by the king of Sicily to the duke of Burgundy, as pledges for the payment of his ransom which was still owing to the duke.

The governor of Metz was a very cruel man, called John Vitout, who, during the siege, rode a small courser, having at his tail a bell which made a great noise. He did this that all might hear and know when he was riding about the town. This governor was very severe on all women who left the town to ransom their husbands that had been made prisoners by the French; for on their return, he had them drowned, because they had supplied the enemy with money. He put to death, without mercy, all French prisoners, and would not hear of a ransom or exchange. Nevertheless, the king was so benign a prince, that he wished not his death nor that of his accomplices, but granted them most handsome terms of surrender. The heavy articles of the capitulation were a handsome present of gilt plate, two hundred thousand crowns for the expenses of the siege, and the acquittance of one hundred thousand florins of gold which king René and his predecessors had borrowed from them. On these terms they preserved all their rights and privileges from any innovation; and their quarrel with the king of Sicily remained undetermined, nor were any further measures taken towards bringing it to a conclusion.

When this matter had been settled, and during the stay of the king at Nancy, he ordered a general muster of all the troops who had marched into Germany, and of those who had served at the siege of Metz, from whom five hundred of the best-appointed lances and four thousand archers were to be selected. The remainder of his army he disbanded and sent to their homes, at the same time breaking the greater part of their captains, retaining only fifteen of the most experienced; to each of whom he gave the command of one hundred lances, and a proportionate number of archers. This was intended for a permanent establishment, to be quartered in different towns in the kingdom, and to be fed and paid in so ample a manner that for the future no soldier was to be suffered to plunder at his pleasure the country farmers or villages, as had formerly been done. When this ordinance had been carried into effect, the king and his court went to Châlons, and there remained some time.

At this period, the king of Poland and the cardinal of St. Angelo, the pope's legate, conquered, with the aid of a body of Christians, who had joined them, all Greece and Wallachia, driving the Saracens thence to the Black Sea. But shortly afterward, the sultan and great Turk raised a large army of Saracens, crossed the sea, came up with the Christians, who at that moment were but few in number, and completely defeated them. Among the dead, were slain and killed alive, the king of Poland and the cardinal, who, please God, are now martyrs in Paradise, for they were killed while endeavouring to extend the doctrines of JESUS CHRIST†.

On the return of the dauphin's army from Germany, the English left him, with their leader Mutago, who marched them back, for subsistence, to Normandy, then in the possession of king Henry of England.

CHAPTER II.-THE KING OF SICILY MEETS THE KING OF FRANCE AT CHALONS, TO TREAT WITH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RESPECTING HIS RANSOM.-THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY COMES THITHER.-AFTER THE DEATHS OF THE QUEENS OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE COURT OF ENGLAND.

[A. D. 1445.]

In the year 1445, during the residence of the king of France at Châlons, the king of Sicily came thither to treat of his ransom with the duke of Burgundy, whose prisoner he was. He had not money enough when taken, and had therefore turned over to him, as pledges treaty. A battle was fought on the 10th November, 1444, near Varna, in Lower Mesia, between Ladislaus, at the head of eighteen thousand men, and Amurath, who had upward of sixty thousand. The victory, long disputed, was at length gained by the Infidels. Ladislaus, after performing prodigies of valour, was killed. He was but twenty years old. The cardinal Julien was among the dead, but the manner of his death is variously related."

* Five. Q. If it should not be fifteen from what follows? This is the origin of a standing army in France. In the "Art de Vérifier les Dates," the account of this event is as follows :-" A peace was concluded with the Turks and Christians for ten years, and signed about the middle of June 1444, but almost immediately violated by the Christians, on the representations of the cardinal Julien Césarini, who had been present at the

for the payment, the towns and castles of Neufchâtel in Lorraine, of Beaumont in Argonne, and Gaudricourt*, and in all of them the duke of Burgundy had placed garrisons, paid by the king of Sicily; but when they wanted money, from neglect of due payments, they made incursions over the duchies of Bar and Lorraine, and committed all sorts of outrages.

The duchess of Burgundy came to meet the king at Châlons, to make a treaty with the king of Sicily; and it was agreed that the above-named towns should be restored to him, on condition he would settle in perpetuity, on the duke of Burgundy and his heirs, the town and castlewick of Cassel in Flanderst. Many grand feasts were made on the arrival of the duchess of Burgundy at Châlons.

