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day and night. They had a deep ditch of communication sunk from the bulwark to these huts, so that the guard could safely pass and repass, without fear of the guns from the walls, which were continually firing.

The duke had some large engines pointed against the gates of the town, which, by the huge stones they cast, did great damage to the gates, bridges, and mills: some of the last were rendered quite useless, to the great distress of the inhabitants. Among other mischiefs done by these machines, a young gentleman of twenty-two years old, called Louis de Flavy, son to sir William de Flavy, governor of Compiègne, was struck dead. All present were much grieved at this accident on account of sir William, who, although he was much affected, concealed his feelings, to avoid discouraging his men, and soon after, by way of heartening them, caused his minstrels to sound before him as usual; and ordered the ramparts to be more diligently defended, notwithstanding they had been greatly damaged by these engines. There had been constructed within the ditch small wooden huts, in which the guard were sheltered from danger. Some mines were also begun on by orders of sir John de Luxembourg, which, though very deep and well concealed, were of little service, but had cost much.

While these different measures were pursuing, many shirmishes took place, in which the besiegers had numbers killed and wounded. The principal persons among the dead were sir John de Belles, knight, Alain d'Escaussines, Thibault de Caitigines, and many others, as well Burgundians as English.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.—THE LIEGEOIS RAISE A LARGE ARMY, AND INVADE THE COUNTRY OF NAMUR.

Ar this time, the Liegeois were instigated by some arrogant men attached to the party of king Charles, such as John de Beaurain, John de Saumain, Everard de la Marche, with others, and, by the hatred and malice they had long borne the duke of Burgundy on account of former quarrels, which have been already detailed in the preceding part of this work, to rise in arms, and invade the territories of the duke, more especially the county of Namur, and despoil it. John de Heneberg, their bishop, remonstrated with them strongly on this subject; but his attempts to dissuade them from executing their plans were vain, although he plainly showed that very great misfortunes might befall Liege in consequence. The Liegeois were much displeased with these remonstrances, and being determined to pursue hostile measures against the duke of Burgundy, the bishop considered, that should he not take part and support them, he might be deprived of his bishopric. He, therefore, having advised with his council, resolved to save his-own honour, by sending letters of defiance to the duke before he made war upon him. The tenour of these letters was as follows.

"Most high, most noble, and most puissant prince Philip, duke of Burgundy, count of Artois, Flanders and Burgundy, palatine of Namur, &c.

"Notwithstanding that I, John de Heneberg, bishop of Liege and count de Loz, in virtue of certain statements that have passed between us, have made frequent applications to you for reparation according to the claims declared in these aforesaid statements, which have been but little attended to, and that divers great and abominable outrages have been committed by your captains and servants on my country and subjects, which, if it may please you to remember, have been fully detailed in the complaints that were made to you thereon. Nevertheless, most high, noble and puissant prince, although your answers have been very gracious, and although you declare your intentions of preserving a good understanding between us, your promises have hitherto been without effect; and these matters are now so much entangled with others, no wise concerning them, that it is very grievous to us, and most highly displeasing.

"Most high, noble and puissant prince, you must, in your wisdom, know, that by reason of my oath to remain faithful to my church and country, it behoves me to support and defend their rights against all who may attempt to infringe them, with the whole force I shall be possessed of. For this reason, most high, noble, and puissant prince, after my humble

salutations and excuses, I must again inform you of these things, and, should they be continued, opposition will be made thereto, so that my honour may be preserved.

"Given under my seal, appended to these presents, the 10th day of July, in the year 1430.” Then signed, by command of my lord, "J. Berrard."

In like manner were challenges sent to the duke from different lords, allies, and friends of the bishop, namely, the count de Beaurienne, Picard de la Grace lord de Quinquempoix, Rasse de Rabel, Gerard d'Edevant, John de Valle, Henry de Gayel, John de Boilleur, John de la Barre, John de Gemblais, Corbeau de Belle-Goule, Thierry Ponthey, and several others.

