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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Charles the Bold + Last Duke Of Burgundy, 1433-1477 + +Author: Ruth Putnam + +Release Date: December 28, 2004 [EBook #14496] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLES THE BOLD *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<h1>CHARLES THE BOLD</h1> +<br /><br /> +<h2>LAST DUKE OF BURGUNDY</h2> +<br /><br /> +<h3>1433-1477</h3> +<br /><br /> + +<h6>BY</h6> +<br /><br /> + +<h3>RUTH PUTNAM</h3> +<br /><br /> +<h4>AUTHOR OF "WILLIAM THE SILENT," "A MEDIÆVAL PRINCESS," ETC.</h4> +<br /><br /> + +<hr /> + +<h4>G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS</h4> + +<h4>NEW YORK AND LONDON</h4> + +<h5>The Knickerbocker Press<br /> + +1908</h5> + +<hr /> + +<h5>COPYRIGHT 1908,</h5> + +<h6>BY</h6> + +<h5>G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS</h5> + +<h6>The Knickerbocker Press, New York</h6> + + <br /><br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="charlesbold">[plate 1]</a></span> + <p class="center"> +<img src="cbimages/image01charlesbold.jpg" width="400" height="613" alt="CHARLES THE BOLD, DUKE OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="piii">[page iii]</a></span> +<h3>PREFACE</h3> +<p> +The admission of Charles, Duke of Burgundy +into the series of Heroes of the Nations, is +justified by his relation to events rather than by +his national or his heroic qualities. <i>"Il n'avait +pas assez de sens ni de malice pour conduire ses +entreprises,"</i> is one phrase of Philip de Commines +in regard to the master he had once served. Render +<i>sens</i> by <i>genius</i> and <i>malice</i> by <i>diplomacy</i> and the +words are not far wrong. Yet in spite of the +failure to obtain either a kingly or an imperial +crown, the story of those same unaccomplished +enterprises contains the germs of much that has +happened later in the borderlands of France and +Germany where the projected "middle kingdom" +might have been erected. A sketch of the duke's +character with its traits of ambition and shortcomings +may therefore be placed, not unfitly, +among the pen portraits of individuals who have +attempted to change the map of Europe.</p> +<p> +The materials for an exhaustive study of the +times, and of the participants in the scenes thereof, +are almost overwhelming in quantity. Into this +narrative, I have woven the words of contemporaries +when these related what they saw and +thought, or at least what they said they saw or +thought, about events passing within their sight +or their ken. The veracity attained is only that +of a mosaic of bits, each with its morsel of truth.<span class="page"><a name="piv">[page iv]</a></span> +And the rim in which these bits are set is too +slender to contain all the illumination necessary. +The narrative is, of necessity, partial and fragmentary, +for a complete story would require a +series of biographies presented in parallel columns. +My own preliminary chapter to this book—a +mere explanation of the presence of the dukes +of Burgundy in the Netherlands—grew into an +account of a sovereign whom they deposed and +was published under the title of <i>A Mediæval +Princess.</i></p> +<p> +John Foster Kirk gave 1713 pages to his record +of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Forty +years have elapsed since that publication appeared +and a mass of interesting material pertinent to the +subject has been given out to the public, while +separate phases of it have been minutely discussed +by competent critics, so that at every point +there is new temptation for the biographer to +expand the theme where the scope of his work +demands brevity.</p> +<p> +In using the later fruit of historical investigation, +it is delightful for an American to find +that scholars of all nations do justice to Mr. +Kirk's accuracy and industry even when they +may differ from his conclusions. It has been +my privilege to be permitted free access to this +scholar's collection of books, and I would here +express my deep gratitude to the Kirk family for +their generosity and courtesy towards me.</p> +<p> +After some preliminary reading at Brussels and<span class="page"><a name="pv">[page v]</a></span> +Paris and in England, the work for this volume +has been completed in America, where the opportunity +of securing the latest results of research +and criticism is constantly increasing, although +these results are still lodged under many roofs. +I have had many reasons to thank the librarians +of New York, Boston, and Washington, and also +those of Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell universities +for courtesies and for serviceable aid; +and just as many reasons to regret the meagreness +of what can be put between two covers as the +gleanings from so rich a harvest.</p> +<p> +One word further in explanation of the use +of <i>Bold</i>. The adjective has been retained simply +because it has been so long identified with +Charles in English usage. I should have preferred +the word <i>Rash</i> as a better equivalent for +the contemporary term, applied to the duke in +his lifetime,—<i>le téméraire</i>.</p> +<p><span class="right"> +R.P. </span><br /><br /> +<span class="indent">WASHINGTON, D.C., 1908.