Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

lives and turn toward their Creator, we of our own knowledge, and with full power and royal authority, by the advice of our council, and after the mature consideration of our eldest son, of many of the princes of our blood, prelates, barons and knights of our council and courts of parliament, so will, order, and command, that a firm peace be established within our realm, between our subjects, and that all rancour and malice cease, forbidding all persons, whatever may be their rank or condition, under pain of our highest displeasure, to bear arms or to proceed against any one otherwise than by legal means. For the better preservation of this peace, and out of reverence to God, wishing to prefer mercy to rigorous justice, we from the plenitude of our power and by our full royal authority, do grant a general and free amnesty to all persons, whether natives or foreigners, of whatever rank or condition they be, who shall have aided, abetted, counselled, or supported our said cousin, the duke of Burgundy, contrary to our royal will and pleasure, since the said peace of Pontoise until this day,excepting, however, from this amnesty, five persons, who are not noble, nor subjects nor vassals of our said cousin of Burgundy, and whose names shall be given to our cousins of Brabant and Hainault before the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist next ensuing. We likewise except from this general pardon all who may have been banished by our courts of justice by legal processes, with the usual ceremonies and solemnities. For the further preservation of this peace, and to avoid all causes of sedition and dispute hereafter, we will and ordain that all persons who may have quitted their dwellings in Paris for the space of two years, shall not return nearer than within four or five leagues of our said town of Paris, reserving to ourself any favours which we may be inclined to show to the contrary. We will, however, that the said absentees may go anywhere throughout our realm, excepting to our town of Paris, without any molestation whatever, either in body or goods.

"To maintain our subjects in peace and to obviate any disputes of office, which, having formerly happened, may do so again, we will and order, that all offices given by us since the said peace of Pontoise, shall remain in our full disposition and power, without those who may have been deprived of them having any claim or pretence of being restored to them. With regard to the prisoners, we will do strict justice; for it is our pleasure that no lord, baron, knight, esquire, or other persons, under pretence of services not performed to us, or for services done to our said cousin of Burgundy, shall be prosecuted or molested in body or goods, but that all lands, castles, or any territories whatever, that may have been taken possession of, and held by our officers for us, on account of the late war, shall be fully and completely restored to their true and lawful owners, without any fees or charges claimed in regard to us; and we now impose silence on our attorney-general, although the different cases be not specified particularly by us, in order more effectually to put an end to all disputes and suits at law that may have arisen from the events of the late war. We will, order, and enjoin, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do forbear, by himself or others for him, to disturb or any way molest, either by open or secret means, such of our subjects and vassals of every degree, as shall have served us in our warfare against him; and such of his subjects and vassals as, through fear of offending us, have not served him in conformity to the different ordinances issued by us; and that he be particularly cautious, under pain of incurring our displeasure, that this article be truly attended to, for we positively forbid our said cousin of Burgundy to take any cognizance whatever of the above acts. We likewise forbid all others of our blood and lineage to commit, or cause to be committed by others for them, any acts of hostility against our said vassals and subjects, as well as against those of our said cousin the duke of Burgundy; for we strictly ordain, that they do not take any cognizance of offences that may have been caused by the late warfare.

"We will and command, that our said cousin the duke of Burgundy do punctually restore all castles, lands, or fiefs, that he may have taken from our vassals and subjects, as well as from his own, on account of services performed to us or neglected to have been done to him, and that he order away from him all who may be inclined to disturb the lawful owner in the possession of them. We in like manner enjoin all those of our blood and lineage who may have possessed themselves of any castles, lands, or other effects of any lord, baron, knight, esquire, or others, under cover of the late warfare, to restore them instantly to their proper owners, without further molestation, or making them pay any fees or charges for their resti

tution, in order that this said peace may be faithfully and religiously maintained. We likewise will and command, that all the articles of the peace concluded at Chartres, and of others which have since been made, be most particularly observed; and we strictly enjoin all those of our blood and lineage, that they do not, on any pretence whatever, form any alliances with the English, or with others, to our prejudice, or to the prejudice of this peace; and should any such have been formed, we positively command that all treaties be returned and annulled, and that any person who may have concluded them do deliver to us sufficient security for the due performance of these our orders. And we further enjoin, for the better security of this peace, that our said cousin of Brabant, the ambassadors from our cousin of Burgundy, and the deputies before-named from Flanders, in the name of themselves, the three estates in that country, and in behalf of our said cousin of Burgundy, our very dear and well-beloved cousins the counts de Charolois and de Nevers, do each of them swear and promise, those who are now present in our hands, and those absent in the hands of our deputies, on their faith and oath, and on the cross and holy evangelists of God, that they will loyally and honestly observe this peace, and all the articles of it; and that they will not, by open or other means, any way violate or infringe the same, under pain of incurring our highest displeasure and indignation. And should it happen that any person, whether noble or not, do interrupt this peace, or act contrary thereto, they shall promise not to give them any encouragement, aid, or advice, but shall endeavour to stifle all such attempts before they gain any head.

