visit Bruges, twenty of the chief burghers and magistracy should come out of the town one league to meet him, bare-headed, bare-legged, and bare-footed. On their approach to him, they were to fall on their knees and beg his pardon, and entreat that he would be pleased to enter their town.

BRUGES: GATE OF GHENT.-BURGESSES RECEIVING THEIR LIEGE LORD. From an original drawing.

Item, that the gate of the Bouverie should be converted into a chapel, wherein the seven masses should be daily celebrated.-Item, that henceforward, whenever the said lord and his successors, earls, and countesses of Flanders, should come to Bruges, the burghers should meet them without the gates with the keys of the town, in perpetual remembrance of their obedience.-Item, every year, on the day of their misconduct toward their prince, there shall be celebrated a solemn mass in the church of St. Donast by the dean and sub-dean, attended by twenty-four of the principal burghers, each holding in his hand a burning wax taper of the weight of one pound, and of the value of four groats.-Item, all property of bastards shall no longer be free, but confiscated to the duke on their deaths. Item, a handsome cross shall be erected to commemorate their rebellion.

Item, the burghers shall buy up and discharge all fee-farm rents from their said lord, du from the said demesnes.-Item, the burghers of Bruges shall have no further communication with those of Sluys; that is to say, those of Bruges shall not make Sluys their principal quarters, nor join them in their disputes, nor in arms, nor have any connexions with Sluys but in respect to their commerce.-Item, in regard to the trades carried on at Sluys, which has been a matter of long quarrel between the towns of Ghent and Sluys, Bruges must no longer interfere.-Item, the inhabitants of Bruges shall not be permitted to raise an army, on pain of forfeiting their lives and fortunes.-Item, whoever shall stop the workmen from continuing their trades, when a riot may happen, shall incur similar penalties as in the foregoing article.-Item, the persons of some of the burghers are to be reserved for the will of the duke of Burgundy, as well as those who may have become burghers during these dissentions.

Item, the town of Bruges shall pay to their said lord two hundred thousand golden riddes.+ Bouverie,-ox-stables. It was here, probably, where † Ridde,-a Flemish coin, worth about five shillings the principal engagement took place between the duke's sterling.

men and the burghers of Bruges.

-Item, the magistracy of Bruges, and others hereafter to be named, shall, within eight days, go out of the town to meet some deputies sent thither by the said duke of Burgundy, and shall receive them with due obedience.-Item, no foreigner shall be admitted henceforth a burgher of Bruges, unless he shall have remained therein the space of one hundred and twenty days.

Item, it was ordered, that the son of the lord de l'Isle-Adam should receive for the death of his father ten thousand crowns, with other honourable recompenses. In like manner shall the wife and children of the blacksmith, who had given the hammers to open the gate, receive a fine for his death, he having been put to death for so doing.

There were many other fines and reparations contained in this treaty, but, for the sake of brevity, I pass them over.

This treaty was read at the hotel of their prince at Arras, in the presence of the four-andtwenty deputies from Bruges, on their knees, who suffered much from the length of it, so that the duke, taking pity on them, caused them to be seated, to be more at their ease. When all had been completed, the deputies returned to their town, carrying a copy of the treaty, which they read to the inhabitants assembled; and, from their anxiety to have peace with their lord, the terms were agreeable to the greater part of them.

:

Some persons of low estate, who had ruled the town during these dissentions, wero displeased, and would willingly, by seditious speeches, and other means, have made the commonalty rise against those of the upper ranks,—but their attempts were vain. They were afraid, should peace be effected, that they would be punished for their demerits; and their fears were realized-for, within a few days after, ten or twelve of the principal ringleaders of the rebellion were arrested and beheaded several were banished, and some fled of their own accord. These acts of justice were done on the arrival of the heir of Cleves, nephew to the duke of Burgundy, who had been sent thither by the duke, accompanied by some of his council, to receive the fines, and see that all the articles of the treaty at Arras were fulfilled. A little before this, the town of Bruges had sent back to the duke at Arras sixty-three of his men, who had been made prisoners when he was driven out of that town, each of them clothed in a green robe at the expense of the town of Bruges.