</span></p> + + <br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="pvii">[page vii]</a></span> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><u>CONTENTS</u></h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" summary="illustrations" border="0"> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"><br /> +<a href="#I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +CHILDHOOD</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +PAGE<br /> +1 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +YOUTH</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +24 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE FEAST OF THE PHEASANT</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +45 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +BURGUNDY AND FRANCE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +67 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE COUNT AND THE DAUPHIN</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +86 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE WAR OF PUBLIC WEAL</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +109 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +LIEGE AND ITS FATE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +130 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE NEW DUKE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +154 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE UNJOYOUS ENTRY</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +170 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE DUKE'S MARRIAGE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +183 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE MEETING AT PERONNE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +197 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +AN EASY VICTORY</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +227 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +A NEW ACQUISITION</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +244 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +ENGLISH AFFAIRS</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +261 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +NEGOTIATIONS AND TREACHERY</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +293 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +GUELDERS</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +320 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE MEETING AT TRÈVES</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +339 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +COLOGNE, LORRAINE, AND ALSACE</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +362 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE FIRST REVERSES</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +382 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1475 AND 1476</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +402 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> +<span class="indent"> +THE BATTLE OF NANCY</span><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +427 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#BIBLIO">BIBLIOGRAPHY</a><br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +463 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#INDEX">INDEX</a><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +469 +</td> +</tr> + +</table> + + + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + <p class="center"> + <img src="cbimages/010.jpg" width="300" height="170" alt="decorative panel" border="0" /></p> + + + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page"><a name="pxi">[page xi]</a></span> +<h2><u>ILLUSTRATIONS</u></h2> + +<table width="80%" align="center" summary="illustrations" border="0"> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"><br /> +<a href="#charlesbold">CHARLES THE BOLD, DUKE OF BURGUNDY</a><br /> +<p class="indent"> +From MS. statute book of the Order of the Golden +Fleece at Vienna. The artist is unknown. Date +of the codex is between 1518 and 1565. This +portrait is possibly redrawn from that attributed +to Roger van der Weyden. That, however, +shows a much stronger face.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +PAGE<br /> +<i>Frontispiece</i><br /> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#philipgood">PHILIP THE GOOD AS FOUNDER OF THE ORDER OF +THE GOLDEN FLEECE</a> <br /> +<p class="indent"> +From a reproduction of a miniature in MS. at Brussels.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +4 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#avignon">A DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE POPE AT AVIGNON</a> +<p class="indent"> +From a contemporary miniature reproduced in +Petit's <br /><i>Hist. de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +16 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#patronletters">PHILIP THE GOOD, DUKE OF BURGUNDY, AS PATRON +OF LETTERS</a> +<p class="indent"> +From a reproduction of part of a miniature in a +beautiful MS. copy in Brussels Library of Jacques +de Guise's <i>Annales</i>. The author is depicted +presenting his book to the duke, who is attended +by his son and his courtiers. The miniature is +attributed by turns to Roger van der Weyden, to +Guillaume Wijelant or Vrelant, and to Hans +Memling.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +18 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#castle">A CASTLE IN BURGUNDY</a><span class="page"><a name="pxii">[page xii]</a></span> +<p class="indent"> +From Petit's <i>Hist. de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +24 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#accountbook">FRONTISPIECE OF A XVTH CENTURY ACCOUNT BOOK</a> +<br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +31 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#poljester">COUNT OF ST. POL AND HIS JESTER</a> +<p class="indent"> +From reproduction of a miniature in Barante, <i>Les +ducs de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +46 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#statue">THE STATUE OF CHARLES OF BURGUNDY AT INNSBRÜCK</a> +<br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +68 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#louis">LOUIS XI</a> +<p class="indent"> +From an engraving by A. Boilly after a drawing by +G. Boilly.