"Copies of these oaths and engagements shall be delivered into our chancery, signed by each party, and sealed with their seals, that a perfect remembrance may be had of this transaction. Similar oaths and promises shall be taken and made, under the like penalty, by our very dear and well-beloved cousins, uncle, son, and nephew, the cardinal de Bar, the king of Sicily, the dukes of Berry, de Tours, d'Orleans, de Bretagne, de Bourbon, d'Alençon, and de Bar; the counts de Vertus, d'Eu, Richemont, de Dreux constable of France, de la Marche, de Vendôme grand master of the household, de Marle, le Bouteiller de France,* d'Armagnac, de St. Pol, de Penthievre, and de Tancarville, with all others of our blood and lineage, and the members of the three estates in their countries. Those present will take the oath in our hands, and the absent in the hands of our deputies: they will each deliver into our chancery copies of their oath and promise, signed and sealed by them, that the remembrance of it may endure for ever.

"We also ordain, that the aforesaid oath and engagement shall be taken before our commissioners, under pain of the above-mentioned penalties, by all prelates, knights, barons, captains, bailiffs, seneschals, provosts, and others our officers, vassals and subjects of all ranks, ecclesiastical and secular, noble and not noble, who shall each of them sign and seal his separate engagement, which shall be transmitted to our chancery for the aforesaid purpose. Item, our said cousin of Burgundy, and all the afore-mentioned princes of our blood, shall send letters to their subjects and vassals, requiring them to take their oaths in like manner. And for the better security of this peace, our said cousin of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, and the deputies aforesaid, shall exert their utmost power to prevail on our very dear and well-beloved cousins duke William of Bavaria, count of Hainault, the duke of Lorraine, the count of Savoy, the bishop of Liege, the count of Namur, and such others as they think proper, to take a similar oath and promise to observe all the articles of the peace. We also will and command, that should any excesses be committed which might endanger the aforesaid peace, it shall not therefore be broken; but the party who shall feel himself injured shall appeal to our courts of justice, when such reparation shall be made him as the case may legally require.

"We, consequently, give it strictly in charge to our dear and loyal the constable, the chancellor, the members of our courts of parliament, the marshals of France, the master of the cross-bows, the high admiral, the provost of Paris, to all our seneschals, bailiffs, governors, mayors, sheriffs, and all others our officers whatever, to each and to all of them, that they do pay attention to the articles of the said peace, and that they do not suffer the This ought to be "De Maile, grand butler of from the sixth October, 1413, to the time of his death, at France Robert de Bar, count of Marle, held that office the battle of Azincourt.

་་

smallest of them to be in anywise violated or infringed; and should anything be done contrary to their true tenor and meaning, they will cause such persons to be instantly arrested as disturbers of the public peace, and punish them as guilty of high treason toward us and toward the state, so that they may serve for examples to all others who may be inclined to act in the same way. We ordain that these presents be proclaimed in the most public manner in the usual places, that no one may pretend ignorance thereof; and we enjoin all persons who may hear or know of any one that shall utter words in public or otherwise against the honour of the aforesaid persons of our blood and lineage, or to the disgrace of this said peace, that they do denounce him or them to our officers of justice, that punishment may ensue according to the exigence of the case, and that they may be proceeded against as rebels to our commands and ordinances. That these presents may have their due weight, we have hereunto set our seal. Given at Paris in the month of February in the year of Grace 1414, and of our reign the 35th." Signed by the king and his grand council. Countersigned, "Estienne Mauregard." As this peace was proclaimed throughout Paris, so was it published in divers parts of the kingdom of France.

CHAPTER CXXXIV.-THREE

PORTUGUESE PERFORM A DEED OF ARMS AGAINST THREE FRENCHMEN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE. THE PORTUGUESE ARE VANQUISHED.

Ar this period, there was a combat between three Portuguese and three Frenchmen, performed at the king's palace of St. Ouen near to Paris. The names of the Portuguese were the lord d'Alenton, sir Jean Cousaille knight, and sir Peter Cousaille. The three Frenchmen were sir François de Grignaulx, Marigon, and la Rocque. The Portuguese, as the challengers, were first introduced into the lists by the earl of Dorset and the other English lords. The French were conducted by Clugnet de Brabant, admiral of France, John brother to the duke de Bar, and several more. After the accustomed proclamations had been made, in the king's name, the combat began, and was hard fought; but at length the Portuguese surrendered themselves as vanquished, to save their lives, to the great indignation and displeasure of the English, who had conducted them to the lists. The Portuguese were, by the king's command, put out of the lists, and the French honourably escorted home, very much rejoiced at their victory.

