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CLXXV. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY CROSSES THE RIVER OISE WITH HIS ARMY AT L'ISLEADAM. -HE BESIEGES AND CONQUERS BEAUMONT AND PONTOISE, WHENCE HE REMOVES HIS QUARTERS TO L'ARBRE-SEC.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy had repaired the bridge at l'Isle-Adam, the greater part of his army passed over under the command of the lords de Fosseux, de Vergy, and de Salnoe, and were lodged in the open fields, and under hedges and bushes, within the distance of a league from where they had crossed the river. On the morrow they decamped, and marched in battle array to Beaumont-sur-Oise, and quartered themselves in the town, and around the castle, in spite of the resistance made by those within it. Sir Jennet de Poix, with four hundred combatants under his banner, advanced to a village a league further, and on the road toward Paris, which he fortified, and kept possession of until the whole army was dislodged. The duke of Burgundy was encamped on the other side of the river, and had his artillery pointed to batter the castle of Beaumont from across the Oise; and they kept up so brisk an attack that the castle was damaged in several places. The besieged, seeing they were in danger of being taken by storm, surrendered to the will of the duke of Burgundy. Fifty-two persons were found in the castle, nine of whom were beheaded, and their bodies hung by the arms to trees; the rest, or the greater part, were set at liberty on paying a heavy ransom; and the lord de Vergy, marshal of the army, received, by right of his office, all the effects that were found in the castle.

The duke of Burgundy revictualled this castle, and gave the command of it to a Burgundian gentleman called John de Torsenay. After this conquest, the duke ordered the van, which was on the opposite side of the river, to advance toward Paris and to quarter themselves at the abbey of Morbuisson, and other places near to the town of Pontoise, while the duke should encamp on the side toward Beauvais, and by this means the town would be surrounded on all sides. On their arrival, the garrison made a sally, but were repulsed and driven back; and the duke soon after had his artillery pointed against the gates of Pontoise, making other preparations to subdue them. When the townsmen noticed these things, they opened a parley, and, five days after, surrendered the place to the duke, on condition that their lives and fortunes should be spared. They also promised not to bear arms against him, until Christmas-day ensuing; but this they did not keep, for on his arrival at Paris they continued their warfare against him as before. There were within the town three captains having banners, namely, the bastard de S. Terre, Tromagon and Maurigon, natives of Gascony, who marched away together under the passport of the duke, and, crossing the bridge at Meulan, went to Paris. After their departure, the duke, with a few attendants, entered the town to examine it, and was well received by several of the townsmen who had been long attached to him. When there, he issued a proclamation throughout the army, forbidding all persons to enter the town but such as were especially ordered so to do. To prevent the provisions within the place from being wasted or destroyed, he appointed, in the king's name, and in his own, the lord de l'Isle-Adam governor of it.

When these things were done, the duke marched away, taking the road to Meulan, from which place terms were offered him; for the men-at-arms who had been posted there by the constable had marched away, in company with those from Pontoise to Paris. The duke ordered his whole army to be drawn up in battle-array between Pontoise and Meulan, that he might see it in order of battle, as if in the presence of the enemy. The spot where the soldiers were drawn up, was a handsome plain at the foot of a hill; and it was a very agreeable sight to him, for there were a number of nobles and gentlemen handsomely equipped, and willing to serve him against all his opponents: the principal, and those of name, were as follows.

First, count Philip de St. Pol, son to duke Anthony of Brabant, and nephew to the duke of Burgundy, sir John de Luxembourg, the lord d'Antoing, the lord de Fosseux and his

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* John de Melun, lord of Antoing, (son of Hugh, son of Tancarville.) He was constable of Flanders, viscount of John I., viscount of Melun, grandfather of the count of Ghent, and died very old in 1484.