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +84 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#philipandcharles">PHILIP AND CHARLES OF BURGUNDY</a> +<p class="indent"> +From a drawing in a MS. at Arras.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +101 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#battlemont">BATTLE OF MONTL'HÉRY (JULY 16, 1465)</a> +<p class="indent"> +From a contemporary miniature reproduced in +Comines-Lenglet.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +124 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#publicweal">LOUIS XI, WITH THE PRINCES AND SEIGNEURS OF THE +WAR OF THE PUBLIC WEAL</a> +<p class="indent"> +From a contemporary miniature reproduced in +Comines-Lenglet.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +128 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#anthony">ANTHONY OF BURGUNDY</a> +<p class="indent"> +After Hans Memling, Dresden Gallery.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +150 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#charlesgolfleece">CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY, PRESIDING OVER A +CHAPTER OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE</a> +<p class="indent"> +From reproduction of a miniature in MS. at +Brussels.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +189 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#commines">PHILIP DE COMMINES</a> +<br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +210 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#olivier">OLIVIER DE LA MARCHE</a> +<p class="indent"> +From sketch in MS. at Arras reproduced in +<br /><i>Mémoires couronnés de l'acad. royale de Belgique,</i> +xlix.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +232 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#mary1">MARY OF BURGUNDY</a><span class="page"><a name="pxiii">[page xiii]</a></span> +<p class="indent"> +From a contemporary miniature reproduced in +Barante, <br /><i>Les ducs de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +250 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#map">MAP OF ALSACE AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES</a> +<p class="indent"> +From Toutey, <i>Charles le téméraire</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +260 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#medal">MEDAL OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY</a> +<br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +280 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#standard">BURGUNDIAN STANDARD CAPTURED AT BEAUVAIS</a> +<br /><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> + 310 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#arnold">ARNOLD, DUKE OF GUELDERS</a> +<p class="indent"> +From engraving by G. Robert in Comines-Lenglet.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +322 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#mary2">MARY OF BURGUNDY</a> +<p class="indent"> +After design by C. Laplante.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +336 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#charles2">CHARLES THE BOLD</a> +<p class="indent"> +Idealised by P. P. Rubens, Vienna Gallery. (By +permission of J. J. Löwy, Vienna.)</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +340 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#max">MAXIMILIAN OF AUSTRIA</a> +<p class="indent">Medal.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +350 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#church">A FORTIFIED CHURCH IN BURGUNDY</a> +<p class="indent"> +From Petit's <i>Hist. de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +383 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#ruhmreich">KING RUHMREICH AND HIS DAUGHTER EHRENREICH</a> +<p class="indent"> +(These characters in Maximilian's poem of <i>Theuerdank</i> +represent Charles and Mary of Burgundy.) +From a reproduction of a wood engraving by +Schäufelein in edition of 1517.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +404 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#battlemorat">A PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF MORAT</a> +<p class="indent"> +Used by kind permission of Miss Sophia Kirk and +J. B. Lippincott Company.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +422 +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#philibert">PHILIBERT, DUKE OF SAVOY</a> +<p class="indent"> +After a design by Matthey reproduced in +Comines-Lenglet.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +430 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#battlenancy">PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF NANCY</a><span class="page"><a name="pxiv">[page xiv]</a></span> +<p class="indent"> +Used by kind permission of Miss Sophia Kirk and +the J. B. Lippincott Company.</p> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +433 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#battlenancy2">THE BATTLE OF NANCY</a> +<p class="indent"> +From contemporary miniature reproduced in +Comines-Lenglet.