learn your intentions on this subject, as we make known ours to you; and most affectionately entreat you to accept of our wish that our former friendship may be preserved, and that you will inform us of your intentions by the bearer of these presents, whom we send purposely to you; or should you be willing to send any envoys to notify to us your inclinations, we shall attend to them with a hearty good will. Very dear and great friends, may the Holy Spirit have you under his protection.

"Given under our privy seal, at our palace of Westminster, the 14th day of December, in the year of Grace 1435, and of our reign the 14th.”

The address on the letter was, "To our very dear and great friends the burgomasters, sheriffs, counsellors, and commonalty of the town of Ziric-zee."

On the receipt of this letter, the only answer the burgomasters gave the messenger was, that they would consider of it; and then they sent it to the duke of Burgundy and his council, who were very much displeased at the conduct of the English toward him and his country, in this as well as in other matters.

CHAPTER CXCVI.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY DETERMINES TO MAKE WAR ON THE ENGLISH.

WHILE affairs were growing worse every day between the English and Burgundians, the duke and some of his most able counsellors thought that it would be more advisable to consider on some private means to prevent the two countries going to war; for that it would be better for all parties the duke should remain in peace, and neuter as to the war with France. To accomplish this, sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny, who had not as yet taken the oaths of fidelity to king Charles, was sent for to the duke. At his request, sir John offered to write to his brother, the archbishop of Rouen, who was one of the principal advisers of king Henry, and his chancellor for the kingdom of France.

The business was immediately commenced, and the archbishop despatched to king Henry in England. It was there resolved, that, for the welfare of the two countries, they would remain in peace; and the archbishop sent word to his brother, that his request would be complied with, and that England would give good security not to undertake any enterprise against the territories of the duke of Burgundy, provided the duke would give similar security to king Henry. Sir John de Luxembourg, on receiving this information in writing, sent it to the duke of Burgundy, and desired to know by the messenger whether he were willing to proceed further in the matter. The duke made answer, by the bishop of Tournay, that he would not; for that the English had of late behaved in a very hostile manner toward him and his subjects, and in various parts had defamed his person and his honour. They had overthrown from four to five hundred of his combatants on the borders of Flanders, and had also attempted to gain the town of Ardres by surprise. This had been confessed by four of the party who had been beheaded for it in that town. They had also done many other acts of hostility, which could not longer be passed over in silence.

When the bishop of Tournay had given this answer to the messengers from the count de Ligny, they requested of the duke to have it in writing, which he complied with, and signed it with his own hand; but before the messengers were departed, the duke was strongly exhorted by several of his council to make preparations for a war against the English in defence of his honour. In consequence, he shortly after had letters written and sent to king Henry of England, in which he stated the acts done on his part against himself and his subjects since the signing of the peace at Arras, which were so disagreeable and offensive to his honour that they could not longer be borne nor dissembled. He added, that if anything should have been done inimical by him, no one ought to be surprised; for he had received too many insults and neglects not to warrant him therein, which had been very displeasing to him.

When these papers had been examined by king Henry and his council, they were perfectly convinced that a war with the duke of Burgundy was inevitable, and gave immediate orders for the reinforcement of all the frontiers of the Boulonnois and of Crotoy, and warned those countries to be ready for whatever attempts might be made on them. In like manner did

the duke of Burgundy strengthen all his towns on the frontier. The king of England sent declaratory letters to several parts of France, and the principal towns, to explain the cause of quarrel between him and the duke of Burgundy, which, in substance, contained excuses for the charges made against him by the duke, of the hostilities carried on against himself and subjects. He also stated the letter sent to Ziric-zee, as an instance of his wish to avoid any quarrel. With regard to the alliance he was desirous of forming with the emperor of Germany, he had a right so to do without being called to an account for it; and as for the summons that had been issued to raise a large army to wage war against the duke, he did not deny but that such summons was issued, though no cause for it was mentioned; and he had a right to assemble an army, and employ it wheresoever he pleased. He concluded by saying, that the charges made against him by the duke of Burgundy were groundless, as would be apparent to all from the acts done against him and his subjects by the said duke and his allies. This declaration shall, if it please God, be thrown back on him from whom it came.

CHAPTER CXCVII. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, BY THE ADVICE OF HIS PRIVY COUNSELLORS, RESOLVES TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CONQUER CALAIS.