three brothers, the vidame of Amiens, Anthony lord of Croy, the lord d'Auxi, sir Jeunet de Poix, the lord d'Inchy, the lord de Humieres, sir Robinet de Mailly and two of his brothers, the lord de Rambures, sir John de Vaucourt and his brother Louis, the younger de Renty, the lord de Varigines, the lord de Cohem, sir Alliamus de Gappamus, sir Hue Burnel and his son sir Louis, Robert le Roux, Robert de Bournouville, sir Charles Disque, the lord de Fremeusent, the lord de Humbercourt bailiff of Amiens, sir Charles de Lens, the lord de Noyelle, the lord de Longueval, sir Payen de Beaufort, sir Pierre Kieret lord de Ramecourt, George la Personne, sir Hue de Launoy and his brother sir Guillebert, the lord de Briauté, sir David de Brimeu and his brother James, the lord de Saint-Leger and his son sir Mauroy, David de Bouflers, sir John de Courcelles, John de Flavy, sir Elyon de Jacqueville, the lord de Mesnil, Charlot de Dully, the bastard de Namur, sir Gastellain Vas, John de Guigny, John d'Aubigny, the bastard de Thian, Charles l'Abby, Matthew des Près, the lord de Jaucourt, Guerard bastard de Brimeu, Emard de la Riviere and his father Philip, Gadifer de Mazinqbec and his brother Thierry.

From the county of Flanders were the lord d'Eustenu, the lord de Comines, the lord de Gruthuse, the lord de Roubaiz, Robert and Victor, bastards of Flanders, sir Victor de Rabbecque, Robert de Mauvignes, Henry de Disquemude, sir Roland de Velereque, Hector de Venront, the bastard de Collequent, and several others.

From Burgundy were the lord de Vergy, marshal of Burgundy *, sir Anthony de Vergy, Louis de Châlons † son to the prince of Orange, the lord de Salines, sir John de la Trémouille lord de Souvelle ‡, sir Regnier Pot §, the lord de Montagu, the lord de Neuf-Châtel ||, the lord de Château Vilain, the lord de Châteauvieux, the lord de Rochefort ¶, the lord de Thy, sir John de Cotte-brune, the lord d'Ancre, the lord de Toulongeon, sir William de Champdivers, the lord de Gastellus, sir John de Digonne, sir Anthony de Toulongeon and his brother Andrew, le veau de Bar, bailiff of Auxi, Henry de Champdivers, sir Gautier de Rupes, Andrew de Salines, Regnault de Moncouvin, Anthony de la Marche, sir James de Courtjambe, lord of St. Liebault, the lord de Rausse, Pierre de Digonne, sir Peter de Bauffremont, Emard de Viene, John and Clavin du Clau, with many other noblemen from various countries, who, with their men, were drawn up in most handsome array for two hours,— during which time the duke of Burgundy, attended by some of his most confidential advisers, rode along the ranks, bowing to each battalion as he passed, and thanking them most graciously for the honour and service they did him. In truth, it was a pleasant spectacle to see so many nobles with the flower of their men-at-arms, thus handsomely drawn out.

When the review was over, he marched his army across the Seine, at the bridge of Meulan; and then John de Fosseux and Hector de Saveuses, with no more than two hundred combatants, advanced by Val-de-Galie to a castle called Bayne, that belonged to the abbot of Fécamp, who was within it. He made his peace with them by means of his relation Louis de Saint-Saulieu, who was with Hector; and it was agreed that a party of their men should remain in the castle, to guard it against others of the Burgundians,-and in consideration of a sum of money, they gave the abbot an agreement signed with their seals but a few days afterward, by the consent of Hector de Saveuses, as reported, Philip de Saveuses, and others in his company carried off all the effects, and did much damage to it. The duke of Burgundy continued the march of his army until he came to Mont-Rouge: whence Paris could be plainly seen. He there encamped himself and his army, and the number of tents was so great, that they had the appearance of a considerable town. The duke ordered sir John de Luxembourg to march his men to St. Cloud, who, having quartered them near to the bridge, made an attack on a small tower at the end of it, near the town : it was soon taken and set on fire, as well as the mills under the bridge, when some large * John the Great, lord of Champlite, marshal of Burgundy. He died in 1418. His eldest son, William, died in his life-time, leaving John IV., lord of Champlite, on the death of his grandfather, and seneschal of Burgundy. Anthony, second son of John the Great, was count of Dammartin.