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +435 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#monumentnancy">A MONUMENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT NANCY</a> +<p class="indent"> +From Barante, <i>Let ducs de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +436 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#charlestomb">THE TOMB OF CHARLES OF BURGUNDY</a> +<p class="indent"> +Church of Notre Dame, Bruges</p> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +460 +<br /> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="cbimages/015.jpg" width="300" height="159" alt="decorative panel" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="1">[page 1]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h1>CHARLES THE BOLD</h1> + + <hr/> + + +<br /><br /><br /> + +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="I">I</a></h2> + +<h3>CHILDHOOD</h3> + +<h4>1433-1440</h4> + +<p> +On St. Andrew's Eve, in the year 1433, the good +people of Dijon were abroad, eager to catch +what glimpses they might of certain stately functions +to be formally celebrated by the Duke of +Burgundy. The mere presence of the sovereign +in the capital of his duchy was in itself a gala event +from its rarity. Various cities of the dominions +agglomerated under his sway claimed his attentions +successively. His residence was now here +and now there, without long tarrying anywhere. +His coming was usually very welcome. In times +of peaceful submission to his behest, the city of +his sojourn reaped many advantages besides +the amusement of seeing her streets alive beyond +their wont. In the outlay for the necessities and +the luxuries of the peripatetic ducal court, the +expenditures were lavish, and in the temporary +commercial activity enjoyed by the merchants, +the fact that the burghers' own contributions to +this luxury were heavy, passed into temporary<span class="page"><a name="2">[page 2]</a></span> +oblivion.<a href="#I1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + +<p> +This autumn visit of Philip the Good to Dijon +was more significant than usual. It had lasted +several weeks, and among its notable occasions +was an assembly of the Knights of the Golden +Fleece for the third anniversary of their Order. +On this November 30th, Burgundy was to witness +for the first time the pompous ceremonials +inaugurated at Bruges in January, 1430. Three +years had sufficed to render the new institution +almost as well known as its senior English rival, +the Order of the Garter, which it was destined to +outshine for a brief period at least. Its foundation +had formed part of the elaborate festivities +accompanying the celebration of the marriage of +Philip, Duke of Burgundy, to Isabella of Portugal. +As a signal honour to his bride, Philip published +his intention of creating a new order of knighthood +which would evince "his great and perfect +love for the noble state of chivalry."</p> +<p> +Rumour, indeed, told various tales about the +duke's real motives. It was whispered that a +certain lady of Bruges, whom he had distinguished +by his attentions, was ridiculed for her red hair<span class="page"><a name="3">[page 3]</a></span> +by a few merry courtiers, whereupon Philip declared +that her tresses should be immortally honoured +in the golden emblem of a new society.<a href="#I2"><sup>2</sup></a> +But that may be set down as gossip. Philip's +own assertion, when he instituted the Order of +the Golden Fleece, was that he intended to create +a bulwark</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"for the reverence of God and the sustenance of our +Christian faith, and to honour and enhance the noble +order of chivalry, and also for three reasons hereafter +declared; first, to honour the ancient knights ...;<br /> +second, to the end that these present.... may exercise +the deeds of chivalry and constantly improve;<br /> +third, that all gentlemen marking the honour paid +to the knights will exert themselves to attain the +dignity." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#I3"><sup>3</sup></a></span></p> + + +<p> +The special homage to the new duchess was +expressed in the device</p> + +<blockquote> +<i>Aultre n'aray<br /> +Dame Isabeau tant que vivray</i> <a href="#I4"><sup>4</sup></a></blockquote> + + +<p> +This pledge of absolute fidelity to Dame Isabella +was, indeed, utterly disregarded by the bridegroom, +but in outward and formal honour to her +he never failed.</p> +<p> +The new institution was, from the beginning, +pre-eminently significant of the duke's magnificent +state existence, wherein his Portuguese consort<span class="page"><a name="4">[page 4]</a></span> +proved herself an efficient and able helpmeet. +Again and again during a period of thirty years, +rich in diplomatic parleying, did Isabella act as +confidential ambassador for her husband, and +many were the negotiations conducted by her to +his satisfaction.<a href="#I5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + + +<p> +But it must be noted that whatever lay at the +exact root of Philip's motives when he conceived +the plan of his Order, the actual result of his foundation +was not affected. He failed, indeed, to +bring back into the world the ancient system of +knighthood in its ideal purity and strength. +Rather did he make a notable contribution to its +decadence and speed its parting. What was +brought into existence was a house of peers for +the head of the Burgundian family, a body of +faithful satellites who did not hamper their chief +overmuch with the criticism permitted by the +rules of their society, while their own glory added +shining rays to the brilliant centre of the Burgundian +court.