SOON after the duke of Burgundy had sent his despatches to England, charging king Henry and his subjects with the many hostile acts they had done against him, he knew that a war must take place, and held many councils to consider on the best means of conducting it. The council were much divided in their opinions: some were for the duke beginning the war, and assembling the whole of his forces, not only to oppose the English, but to make an attempt to conquer Calais, which was his own inheritance. Others were of a different opinion; for they thought again and again on the commencement, and what might be the end of the war, saying, that the English were so near many parts of their country, that they could invade it with advantage whenever they pleased; and they knew not what dependence and aid could be expected from king Charles, his sovereign, and the princes he was now connected with, in case any misfortunes should befal him.

This matter having been debated for many days, it was at length determined that the duke should commence hostilities, and require the assistance of his countries of Flanders, Holland, and the rest, to aid him in the conquest of Calais and the county of Guines. The principal advisers of this measure were, master Jean Chevrot, bishop of Tournay, the lord de Croy, master Jean de Croy, his brother, sir Jean de Hornes, seneschal of Brabant, the lord de Chargny, the lord de Crevecoeur, Jean de Brimeu, bailiff of Amiens, and many others.

Several great lords, who had constantly served the duke of Burgundy in his wars, were not called to this council,—such as sir John de Luxembourg, the lord d'Antoing, the vidame of Amiens, the bastard of St. Pol, the lord de Saveuses, Hugh de Launoy, the lord de Mailly, and several others of high rank and power, as well in Picardy as in the other territories of the duke, who thought that, since they had been thus neglected, they were not bound to serve with their vassals in the ensuing war with that alacrity they would have done had they been summoned.

When war had been resolved on, the duke went to Ghent, and assembled in the banquetinghall the sheriffs and deacons of the trades. He caused them to be harangued by master Goussenin le Sauvage, one of his counsellors at the castle of Ghent,-how the town of Calais had belonged to his predecessors, and that it was his lawful inheritance, as part of his county of Artois, although the English had long held it by force, and against his right: of this they might be truly informed, by examining the report formerly made by Collart de Comines, high bailiff of Flanders, or by others of his counsellors: that the English, since the peace of Arras, had done many hostile acts against him and his subjects, which had much vexed him; and that they had, in various proclamations, defamed his person and honour, which he could not longer, without disgrace, suffer from them. For this reason he had visited them, to request that they would afford him aid in men and money to conquer the town of Calais, which, as master Goussenin added, was very prejudicial to all Flanders; for that the Flemings who went thither to purchase wool, tin, lead, or cheese, were forced to pay in

money according to what alloy the English pleased to put on it, or in ingots of refined gold and silver, which was not done in other countries; and this the deacons of the trades vouched to be true.

When this harangue, which was very long, was concluded, the majority of the sheriffs and deacons, without deliberation, or fixing a day to consult with the other members of their body, consented to support the war, and would not listen to some wise and ancient lords, who were of a contrary opinion. But what is more, when news of this was spread through the other towns of Flanders, the whole country was eager for war; and it seemed to many to proceed too slowly, for they were impatient to display how well provided they were with arms and warlike habiliments. They proceeded thus arrogantly and pompously; for in truth it seemed to them that Calais could not be able to withstand their arms. The duke of Burgundy made similar applications to the other towns and castlewicks in Flanders for their aid in the war, and all liberally supported him. He also went to Holland, to solicit from the Hollanders shipping against Calais, who complied with the greater part of his demands. He thence returned home to make great preparations for his war against the English, and to conquer Calais.

While these matters were going forward, several enterprises had been undertaken by the English and Burgundians against each other. The duke of Burgundy, on his return to Picardy, sent thence six hundred combatants, under the lord de Ternant, sir Simon de Lalain and other captains, to reinforce the lord de Isle-Adam at Pontoise, and to guard the frontier against the English, who were making a sharp attack on that town, although it was but lately won from them by the lord de l'Isle-Adam. A party of French joined these Picards, and made frequent attempts to gain the city of Paris.

During this time, king Charles's queen was brought to bed of a son, to whom the king gave the baptismal name of Philip, after the duke of Burgundy.* The sponsors for the duke were Charles duke of Bourbon and Charles d'Anjou, brother to the queen. When the christening was over, the king sent a pursuivant with letters to the duke of Burgundy, to inform him of what he had done, and to express a wish that it might be agreeable to him. The duke was much pleased with the news, and made the pursuivant presents becoming a prince. The duke, in the mean time, continued to make requests throughout his dominions for succours of men and money, to carry on with effect his war against the English.

