CHAP. VIII.
THE DUKE OF TOURAINE CONTINUES THE WAR.—THE TOWN OF COMPIEGNE WON BY THE LORD DE BOCQUIAUX.—THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF BRABANT,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
THE DUKE OF TOURAINE CONTINUES THE WAR.—THE TOWN OF COMPIEGNE WON BY THE LORD DE BOCQUIAUX.—THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF BRABANT,—AND OTHER MATTERS.
Trueit is, that at this time sir Tanneguy du Châtel, the viscount de Narbonne, Jean Louvet president of Provence, master Robert Masson, and the other ministers of the duke of Touraine, dauphin of the Viennois, who had escaped from Paris, as you have heard, exerted themselves as much as possible to induce him to continue the war against the duke of Burgundy and his partisans.
The dauphin had been several times summoned and required to return to Paris by the king, the queen and the duke of Burgundy, who offered to pay him every respect and deference. He would not, however, listen to them, but began to make preparations in all quarters to renew the war, styling himself Regent of the kingdom of France.
At this time also, about eight of his men, secretly armed, came to the gate of Compiegne that leads to Pierrefons with a small cart laden with wood. When on the drawbridge, they stabbed one of the cart-horses, so that the bridge could not be raised, and killing some of the guards at the gate, instantly made a signal which had been agreed on,—and the lord de Bocquiaux, who was lying in ambush in the forest, suddenly appeared with five hundred men, and entered the town without opposition, shouting, 'Long live the king and the dauphin!'
On their arrival, they slew one named Boutry, who had been left there by Hector de Saveuses to manage his household. The lord de Crevecoeur, who was lieutenantto Hector, hearing the noise, retreated to the tower of St Cornille, and with him the lord de Chievres, Robinet Ogier, and others; but it was in vain, for they were soon forced to surrender themselves.
The Dauphinois lost no time in plundering the town, and took every thing they could lay hands on, not only from those of the burgundian party, but even from such of the inhabitants as had shewn any partiality to them. Thus did the lord de Bocquiaux and his companions regain the town of Compiegne, in the name of the dauphin. He kept up, in his name also, a heavy warfare on the adjoining country, and sent the lords de Chievres and de Crevecoeur prisoners to the castle of Pierrefons, whence they meditated an escape by means of a brother of the lord de Chievres, who was attached to and had long served the lord de Bocquiaux; but it was discovered, and the lord de Bocquiaux caused him to be beheaded. However, some time afterward, they obtained their liberty by paying a sum of money.
A strong garrison was placed in Compiegne, and the lord de Gamaches camethither; and by their means, those attached to the party of the king and the duke of Burgundy were sorely oppressed.
At this time, duke John of Brabant espoused his cousin-german Jacquelina of Bavaria, countess of Hainault, Holland, Zealand and Ostrevant: she was his god-mother. This marriage had been managed by his mother Margaret of Burgundy, with the three estates of those countries, in the good intention and hope that, as these countries joined those of the duke of Brabant, greater concord and peace would subsist between them. Notwithstanding the countess had given her consent, she was not very well satisfied with the match; for she knew the duke to be weak in body and mind, and unfit for the government of her country or person, which was handsome and well made; and she herself was well informed in various matters.
On the accomplishment of this marriage, the war between the countess and her uncle John of Bavaria was put an end to by means of a negotiation that took place on that subject.
It happened, that while the duke andduchess were at Mons in Hainault, and whilst he was gone to hunt and amuse himself without the town, sir Evrard, bastard of Hainault, and brother to the duchess, with some others came purposely to the hôtel de Nactre, the residence of William le Begue, the confidential adviser of the duke, and put him to death when lying ill in bed. Sir William de Sars, bailiff of Hainault, was present when this murder was committed; but they forbade him to stir; and when it was accomplished, they departed without any hindrance, and left Mons.
When the duke heard of this murder, he was much troubled; for he loved him in preference to all his other counsellors; but in the end, his duchess pacified him,—for, according to the reports of the time, she was not averse to the above deed being done.