entertained, at the expense of the king of England, until the ensuing Wednesday, when he embarked for England.

During the time the emperor was at Paris, he one day went to the court of parliament, where the presidents and counsellors showed him every honour, and seated him, as was right, on the royal throne. The advocates then began to plead such causes as were before the court; and among others, was one of a Languedocian knight, called William Segnot, respecting the seneschalship of Beaucaire. It was claimed by two persons in right of the king's gift; but sir William proved, that no one could hold that office unless he were a knight. The emperor, hearing this, asked the esquire, in Latin, if he wished to be a knight; and on his replying in the affirmative, the emperor called for a sword, which being given him, he instantly dubbed the esquire a knight, who, by this means, obtained the office by sentence of the judges of the parliament. The king and his council, however, when they heard of this, were greatly angered against the judges of the court for having suffered it; for it seemed that this act had been done by the emperor, as having superior authority to the king of France, who, had he been present, would not on any account have permitted it. It was nevertheless passed over in silence, and no notice taken of it to the emperor.

CHAPTER CLIV.—A HEAVY TAX IS LAID ON THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT, TO THE GREAT DISCONTENT OF THE PARISIANS.—EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN CONSEQUENCE OF IT.

WHEN the emperor had left Paris, a very heavy impost was laid on all France, by these who governed the king, namely, the queen, the king of Sicily, the duke of Berry and other?. The populace, more especially such as were attached to the duke of Burgundy, were very clamorous against these lords; for many of the duke's friends had remained in the city, who were day and night practising on the means of his restoration to the king's favour, and to the government of the realm. To accomplish this, they had advised him to send secretly to Paris some well-informed and prudent persons, to whom they might resort and have advice in case of need. In compliance with their request, he sent thither sir Jennet de Poix, Jacques de Fosseux, the lord de St. Leger, and Binet d'Auffeu, who brought credential letters, signed by the duke, to those whom he knew to be attached to his party.

The Parisians, having thus entered into a conspiracy under pretence of the severity of the new tax, swore to rise in a body in the afternoon of Good Friday, and make prisoners of all that should oppose them. Their first object was to seize the provost of Paris, and, if he refused to sanction their conduct, they intended to kill him and then seize and confine the king. They were afterward to put to death the queen, the chancellor of France and numberless others, with the queen of Sicily; and after dressing the king of Sicily and the duke of Berry in some old clothes of the king, and shaving their heads, to carry them through Paris on two lean bullocks, and then put them to death. The day of action was however put off by some of the conspirators, who said that many of their intended victims might escape on Good Friday, from being at their devotions in and out of Paris, or at confession in the churches, or on pilgrimages, which would prevent them being found at their houses,—and that it would be better to defer the matter until Easter-Day, when they all promised to meet for the above purposes. This conspiracy was revealed by the wife of Michel Lallier, who sent letters to her lover, Bureau de Dampmartin, advising him to Ay instantly from Paris. This he did; but, before his departure, sent information of it to the chancellor, as he was at dinner, who lost no time in hastening to the Louvre, to advise the queen and princes of the blood to save themselves by flight. His counsel was followed by all except the provost of Paris, who, arming himself and his men, to the number of fifty, suddenly took possession of the market-place, and seized some of the conspirators before they had armed themselves, in their houses, and imprisoned them in the Châtelet, which sa confounded the other conspirators that an end was put to their project.

The provost, being reinforced with men-at-arms, forced different houses, in which he found many gentlemen hidden, who were armed for this massacre. In the number, he seized

sir Almeric d'Orgemont, archdeacon of Amiens, dean of Tours and canon of Paris, with one of the presidents of the chamber of accounts and some masters of requests, Robert de Belloy, a very rich draper, the host of the hotel of the Bear, at the Porte Baudet, and many other considerable persons. The chancellor sent information of this conspiracy to the constable and marshal of France, then on the confines of Harfleur, who, without delay, despatched Remonnet de la Guerre, with eight hundred men, to the assistance of the princes in Paris, and concluded a truce with the English in Harfleur, from the 5th day of May to the 2nd day of June.

On Saturday, the 2nd of May, the above-mentioned prisoners were brought to the market-place and beheaded as traitors; but sir Almeric d'Orgemont, being an ecclesiastic, was, by orders from the council, delivered by the provost of Paris to the dean and chapter of Nôtre Dame, for them to try him: this was soon done; and he was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment on bread and water.