At this time the queens of Spain and Portugal departed this life: they were sisters to the kings of Arragon and Navarre. The queen of Scotland died also this year, as did the dauphiness of France at Châlons, daughter to the king of Scotland by his late queen. queen. She was buried in the cathedral church at Châlons, and her loss caused great sorrow to all who knew her, for she was a handsome and good lady‡.

The king of France sent from Châlons, on an embassy to England, his cousin the count de Vendôme, grand master of the household--the archbishop of Rheims, first ecclesiastical peer of France, with others, to endeavour to bring about a general peace between the two kingdoms. The king of Castille, brother-at-arms and ally to the king of France, the king of Sicily, the dukes of Brittany, Burgundy, and Alençon, sent likewise ambassadors thither, to confirm whatever should be proposed by those of the king. This embassy was graciously received by the king of England, his nobles and prelates, but only concluded a prolongation of the truce from the month of April until the ensuing November, in the year 1446. In the mean time, a meeting was fixed for the two kings between Rouen and Chartres, or between Rouen and Paris; and, for a further accommodation, the king of England sent master Adam de Mouleyns, keeper of his privy seal, and bishop of Exeter § elect, to king Charles, to prolong the truce from November 1446 to the following April, that there might be sufficient time allowed for the full discussion of the various articles incidental to a treaty of peace. The king of France sent in return, to his nephew, master Guillaume Causinot, counsellor and master of requests of his household, and Jean de Havart, his esquire-carver, to signify his acceptance of this prolongation of the truce. When they went back, king Henry sent Garter king-at-arms with them, charged with letters to the king of France, in which he promised, on the word of a king, to come to France before the ensuing month of November. Garter brought back to the king of England similar letters which were proclaimed throughout the two realms.

At this time, duke Francis of Brittany did homage to the king, in the castle of Chinon, for that duchy, and likewise for the county of Montfort.

About the same time, two daughters of the king of Scotland arrived in France, expecting to find their sister the dauphiness alive; for she had desired them to come to her, that she might marry them. They first learned the account of the dauphiness's decease at Châlons, on their landing in Flanders, and were exceedingly affected by it. On their arrival at the court of France, the king ordered them to be waited on by the servants of the late dauphiness, and appointed them a similar establishment at his expense, until other arrangements should be made or they should be married.

* Gaudricourt, Gondrecourt, a village in Champagne, near Bar-sur-Aube.

† René became possessed of Cassel and its lordships by virtue of a gift of the cardinal Louis de Bar, his uncle, who died 1430.

It was this dauphiness who made the celebrated answer for giving Alain Chartier a kiss when he was asleep.

§ Exeter. Gloucester.-MS. Du CANGE. See Fœdera.

CHAPTER III.-IN THE YEAR MCCCCXLVI. WHEN THE KING OF FRANCE RETURNED FROM HEARING MASS, HE FOUND ON HIS BED THE FOLLOWING DITTY.

BAD payments, evil counsellors,
The discord of our warriors,

Gabelles and burdensome taxation,
Again torment this hapless nation;

With wars, which, till our state be mended,
We ne'er shall see or check'd or ended:
For multitudes, with trait'rous arts,
Serve France's king with English hearts;
And service wrought against the will
Can ne'er turn out to aught but ill.
True is the maxim of the sage,
Which saith, The broils of civil rage
Surely befal that wretched state
Whose king his subjects view with hate.
War, too, delights the ravening train
Who still the royal treasure drain :
Who, 'midst the strife, with greedy hands,
Seize gold and silver, house and lands;

Who, aye the first to seize the prey,
Are aye the last their dues to pay.
But, dukes and kings, to me attend:
If thus your warfare know no end,
Be sure at length you'll rue the cost,
When all your lands are waste and lost;
For friends by ready pay are won,
While tardy payers are undone.
No more within your castle's walls
Court libbard ease while honour calls,
But quit your forests and your streams,
And haste where many a banner gleams.

Alas! for France so meek and tame,
No glory dwells upon thy name!
To thee, O duke! to thee, O king!
With honest grief this plaint I bring.

CHAPTER IV. THE DUKE OF BRITTANY PUTS HIS BROTHER, THE LORD GILES, TO DEATH.THE GENOESE SEND AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF FRANCE, TO OFFER HIM THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.-THE EVENT.