</p> +<span class="page1"><a name="philipgood">[plate 2]</a></span> +<br /><br /><p class="center"> +<img src="cbimages/image02philipgood.jpg" width="400" height="730" alt="PHILIP THE GOOD AS FOUNDER OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +Twenty-five, inclusive of the duke, was the +original number appointed to form the chosen +circle of knights. This was speedily increased +to thirty-one, and a duty to be performed in the<span class="page"><a name="5">[page 5]</a></span> +session of 1433, was the election of new members +to fill vacancies and to round out the allotted +tale.</p> + +<p> +In their manner of accomplishing the appointed +task, the new chevaliers had, from the outset, +evinced a readiness to cast their votes to the satisfaction +of their chief, even if his pleasure directly +conflicted with the regulations they had sworn to +obey. No candidate was to be eligible whose +birth was not legitimate,<a href="#I6"><sup>6</sup></a> a regulation quite ignored +when the duke proposed the names of his +sons Cornelius and Anthony. For his obedient +knights did not refuse to open their ranks to +these great bastards of Burgundy, who carried a +bar sinister proudly on their escutcheon. So, too, +others of Philip's many illegitimate descendants +were not rejected when their father proposed +their names.</p> + +<p> +Again, it was plainly stipulated that the new +member should have proven himself a knight of +renown. Yet, in this session of 1433, one of the +candidates proposed for election, though nominally +a knight, had assuredly had no time to show +his mettle. The dignity was his only because his +spurs had been thrown right royally into his cradle +before his tiny hands had sufficient baby strength +to grasp a rattle, and before he was even old +enough to use the pleasant gold to cut his teeth<span class="page"><a name="6">[page 6]</a></span> +upon.<a href="#I7"><sup>7</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Among the eight elected at Dijon in 1433, was +Charles of Burgundy, Count of Charolais, son of +the sovereign duke, born at Dijon on the previous +St. Martin's Eve, November 10th.<a href="#I8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The new chevaliers, with the exception of the +Count of Virnenbourg who was absent, took the accustomed +oath at the hands of the sovereign in a room +of his palace."</p> + +<p> +So runs the record. Jean le Févre, Seigneur de +St. Remy, present on the occasion in his capacity +of king-at-arms of the Order, is a trifle more communicative.<a href="#I9"><sup>9</sup></a> +According to him, all the gentlemen +were very joyous at their election as they +received their collars and made their vows as +stated. He excepted no member in the phrase +about the joy displayed, though, as a matter +of inference, the pleasure experienced by the +Count of Charolais may be reckoned as somewhat +problematical.</p> + +<p> +The heir of Burgundy had attained the ripe age +of just twenty days when thus officially listed +among the chevaliers present at the festival.<span class="page"><a name="7">[page 7]</a></span> +Born on November 10th of this same year, 1433,<a href="#I10"><sup>10</sup></a> +he had been knighted on the very day of his baptism, +when Charles, Count of Nevers, and the +Seigneur of Croy were his sponsors. The former +gave his name to the infant while the latter's +name was destined to be identified with many +unpleasant incidents in the career of the future +man. This brief span of life is sufficient reason +for the further item in the archives of the Golden +Fleece:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"As to the Count of Charolais, he was carried into +the same room. There the sovereign, his father, and +the duchess, his mother, took the oath on his behalf. +Afterwards the duke put the collars upon all." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#I11"><sup>11</sup></a></span></p> + + + +<p> +Thus was emphasised at birth the parental conviction +that Charles of Burgundy was of different +metal than the rest of the world. The great duke +of the Occident made a distinct epoch in the history +of chivalry when he conferred its dignities +upon a speechless, unconscious infant. The theory +that knighthood was a personal acquisition had +been maintained up to this period, the Children of +France <a href="#I12"><sup>12</sup></a> alone being excepted from the rule, though +in his <i>Lay de Vaillance</i> Eustache Deschamps +complains that the degree of knighthood is actually<span class="page"><a name="8">[page 8]</a></span> +conferred on those who are only ten or twelve +years old, and who do not know what to do with +the honour.<a href="#I13"><sup>13</sup></a> That plaint was written not later +than the first years of the fifteenth century, and the +poet's prediction that ruin of the institution was +imminent when affected by such disorders seemed +justified if, in 1433, even the years of the eligible +age had shrunk to days. Philip himself had not +received the accolade until he was twenty-five.</p> + +<p> +How his predecessor in Holland, Count William +VI., had acquitted himself valiantly the moment +that he was dubbed knight is told by Froissart, +and the tales of other accolades of the period are +too well known to need reference.