CHAPTER XC.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS THE LORD DE CROY ΤΟ THE COUNTY OF NAMUR AGAINST THE LIEGEOIS.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy learnt that the bishop of Liege and the Liegeois were preparing to invade his county of Namur, he determined with his council to send thither the lord de Croy to guard and defend the town and castle of Namur, and the whole of that country. The lord de Croy, in consequence, departed from before Compiègne, having about eight hundred men under his command, and entered Namur, where the Liegeois had already commenced the war, by taking of Beaufort and setting fire to it. The lord de Croy remained inactive in Namur, for about ten days; after this, he began his operations, by the storming of the town of Fosse, which he burnt, with the exception of the monastery. On the ensuing day, from forty to eighty Liegeois were put to death at Florennes, and forty made prisoners. With the lord de Croy were his brother sir John de Croy, the lords de Mainsnée, de Rambures, de Fauquemberg and de d'Juselle, le Galois de Roly, the lord de Framesant, Robert de Neufville, and other nobles. The lord de Rambures was ordered to Polvache, where, in a sally, he was mortally wounded and made prisoner. The lord de Senlis was then sent thither, who surrendered the place to the Liegeois, and they set fire to and burnt it. The Liegeois were led by their bishop, and amounted to fifty thousand men. When they had gained Polvache, they laid siege to Bouvines, and took and burnt Golesme. While they were thus engaged, the lord de Croy made frequent attacks on them, and in these different skirmishes slew and took from seven to eight hundred.

CHAPTER XCI.-THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON COMES TO THE AID OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, BEFORE COMPIEGNE..

ABOUT this time, the earl of Huntingdon, de Robersac, and others, with a thousand archers from England, came to the assistance of the duke of Burgundy before Compiègne. They were quartered in the town of la Venette, where the duke had lodged before he had moved to the fort between Compiègne and Marigny; the duke's men were posted at Marigny, whence the governor, sir John de Luxembourg, and his people, had dislodged and gone to Soissons, which, through some connexions he had in the town, had surrendered to him, with other places in those parts. On the arrival of the earl of Huntingdon, the lord Montgomery marched his English back to Normandy. The duke of Burgundy laboured diligently day and night, to destroy a rampart in front of the town-bridge, which much annoyed his men, and which had held out for upwards of two months. At length by an unexpected attack made at night it was won, and from eight to ten men taken in it, who made no great> defence although well supplied with stores.

After its capture, the ditches were filled, and its batteries turned against the town, and manned by a strong force of men-at-arms. During the assault some were drowned in the Oise from being in too great a hurry to escape. The duke had a bridge thrown over the Oise near to la Venette, and well guarded, which the English and Burgundians frequently crossed in their excursions to skirmish with the French near to Pierrefons. The earl of Huntingdon one day passed this bridge with all the English, and advanced to Crespy in the Valois, and thence to Sainctrines, which submitted to his obedience. He then marched to

quarter himself for the night at Verberie, and made a sharp attack on the church, whither the peasants had retreated, who in the end were constrained to yield themselves to his mercy. He hanged one of them, called Jean d'Ours, who was their leader, because he had refused to obey his first summons. The rest of the peasants escaped by paying ransoms, and losing all their effects. The earl then returned with what he had gained, to his quarters before Compiègne.

During all this time, the lord de Crevecoeur and Robert de Saveuses remained with their men at Clermont in the Beauvoisis, to guard that frontier against the French in Creil and Beauvais, and to prevent the escorts with wine and other necessaries going to the duke's army, from being cut off. The duchess of Burgundy had fixed her residence with her household at Noyon, whence she from time to time visited her lord the duke. The period for the surrender of Gournay now approached, and the duke marched his army thither to keep the appointment: he was accompanied by the duke of Norfolk and the earl of Huntingdon, with about a thousand combatants, to support him, should there be occasion; but when the day came, no one from the French king appeared the governor, therefore, seeing no hope of succour, yielded the place into the hands of the duke of Burgundy, who made the lord de Crevecoeur governor of it.

The duke then returned to his siege of Compiègne with the earl of Huntingdon, having left a sufficiency of men-at-arms to keep the garrison in check, and to guard his camp. The duke of Norfolk went to Paris.

CHAPTER XCII.-AN ADVENTURER NAMED TOUMELAIRE, WITH SOME OF THE TOWNSMEN OF RHEIMS, LAYS SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF CHAMPIGNEUX.

In these days, an adventurer called Toumelaire, whom king Charles had appointed provost of Laon, having collected five or six hundred men from the town of Rheims and that neighbourhood, led them to besiege the castle of Champigneux, in which were some English and Burgundians that much harassed the country of Champagne. He instantly laid close siege to it on all sides, expecting to gain possession thereof; but that did not happen, for within a few days, William Corain, an Englishman, and Georges de la Croix, then at Montagu, assembled as many men as they could, and, without delay, gave battle to these peasants, who, unable to make any good defence, were soon conquered, and the greater part killed or taken.

