of his shoulders were golden ribands, interlaced with strips of fur. Before him walked two footmen, leading by the bridle a white hackney, covered with a housing of blue velvet, besprinkled with flowers-de-luce and gold tissue. On this housing was placed a small coffer, covered also with blue velvet, and flowers-de-luce in silversmith's-work, in which were the seals of the king. After him rode an equerry of the stables, called Pierre Fonteville*, fully armed, and mounted on a charger covered with housings of azure velvet, having great clasps of silver gilt: he had on his head a pointed hat, with the point trimmed with crimson velvet and ermine. He bore before him, in a scarf, the royal mantle of scarlet, ornamented with purple fringes and ermine. Next came, without any interval between him and the king, the lord de Saintrailles, grand equerry of the royal stables, and bailiff of Berry. He was in complete armour, mounted on a charger with similar housings and clasps as the said Fonteville, and bore in a scarf the royal sword of state, whose handle, cross, and sheath, were covered with blue velvet, besprinkled with flowers-de-luce of gold. Then came the king, in complete armour, on a stately charger, with housings reaching to the ground, of blue velvet, covered with flowers-de-luce in embroidery. On his head was a beaver hat, lined with crimson velvet, having on the crown a tuft of gold thread. He was followed by his pages dressed in crimson, their sleeves covered with silver plates, the armour of their horses' heads was of fine gold, variously ornamented, and with plumes of ostrich feathers of divers colours. On the right of the king rode the king of Sicily, and on the left his brother the count of Maine, both in full armour, their horses richly ornamented with similar housings, having white crosses, and their devices intermixed with tufts of gold thread. Their pages' horses had the like housings; but their head-armour was of fine gold with their devices. After them came the counts de Nevers, de St. Pol, and de Clermont. The first was mounted, fully armed, on a charger covered with green velvet embroidered with gold, and followed by three pages dressed in violet and black: he was also accompanied by twelve gentlemen completely armed, mounted on horses covered with violet-coloured satin: each honsing bore a white cross, except one whose housing was of green satin. The count de St. Pol was likewise in full armour, mounted on a charger having a housing of black satin covered with silversmith's-work and embroidery. His five pages were clothed in black satin, slashed below, which slashes were covered with silversmith's-work: the housings of their horses were the same. One of them bore a lance covered with crimson velvet, another a lance covered with figured gold tissue, and the third bore on his head a helmet of fine gold, richly ornamented; and behind these pages was his groom, handsomely dressed, with the housings of his horse similar to the others, leading a handsome charger in hand. The count de Clermont was also completely armed, mounted on his charger covered with housings of his livery, as were his pages. The lord de Culant, grand-master of the king's household (having the command of a battalion of six hundred lances, each having a pennoncel of crimson satin, with a golden sun in the centre), followed the pages of the king, in complete armour, a hat on his head, and mounted on a charger covered with a housing of blue and red velvet in stripes, each stripe having a large golden or silver leaf: the armour of his horse was similarly ornamented. He wore round his neck a baldrick of pure gold, that hung down below the crupper of his horse. With the lord de Culant was an esquire called Rogerin Blosset, equerry of the stables to the king, who bore the royal standard of crimson satin, having the figure of St. Michael in the centre, and besprinkled with leaves of gold. Jean de Scaenville was also in the rear of the king: he was surnamed Havart, bailiff of Dreux, and esquire-carver to the king, and bore the royal pennon, which was of azure velvet, with three flowers-de-luce embroidered thereon in gold, and the border of this pennon was of large pearls. In their attendance on the king were numbers of great lords, such as the viscount de Lomagne, the count de Castres, Ferry lord of Lorraine, sir John his brother, the lord d'Orval, the count de Tancarville, the lord de Montgascon, son to the count de Boulogne and Auvergne, the lord de Jalognes marshal of France, the lord de Beauveau, and more than I can remember, all clad in complete armour, and their horses covered with housings of velvet or satin, having on each a white cross. • Fente ville Fontcuay. MS. DU CANGE. Thus did the king advance until he came within bow-shot of the Beauvoisine gate, near to the Carthusian convent, where the count de Dunois, his lieutenant-general, came out to meet him, mounted on a charger covered with crimson velvet, and himself dressed in a crimson velvet jacket trimmed with sables: he was girt with a magnificent sword, whose pummel was set with diamonds, pearls aud rubies, to the value of fifteen thousand crowns. The seneschal of Poitou, and Jacques Coeur, master of the king's wardrobe, attended him mounted on chargers covered and clad like to the lieutenant-general. The bailiff of Evreux and sir William Cousinot were also there, the first mounted on a charger covered with crimson velvet, and himself clad in the same stuff. Sir William Cousinot had lately been nominated bailiff of Rouen, and was dressed in blue velvet with rich clasps of silver gilt; his horse had housings of the same. The lieutenant-general had brought from the town to do reverence to the king, the archbishop of Rouen, the bishops of