The constable, on the conclusion of the truce, came to Paris, with three hundred men-atarms, and, being attended by the provost with a very strong force, detached the iron chains from the streets, and sent them to the Bastille, at the same time taking away all armour and offensive weapons from the Parisians. Louis Bourdon came also to Paris with two hundred men-at-arms, and was followed by Clugnet de Brabant and the lord de Bosquiaux, governor of Valois, with another considerable body of men-at-arms. Those in Paris who were friendly to the duke of Burgundy were now in much perplexity, especially such as had been concerned in the late conspiracy; for they were punished without mercy, some publicly beheaded, others drowned in the Seine. The gentlemen whom the duke of Burgundy had sent to Paris escaped as secretly as they could, and were neither taken nor stopped.

When this business was over, numbers of men-at-arms were collected in the name of the king, by his ministers, throughout France; and in like manner did the duke of Burgundy, or permitted it to be done by those under him, so that the clergy and poorer sorts of people suffered greatly in various parts of the kingdom,-for there were few who defended them,and they had no other support but their earnest prayers to God their Creator to take vengeance on their oppressors.

CHAPTER CLV.-THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY ARRIVES IN LONDON.-THE BROTHER TO THE KING OF CYPRUS COMES TO PARIS.-THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY.-MANY EMBASSIES TAKE PLACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

[A. D. 1416.]

In the beginning of this year, the emperor of Germany arrived at London; and the king, accompanied by his princes, nobles, with great multitudes of the clergy and citizens, went out to meet him. During his stay, every honour was paid to him, and he was treated with great magnificence. A few days after his arrival, duke William of Hainault came thither also, attended by six hundred horse, to endeavour to make a peace between England and France. Ambassadors likewise arrived at London from various countries, and in the number were one hundred persons from the duke of Burgundy.

At this same time, the brother to the king of Cyprus, who was count of three cities, came to visit the king of France in Paris. The constable, Charles son to the duke of Bourbon, the provost of Paris, and many more, went to meet him; and they escorted him to the presence of the king and queen, who received him most graciously. On the 16th day of May, Jennet de Poix, Jacques de Fosseux, the lord de St. Leger, Binet d'Auffeu, Hue de Sailly, master Philippe de Morvillier, Guillaume Sanguin, and others of the Burgundy faction, were publicly banished at Amiens from the kingdom of France, on suspicion of having been concerned in the late plot against the royal family.

In these days, the duke of Berry, who was now at a very advanced age, was taken ill at his hôtel de Nesle in Paris, and was frequently visited by the king his nephew, at that time in perfect health, and by other princes of the blood. Notwithstanding the care of his physicians, he departed this life on the 13th day of June, without leaving a male heir,-so

VOL. I.

A A

that the duchy of Berry and county of Poitou reverted to the crown, and the king gave them to John de Touraine, his eldest son, and godson to the defunct. The heart of the duke of Berry was interred at St. Denis, his bowels in the church of St. Pierre-des-Degrez, and his body was carried to Bourges, and there buried in the cathedral church. He left two daughters; the eldest was countess d'Armagnac, mother to Amadeus duke of Savoy, and the youngest was duchess of Bourbon. The duke of Berry had, during his lifetime, given to his nephew and godson John duke of Burgundy, the county of Estampes, on certain conditions. On the duke of Berry's decease, the king appointed his youngest son Charles, afterward dauphin, to the government of Paris, under the management of his father-in-law the king of Sicily, and likewise gave him the duchy of Touraine.

The ambassadors from France, who had accompanied the emperor of Germany to England, namely the archbishop of Rheims, the lord de Gaucourt and others, now returned to the king; but, at the instance of the emperor, the bishop of Norwich and sir Thomas Erpingham, a knight of great renown, grand-master of the king's household, attended by seventy horsemen, went with him to Calais, as ambassadors from king Henry. At Calais they received passports from the king of France, and went to Montreuil, thence to Abbeville and Beauvais, where commissioners from the king met and honourably received them. A negociation was opened for a truce to take place between the two kings for a certain time, and also respecting the ransoms of some prisoners who had been carried to England in consequence of the victories of king Henry; but nothing was concluded, because the constable had besieged Harfleur by sea, and would not break up the siege, in consequence of which the English ambassadors returned home.

Soon afterward, the king of England sent the earl of Warwick and others as ambassadors to the duke of Burgundy at Lille, who concluded a truce between England and the duke, from St. John Baptist's-day, in this year, to Michaelmas-day in 1417, but only for the counties of Flanders, Artois, and the adjacent parts. The duke of Burgundy caused this truce to be publicly proclaimed at the usual places, to the great astonishment of many, whe were surprised that such a truce should have been concluded independently of France.

CHAPTER

CLVI. JENNET DE POIX AND OTHERS, BY COMMAND OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, MARCH SECRETLY TO SAINT DENIS, AND MAKE INROADS ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF FRANCE.