Toumelaire, however, and some others, escaped; but there remained from six to seven score dead on the field, and a party of them were burnt in a house whither they had retreated. They left behind many cannons, cross-bows, and other warlike stores, which they had brought with them. William Corain and Georges de la Croix, having repaired the castle, returned to Montagu much rejoiced at their victory.

CHAPTER XCIII.-THE DEATH OF PHILIP DUKE OF BRABANT.

TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS DUCHY.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY

At this time, duke Philip of Brabant, who had for a long time before been in a languishing state, died in the town of Louvain. Some of his domestics were suspected of having caused his death, and several of them were severely tortured, in divers manners, to force them to a confession; but the matter was not the more cleared up. Physicians declared, that he died of a natural death, occasioned by excesses in his younger years in tilting and other things. He was buried by the side of his ancestors. His death was soon notified to the duke of Burgundy at the siege of Compiègne, because the nobles of the duchy of Brabant and the greater part of the commonalty considered him as the lawful successor to the late duke Philip, for he had never been married; while others said, that the countess-dowager of Hainault, aunt to these two dukes, was the nearest of kin, and of course that the succession was hers. The duke of Burgundy, on hearing of this event, appointed some of his most confidential captains to carry on the siege of Compiègne, namely, sir James de Brimeu marshal of the

army, sir Hugh de Launoy, the lord de Saveuses and some others, who were to co-operate with the earl of Huntingdon and his Englishmen. He likewise sent messengers with letters to recal sir John de Luxembourg from the Soissonois, and to entreat that he would, without delay, return to Compiègne to take the chief command of the army; relating to him at the same time the event that had happened, and the necessity there was for him to set out instantly for Brabant. When these matters were done, the duke of Burgundy having provided everything for the continuance of the siege, and well garrisoned the great fort opposite to the gate of the town, of which he made sir Baudo de Noyelle captain, he first took leave of the earl of Huntingdon and set out for Noyon. He thence, after some days, went to Lille, and having held a council of his most confidential advisers, resolved to take possession of the duchy of Brabant and its dependencies.

The duchess of Burgundy, when the duke left her, returned to the country of Artois. The duke was received in all the towns of Brabant as their lord, although the countess-dowager of Hainault, as I have said before, laid claim to the succession of duke Philip; but when she considered the great power of the duke of Burgundy, and that the nobility and principal towns had acknowledged him for their lord, she desisted from further pursuing it. At the same time, the lady of Luxembourg, sister to count Waleran, now advanced in years, and who was at the castle of Beaurevoir, under the wardship of sir John de Luxembourg, her nephew, seized and took possession, in his name, of all the lordships that had formerly belonged to the said count Waleran, her brother, and which were now again escheated to her, as the heiress, by her father's side, to her fair nephew the duke of Brabant, lately deceased. All the oaths of the officers were renewed to her, and from that time she was called the countess of Ligny, and of St. Pol. From her great affection to her nephew, sir John de Luxembourg, she bequeathed to him the greater part of these estates after her decease, which was very displeasing to the count de Conversan lord d'Enghien, elder brother to sir John, and they had many quarrels concerning it, however, in the end, they made up their differences, and were good friends.

CHAPTER

XCIV.-SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG TAKES THE COMMAND OF THE SIEGE OF
COMPIEGNE. THE ORDERS HE GIVES, AND OTHER EVENTS.

SOON after the departure of the duke of Burgundy from the siege of Compiègne, sir John de Luxembourg and his men arrived, and he took the chief command of the siege, according to the commands of the duke. He lost no time in strengthening the fort in front of the bridge, and erected two smaller ones on the river toward Noyon; the command of one he gave to Guy de Roye and Aubert de Folleville,—and that of the other to a common man from the Boulonois, named Branart, who had under him some Genoese and Portuguese cross-bows, and other foreigners. Having done this, sir John crossed the river by the bridge at La Venette, and went to lodge at the abbey of Royaulieu. He was followed by sir James de Brimeu marshal of the army, sir Hugh de Launoy, the lord de Crequi, the lords de Saveuses, de Humieres, sir Daviod de Poix, Ferry de Mailly, sir Florimont de Brimeu, and several other noble men, who were lodged as well in the abbey as in the village, which was much deserted, and among the vineyards and gardens in that neighbourhood.