</p> +<p> +It is said that the baby cavalier was nourished +by his own mother. Having lost her first two +infants, Isabella was solicitous for the welfare of +this third child, who also proved her last. He +was, moreover, Philip's sole legal heir, as Michelle +of France and Bonne of Artois, his first +wives, had left no offspring. The care and devotion +expended on the boy were repaid. Charles +became a sturdy child who developed into youthful +vigour. In person, he strangely resembled +his mother and her Portuguese ancestors, rather +than the English Lancastrians, from whom she +was equally descended.</p> +<p> +His dark hair and his features were very different +from the fair type of his paternal ancestors, +the vigorous branch of the Valois family. Possibly<span class="page"><a name="9">[page 9]</a></span> +other characteristics suggesting his Portuguese +origin were intensified by close association with +his mother, who supervised the education directed +by the Seigneur d' Auxy. They often lived at +The Hague, where Isabella acted as chief and +official adviser to the duke's stadtholder in the +administration.<a href="#I14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Charles was a diligent pupil, if we may believe +his contemporaries, surprisingly so, considering +his early taste for all martial pursuits and his +intense interest in military operations.</p> +<p> +At two years of age he received his first lesson +in horsemanship, on a wooden steed constructed +for his especial use by Jean Rampart, a saddler +of Brussels.</p> +<p> +His biographers repeat from each other statements +of his proficiency in Latin. This must be +balanced by noting that the only texts which he +could have read were probably not classic. In +the inventory of the various Burgundian libraries +of the period, there are not six Greek and Latin +classical texts all told, and excepting Sallust, not +a single Roman historian in the original.<a href="#I15"><sup>15</sup></a> There +was a translation of Livy by the Prior of St. Eloi<span class="page"><a name="10">[page 10]</a></span> +and late abridgments of Sallust, Suetonius, Lucan, +and Cæsar,<a href="#I16"><sup>16</sup></a> with a French version of Valerius +Maximus, but nothing of Tacitus. Doubtless +these versions and a volume called <i>Les faits des +Romains</i> were used as text-books to teach the +young count about the world's conquerors. The +last mentioned book shows what travesties of +Roman history were gravely read in the fifteenth +century.</p> + +<p> +There are stories<a href="#I17"><sup>17</sup></a> that the bit of history most +enjoyed by the pupil was the narrative of Alexander. +Books about that hero were easy to come +by long before the invention of printing, though +Alexander would have had difficulty in recognising +his identity under the strange mediæval motley +in which his namesake wandered over the land. +No single man, with the possible exception of +Charlemagne, was so much written about or +played so brilliantly the part of a hero to the Middle +Ages and after.<a href="#I18"><sup>18</sup></a> The simplicity and universality +of his success were of a type to appeal to the +boy Charles, himself built on simple lines. The +fact, too, that Alexander was the son of a Philip +stimulated his imagination and instilled in his +breast hopes of conquering, not the whole world +perhaps, but a good slice of territory which should +enable him to hold his own between the emperor +and the French king. Tales of definite schemes<span class="page"><a name="11">[page 11]</a></span> +of early ambition are often fabricated in the later +life of a conqueror, but in this case they may be believed, +as all threads of testimony lead to the same +conclusion.</p> +<p> +The air breathed by the boy when he first became +conscious of his own individuality was certainly +heavy with the aroma of satisfied ambition. +The period of his childhood was a time when his +father stood at the very zenith of his power. In +1435, was signed the Treaty of Arras, the death-blow +to the long coalition existing between Burgundy +and England to the continual detriment +of France. Philip was reconciled with great +solemnity to the king, responsible in his dauphin +days for the murder of the late Duke of Burgundy. +After ostentatiously parading his filial resentment +sixteen long years, Philip forgave Charles VII. +his share in the death of John the Fearless, on the +bridge at Montereau, and swore to lend his support +to keep the French monarch on the throne whither +the efforts of Joan of Arc had carried him from +Bourges, the forlorn court of his exile.</p> +<p> +England's pretensions were repudiated. To +be sure, the recent coronation of Henry VI. at +Paris was not immediately forgotten, but while +the Duke of Bedford had actually administered +the government as regent, in behalf of his infant +nephew, it was a mere shadow of his office that +passed to his successor. Bedford's death, in 1435, +was almost coincident with the compact at Arras +when the English Henry's realms across the Channel<span class="page"><a name="12">[page 12]</a></span> +shrank to Normandy and the outlying fortresses +of Picardy and Maine. Later events +on English soil were to prove how little fitted was +the son of Henry V. for sovereignty of any kind.</p> +<p> +Out of the negotiations at Arras, Philip of Burgundy +rose triumphant with a seal set upon his +personal importance.<a href="#I19"><sup>19</sup></a> His recognition of Charles +VII. as lawful sovereign of France, and his reconciliation +did not pass without signal gain to +himself.