IN the month of June, sir Jennet de Poix, with the approbation of the duke of Burgundy his lord, collected four hundred men, who, hiding their arms in casks, divided themselves into companies, and went by different roads, disguised as merchants, to the frank fair of St. Denis. As the king was at St. Germain-en-Laye, and the constable in Normandy, many hid themselves on the road-side, and others entered the town as merchants, chiefly with the intention of seizing the chancellor, and Tanneguy du Châtel, provost of Paris. But while they were eating and drinking, the chancellor and Tanneguy passed unmolested through the town, and returned to Paris. When they heard of this, they hastened back in confusion to Picardy, carrying with them some prisoners and spoils from the king's territories, which greatly incensed the people.

On the other hand, Ferry de Mailly, with many men-at-arms, invaded the towns of Quesnel and Hangest, in Santerre, where he and sir Martelet had been made prisoners, and carried off a large booty, with many captives, whom, after they had miserably tortured them, they set at liberty for heavy ransoms. In like manner, sir Mauroy de St. Leger crossed the Seine, and during the night formed an ambuscade near to the castle of Chaulnes *; and in the morning, when the draw-bridge was lowered, his men rushed into the castle, and made themselves masters thereof, which was full of rich effects. Soon afterward, the peasants of Lihons†, and from other villages, who had therein deposited their goods, entered into a treaty with sir Mauroy; and for a considerable sum of money paid him and his people, he surrendered the castle to the lady-dowager, and marched away.

* Chaulnes, a town of Picardy, election of Peronne.

Lihons, a town of Picardy, election of Peronne.

CHAPTER CLVII.-LIHONS, IN SANTERRE, PILLAGED BY MANY CAPTAINS WHO HAD TAKEN UP ARMS.THE CAPTURE OF THE CASTLE OF BEAUMONT.THE STORMING THE CASTLE OF NESLE.-AND OTHER MATTERS.

SIR Mauroy de St. Leger, soon after his last expedition to Chaulnes, made another, in conjunction with Jean d'Aubigny, to Lihons, in Santerre, which, with the priory, they completely plundered, ransoming the inhabitants for large sums, all of which they carried with them into Artois.

In this manner different companies were formed of nobles or others, but attached to the party of the duke of Burgundy, under various standards: the principal leaders were, St. Mauroy de St. Leger, sir Jennet de Poix, his brother David, the lord de Sores in Beauvoisis, Jean de Fosseux, Hector and Philippe de Saveuses, Ferry de Mailly, Louis de Varigines, sir Payen de Beaufort, sir Louis de Burnel, Jean de Donquerre, Guerard, bastard de Bruneu, and numbers of others, who, with displayed banners, invaded the territories of France; in particular, the countries of Eu and Aumale, and those lands in Santerre, as far as the river Oise, that belonged to such as were favourers of the Orleans party. In these parts they committed every sort of ravage, plundering the property, and making the inhabitants prisoners, as would be done to a country against which war had been declared. There were also other companies, formed by captains under pretence of their attachment to the duke of Burgundy; such as sir Gastellin, a Lombard knight, Jean de Gaingy, Jean de Clau, and Lamain de Clau, Savoyards, Jean d'Aubigny, the bastard de Sallebruche, Charles l'Abbé, the bastard de Thian, Matthieu des Près, Panchette, the bastard Penar, and others, who amounted to two thousand horsemen when they were all assembled. They for a long time quartered themselves on the territories of Burgundy as well as France, and did incredible mischief to both. Sir Gastellin and his men even took the castle of Oisy in the Cambresis, belonging to the daughter and heiress of sir Robert de Bar, and held it for a long time, using that and its dependencies as if they had been his own property.

About the same time, the lord de Sores, with six hundred combatants, marched to Pont Avaire, and thence advanced toward Paris, and placed themselves in ambuscade at La Chappelle until the gates should be opened. Shortly after their arrival, a man rode to them on a white horse from Paris, and having said a few words to the lord de Sores, he returned thither the same road he had come. While they remained, they made several men and women prisoners for fear of being discovered by them to the Parisians; but seeing their enterprise had failed, they sounded their trumpets, and retreated hastily toward Beaumontsur-Oise. Their object had been to seize the king of Sicily by the aid of some of the Parisians. When they were near Beaumont, they sent fourteen of their men in advance, having upright crosses on their breasts, to tell the wardens of the gate that the king had sent them to guard the passes of the Oise against the Burgundians. By their speeches and appearance, they gained belief; but they had no sooner entered, than they killed the wardens, and kept possession of the gate. Their whole body attacked the castle, which they took, and slew the governor and his son. After they had made a great slaughter in the town, and pillaged it of everything, they marched away; but neither set fire to it nor the castle, carrying their plunder and prisoners with them to Mouy in Clermont, wasting all the country they passed through. From Mouy they marched by Montdidier to Nesle, in the Vermandois, belonging to the count de Dampmartin. Many other captains there joined them, among whom was sir Mauroy, before mentioned. They resolved to storm the town, and succeeded, notwithstanding the vigorous defence of the inhabitants, who well performed their duty. Many were killed and wounded, and numbers made prisoners; among the latter was the governor, sir Blanchet du Sollier. The town was plundered of everything; and it was at the time full of merchandise, on account of the fair. After remaining there about a fortnight, to sell their pillage and wait for the ransom of their prisoners, they departed, carrying on carts and cars the remnant of what they had gained, which was immense.

