CHAP. XXVII.
THE CONDUCT OF THE DAUPHIN, AND OF THOSE WITH HIM, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—HE SENDS LETTERS TO DIFFERENT TOWNS.
THE CONDUCT OF THE DAUPHIN, AND OF THOSE WITH HIM, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.—HE SENDS LETTERS TO DIFFERENT TOWNS.
Whenthe duke of Burgundy had been thus cruelly murdered, the dauphin's people stripped him of his tabard, his coat of mail, his rings, and of every thing except his doublet and drawers; and in this state he remained on the ground until midnight, when he was carried on a table to a mill near the bridge, and, on the morrow-morning, was interred in front of the altar of St Louis, in the church of our Lady at Montereau, in his doublet and drawers, with his bonnet drawn over his face, and twelve masses were hastily said for him.
At this moment, there were severalnoble persons with the dauphin, who had been kept in ignorance of the plot against the duke, many of whom were highly displeased at what had happened, considering the great evils that would probably result from it, as well to the kingdom in general as to the person of their lord the dauphin. In this number were John de Harcourt, count d'Aumalle, and the lord de Barbasan: the last loudly reproached those who had contrived this murder, saying, that they had ruined their master in honour and reputation; and that he had rather have been dead than present at that day, although perfectly ignorant of what was intended to be done.
The dauphin, however, on his return to his lodgings after the murder, ordered, by the advice of his ministers, two hundred men at arms to march to the castle and demand its surrender. On their arrival, admittance was denied them, for those within had posted a party over the drawbridge, and another party in the tower facing the suburbs of the town, where they remained the whole of the night.
The detachment from the dauphinwalled up the gate leading to the town, and continued inactive until the ensuing morning, when they opened a battery of cannons against one of the gates, and, shortly after, some four or five knights went from the dauphin to signify that the castle must be surrendered, otherwise they would win it by storm, and those that should then be found therein would have their heads cut off.
The lords de Joinville and de Montagu made answer, that my lord of Burgundy, their commander, to whom the dauphin had delivered this castle, had intrusted them with the guard thereof, and that they would not surrender it but upon some tokens sent them from their lord. The knights on this went back to the town, and soon returned with sir Anthony du Vergy, who calling to the two aforesaid lords, they replied, by asking after his health. He made no answer to this, but said, 'Brothers, my lord the dauphin bids me tell you, that if you do not yield the castle to him, and you should be taken within it by storm, he will have you beheaded; but that if you will surrender it, and join his party, he will shew you every kindness, and divide betweenyou very liberally the different offices in the realm.'
On hearing this speech, the two lords asked sir Anthony if he knew any thing of their lord the duke. To which he made no other reply than by pointing his finger to the ground, and then said, 'I would advise you to surrender the castle to my lord the dauphin;' but they repeated as before, that until they should have some certain intelligence of their lord the duke, who had intrusted them with its defence, they would not surrender.
The knights of the dauphin now advanced, and said, 'Put on paper what terms you expect, and you shall have an answer.' Both parties withdrew, and those in the castle wrote down as follows:
In the first place, they demanded to restore the castle into the hands of the duke, who had confided to them the guard of it, or to have a discharge from the same, signed by the duke.
Item, that all those who had been made prisoners by the dauphin's party, and those attending the duke, should have their liberties without paying any ransom.
Item, that all persons, of whatever rank, and of both sexes, now within the castle, should have permission to depart freely with all their effects, and be allowed to go whithersoever they should please.
Item, that a delay of fifteen days be granted for them to continue in the said castle, or until their horses shall arrive.
Item, that passports be given for two hundred men at arms that shall come to fetch them, and escort them to such places as they may choose: the said passports to be of force for fifteen days.
When these articles had been examined by the dauphin and his council, they were returned to the castle by the same knights who had brought them, who said, that in regard to the person or signature of the duke of Burgundy nothing need be said, for it could not be obtained. With respect to the prisoners, they belong to my lord the dauphin, who will divide among them the several offices in the kingdom, so that no more need on that subject. As to the effects in the castle appertaining to the duke of Burgundy, they are the property of my lord the dauphin, who will receive themaccording to an inventory made thereof, and give a receipt conformable to such inventory, to those who have the charge of them. Those within the castle shall be permitted to carry away whatever effects they may have brought thither. With regard to the fifteen days delay required, it cannot be granted; but my lord the dauphin will have them escorted as far as Bray-sur-Seine. With respect to the passports for two hundred men at arms, there will not be any need of them, as they will have a sufficient escort.