When the business of the peace had been concluded, the countess of Hainault left Senlis, and returned to her country and to her lord duke William. The English, about the same time, departed from Paris, after having been magnificently feasted and honoured by the king and his princes, and having likewise been presented with rich gifts. They did not, however, succeed in the object of their mission, namely, the marriage of their king with the lady Catherine of France, because their demands for her portion were unreasonable and excessive, such as the duchy of Normandy, the county of Ponthieu, with the duchy of Aquitaine, to be held as inheritances for ever. The king of France, in reply, told them that he would shortly send ambassadors to England with his final answer to the request they had made.

CHAPTER CXXXV.-THE PEACE OF ARRAS SOLEMNLY SWORN TO IN THE PRESENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.-IT IS AFTERWARDS SWORN TO IN DIVERS OTHER PLACES.

On the 13th day of March, in this year, the duke of Brabant, the bishop of Tournay, the lord de Ront, sir William Bouvier, governor of Arras, counsellors and ambassadors from the duke of Burgundy, and the deputies from the three estates of Flanders, having full powers from the duke of Burgundy for this purpose, swore in the name of the said duke, and in his behalf, in the presence of the king of France, on the true cross and holy evangelists of God; and in like manner the duke of Brabant and the others above-mentioned, for themselves in their own private capacities, swore to the full observance and preservation of all the articles of the peace first treated of before Arras and confirmed at Paris. The dukes of Berry,

Orleans, Alençon and Bourbon, the counts d'Eu, de Vendôme, grand-master of the household, the lord de Prayaux, * the chancellor of France, the archbishops of Sens, Bourges, Rouen, the bishops of Laon, Lisieux, Paris, Chartres, the chancellor of Aquitaine, the count de Tancarville and others, took the same oath in the presence of the king and the grand council.

Commissioners were then sent by the king from Paris, namely, the master of the crossbows of France, the lord de Rambures, and master Jean de Vailly, first president of the parliament, to Tournay, where they arrived in the month of March. The duke of Brabant, the countess of Hainault, Philip of Burgundy count of Charolois, the nobles and prelates of Ghent, and other great towns in Flanders, there met them. When the king's letter had been read, the count de Charolois, and all present, took the oath required, in the hands of the said commissioners, and in the presence of the duke of Brabant and the countess of Hainault, promising on their own behalf, to keep the said peace, and to pay attention to the contents of the king's letter. In like manner did the prelates, nobility, and others of the town of Tournay and the adjacent countries, make oath, delivering their certificates signed and sealed by them, as the count de Charolois and the Flemings had done to the commissioners, to be carried to Estienne Mauregard, the master of the rolls, at Paris. The count de Charolois, after the holy week, convoked, at Arras, all the nobility, clergy, and inhabitants of the country of Artois and its dependencies, who all swore, and delivered in certificates, as those of Tournay had done. Commissioners were afterward sent into Burgundy, to receive the oaths of the duke and of the estates of the duchy and its dependencies. These commissioners were the lord de Tynouville† and master Symon de Vanterre, president of the parliament, who received the oaths and certificates, and sent them to the master of the rolls at Paris; but the duke himself refused to swear, and said he must speak to the king and the duke of Aquitaine before he made oath to keep the peace, on certain causes that affected him.

CHAPTER CXXXVI.-THE COMMONALTY AND CLERGY OF AMIENS ARE ASSEMBLED TO SWEAR TO THE OBSERVANCE OF THE PEACE OF ARRAS.

[A. D. 1415.]

Ar the beginning of this year, those of Amiens wrote such letters as follow.

[ocr errors]

"The mayor, sheriffs, and commonalty of Amiens make known, that on the 18th day of the month of April, in the year 1415, by orders from master John de Vailly, president of the parliament, and commissioner in these parts in the name of the king, the inhabitants of this town were collected in the market-place, by sound of bell, from house to house, when we being present, with the principal inhabitants, this said president caused to be read to us letters from the king of the following purport: Charles, by the grace of God king of France,' &c., (and similar to what I have before detailed,)-which being ended, we, and all the people assembled, made oath, and faithfully promised on the cross and holy evangelists of God, and we now by these presents do swear and promise punctually to observe and keep all the articles of the peace lately ratified, as far as it shall concern us, and conformably to the will and pleasure of the king our lord, as contained in these his said letters. In testimony whereof, we have to these presents affixed the common seal of the town of Amiens. Given on the day and year before-mentioned."