John de la Trémouille, lord of Jonvelle, was brother to George de la Trémouille, who married the duchess of Berry, as before mentioned.

Regnier Pot, lord of la Prugne.

Thibauld VIII., lord of Neuf-Chastel and Blammont, son to the lord of Neuf-Chastel, killed at Nicopolis. James, lord of Rochefort and Bussy, son of John

John de Châlons, prince of Orange in right of Mary of Baux, his wife. He died in 1418, and was succeeded de Rochefort, ailiff of Auxois. by his son, Louis the Good, here mentioned.

bombards were pointed against the tower of St. Cloud, which greatly damaged it in many places; but it was not taken, for continual reinforcements came from Paris to defend it. When the duke of Burgundy had remained for eight days on Mont-Rouge, he decamped with his army, and advanced a league nearer to Paris, to a hill whereon was a withered tree, on which he fixed his standard, and thence was this encampment called "The camp of the withered tree." He remained here also for eight days; and as many of his men were quartered in the villages close to Paris, several skirmishes took place between them and the Parisians, although no great losses ensued on either side. The foragers from the duke's army scoured the country for eight leagues round, and brought to the camp great booties of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, to the ruin of the poor peasantry.

CHAPTER CLXXVI.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS HIS HERALD TO THE KING OF FRANCE IN PARIS. THE ANSWER HE RECEIVES. THE SIEGE OF MONTLEHERY, AND OTHER MATTERS.

DURING the time when the duke of Burgundy was encamped at the withered tree on Mont-Chastillon, before Paris, he sent one of his heralds called Palis, who was afterwards Flanders king at arms, with letters to the king and the dauphin of France. On his arrival at the gates of Paris, he was led to the count d'Armagnac and the king's ministers, who bade him address the dauphin, and give to him his letters, for that he could not be admitted to the presence of the king,-which he did, shortly detailing the object of his mission from the duke of Burgundy. The dauphin, who had been well instructed what answer he was to make, replied in a great rage, "Herald, contrary to the will of my lord the king and of us, thy lord of Burgundy has already destroyed several parts of the kingdom, and, by his persevering in his conduct, he plainly shows that he is not our well-wisher as he signs himself. If he be anxious that my lord and ourself should consider him as our relative, loyal vassal and subject, let him march to combat and conquer the king of England, the ancient enemy of this realm, and then return to the king, when he shall be well received. Let him no longer say that my lord the king and ourself are kept in servitude at Paris, for we both of us enjoy our full liberty and authority; and do thou be careful that thou repeat what we have just said, aloud to the duke of Burgundy, and in the presence of his army." After this speech, the herald returned to his lord, and repeated to him what the dauphin had said, which made no great impression on the duke, for he considered it as the speech of those who governed the king.

When the duke perceived that he could not gain admittance to Paris, and that his partisans in that city were unable to perform what they had promised him, he decamped from MontChastillon, with his whole army, to lay siege to Montlehery. The inhabitants, knowing the power of the duke, and thinking they should not be supported, entered into a treaty to surrender the castle, if within eight days they were not succoured by the king or the constable, They sent information of this treaty to the constable, but it was of no avail, for no succours were sent, and they delivered up the castle conformably to their agreement. In like manner were reduced to the obedience of the duke of Burgundy, the castles of Marcoussy, Dourdan, Palaiseau, and some other forts in the neighbourhood. During the siege of Montlehery, the duke detached a part of his army to the castle of Doursay, who lodged themselves in the town, in front of the castle, and there pointed some cannons to batter the walls and conquer it; but a large body of the constable's men attacked their quarters at break of day, and slew the greater part of them. Those who escaped fled to the quarters of the duke of Burgundy, crying, "To arms!" for that the enemy were marching in great force against them. The duke instantly drew up his army in battle-array on the plain, as if the enemy had been in sight. The leaders of the detachment sent to Doursay, were the lord de Salines, the lord de Toulongeon, and some other captains from Burgundy; and at this surprise were made prisoners, sir Geoffroy de Villers, a knight from the Rethelois, with fifty other gentlemen.

