CHAP. XIII.
THE DAUPHINESS IS SENT TO THE DAUPHIN.—THE SIEGE OF TOURS, IN TOURAINE.—OF THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE KING AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
THE DAUPHINESS IS SENT TO THE DAUPHIN.—THE SIEGE OF TOURS, IN TOURAINE.—OF THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE KING AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
Withthe consent of the king and queen of France, and the duke of Burgundy, the dauphiness was honourably sent to the dauphin in Anjou: she had remained in Paris at the time when it was taken: and with her were sent all her jewels and wardrobe, that the dauphin might be the more inclined to peace and to return to the king. It was in vain; for those who governed him would not suffer it, as they knew that in that case they should be deprived of all their offices and employments.
The young count d'Armagnac now joined the dauphin magnificently accompanied by men at arms, and made bitter complaints concerning the murders of his father, the constable of France, and of the other great lords. The dauphin and his council replied, that speedy and substantialjustice should be done, in proper time and place, on those who had committed these murders.
The dauphin then marched a powerful army to lay siege to Tours in Touraine, of which place sir William de Romenil, knight, and Charles l'Abbe were governors. They in a short time surrendered both town and castle to the dauphin; and Charles l'Abbe even turned to his party, and took the oaths of allegiance to him. The men at arms that were under his command, being unwilling to follow his example, received passports to go whither they pleased. The dauphin kept his court at Tours for a considerable space of time.
The duke of Burgundy, on the other hand, who held the king and queen under his subjection, ordered the government of the kingdom according to his pleasure; and notwithstanding he had formerly abolished all subsidies and taxes, he caused the king's ministers to issue a royal edict to raise certain sums for the relief of the city of Rouen, which was hard pressed by the English. In addition to this, the Parisians were required to furnish a loan for the same purpose; andthe municipality lent one hundred thousand francs, on condition that every tun of wine should pay twelve farthings when brought to Paris, until the above sum were repaid,—and the municipality were to receive this duty by their own officers. Large subsidies were likewise raised throughout those parts of the realm that were under the king's obedience,—namely, in the bishoprick of Beauvais, in the bailiwicks of Amiens, of the Vermandois, and elsewhere. Master Robert le Jeune, advocate in the parliament, was nominated to collect these taxes; and one of the judges with some of the king's officers were sent to enforce payment from such as refused.