CHAPTER CCXXVI.-WAR RECOMMENCES

BETWEEN THE DUCHY OF BAR AND THE COUNTY OF VAUDEMONT.

In this year a violent war again took place between the duchy of Bar and the county of Vaudemont, principally caused by sir John de Hossonville, hereditary seneschal of Lorraine, attempting to take the town of Vaudemont*, for some complaints he pretended to have against it; and failing in his attempt, he had since made open war on that country, and had set several villages on fire. This intelligence coming to the count de Vaudemont, who was at Genouillé, he hastily mounted his horse, accompanied by Forte-Espice and about a hundred combatants, and pursued his enemies with such speed that he overtook them on the borders of his county. He attacked them so courageously that, although they were full three hundred, he put them to the rout. Forty were slain, and as many made prisoners; the rest saved themselves by flight. Their standard was won, and carried to the church of Veselize +.

Open war was now carried on by both parties, and the men-at-arms of the count made inroads on the lands of the enemy. In one of them, they were met by sir Gerard du Chastellier, and defeated and carried prisoners to Mirecour, a good town belonging to the duke of Lorraine. The count de Vaudemont, some little time after, gained this town of Mirecour by the aid of Floquet and Forte-Espice, when he recovered his men that had been made prisoners, and appointed Floquet, governor of it: but he soon after restored it to the Lorrainers, and also turned against the count de Vaudemont at the solicitations of La Hire. On the other hand, Blanchefort, Anthony de Chabannes, Chappelle, Gautier le Breton, Vaudemont,-six leagues from Toul, seven from Veselize,-five leagues S. E. from Toul, two Nancy, three from Mirecour. from Vaudemont.

Mathelin, and other captains, with their men, made war on the Lorrainers and Barrois, for the court de Vaudemont, who had given up to them Veselize and others of his places. When they had completely spoiled the country they changed sides, under pretence of an order they had received to depart thence and serve the enemies of the count; which order they showed to sir Hector de Flavy, governor of the county of Vaudemont. They soon after yielded up Veselize to the Lorrainers, who totally destroyed it; and after committing every waste in the countries of each party, these French, commonly called Skinners, marched away toward Germany, but not before they had received great sums of money from the duchies of Bar and Lorraine. They also carried with them hostages for the due payment of the balances left behind, and the son of sir Gerard du Chastellier was among these hostages.

At this time, the king of Sicily sent his son, the marquis du Pont*, nine years old, to reside in the duchy of Bar; and the bishop of Toul and sir Gerard du Chastellier governed the country in his name.

A little before this, one called Watelin Tieulier made war on the count de Vaudemont, and had fixed his retreat in a strong castle of his father-in-law, the lord de Hartuel, who supported him. He had done much mischief by fire and sword to the vassals of the count, who in revenge, accompanied by his nephew the count de Blamont,† the lord de Commerci, Forte-Espice, and about four hundred combatants, marched against this castle, took it by storm, and the knight within it. The Lorrainers were seen instantly after advancing with a strong army, to assist the knight; but finding that the place was taken, and the enemies on the ramparts, they retreated, and increased their army, in order to lay siege to Monstier sur Saxe ; but sir Hector de Flavy had burned the town, which they intended to take and lodge in they were, therefore, obliged to return whence they had come. : Thus did these two parties mutually destroy each other.

CHAPTER CCXXVII.—FAMINE, WAR, AND PESTILENCE, RAGE IN MANY PLACES.

[A. D. 1438.]

At the beginning of this year, the famine, which had long afflicted many parts, was much increased; and it was pitiful to see the multitudes of poor who died daily from want. There were also epidemic distempers in various parts of France, and in Flanders, but the towns of Bruges and Paris suffered more from them than any other. War was likewise carried on with great bitterness in many places. From these three plagues many of the nobles and common people were great sufferers, and in doleful perplexity. In the mean time that body of French called Skinners remained in large parties on the borders of Burgundy, where they committed unnumbered mischiefs, by taking castles and prisoners, killing men, and ravishing women, noble or not, and acting as if they were in a country conquered from an enemy.