In the year 1446, the lord Giles of Brittany was arrested in the castle of Guilledon*, by order of his brother the duke, who suspected him of intending to favour an invasion of the

GENOESE AMBASSADORS ON THEIR VOYAGE TO MARSEILLES.-Composed from Contemporary Authorities. English on his coasts. This arrest was made by four hundred of the king's lancers, under the command of sir Pregent de Coetivy, admiral of France; sir Regnault de Dresnay bailiff

of Sens; and sir Pierre de Brésé, seneschal of Poitou. They delivered their prisoner to the duke of Brittany, to do with him as he should please,—and he soon after had him murdered in his prison.

In the month of September, the bishop of Exeter, keeper of the king of England's privy seal, and the lord Dudley *, waited on the king of France on an embassy, at a house in Touraine called Rassilé, near to Chinon; and on their departure, king Charles sent to his nephew of England master Guillaume Cousinot and Jean Havart, to prolong the truce for a year.

In this year, the families of Doria and Fregoso sent a fleet of five vessels to Marseilles from Genoa with ambassadors, to offer the sovereignty of their country to the king of France, if it were agreeable to him to accept of it. The king despatched as ambassadors the archbishop of Rheims and others, to examine into the matter, and to proceed accordingly, who went to Marseilles to practise for the reduction of Genoa. At this time, John Fregoso had gained possession of Genoa, Pisa, and other places, in the king's name, having many family connexions in the first town. He, in consequence of a concerted plan, came before Genoa in a single galley, with no more than four hundred men; and on his landing, he raised the king's banner, when he was instantly surrounded by his friends in arms, and marching to the palace, was proclaimed doge of Genoa. Bernabo Adorni fled on his approach, who, a little before, had been raised to the same dignity.

Fregoso had been accompanied by one of the king's esquires, called the Bastard of Poitiers, who had assisted him in gaining Genoa, thinking he would restore it to the king; but no sooner had Fregoso succeeded than he put the esquire out of the town. When news of this reached the archbishop of Rheims and the others, they embarked on board a galley at Villafranca, near Nice, and came to Genoa, where they remonstrated with Fregoso on his treachery, and summoned him to restore the place to the king of France as he and his friends had promised under their hands and seals. Fregoso replied, that as he had conquered the town by his sword, by his sword he would keep it +. On hearing this, the archbishop and his companions returned to Marseilles, and thence went to the king at Bourges.

In the month of February following, pope Eugenius died; and on the 28th instant, Nicholas V. was elected pope.

CHAPTER V.-THE KING OF FRANCE, ON THE DEATH OF POPE EUGENIUS, HAS A GRAND COUNCIL HELD AT LYONS, WHITHER CAME MANY AMBASSADORS FROM GERMANY, ENGLAND, AND OTHER PARTS, TO RESTORE UNION IN THE CHURCH AND PUT AN END TO ALL SCHISMS.

[A. D. 1447.]

On the first of April, in the year 1447, the truces between the kings of France and England expired, but were prolonged until the first of April in 1449, and thence until the first day of June ensuing, in the hope that a general peace might be concluded in the mean time.

Great differences had existed during the late papacy between pope Eugenius and the council of Basil; which council the pope declared was at an end, for that he had transferred it to Ferrara, and afterward to Florence and to Rome. The council at Basil maintained that the pope could not thus transfer them without their consent-and had proceeded against inhabitants, and the principal forts were delivered up to him. The duke was soon after besieged in Genoa by the Adorni, and others of the discontented in league with Alphonso. An Arragonian fleet blockaded Genoa, but the death of Alphonso put an end to the siege.

Dudley. Audley.-MS. Du Cange.

In the "Art de Vérifier les Dates" is a short account of the factions which prevailed in Genoa. In 1448, Luigi Fregoso was elected doge : deposed in 1450. Peter Fregoso succeeded him. The Adorni, and other families whom he had exiled, made repeated attempts, with the aid of Alphonso king of Arragon, to re-enter their country and depose him. Fregoso, nearly overpowered, prevailed on the Genoese, in 1458, to submit themselves to the government of the king of France. Ambassadors were sent to negotiate this affair, which terminated happily.