The substance of the above was copied by two apostolical notaries, who certified that the aforesaid ordinance had been published, and the colleges assembled in the chapter-house of the cathedral of Nôtre Dame of Amiens, who had sworn to the same. These were sealed with the seal of the bishop of Amiens, of the chapter, and of the other chapters and colleges, and given to the bailiff of Amiens to carry to master Estienne Mauregard, master of the rolls in Paris. The bailiff caused the king's proclamation to be published everywhere

* Préaux. James de Bourbon, third son of James, first count of la Marche, lord of Préaux by marriage, and grand-butler of France. His sous were, Louis, killed at

Azincourt, Peter, lord of Préaux in 1417, and James, lord
of Thury. The two latter married two daughters of the
grand-master Montagu.
Q. Tignonville.

within his jurisdiction, except within the lands of the duke of Burgundy: he received the oaths of all ranks of persons to the due observance of the same, and the proper certificates from each prelate, noble, and others resident within his bailiwick. Thus were these ordinances respecting the peace proclaimed throughout all the bailiwicks and seneschalships in the realm, at the usual places; and then oaths and certificates were demanded by the commissioners from the clergy, nobles, and chief towns, and delivered at Paris in the same manner as the others had been.

CHAPTER CXXXVII.-THE COUNT WALERAN DE ST. POL DIES AT YVOIX, IN THE COUNTY OF CHINY IN LUXEMBOURG.--THE PRINCES OF THE BLOOD GO TO MELUN, BY ORDERS FROM THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF AQUITAINE.

On the 9th day of April, in this same year 1415, Waleran count de St. Pol and de Ligny, calling himself constable of France, fell ill in the castle of Yvoix, in the county of Chiny. His disorder, as it was reported, was occasioned by his physician having administered to him too strong a clyster; and about twelve days after, he departed this life, and was buried in front of the great altar in the principal church in Yvoix, amidst the tears and lamentations of his attendants,—although he had ordered, by a will made in his lifetime, that his body should be carried to the abbey of Cercamp, of which his ancestors the counts de St. Pol had been the founders. In the course of his illness he had sent for his countess, the sister to the duke of Bar*, having an earnest desire to converse with her before his last hour; but, notwithstanding the diligence she made to comply with his request, she did not arrive, accompanied by a niece of the count's, sister to sir John Luxembourg, until about two hours after his decease, although they had rode a-straddle, on hard-trotting horses, to make the more speed. They were much shocked on hearing of his death. When the countess had remained at Yvoix about eight hours, and disbanded the men-at-arms of her late lord, she returned to Ligny-en-Barrois, where she had the obsequies of the count celebrated in the cathedral church. She publicly renounced, by her attorney, all the debts and estates of her late lord, excepting her dower, by placing on his tomb his belt and purse, of which act she demanded from the public notaries present to have certificates drawn up. The count's heirs were the two sons of the duke of Brabant by the daughter of his first wife †.

In this same month, the princes of the blood then at Paris went to Melun, by command of the queen and the duke of Aquitaine, who were there resident. While they were occupied on business with the queen, the duke of Aquitaine set off for Paris with few attendants; and thence he sent the princes word that they were not to return to Paris until ordered by the king or himself, and commanded them to retire to their estates, and to attend to their own affairs. After this, the duke, knowing that the queen his mother had deposited large sums in the hands of three persons in Paris, who were her confidants, namely, Michault de l'Allier, Guillaume Sanguin, and Picquit de la Haye, suddenly entered their houses with his people, and seized all the money found therein, and carried it to his hotel. He then summoned the provosts of Paris, the university, and the principal inhabitants to come to him at the Louvre, where he caused to be laid before them, by the bishop of Chartres, his chancellor, article by article, the whole history of the government of the kingdom, from the coronation of the king his father until that moment, showing how the duke of Anjou had seized the treasures of king Charles his grandfather, and wasted them in Italy, as well as the portions of the dukes of Berry and Burgundy, last deceased; then mentioning the death of the late duke of Orleans, and his government, and concluding with the administration of the present duke of Burgundy, who had consumed the whole of the finances, and despoiled the kingdom. He then declared, that as duke of Aquitaine, dauphin of Vienne, and

* Bona de Bar, second wife of count Waleran, by whom he left no issue.

† Waleran, count of St. Pol, married for his first wife Matilda de Roeux, by whom he had one daughter, Jane, married to Anthony, duke of Brabant. She died before her father, leaving two sons, John and Philip, who succes

sively possessed the duchy of Brabant as heirs to their father, and the counties of St. Pol and Ligny in right of their mother. Guy, count of Ligny, father of Waleran, was also father to John, count of Brienne, whose son Peter succeeded to the county of St. Pol on the death of Philip, duke of Brabant, in 1430, without issue.

« ZurückWeiter »