While this was going forward, the duke despatched sir Elyon de Jacqueville, John de

Guigny, John du Clau, and other captains, with sixteen hundred combatants to Chartres,— which place, with Estampes, Gallardon, and other towns and forts, surrendered to the duke of Burgundy. Jacqueville remained governor of Chartres. In like manner, sir Philip de Fosseux and Robert le Roux were sent to the lady de la Riviere at Auniau, who promised that she would not admit any garrisons into her forts of Auniau and Rochefort, that would carry on war against the duke of Burgundy or his well wishers.

At this time, numbers of towns, castles, and noblemen joined the duke, in the expectation that he would succeed in his enterprise and obtain the government of the kingdom. In the towns which submitted to his obedience, he would not allow any taxes to be raised excepting that on salt, which gained him great popularity among the inhabitants and peasantry of the countries round. He also sent letters to many of the principal towns in France, of the following tenour.

"John duke of Burgundy, count of Flanders and Artois, palatine of Burgundy, lord of Salines and Mechlin. Very dear and good friends, you have known, from melancholy experience, the miserable system of government which is adopted in this kingdom, as well with regard to the king as the country, by those who have seized the management of our lord the king, without respect or care for his royal majesty; but, forgetful of every thing, they have impoverished his estate, and his own personal wealth, which formerly acquired for him great renown among Christian princes. His government was, anciently, celebrated

for the equity of the courts of justice, which was administered indiscriminately to the poor as well as to the rich; but the present ministers have so greatly neglected it that it has fallen off, and is now directed according to their pleasure, while all parts of his majesty's dominions are in a state of anarchy, and a prey to the bitter enemies of the kingdom, by the destruction of the nobles and other supporters of the dignity of the crown. Heavy taxes, under various pretences, have been and are raised, to the great vexation and ruin of the nobility, clergy, citizens and commonalty, who groan under them.

"To obviate and reform these and similar abuses, we have taken up arms, as it is well known to you; for we have frequently and publicly summoned these ministers to desist from such practices, declaring that otherwise we should ourselves provide a remedy, for the benefit of our said lord the king, so that an adequate provision might be made for his establishment, his kingdom be better governed, and the lost territories recovered. And again, while we were lately before Paris, we sent our herald to our said lord the king, with sealed letters, in which we repeated the grounds of our conduct, supplicating him that we might be permitted to approach his sacred person, and make offer of our personal services to him as to our sovereign lord: but the present ministry would not allow these letters to be given to our said lord, and sent them back to us. They forbade our herald to return again, and continue their usual mode of government to the destruction of the realm and of all his majesty's loyal subjects, because they know that we are averse to their measures, which are daily becoming from bad to worse. It is this which engages us to persevere in our resistance, whatever may be the consequences thereof, that they may no longer continue their wicked practices, and that commerce may have free course, and the kingdom may be governed according to justice. Such is our firm intention that we may loyally acquit ourselves; for it has been pronounced by the holy court of Rome, that it behoves us to attend to the government of the kingdom, considering the unfortunate state of the king and the youth of the dauphin, rather than the count d'Armagnac, or those who style themselves council to the king. In confirmation of this, we have annexed to these presents the decree that was pronounced by the holy college in the presence of a very learned doctor, our ambassador to the court of Rome.

"We therefore summon you in the name of our said lord, and earnestly request you on our part, that you take the above subjects into your serious consideration, and form such conclusions as may be honourable to our aforesaid lord, and to the preservation of his lineage and dominions; and that all his subjects may enjoy peace and justice, and that these our intentions may be adopted by you, is the earnest object of our wishes. We request, that on the 20th day of October next ensuing, you would depute to us not less than two well instructed persons, at whatever place we may be, with whom we may advise, with sufficient powers to form any treaties in your names, and in those of the prelates, chapters, and all dependencies on your jurisdiction.