*Pont-Avaire. Q. if we should not read Pont-St.-Maixence, for the other is not in any map or gazetteer. + La Chappelle, a village close to Paris.

When information of these proceedings was given to the king, the constable, and the grand council, they were much incensed at the duke of Burgundy, to whom they said these captains belonged; and to provide a remedy, the following edict was proclaimed throughout the realm.

"Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

"Since the most supreme and excellent, the sovereign King of kings, Jesus Christ our Creator, has, through his divine grace and clemency, selected us to govern and rule over the very renowned and most noble kingdom of France, it behoves us to exert our best endeavours to secure peace to our subjects, and that all disturbers thereof should be punished, in order that impartial justice be distributed, and our people live in peace and security.

"Whereas it has come to our knowledge, by the report of our council, and by others worthy of belief, and also by the great complaints, and doleful clamours of numbers of our subjects, as well as by the confessions of malefactors, justly put to death, the which we record in great sorrow and bitterness of heart, that Hector de Saveuses, Philippe de Saveuses his brother, Elyon de Jacqueville, Pierre de Sorel, Gotrant lord de St. Leger, Mauroy de St. Leger his son, Jacques de Fosseux, Calvin de Clau, Jean d'Aubigny, Fierebourg, Matthieu des Près, Jean de Poix, Daviod his brother, Camuset de Ligny, Gastellin, Cormeri, of the order of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, the commander de Sagestre, Panchette, Henri de la Tour, Pierson Tube, Jean de Cauffour, Henri de Caffour le Valois, Jacques de Calivray, Ramon Marcq, Denisot de Baugis, Guillaume le Glois, Martelet Testart, Jacques le Masson, Benois de Bessin, Guillemot de la Planche de Douay, le Tor d'emprès Douay, Jean Pallemargue, Robinet le vicomte, la barbe de Craon, Jean Jaully Picard, Robinet de Bray, le curé de Vaulx, prestre, Jean Louis de Cumillers, Robin d'Ays, Guillaume Mignot Brebiettes emprès Corapiegne, Thomas de Plaisance, le grand Thomas Mignot, Jacquet de Clavin, Perrin de Chevrerieres, Henri de Hailly, Jean de Peresin, Jean Bertrand butcher of St. Denis, Guillaume de Cormeuil, Guillaume de Chify du Brunet, master Robert trumpeter to our cousin of Burgundy, Perrin trumpeter to Jean d'Aubigny, Jennet one of the archers of the body guard of our said cousin of Burgundy, Jean de Vienon, Jean de Tourgney governor of Champlost*, Puissevin d'Aussorres, Charles l'Abbé, the bastard Cognart de l'Aussorrois, the bastard de Launois Guynis, Rousselet le batelier, Philippot Vezis de Sens, Estienne Guyart de Sens, Symon le Vigneron de Joigny, Estienne de la Croix, the son of the host at Sens, Colin de l'hôpital, the bastard de Chaullay, the bastard Guignart, three brothers du Moyne de Collanges sur Yonne, Jean de Duilly, Charlot de Duilly, and a company of fuzelaires, calling themselves Begaux, accompanied by numbers of others, disturbers of the peace, among whom are some whom the laws have for ever banished our kingdom for their wickedness, having assembled themselves in companies contrary to our will and express orders.

"This they daily persevere in doing and in overrunning divers parts of our realm, gaining by force or subtlety many towns and castles belonging to us, or to our noble vassals and clergy, and plundering them of all their wealth. Not content with this, they, like to perverse sinners, delighting in the effusion of blood, put to death and wound not only such as shall attempt to defend their properties but the peaceable and well-inclined inhabitants of the said towns and castles, who only wish to remain in tranquillity. But what has astonished us the most, and which we would not have believed if sad experience had not convinced us of it, they have frequently advanced even to the walls of our good town of Paris, the principal seat of government and justice of our realm, and have attempted to enter it by fraud, t commit similar crimes to those they had done in other towns; and more particularly, a few nights since they made one of these mad and foolish attempts. They have also marched large bodies of armed men to the gates of the said town, knowing, at the same time, that we, our very dear companion the queen, and our son the duke of Touraine, with others of our blood, were personally within it. They then endeavoured fraudulently to gain admittance, which, should they have effected, (but through God's pleasure they failed,)

Champlost, a town in Champagne, election of St. Florentin.