The duke of Burgundy was exceedingly angry when these things came to his knowledge, as well from his love to his vassals as from the time that they had chosen for these misdeeds, when his country was afflicted with famine and mortality.

CHAPTER CCXXVIII.—LORD TALBOT, SIR THOMAS KIRIEL, AND OTHER ENGLISH CAPTAINS, CONQUER LONGUEVILLE, AND MANY MORE CASTLES, FROM THE FRENCH.

In the month of May of this year, the lord Talbot, sir Thomas Kiriel, with other English captains, took the field with about eight hundred combatants, and marched to the castle of Longueville, in the possession of a party of La Hire's men; for of this castle and domain he called himself lord, in consequence of a gift made to him of it by king Charles, in the whose son must have been the count de Blamont here

*Louis marquis of Pont-à-Mousson, second son of René king of Sicily and Naples. He died at an early age. Isabel, daughter of Frederic, and sister of Anthony, counts of Vaudemont, married Henry, count de Blamont,

meant.

Monstier sur Saxe,-six leagues from Bar-le-duc.

same manner and on the same terms, that Bertrand du Guesclin, that valiant warrior, formerly constable of France, had held it.

The besieged did not long hold out, on seeing the English before it, but surrendered on having their lives and fortunes spared, and with permission to march away in safety. They went to Beauvais; and the English, having well garrisoned it, marched to Charles-Mesnil, a very handsome castle, situated very near to Dieppe, and belonging to the lord de Torci, which also surrendered. In like manner, they won Guellemcourt and some other places which the French held in the country of Caux. The reason why these castles so soon surrendered was their great want of provision, military stores, and artillery.

CHAPTER CCXXIX.-A TREATY OF MARRIAGE IS CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE ELDEST SON TO THE KING OF NAVARRE AND THE PRINCESS OF CLEVES, NIECE TO THE Duke of BURGUNDY.

ABOUT this time there came to the town of Douay about four-and-twenty horsemen as ambassadors from the king of Navarre, to treat with the duke of Burgundy* of a marriage between the princess of Cleves, niece to the duke, and the hereditary prince of Navarre. The principal ambassadors were the prior of Roncesvalles, a noble knight, and other gentlemen, attended by the king at arms of Navarre. This business lasted some time, but it was at last concluded, and the duke gave his consent. The princess was then sent away, honourably escorted by her eldest brother to the kingdom of Navarre.

CHAPTER COXXX.-THE TOWNS AND CASTLES OF MONTARGIS AND CHEVREUSE SUBMIT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF KING CHARLES OF FRANCE.

WHILE these things were passing, the towns and castles of Montargis and Chevreuse, held by the English, submitted to king Charles. On the other hand, the garrisons of Meaux in Brie, of Creil, Pontois, and Gisors, greatly harassed the country of France, more particularly parts of Santois, Vermandois, Amiennois, Beauvoisis, and other dependencies. In like manner, those garrisons which had been posted against the English did great damages, so that the poor people were every way grievously vexed and worn down. In regard to sir John de Luxembourg, he kept neuter, and joined neither party,-but filled his towns and strong places with men, artillery, and provisions, to defend himself against such as should attempt to injure his country.

He had been several times admonished and summoned to take the oaths to king Charles of France, but had never complied, and was waiting the issue of events, to see what might happen. He was in the possession of sealed engagements from the king of England, the duke of York, and several English lords, promising him, on their faith and honour, that should the French attempt to make war upon him, they would come to his relief with so powerful a force, that he should be delivered from his enemies, notwithstanding any other business they should have in hand, the which should be laid aside. Sir John de Luxembourg put great faith in these promises.