After much parleying, the lords de Joinville and de Montagu concluded for themselves and their companions a treaty with the dauphin, on condition that they should freely depart, with all their baggage, on yielding up the castle,—and that all the effects of the duke of Burgundy should remain in the possession of the dauphin, and also the lady of Giac, who, as was commonly reported, was consenting to this murder of the duke of Burgundy.
Philip Josquin remained behind also: he was afraid to return to the duchess of Burgundy, or to her son the count de Charolois,for he was not in their good graces. This Philip Josquin was a native of Dijon, and son to an armourer of Philip of Burgundy, and for a long time had been beloved more than any of his other servants by the late duke John, who even intrusted him with his private signet, and made him sign his letters, insomuch that there was scarcely any difference between the handwriting of the duke and that which counterfeited it.
All this great favour and authority created him many enemies among the princes and lords who repaired to the duke's court; but notwithstanding their hatred, from the situation he was in, he amassed great wealth, and built a very handsome house in Dijon. On his leaving that place, he disposed of his money in various parts of Burgundy, Flanders, and elsewhere, which was seized and confiscated by the count de Charolois and given by him to some of his servants,—and this Philip was consequently thus deprived of all his riches.
On Monday, the 11th day of September, after the dauphin had held a grand council in the town of Montereau on thestate of his affairs, he wrote and dispatched letters to the towns of Paris, Rheims, Châlons and others, to gloss over his having broken the peace, and having perjured himself. The contents of that sent to Paris were as follow:
'Dear and well beloved,—we understand that you are fully sensible how lately we agreed with the duke of Burgundy at a place called Pouilly on the terms of peace, for the obtaining of which we acceded to all his demands. To prevent the destruction of my lord the king's and of our realm, among other articles, the said duke did engage on his faith and oath, that within one month he would wage war against the English, the ancient enemies of this kingdom. It had been also agreed, that in consequence of this, we were to unite our mutual endeavours to reform the grievances and disorders of the government and to join in expelling the common enemy out of the country.
'On this account, we came to the town of Montereau, and waited there the space of eighteen days for the coming of the duke of Burgundy, for whose accommodation wehad dislodged from, and assigned to him, the castle, as his residence.
'Afterward, when we did meet on the terms he had demanded, we amicably remonstrated with him, that notwithstanding his promises, and that peace was now between us, he had not waged war against the English, nor had disbanded the troops from the garrisons under his command, according to his solemn engagement, and which we now again required him to do.
'The duke of Burgundy, in reply, made use of several foolish expressions, and even laid his hand on his sword to attack and disfigure our person, intending, as we were afterward informed, to seize and keep us under his subjection, but from which, however, through Divine mercy, and the attachment of our loyal servants, we were preserved, and he for his mad conduct was put to death on the spot.
'We signify the above matters to you, well knowing how much you will rejoice that we have been preserved from such imminent danger; and we most earnestly entreat and command, on that loyalty you have alway had for my lord the kingand for us, that whatever events may happen, you do not fail to make a strong resistance to the enemies of my lord and us; and that you prepare yourselves for war, in which we will aid and comfort you to the utmost of our power, and, thanks to the grace of God, that is sufficiently great.
'We will that every thing that has passed be pardoned and forgotten, and that no retaliations be made on any one, but that an entire oblivion may cover the whole, and that the peace be maintained, the which we promise to keep on the faith and word of the son of a king. To this effect we have sent our letters to the provost of merchants, the sheriffs and citizens of Paris, that they may be proclaimed and published wherever it may be thought necessary: and for the due observance of what we have said, we are willing to give such securities as may be demanded.
'We are desirous of preserving the peace with the duke of Burgundy and his friends, and all of his party, on the terms concluded, without infringing it in the smallest degree, being anxious to uniteall the faithful subjects of my lord the king to oppose the common enemy.
'We shall in this warfare personally serve: and we will, that you do proclaim these our intentions in all the towns and villages near to and within your several jurisdictions.—Dear and well beloved, may the Lord have you in his holy keeping. Written at Montereau faut Yonne, the 11th day of September,' and contersigned, 'Charles Champion.'
This paper was indorsed, 'To our very dear and well beloved the burghers, clergy, and inhabitants of the town of Paris.'
To these letters, especially from the towns subject to the Burgundian party, no answer was given.
In like manner, sir Clugnet de Brabant, whose quarters were at Vitry, wrote to many of the large towns to detatch them from the dauphin; but, when he found by their answers that he could not succeed, he made a severe war upon them.