CHAPTER CXCVIII.-THE CITY OF PARIS IS REDUCED TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHARLES KING OF FRANCE.

[A. D. 1436.]

At the beginning of this year, the count de Richemont, constable of France, the bastard of Orleans, the lords de la Roche, de l'Isle-Adam, de Ternant, sir Simon de Lalain, his brother Sausse, with other French and Burgundian captains, collected a force of about six thousand combatants, and marched from Pontoise toward Paris, in the hope of gaining admittance, through the intrigues of the lord de l'Isle-Adam, with the partisans of the Burgundian faction within that city. Having remained there from four to five hours, seeing they could not succeed, they quartered themselves at Aubervilliers, Montmartre, and other places around. On the morrow, they attacked the town of St. Denis, wherein were from four to five hundred English, and won it by storm. About two hundred English were slain, and the rest fled to the abbey, where they were besieged, but soon surrendered on having their lives spared, with the reservation of some of the natives, who were to remain at the discretion of the conquerors.

The next day, which was a Thursday, sir Thomas Beaumont, lately arrived at Paris with six hundred fighting men from Normandy, marched from Paris to St. Denis, to inquire into the state of the French. When they perceived him, they made a sally with a large force, and almost immediately defeated him. Three hundred and eighty were killed or made

*This prince, the second son of Charles VII., died in his infancy.

prisoners, and among the last was sir Thomas: the rest escaped by flying to Paris, pursued to the very gates. The Parisians most inclined to the duke of Burgundy, namely, those in the quarter of the market-place, and some few of the university, with Michael Lallier and others of the principal citizens, seeing the great loss the English had suffered, and so large a force of French and Burgundians under their walls, assembled in parties, and resolved to drive out the English and admit the others into their town. This they made known to the lord de l'Isle-Adam, that he might inform the other captains of their intentions. He sent notice thereof to the constable and the nobles, who, eager to gain Paris, marched from St. Denis in handsome array, very early on the Friday morning. In the mean time, Louis de Luxembourg, bishop of Therouenne, the bishops of Lisieux and of Meaux, the lord Willoughby, and others of the English party, suspecting that the commonalty were about to turn against them, posted their men in the street of St. Antony, near to the Bastille, which they filled with provision and warlike stores. They kept their men armed, and on

their guard, to retreat thither should there be occasion.

When the French and Burgundians were come before Paris, to the gate of St. James, on the other side of the Seine toward Montlehery, they sent the lord de l'Isle-Adam to hold a parley with the inhabitants on the ramparts. He displayed to them a general amnesty from king Charles for all that was passed, sealed with his great seal,-admonishing them, at the same time, to surrender instantly to their lawful king and lord, at the request of the duke of Burgundy, as they were now reconciled, for that they had been ever steadily attached to the duke, and under his government they would still remain. The Parisians, hearing these soft speeches from the lord de l'Isle-Adam and his confederates, were so much pleased that they agreed, shortly after, to admit them into the city. Ladders were now hastily placed against the walls, by which the lord de l'Isle-Adam mounted and entered the town. He was followed by the bastard of Orleans and numbers of their men. A large body of the Burgundy faction and of the commonalty met them, shouting, "Peace! Long live king Charles, and the duke of Burgundy!"

Soon after, the gates were thrown open, and the constable entered, with the other lords and their men-at-arms. They advanced toward the Bastille, whither the bishops and those of the English party had retreated, with a show of making some resistance; but it was vain, for their enemies were too numerous. They were, therefore, repulsed at the first onset, and a few killed and made prisoners. Barriers were now erected before the gate of the Bastille with large timber, and men-at-arms posted in the Tournelles and adjoining parts, to prevent the English from making any sallies. All their effects were now seized and plundered, and those who had been their principal supporters were imprisoned, and their property confiscated. New officers were also appointed, in the name of king Charles, for the government of the town.

The bishop of Therouenne, lord Willoughby, and the others in the Bastille, held a parley with the French; and, by means of the lord de Ternant and sir Simon de Lalain, it was concluded that, on the surrender of the Bastille, those within should be allowed to depart in safety, with all their effects. They had a passport from the constable, under which they went by land and water to Rouen. The Parisians, at their departure, set up a grand shouting at them, crying out, "à la queue ! *' Thus was the city of Paris reduced to the obedience of king Charles. The English, after passing the gate leading to the country, went round to embark at the back of the Louvre. The bishop of Therouenne lost all the rich ornaments of his chapel; and the greater part of his jewels and valuable rings fell to the lot of the constable. However, he was much favoured by the lord de Ternant and sir Simon de Lalain; and they restored to him some of his wealth, which was dispersed in different parts of the town.