</p> + +<p> +The king declared his own hands unstained by +the blood of John of Burgundy, agreed to punish +all those designated by Philip as actually responsible +for that treacherous murder, and pledged +himself to erect a cross on the bridge at Montereau, +the scene of the crime. Further, he relinquished +various revenues in Burgundy, hitherto retained +by the crown from the moment when the junior +branch of the Valois had been invested with the +duchy (1364); and he ceded the counties of Boulogne, +Artois, and all the seigniories belonging to +the French sovereign on both banks of the Somme. +To this last cession, however, was appended the +condition that the towns included in this clause +could be redeemed at the king's pleasure, for the +sum of four hundred thousand gold crowns. +Further, Charles exempted Philip from acts of +homage to himself, promised to demand no <i>aides</i> +from the duke's subjects in case of war, and to +assist his cousin if he were attacked from England.<span class="page"><a name="13">[page 13]</a></span> +Lastly, he renounced an alliance lately contracted +with the emperor to Philip's disadvantage.<a href="#I20"><sup>20</sup></a></p> + +<p> +One clause in the treaty crowned the royal submissiveness +towards the powerful vassal. It provided +that in case of Charles's failure to observe +all the stipulated conditions, his own subjects +would be justified in taking arms against him at +the duke's orders. A similar clause occurs in certain +treaties between an earlier French king and +his Flemish vassals, but always to the advantage of +the suzerain, not to that of the lesser lords.</p> +<p> +The duke was left in a position infinitely superior +to that of the king, whose realm was terribly +exhausted by the long contest with England, a +contest wherein one nation alone had felt the invader's +foot. French prosperity had been nibbled +off like green foliage before a swarm of locusts, +and the whole north-eastern portion of France was +in a sorry state of desolation by 1435. On the +other hand, the territories covered by Burgundy +as an overlord had greatly increased during the +sixteen years that Philip had worn the title. An +aggregation of duchies, counties, and lordships +formed his domain, loosely hung together by reason +of their several titles being vested in one person—titles +which the bearer had inherited or +assumed under various pretexts.</p> +<p> +Flanders and Artois, together with the duchy<span class="page"><a name="14">[page 14]</a></span> +and county of Burgundy, came to him from his +father, John the Fearless, in 1419. In 1421, he +bought Namur. In 1430, he declared himself +heir to his cousins in Brabant and Limbourg +when Duke Anthony's second son followed his +equally childless brother into a premature grave, +and the claims were made good in spite of all opposition. +Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut became +his through the unwilling abdication of his other +cousin, Jacqueline, in 1433. To save the life of +her husband, Frank van Borselen, the last representative +of the Bavarian House then formally +resigned her titles, which she had already divested +of all significance five years previously, when +Philip of Burgundy had become her <i>ruward</i>, to +relieve a "poor feminine person" of a weight of +responsibility too heavy for her shoulders.<a href="#I21"><sup>21</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Divers items in the accounts show what Philip expended +in having the titles of Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut added +to his other designations. Also there were various places +where his predecessor's name had to be effaced to make room +for his. (Laborde, i., 345).]</p> +<p> +Antwerp and Mechlin were included in Brabant. +Luxemburg was a later acquisition obtained +through Elizabeth of Görlitz.</p> +<p> +There were very shady bits in the chapters about +Philip's entry into many of his possessions, but +it is interesting to note how cleverly the best colour +is given to his actions by Olivier de la Marche +and other writers who enjoyed Burgundian patronage. +Very gentle are the adjectives employed,<span class="page"><a name="15">[page 15]</a></span> +and a nice cloak of legality is thrown over the +naked facts as they are ushered into history. Contemporary +criticism did occasionally make itself +heard, especially from the emperor, who declared +that the Netherland provinces must come to him +as a lapsed imperial fief. For a time Philip denied +that any links existed between his domain +and the empire, but in 1449 he finally found it +convenient to discuss the question with Frederic +III. at Besançon; still he never came to the point +of paying homage.</p> +<p> +All these territories made a goodly realm for a +mere duke. But they were individual entities centred +around one head with little interconnection.</p> +<p> +Philip thought that the one thing needed to +bring his possessions into a national life, as coherent +as that of France, was a unity of legal existence +among the dissimilar parts, and the effort to attain +this unity was the one thought dominating +the career of his successor, whose pompous introduction +to life naturally inspired him with a high +idea of his own rank, and led him to dream of +greater dignities for himself and his successor than +a bundle of titles,—a splendid, vain, fatal dream +as it proved.</p> +<p> +As a final cement to the new friendship between +Burgundy and France, it was also agreed at Arras +that the heir of the former should wed a daughter +of Charles VII. When the Count of Charolais was +five years old, the Seigneur of Crèvecœur,<a href="#I22"><sup>22</sup></a> "a<span class="page"><a name="16">[page 16]</a></span> +wise and prudent gentleman" was despatched to +the French court on divers missions, among which +was the business of negotiating the projected alliance. +A very joyous reception was accorded the +envoy by the king and the queen, and his proposal +was accepted in behalf of the second daughter, +Catherine, easily substituted for an older sister, +deceased between the first and second stages +of negotiation.