Lisieux, Bayeux, and Coutances, and the principal inhabitants. When these prelates had done their obeisance, they returned into the town, leaving the citizens, who were very numerous, clad in blue with red hoods, with the lieutenant, who presented them to the king. After paying their humble reverence, they delivered the keys of their town into the hands of the king, as their sovereign lord; and after many fine speeches from them, which he heard with kindness, he gave the keys to the before-mentioned seneschal, appointing him governor of the place. The king then began his entrance into the city in the same order as I have described; but the moment he began to move, a procession of prelates and churchmen, in their pontifical habits, regulars and seculars, bearing jewels and relics, and accompanied by the four mendicant orders, came out to meet him, singing "Te Deum laudamus," for the joyful arrival of the king of France, their sovereign lord. They placed themselves before the chancellor of France, the lord de la Fayette marshal of France, the lord de Gaucourt first chamberlain to the king, the lord de Presseigny, and Jacques Coeur, who all had their horses covered with velvet and satin, and had jackets of the same with white crosses. The count de Dunois placed himself directly before the king, near to the equerry of the stables. It is certain, that in the memory of man, never was king seen with so handsome a body of chivalry, so finely dressed, nor so great a number of men-at-arms as the king of France had with him on his regaining his good city of Rouen. At the entrance of the gates, a youth, aged about twelve or thirteen years, and son to the lord de Presseigny, was knighted by the seneschal of Poitou. At the gate of the bulwark were four of the most distinguished of the citizens with an exceedingly rich canopy, which they held over the head of the king until he came to the church of Our Lady in Rouen. All round this gate, and on the bulwark, were immense crowds of people, who, on the king's entrance in the midst of his men-at-arms, sang carols for joy at the happy event. In all the squares were different pageants: in one was a fountain ornamented with the arms of the town, namely, a lamb, who spouted out liquors from his horns. Elsewhere was a tiger with its young ones, who were admiring themselves in looking glasses; and near to the church of Our Lady was a flying stag, sumptuously made, having on his neck a crown,—and he kneeled down, by way of reverence to the king as he passed on his way to the church. At this place were the count de Dunois with lord Talbot and the English hostages at a window, to see the pageant: the last were very pensive, and hurt at heart, on witnessing a sight so disagreeable to their interests. The king dismounted on his arrival before the church, where he was received by the archbishop and his clergy, richly dressed in their copes. Having entered the church, he continued some time in prayer, and thence went to the palace of the archbishop, where he was lodged. Every one now returned to their homes, and the populace made great bonfires in all the streets, to testify their joy on the occasion. The archbishop, on the morrow, led several solemn processions, and the day was kept sacred from all labour and work, the same as if it had been Sunday. On the Wednesday and Thursday, the rejoicings were continued, and tables were spread in the street, covered with meats and wines for all comers, at the expense of the inhabitants. They also made rich presents to the king, his officers, his heralds and pursuivants, then present. While the king remained at the archbishop's palace, the churchmen, citizens and inhabitants, required an audience of him, touching certain requests they had to make On its being granted, they entered the great hall, where the king was seated on his throne richly adorned, and himself dressed in cloth of gold, surrounded by his ministers. They proposed various measures to him, and, in the number, most humbly supplicated that he would be graciously pleased to pursue his ancient enemies the English; for by means of the towns they yet possessed in Normandy they were still enabled to do great mischiefs to the country. To assist him in this measure, they offered their lives and fortunes. The king was well pleased with their proposal, more particularly with their offers of service and of money, and made, by means of the chancellor, a satisfactory answer to all they had proposed. They then took their leave, and retired to their homes. The king staid some time in Rouen to remodel the government of it; during which the English surrendered all the places they had given hostages for, namely, the castle of Arques, Tancarville, Lillebonne, Monstierville* and Caudebec. But although they had engaged to restore Honfleur, it was not done, because the governor refused to obey, in this point, the orders of the duke of Somerset, and, consequently, the lord Talbot with the other hostages remained prisoners to the king of France. Sir Pierre de Brézé, seneschal of Poitou, was appointed governor of Rouen. CHAPTER XXVI.-THE CASTLE OF GAILLON SUBMITS TO THE OBEDIENCE OF THE KING OF FRANCE. FOUGERES SURRENDERS TO THE DUKE OF BRITTANY, AND BELLEME† TO THE DUKE OF ALENÇON.