, conveyed Roche-Guyon to the house of Silli.

Page 35. last line. _Sir Richard Frongueval._] _Q._ Freschevill; Sir Ralph Freschvill, who served under John of Gaunt in the wars of Edward III. left descendants.

Page 43. line 10. _Counts de Comminges._] Matthiew, count of Comminges, one of the uncles to the count de Foix. (See note to page 334. vol. viii.)

Page 43. line 11. _Viscount de Lautrec._] Peter lord of Lautrec, brother to the count of Foix (See note to vol. viii. p. 335.) married Catherine daughter to John II. lord d'Estarac (or Astarac) by whom he had one son, John afterwards lord de Lautrec. The house of Astarac is derived from Garcia-Sanches, duke of the Gascons, who lived in the 10th century, from whose youngest son, Arnaud _the unborn_ (so called by a quibble similar to that of the witches respecting Macduff) they trace 18 descents to Martha the heiress of the family who married Gaston II, count of Candale (or Kendal) in whose house the title afterwards remained.

Page 43. line 4. from the bottom. _Froissart._] D'Estract. D'Estarac. See above.

Page 46. line 12. from the bottom. _Lord de Luce._] Luxe is the name of a sovereign county in lower Navarre, which passed in 1593 into the house of Montmorency Fosseux. It was Francois de Montmorency, count of Luxe, of whom the court of Louis XIII. judged it proper to make a memorable example by way of preventive to the epidemical rage for duelling then prevalent. He was beheaded in 1627 for the honourable murders of the count de Thorigny and the marquis de Bussy in two successive rencontres.

Page 74. line 4. from the bottom. _Thomas Courson._] Thomas Curzon, esq. captain of Harfleur. Stowe.

Page 77. line 13. _Chancellor of France._] Afterwards also viscount of Troyes. He was chancellor from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1465 to 1472, when he died.

Page 94. line 10. _Thomas Aurmagan._] Sir Thomas Auringham (qu. Erpingham?) Stowe. Captain of Harfleur in conjunction with Curzon.

Page 98. line 1. from the bottom. _Daughter._] Monstrelet is remarkably tender of the reputation of the "fair Agnes." She had, as all other historians allow, not _one_ only, but _three_ daughters by the king. Margaret, married to Olivier de Coetivy, seneschal of Guyenne; Charlotte, married to James de Brezè, seneschal of Normandy, and Jane, to Antony de Bueil, count de Sancerre. Of these, Charlotte unfortunately followed the example of her mother's incontinence without the excuse of an illustrious lover. Her tragical history will be found recorded in the next volume.

By a species of retributive justice, Louis the son of this James de Brezè, submitted voluntarily to the same disgrace which his father thought that blood only could remove. _His_ wife was the famous Diana of Poîtiers. In these days, nobody of consequence could die in his bed without the suspicion of poison. The death of Agnes was attributed to that cause, and the dauphin is charged with having been the perpetrator. Of this accusation all that Du Clos says is what follows:

"Le peu d'union qu'il y avoit entre Charles sept et le Dauphin, fut cause que celui-ci fut soupconné d'avoir fait empoisonner Agnés Sorel qui mourut, regrettée du Roi, de la Cour, et des Peuples. Elle n'abusa jamais de sa faveur, et réunit les rares qualitès d'Amante tendre, d'Amie sure, et de bonne Citoyenne." He adds, "I can't tell why Alain Chartier (the court poet) is so strenuous in defending her chastity, seeing that she died in child-bed." The dauphin was not the only person charged with this imaginary crime. Jacques Coeur, superintendant of the finances, was also accused of it; but his innocence was established by public trial. See note to page 196. vol. ix.

Page 113. line 7. from the bottom. _Godfrey de Boulogne._] Lord of Montgascon.

Page 113. line 4. from the bottom. _Lord de St Severe._] John de Brosse, lord of St Severe, afterwards count of Penthievre, &c., son of the marshal de Boussac. See before page 2.

Page 113. line 3. from the bottom. _Lord de Chalençon._] Louis Armand de Chalençon, viscount of Polignac, married Isabel, second daughter of Bertrand III. lord of la Tour and his wife Mary countess of Auvergne and Boulogne.

Page 121. line 7. _Lord de Laval._] Guy XIV., lord, and in 1429 count of Laval, son of John de Montford lord of Kergolay, who by his marriage with the sister and heir of Guy XII, became lord of Laval, assumed the name of Guy XIII, and died in his passage from the holy land in 1415. Guy XIV. married first, Isabel daughter of John VI. duke of Brittany, and secondly Frances the widow of the lord Giles, of whom see page 136. vol. ix.

Page 121. line 9. _Lord de Touteville._] Qu. Estouteville. Louis, grand butler of France.

Page 133. line 4 from the bottom. _Maine._] Charles of Anjou, count of Maine and Provence, mentioned before.

Page 128. line 10. from the bottom. _Duke of Somerset._] Edmund Beaufort, younger brother of John duke of Somerset, (who died in 1444, leaving no male issue) was in 1431 made earl of Mortaigne (under which title he is named in some preceding parts of this history) earl of Dorset in 1442, marquis of Dorset the year following, and duke of Somerset in 1448. He was the great support of the Lancastrian party, and was beheaded after the fatal battle of Hexham in 1463.

Page 134. line 9. _Andrew Troslet._] Andrew Trollope and Thomas Cotton, esquires, were captains of Falaise, for the earl of Shrewsbury, according to Stowe.