John duke of Lorraine was sent by the king of France to Genoa, and cook possession of the town the 11th of May, 1458. He received the oath of allegiance from the

This extract will sufficiently show the inexactness of Monstrelet's account as to dates and names.

Thomas de Sarzana, cardinal-bishop of Bologna, was elected pope 6th March, 1447, and took the name of Nicholas V. The king of France sent him a magnificent embassy, with many propositions respecting the general peace of the church. I cannot find that any council was held at Lyons this year: one was held at Lausanne in 1449.

him, with the authority of a general council, to suspend him from all power in the church, and to depose him from all authority. They afterwards elected pope the lord Amadeus of Savoy, who led the life of a monk at Ripaille, and took the name of Felix V.*

Several anathemas and excommunications were issued, as well by pope Eugenius as by pope Felix, which created many wounds and schisms in the church. When the king of France heard of these differences, being anxious to restore union and greatly hurt at the measures now passing, he sent several embassies to Basil, to Rome, and to Savoy, to put an end to such shameful disputes. In like manner did duke Louis of Savoy, son to Amadeus now pope Felix, send several times to the king of France at Tours, to endeavour to bring about a reconciliation.

The king of France, in the month of November in the year 1447, seeing there was no end to these disputes, deliberated with his council on the shortest means to stop this schism, and resolved that all the anathemas and censures that had been published respectively by each pope against the other should be considered as null and void; that pope Eugenius should be acknowledged as the true pope, as had been done before the commencement of these disputes; and that the lord Amadeus of Savoy, who had been styled Felix V. should remain with dignity and honour in the holy church; that those of his party in the council of Basil should be recommended to ecclesiastical dignities and honours, that peace might be universally restored, and a general council called for the strengthening of the union of our holy church, which could not take place until an end was put to these discords, nor could any solid judgments be given until such a happy pacification should take effect.

King Charles sent these resolutions, which had been concluded by himself and his council, to pope Eugenius by the archbishop of Aix in Provence, who was going to Rome on other matters. He sent likewise copies of them to Savoy and Basil, by master Helye de Pompadourt, archdeacon of Carcassonne, who was afterward bishop of Alet in Languedoc. It happened unfortunately, that before the king could receive an answer from eight of the parties, pope Eugenius died, namely, in the month of February following, and the archbishop found him dead on his arrival at Rome. Almost instantly on his decease, Thomas de Sarzana, bishop of Bologna, was elected pope, and took the name of Nicholas V. At his election, every accustomed ceremony was observed.

Duke Louis of Savoy sent also to the king at Bourges, to urge him to cause pope Nicholas to be acknowledged, and to desire that he would in the first place have a general council assembled. In the mean time, the king, having received bulls from pope Nicholas to make him acquainted with his election, determined, after some deliberations in council, to acknowledge him in the same manner as he had done pope Eugenius, but not to desist from the measures he was taking for the general union of the church. The king, in consequence, sent commissioners to Lyons, and told the ambassadors from the duke of Savoy, that he wished their lord to do the same,—and that the members of the council of Basil should also meet them, in order that there might be a numerous assembly, to consider on the means of restoring peace to the church.

In the ensuing month of July, the king's commissioners arrived at Lyons, where they met the archbishop of Treves, and ministers from the archbishop of Cologne, from the duke of Saxony, one of the electors of the empire, who had waited on the king, respecting this matter of union. Thither came also the cardinal of Arles, the provost of Montieu, and many others, as well from the duke of Savoy as from the council at Basil.

After several conferences, it was the opinion of those who came from Basil, that the king's commissioners should go to Geneva, where pope Felix resided, to have a personal interview with him, who would gladly see them. While this matter was under discussion, the count de Dunois came to Lyons, sent thither by the king to escort the ambassadors from England. These ambassadors agreeing in the said proposal, they all set out together for Geneva, in

For a very particular history of the quarrel which took place between Eugenius and the council of Basil, see Shepherd's Life of Poggio Bracciolini.

One of the sons of John I., lord of Pompadour, and of Margaret de Ventadour his wife, and mother of Golfier, lord of Pompadour, who died in 1441, leaving John II. VOL. II.

his son and successor, a counsellor and chamberlain of the king Louis XI. This Helie de Pompadour, entering into the church, became bishop of Alet in 1448, and of Pamiers in 1454.

Cardinal of Arles. See his life in Moreri.

L