- -A WELL-FOUGHT BATTLE TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH. On the 23d of November, in this year, the impregnable castle of Gaillon surrendered to the king's forces, after a siege of six weeks. The English garrison amounted to from one hundred to six-score, and marched away on capitulation, to carry with them their effects to Harfleur, or to any other place under their subjection. About the same time, the duke of Brittany gained the town and castie of Fougeres, after a siege of a month. He had battered the walls with his cannons and bombards so that the breaches were nearly wide enough to storm, when the English, seeing their danger, and knowing their provisions were expended, surrendered on capitulation. Their captain was sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, having under his command from five to six hundred men, and they were allowed to march away with their horses and arms, but each with only a small bundle before him. This sir Francis afterwards turned to the French, and took the oaths of allegiance to the king, notwithstanding that he had taken the town of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, and thus had broken the truce between the kings of France and England. The duke of Brittany had, at that time, in his army, eight thousand combatants, lords, knights and esquires; but after the surrender of Fougeres they returned home, on account of the great mortality in the army, which carried off very great, numbers, and among the rest the son of the viscount de Rohan, which was a great pity. The duke went also into Brittany, after he had placed sufficient garrisons in his conquests. men. Toward the end of November, the duke of Alençon laid siege to his town and castle of Bellême, then occupied by the English contrary to his will. He had with him about three hundred lances, knights and esquires, and a body of archers, without including the peasantry from the countries of Maine and Vendôme, who were estimated at three thousand fighting After several skirmishes and sallies, the English, finding all resistance vain, entered on a treaty with the duke, and engaged to surrender the town and castle on the 20th day of December, unless their friends should appear on that day in sufficient force to give the duke battle and conquer him. The duke, therefore, intrenched his army on the plain to wait the arrival of the English, who were on their march to relieve the place. Two thousand of them had advanced to Torigny, and, on their departure, had set it on fire, and proceeded to Thury §, where they received certain intelligence of the exact strength of the duke's army, * Monstierville-should be Montivilliers, a town in Normandy, three leagues from Havre, eight from Fécamp. Elite-a town in Perche, ten leagues from Alençon. Torigny, a small town in Normandy. and in consequence marched back again. On the 20th day of December, the duke of Alençon and the lord de Saintrailles drew their army up in battle array, and waited thus until the hour for the appearance of the enemy was passed. The captain of the English garrison in Bellême, called Matago*, having about two hundred combatants with him, then surrendered the place, and marched away in safety with their effects, according to the terms of the capitulation, whither they pleased. About Christmas-day, the English garrison in Vire †, to the number of twelve-score, marched out to seek adventures, but were met by a party of the constable's men in garrison at Gourey, near to the Croix de Vamoux, under the command of sir Geoffry de Couvran, Joachim Rouhault, and others, when a very sharp engagement took place, but the English were discomfited, so many being killed or taken that few escaped. CHAPTER XXVII.-THE KING OF FRANCE LEAVES ROUEN.-HE SENDS HIS LIEUTENANTGENERAL TO BESIEGE HARFLEUR, WHICH SURRENDERS ON CAPITULATION.-THE FAIR AGNES IS TAKEN ILL.—HER DEATH, AND HER LAST TESTAMENT. THE king of France, having settled the government of Rouen to his satisfaction, marched thence clothed in a brigandine, having over it a jacket of gold tissue, accompanied by the king of Sicily, and the other princes of his blood, magnificently dressed, more especially the count de St. Pol, whose horse's forehead-piece was valued at thirty thousand francs. Thus attended, the king rode to Caudebec, in which town it was resolved to lay siege to Harfleur; and in consequence, he advanced to Montivilliers, which is but half a league distant from Harfleur, and thence detached his lieutenant-general, the count de Dunois, to open the trenches. The count had with him the counts d'Eu, de Clermont, de Nevers, de Castres, with many men-at-arms, archers and franc-archers, so that his force was estimated at six thousand men, without including the franc-archers, who amounted to three thousand, or the cannoneers, labourers, and followers, or the mariners who blockaded the place with twenty-five large vessels, or those who had besieged the abbey of Graville, amounting in the whole to more than a thousand men. The siege was commenced on the 8th day of December, with many difficulties,—for there were neither houses nor trees near at hand, and the weather was more severe, by reason of frosts and inundations, than had been experienced for some time. The besiegers suffered also greatly from the sea, which at times destroyed their huts, which were composed only of earth covered with juniper branches. Sixteen large bombards were pointed against the walls, which the king came frequently from Montivilliers to see fired. Deep trenches of communication were formed, wherein the king often exposed his person, armed only with a light helmet and covering shield, to witness the effect of this battery against the walls. Covered trenches were carried to the very walls of Harfleur; and these mines and trenches were formed under the directions of master John Bureau, treasurer to the king, in conjunction with his brother Jasper, grand-master of the royal artillery, both very expert and able in the sciences. Thomas Aurmagan§, governor of Harfleur, and the English with him, to the amount of sixteen hundred, receiving pay, witnessing the great preparations of the king of France, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois, on the eve of Christmas-day, for the surrender of the place. On the morrow, the capitulation was signed, and they were to march away with their baggage, and were allowed to transport their effects by land or sea, the term for so doing being limited to the first day of the year. Eight English gentlemen were given as hostages for the due performance of the treaty, who were sent under an escort to Montivilliers. On the first day of January, they were brought back to Harfleur, for the accomplishment of * Matago. Q. Matthew Gough? Vire, on the river Vire in Normandy, diocese of Bayeux, generality of Caen. Gourey. Q. if not Gournetz, a village in Normandy. flear, in conjunction with Curzon.