Page 136. line 5 from the bottom. _Death._] Francis I. duke of Brittany, left two daughters by his second wife Isabel, daughter of James I. of Scotland. The eldest of these was Margaret, married to Francis II, her cousin; the youngest Mary, married to the viscount de Rohan. Francis I. was succeeded by his next brother, duke Peter II.

Page 133. line 3. _Arthur of Montauban._] Arthur of Montauban, bailiff of the Cotentin, &c. second son of William lord of Montauban, chancellor to queen Isabel of Bavaria. So far from being hanged, (which must be a mistake of the chronicle from which the following account has been taken) this Montauban having professed at the convent of the Celestins, at Marcoussis, advanced himself in the church, became archbishop of Bordeaux, and died in 1468. (See Moreri art. Montauban.)

Page 138. line 11. _Others._] This is perhaps, a more probable statement, as well as more favourable to the memory of the duke, than that given by some other chroniclers, and hinted at in the ensuing paragraph. The lord Giles of Brittany, the youngest of the children of John VI., was brought up in the court of England; and he was accused, perhaps justly, of having imbibed prejudices contrary to the French interest from his earliest years. On his return to Brittany in 1442, his wife, (the beautiful heiress of Chateaubriant and Beaumanoir) is said to have excited the desire of Arthur de Montauban, the wicked favourite at court; who, finding all attempts to subdue her chastity ineffectual, contrived by intrigues, insinuations, and at last by open charges, to render the lord Giles suspected by his brother. On the other hand, he stimulated that unfortunate prince to demand an extension of revenue and of power, which he took care the duke should deny him. The two brothers being by these arts alienated from each other, an open rupture ensued, which the constable de Richemont, their uncle, in vain endeavoured to heal. The lord Giles, apprehensive for his personal safety, fled to the castle of Guildo; and most imprudently trusted its defence to a company of English men at arms. This circumstance was soon conveyed with all possible aggravation to the king of France, who thereupon gave orders to the admiral de Coetivy to arrest him. The admiral for some time neglected this order, but at last was obliged to perform it; and the lord Giles was brought before the parliament, or assembly of the states at Rennes, where his case was fairly investigated, and himself about to be honourably acquitted, when a letter to the king of England (said to be artfully forged by Montauban himself) was found on his person, and he was immediately committed to the castle of Moncontour. While a prisoner in this place, his persecutor resorted to every wicked contrivance to remove him without suspicion of violence. But his constitution resisted the effects of repeated poisons, and a charitable old woman found means long to preserve him from those of starvation. At length however his health gave way to the continual assault of his enemies, and he charged a priest (who attended privately to receive his confessions) to repair to the duke his brother, and summon him within 40 days to appear before the tribunal of God and answer for all his injustice towards him. Still his gaolers thought the end of their charge too slow in its approaches. They therefore strangled their unhappy victim, already dying, and gave out to the world that he had died of a cold. He was at that time not thirty years of age. The confessor executed his commission as he met the duke returning from the siege of Avranches; and Francis, struck to the heart by terror and repentance, actually died on the 40th day from the date of the summons. Montauban and Olivier de Mêele, his principal agent in the murder, fled upon the duke's death, to a convent of Celestins; but they were both dragged from their sanctuary by the orders of duke Peter, and of the constable, and hanged at Vannes. Frances, the widow of the murdered prince, and the innocent cause of his death, brought him no children and was afterwards married again to Guy XIV, lord of Laval. Such is the account of some chronicles, as abridged by Moreri in his dictionary, art. Bretagne.

Page 139. line 10 from the bottom. _Sir Pregent de Coetivy, lord of Rais._] Pregent de Coetivy, admiral of France, was lord of Retz in right of his wife, Mary the daughter of the marshal de Retz. (See before page 211. vol. viii.)

Page 140. line 12. _Thomas Gouvel._ _Q._ Thomas Gonville, esq. captain of Cherbourg. Stowe.

Page 160. line 11 from the bottom. _Captal de Buch._] Gaston, count of Longueville and Benanges, second son of Archambaud count of Foix, enjoyed this title and transmitted it to his son John, who married a niece of the great William de la Pole duke of Suffolk, and was created by king Henry VI. earl of Kendal.

Page 160. line 6. _La Bessiere._] Descended from a younger son of Matthew, lord of Beauvau, who died about 1400. He was killed soon afterwards at the siege of Castillon.

Page 163. line 4 from the bottom. _Count d'Albreth._] Charles II. count of Dreux, &c. of the house of Albret, son of the constable; John viscount of Tartas, his eldest son, (who died before his father, leaving Alan, lord Albret, his only son and heir) and Arnaud Amanjeu, lord of Orval, his third son, afterwards lieutenant general for the king in Roussillon. The second son of the count, was Louis cardinal bishop of Cahors.

Page 168. line 7 from the bottom. _Viscount de Turenne._] Agne III. de la Tour, lord of Oliergues, of a younger branch of the family of la Tour counts of Auvergne, &c. became viscount of Turenne and count of Beaufort, in 1444, by marriage with Anne, daughter of Peter count of Beaufort, who possessed those dignities by the donation of his cousin Eleanor, heiress of the famous marshal Boucicaut.

Page 168. line 21. _Lord de la Rochefoucault._] Foucault III, lord de la Rochefoucault who married the sister of the lord of Rochechouart.

Page 168. line 23. _Sir John de Rochedrouard._] Rochedrouard. Q. Rochechouart? Foucault, lord of Rochechouart was about this time governor of la Rochelle.