The earl of Huntingdon remained in his quarters at La Venette. During this time the besieged made many sallies on foot and on horseback, when some were killed and wounded on both sides, but in no great number. This caused the besiegers to erect another great fort a bow-shot and a half distant from the town, near to the gate of Pierrefons, the guard of which was given to the marshal, the lord de Crequi, sir Florimont de Brimeu, having under them three hundred combatants; they lodged themselves within it before it was quite finished, and remained there a long time. The besieged now suffered severely from famine, and no provisions were to be had in the town for money, since for the space of four months none had been publicly sold in the markets. Several messengers were in consequence sent to the marshal de Bousac, to the count de Vendôme, and to other captains of king Charles, to inform them of their distress, and to require instant aid if they wished to save the town and its inhabitants.

VOL. I.

PP

While this misery was suffered, the marshal de Bousac, Poton de Saintrailles, Theolde de Valperghue, and other French leaders, laid siege to Proissy-sur-Oise, in which was the bastard de Chevereuse, with about forty combatants. They were soon forced to submit, and the most part were put to death by the guisarmes of the marshal, and the castle totally demolished. In like manner were subjected the strong monastery of Cathu le Chastel, and some other places, and those found within them were generally put to death. The marshal and his companions, however, did not make any attempt on the besieging army of Compiègne, as is usual in similar cases, until the last, when the siege was raised, as shall be hereafter told. At this period, the duke of Norfolk commanded a powerful army in the countries bordering on Paris, and subjected many towns to the obedience of king Henry, such as Dammartin and others. On the other hand, the earl of Stafford took by storm the town of Bray-Comte-Robert: the castle, which was exceedingly strong, immediately surrendered The earl then crossed the Seine, and foraged the whole country so far as Sens in Burgundy, and returned with a great booty to the place whence he had set out, without meeting with the least opposition, or even seeing the enemy. He took, soon after, Le Quene en Brie, Grand Puys and Rappelton: he had four score hanged of those whom he found in Le Quene. He also took the strong tower of Bus, which with the other places were dismantled. Sir James de Milly and sir John de la Haye were in Bray-Comte-Robert, when it was taken, and made prisoners, but afterwards obtained their liberty by paying a large ransom.

CHAPTER XCV.—THE PRINCE OF ORANGE IS CONQUERED BY THE FRENCH.

ON Trinity-day in this year the prince of Orange, having assembled about twelve hundred fighting men, marched them into Languedoc, where he gained many castles from the partisans of king Charles. He did the same in Dauphiny, which displeased the king and his council so much that they resolved to oppose him, and that the lord de Gaucour governor of Dauphiny, Sir Ymbert de Grolée seneschal of Lyons, and Roderick de Villandres, should collect their forces, and, with the loyal nobles and gentlemen, defend the country against these Burgundians. On mustering their forces they amounted to about sixteen hundred combatants, whom they marched to lay siege to a castle called Colomier, which in a short time submitted to them. In the mean time, the prince of Orange had retreated, knowing that his enemies, with a superior force, had taken the field, and, moreover, had won a castle garrisoned by his men. He lost no time in sending messengers with letters to the nobles and gentry in Burgundy, and to his friends and allies, to request aid. He was so diligent that, within a few days, he collected very many of the nobles, whom he led to those parts where he knew the enemy was, in hopes of regaining the castle of Colomier.

The French having been apprised by their spies of the coming of the Burgundians, had made preparations for receiving them, and in handsome array advanced to meet them, which they did between Colomier and Autane. The Burgundians, having a wood to pass through, could not immediately form in battle-array, nor instantly resist the vigorous charge of the French. The combat was, however, severe, and the victory long disputed. Among those who were dismounted on the part of the Burgundians was a valiant knight called sir Louis de la Chapelle; he was soon slain, and the French remained masters of the field by the defeat of the enemy. Two or three hundred were left dead of the Burgundians, and six score or more made prisoners. The principal among the last were, the lord de Bussy, son to the lord de St. Georges, the lord de Varembon, whose nose was cut off by a stroke of a sword, sir John Louis son to the lord de Conches, the lord de la Fretè, Thibault de Rougemont, the lord de Ruppes, the lord d'Escabonne, sir John de Vienne, the lord de Raix, John de Baudè, sir Duc de Sicon, Gerard de Beauvoir, and others, to the number before stated. On the day of battle, many of the Burgundians, to the amount of sixteen or eighteen hundred combatants, fled in great disorder. The principal were: the prince of Orange (who was pursued as far as Autane, wherein with difficulty he saved himself), the count de Fribourg, the lord de Montagu, by name sir John de Neuf-Chastel, who bore the order of the Golden Fleece, but of which he was afterward deprived, the lord de Pesmes, and many more notable gentlemen, who fled different ways. This engagement, in which Roderick de

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