* Charles, prince of Viana, only son of John king of Arragon, by his marriage with Blanche, the daughter and heiress of Charles III., king of Navarre, was born at Pennafiel in the year 1421, and died in 1461, before his father. In his time the fatal feuds of the houses of Grammont and Beaumont, which distracted the kingdom of

Navarre for nearly half a century, had their commence

ment.

Agnes, sixth daughter of Adolphus duke of Cleves. There was no issue of this marriage; and the prince left none but illegitimate children, in consequence of which the crown of Navarre passed into the house of Foix.

CHAPTER CCXXXI.-A QUARREL ARISES BETWEEN POPE EUGENIUS AND THE COUNCIL OF BASIL.-OTHER MATTERS.

In this year, ambassadors were sent to the king of France, the duke of Burgundy, and other princes of the blood-royal, from our holy father pope Eugenius, and from the council at Basil, who were quarrelling with each other. Each ambassador, when discoursing on the subjects in dispute before the king, most grossly abused his adverse party. This dissention lasted a considerable time; but the king inclined more to the council of Basil, while the duke of Burgundy strongly supported the cause of the pope, as did also the king of England.

The duke of Burgundy at this time sent a solemn embassy to the pope, consisting of master Quentin Mayart, provost of St. Omer, the prior of Lihons in Santerre, sir Simon de Lalain, Guillaume le Jeune, brother to the cardinal of Therouenne, with other noble personages. They were most graciously received by the holy father, and obtained the greater part of the object of their mission.

In these days, the lord de Crevecoeur, a wise and prudent person, was sent by the duke of Burgundy to the French court, to treat on divers matters, and, among others, to negotiate a marriage between his only son, the count de Charolois, and the second daughter of the king of France. This lord was joyfully received as well by the king as by the queen; and because the princess he was come to demand in marriage was lately dead, the duke sent him orders to ask for the eldest princess, Catherine, which he did,—ard his request was granted. Before the return of the lord de Crevecœur to Flanders, the dispute between the bishops of Tournay, namely, Jean de Harcourt, and master Jean de Chevrot, was settled by the king: so Chevrot remained bishop of Tournay, and Harcourt was archbishop of Narbonne. When all matters had been concluded, the lord de Crevecœur returned to the duke of Burgundy, who received him most graciously and honourably.

About this time, a knight attached to the household of the duke of Burgundy, having had the duke's licence, set out on his return to his own country of Savoy, and took the road to Guise, to visit sir John de Luxembourg, in whose good graces he was, and who feasted him nobly at his hotel. On his departure, he was met on the road by some marauders, pretending to belong to sir John de Luxembourg, (among whom was one called Garmonset,) who arrested and led him to the English at Meaux in Brie, and thence to Rouen, where he was some time confined as a prisoner. He died there from illness contracted, as was said, from vexation and anger at the treatment he had suffered. The duke of Burgundy was much dissatisfied at this capture, and wrote sharp letters on this and other subjects to sir John de Luxembourg; but sir John clearly and frankly exculpated himself from this charge, and it may be supposed that he was no way implicated in this capture, for he had executed several who had been concerned therein, and had also exerted himself as much as he could, through the means of his brother the cardinal of Rouen, to obtain the liberty of this knight, called sir Philibert de Savoye, from the hands of the English.

CHAPTER CCXXXII.—THE COUNT D'EU, WHO HAD BEEN PRISONER IN ENGLAND SINCE THE BATTLE OF AZINCOURT, OBTAINS HIS LIBERTY, AND RETURNS TO FRANCE. HE RAISES LARGE ARMIES.

In this same year, the count d'Eu, who had been prisoner in England since the year 1415, returned in liberty to France. He had been taken at the battle of Azincourt, and was exchanged for the earl of Somerset, whom the duke of Bourbon, brother to the count d'Eu, held prisoner, having bought him, or rather the duchess his mother having purchased him, from those who had captured him at the battle of Blangy, where the duke of Clarence was slain, as has been before fully related. King Charles of France, the duke of Bourbon, and all the nobility, were greatly rejoiced at the return of the count d'Eu; and, shortly after his arrival,