"Be careful that herein you fail not, from the love you bear our aforesaid lord, ourselves, and his realm. Should you desire anything from us, you have but to mention it, and we will do it to the utmost of our power. Written at Montlehery, the 8th day of October." Underneath is a copy of the schedule from the college of cardinals, annexed to the duke of Burgundy's mandatory letter.

I

"I, Lievin Nevelin, doctor en decret, ambassador from the sacred college of cardinals, to the most mighty and puissant prince my lord the duke of Burgundy, have presented to him, on the part of the sacred college, letters sealed with three seals, namely, that of the dean of the cardinal-bishops, of the dean of the cardinal-priests, and of the dean of the cardinaldeacons, which are my credential letters, and which I have explained to my lord the duke, by offering to him, from the sacred college, the words of the holy prophet David, 'Domine, refugium factus es nobis ;' that is to say, 'Lord, in times of trouble we seek refuge in thee.' In continuing my discourse from the above text, and for many reasons comparing the sacred college to king David, I have laid before my said lord of Burgundy the state of the holy council of Constance, and the labours of the cardinals to restore union to the church. afterwards explained to him, that all Christendom was now united, except as it were a single grain in a bushel of wheat, namely, the dominions of the count d'Armagnac, who still obey Pietro della Luna, and whose adherents have been declared schismatics and guilty of heresy. I then explained, that I was sent by the sacred college as ambassador to him, not simply as duke of Burgundy, but as the representative of the crown of France, and to whom the government of that country legally belonged, to make to him certain requests and propositions from the sacred college; and I mentioned the reasons why I was deputed to him, and not to the king, to my lord the dauphin, the count d'Armagnac, or to the king's ministers. These reasons were, as the sacred college bade me inform him, because my lord the king was overwhelmed with a sore disorder, because my lord the dauphin was too young in years, and because the count d'Armagnac had relapsed into schism, and some of the king's ministers, adherents to the count, were suspected of being schismatics also.

"True it is, that the said count d'Armagnac has not been pronounced schismatic; but at the public sessions of the council, when Pietro della Luna was dethroned, and declared schismatic and heretic, he was personally accused by the king of the Romans, and the procurator-fiscal of the said council, and has since relapsed into schism, notwithstanding the frivolous excuses made in his behalf by master John Gerson.

"I made three requests to my said lord of Burgundy; the first was, that he would be pleased to have in his protection the sacred college, the pope, and the proceedings of the said general council, by guarding and maintaining them in their ancient rights, liberties, and privileges. Secondly, that should any one write, or cause to be written in time to come, any things against the said holy college or pope, he would not give faith to such writings. Thirdly, that my said lord would approve of whatever acts the said sacred college should issue, as well touching the election of the pope as the reformation of the holy church."—At the end of this schedule, the said Lieven had put his sign-manual.

CHAPTER CLXXVII.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS SIEGE TO CORBEIL.-HE MARCHES THENCE TO CHARTRES AND INTO TOURAINE, ON THE SUMMONS OF THE QUEEN OF FRANCE, WHO ACCOMPANIES HIM ON HIS RETURN.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy had submitted to his obedience the castle of Montlehery, and re-furnished it with provision and stores, he marched his army to lay siege to Corbeil on the side toward Montlehery. He planted many cannons and other engines to batter it in vain; for the constable and the king's ministers had strongly garrisoned the place with menat-arms, who made a vigorous defence against the duke, and daily slew his men by their cannon and other shot. The garrison was continually supplied, as well by land as by water, with provision, ammunition, and all other necessary articles. In short, after the duke had remained about three weeks before Corbeil, seeing he was unable to conquer it, and that his army was much harassed by the continued rains, and by an epidemic disorder which

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