The standard of the duke of Burgundy was displayed at all the gates, as an inducement for the Parisians to turn to his party. Some new knights were created on this occasion by

* In the French Dictionary of Richelet, it is thus explained: à la queue leu leu, (Continenti serie ludere) a kind of play, which means, "the tail of the wolf." To play à la queue leu leu, is said when children place

themselves in a file, and the leader, making a half-wheel round, drags the rest after him, endeavouring to catch hold of the last in the file.

the constable, from the country of Picardy, namely, Sausse de Lalain and Robert de Neufville, with others of the French. The constable remained for a long time in Paris after this conquest,and with him the lord de Ternant, who was made provost. The aforesaid sir Sausse de Lalain, the bastard of Orleans, and others of the French and Picards, now returned to the places they had come from.

CHAPTER CXCIX.-ARTHUR, COUNT DE RICHEMONT, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, MAKES WAR ON THE HEIR OF COMMERCY.

In this year, the count de Richemont, constable of France, advanced into Champagne with a large body of troops to make war on the heir of Commercy and others, who were disobedient to king Charles, and had greatly annoyed that and the surrounding countries. On his arrival, he took Laon, some leagues from Rheims, and thence marched to Braine *, belonging to the lord of Commercy; but as it was too strong and well garrisoned, and refused to submit, he passed on to Saint Menehould, in the possession of Henry de la Tour, who gave it up on capitulation.

The constable was here joined by the youth Everard de la Marche, who made an agreement with him for his men to lay siege to Chavensy†. The constable gave him several of his captains and their men: with these he commenced the siege of Chavensy about eight days after Easter, by erecting a strong block-house, wherein he quartered about four hundred of his troops and a number of common people, who came thither at times from the low countries. Everard had with him the constable's lieutenant named Jean de Malatrait, sir John Geoffry de Conurant, and the provost of the marshals, Tristan de l'Hermite, and also Pierre d'Orgy, Yvon du Puys, the Arragonian Estienne Diest, le grand Pierre, and others, men of renown, who remained full four months carrying on a severe war against this garrison, which, nevertheless defended themselves with prudence and ability.

While this was going forward, a party of the besieging army kept the open country, with the intent of harassing in other places the heir of Commercy, who was always on his guard, and well attended by men-at-arms. He learnt from his spies, that his adversaries were quartered at the village of Romaignet, in Champagne; and before they could be prepared to resist him, he made a sudden attack on them at eight of the clock in the morning, and totally defeated them. About sixty were slain, among whom were Alain Geron bailiff of Senlis, Geoffry de Morillon, Pierre d'Orgy, Alain de la Roche, Olivier de la Jouste, the bastard of Villebranche, and many other gentlemen. Six score were made prisoners,—and in the number was one Blanchelaine.

The heir of Commercy § retreated after this defeat,—and when news of it was carried to the besiegers of Chavensy, they were greatly surprised. Everard de la Marche || was not cast down by this misfortune, but gained to his party the count de Vernembourg, who in person, attended by his two sons, and accompanied by four or five hundred combatants, went to this siege. He carried with him, likewise, sir Hugh Tauxte and sir Herault de Gourgines, governors of Ainville¶, the children of Brousset, and many more great lords, who remained at this siege until the night of St. John's day,-when the besieged made a grand sally, and set fire to the quarters of the besiegers. They were successful in throwing the enemy into confusion, and slew from two to three hundred, among whom were Estienne Diest and the Arragonian. Another skirmish took place, when one of the sons of the count de Vernembourg was killed, and the great block-house set on fire by means of rockets. The besiegers, having suffered severely in these sallies, decamped, when their quarters were burnt.

* Braine,-near Compiègne.

+ Chavensy. Q.

La Romaigne,-near Rethel in Champagne.

§ Robert de Sarbuck, lord of Commercy, son of Amé, lord of Commercy, and Mary, daughter of John lord of Chateau-Vilain, married, in 1417, Jane countess of Roucy and Braine; and John, their eldest son, here called the

heir of Commercy, became count of Roucy and Braine by the donation of his mother in 1439.

Everard III., de la Marck, lord of Aremberg, &c. and by marriage of Sedan, was of a younger branch of the family of the counts of la Marck, dukes of Cleves, &c.

Ainville, on the frontiers of Champagne and Lorraine.