-STOWE. the treaty. About vespers, Thomas Aurmagan, the governor, presented the keys of the gates and towers to the count de Dunois, with much reverence and kneeling, in the presence of all the English, and even before master Sanice*, who had brought a reinforcement of five hundred English just before the siege. The lieutenant-general, on receiving the keys, sent a party to take possession of the towers, and to lower the English standard, of a red cross on a white field, that was flying on one of them. He afterwards ordered two heralds to replace it with the standard of France, which was done with the shouts and rejoicings of the populace. The count also posted a party of his men in the towers on the side toward Rouen. This day, the greater part of the English departed; but as all could not be ready by the return of the tide, the lieutenant-general listened to their humble supplications, and permitted those who remained to tarry there until the Friday and Saturday at mid-day, and appointed a guard over them that they might not be ill treated. When the English were all gone, the king gave the government of Harfleur to the count de Dunois, who appointed the lord de Moy his lieutenant, with one hundred lances and a proportionate number of archers for its defence, and for that of the country around. Jacques de Clermont, esquire, was made governor of Montivilliers,-and he had likewise one hundred spears and archers for its guard, and for the defence of other forts in the neighbourhood. The king, having made these appointments; left Montivilliers on the 5th day of January: he ordered detachments of his army to march through Rouen, Caudebec and Tancarville, to besiege Honfleur, and went himself to the abbey of Jamiegest, on the Seine, five leagues below Rouen, where he remained for some time while preparations were making for the siege of Honfleur. At this abbey, the king met the fair Agnes, who had come thither (as she said) to give the king information that some of his officers intended to deliver him up to his enemies the English. The king, however, paid no attention to the intelligence, but laughed at it. This fair Agnes had been five years in the service of the queen, during which she had enjoyed all the pleasures of life, in wearing rich clothes, furred robes, golden chains, and precious stones; and it was commonly reported that the king often visited her, and maintained her in a state of concubinage,-for the people are more inclined to speak ill than well of their superiors. The affection the king showed her was as much for her gaiety of temper, pleasing manners. and agreeable conversation, as for her beauty. She was so beautiful that she was called the Fairest of the Fair, and the Lady of Beauté, as well on account of her personal charms as because the king had given her for life the castle of Beauté, near Paris. She was very charitable, and most liberal in her alms, which she distributed among such churches as were out of repair, and to beggars. It is true that Agnes had a daughter, who lived but a short time, which she said was the king's, and gave it to him as the proper father: but the king always excused himself, as not having any claim to it. She may indeed have called in help, for the matter was variously talked of. At length, she was seized with a bowel complaint, and was a long time ill,—during Master Sanice. Q. Jamieges, a market-town on the Seine, two leagues from Caudebec, six from Rouen. Monstrelet is remarkably tender of the reputation of the "fair Agnes." She had, as all other historians allow, not one only, but three daughters by the king. Margaret, married to Olivier de Coetivy, seneschal of Guyenne; Charlotte, married to James de Brézé, seneschal of Normandy; and Jane, to Antony de Bueil, count de Sancerre. Of these, Charlotte unfortunately followed the example of her mother's incontinence without the excuse of an illustrious lover. Her tragical history will be found recorded in the sequel. By a species of retributive justice, Louis the son of this James de Brézé, submitted voluntarily to the same disgrace which his father thought that blood only could remove. His wife was the famous Diana of Poitiers. In these days, nobody of consequence could die in his bed without the suspicion of poison. The death of Agnes was attributed to that cause, and the dauphin is charged with having been the perpetrator. Of this accusation all that Du Clos says is what follows: "Le peu d'union qu'il y avoit entre Charles sept et le Dauphin, fut cause que celui-ci fut soupçonné d'avoir fait empoisonner Agnès Sorel, qui mourut, regrettée du Roi, de la Cour, et des Peuples. Elle n'abusa jamais de sa faveur, et réunit les rares qualités d'Amante tendre, d'Amie sure, et de bonne Citoyenne." He adds, "I cannot tell why Alain Chartier (the court poet) is so strenuous in defending her chastity, seeing that she died in child-bed." The Dauphin was not the only person charged with this imaginary crime. Jacques Cœur, superintendant of the finances, was also accused of it; but his innocence was established by public trial. |