</p> + +<p> +A year later, a formal betrothal took place at +St Omer, whither the young bride was conducted, +most honourably accompanied by the archbishops +of Rheims and of Narbonne, by the counts of Vendôme, +Tonnerre, and Dunois, the young son of the +Duke of Bourbon, named the Lord of Beaujeu, +and various other distinguished nobles, besides a +train of noble dames and demoiselles in special attendance +on the princess, and an escort of three +hundred horse.</p> +<p> +At the various cities where the party made halt +they were graciously received, and all honour was +paid to the ten-year-old Daughter of France. At +Cambray, she was met by the duke's envoys and +as she travelled on towards her destination, all the +towns of Philip's obedience contributed their quota +of welcome.</p> +<p> +At St. Omer, the duke was awaiting her coming. +When her approach was announced he rode out in +person to greet her, attended by a brilliant escort.</p> +<span class="page1"><a name="avignon">[plate 3]</a></span> +<br /><br /><p class="center"> +<img src="cbimages/image03avignon2.jpg" width="500" height="425" alt="A DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE POPE AT AVIGNON" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +Within the city, "melodious festivals" were ready<span class="page"><a name="17">[page 17]</a></span> +to burst into tune; the betrothal was confirmed +amid joyousness and the ceremony was followed by +tourneys and jousts, all at the expense of the duke.</p> +<p> +What a series of pompous betrothals between +infant parties the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries +can show! Poor little puppets, in whose +persons national interests were supposed to be +centred, were made to lisp out their roles in international +dramas whose final acts rarely were consistent +with the promise of the prologue.</p> +<p> +Catherine did not live to become Duchess of +Burgundy nor to temper the duel between her +husband and her brother Louis. The remainder +of her short existence was passed under the care of +Duchess Isabella, sometimes in one city of the +Netherlands, sometimes in another.</p> +<p> +La Marche<a href="#I23"><sup>23</sup></a> records one return of Philip to +Brussels when his arrival was greeted by Charles +of Burgundy, honourably accompanied by children +of high birth about his age or less, some only +eleven or twelve years old. There were with him +Jehan de la Trémoille, Philip de Croy, Philip de +Crèvecœur, Philip de Wavrin, and many others. +All were mounted on little horses harnessed like +that of their governor, a very honest and wise +gentleman, named Messire Jehan, Seigneur et +Ber d'Auxy. This gentleman was a fine man, +well known, of good lineage, ready of speech and +able to discuss matters of honour and of state.</p> + +<p> +He was both hunter and falconer, skilled in all<span class="page"><a name="18">[page 18]</a></span> +exercise and sport.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Never [asserts La Marche] have I met a gentleman +better adapted to supervise the education of a young +prince than he.... Among his pupils were also +Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy,<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#I24"><sup>24</sup></a></span> son of Philip, and +the Marquis Hugues de Rottelin. These lads were +older than the first mentioned."</p> + + +<p> +La Marche dilates on the pleasure the duke felt +in this youthful band of horse, and then tells how, +within Brussels,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"he was received by the magistrates and conducted +to his palace, where the Duchess of Burgundy awaited +him holding by the hand Madame Catherine of France, +Countess of Charolais. She was about twelve and +seemed a lady grown, for she was good and wise, and +well conditioned for her age."</p> + +<p> +At various state functions the Count and Countess +of Charolais appeared together in public, and +witnessed certain of the gorgeous and costly entertainments +which were almost the daily food of +the gay Burgundian court. One of these occasions +was calculated to make a deep impression +on the boy and to arouse his pride at the spectacle +of a proud city wooing his father's favour, in deep +humiliation.</p> + +<span class="page1"><a name="patronletters">[plate 4]</a></span> +<br /><br /><p class="center"> +<img src="cbimages/image04patronletters.jpg" width="400" height="681" alt="PHILIP THE GOOD AS PATRON OF LETTERs THE YOUNG COUNT OF CHAROLAIS IS IN THE BACKGROUND..." border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +In 1436, an insurrection had occurred in Bruges, +when the animosity of the burghers had caused<span class="page"><a name="19">[page 19]</a></span> +the duchess to flee from their midst, holding her +little son in her arms, alarmed for his personal +safety. Philip suppressed the revolt, but, in his +anger at its insolence, declared that never again +would he set foot within the gates unless in company +with his superior.</p> +<p> +Among the many negotiations wherein Isabella +played a prominent part as her husband's representative, +were those concerning the liberation +of the Duke of Orleans, who had remained in England, +a prisoner, after the battle of Agincourt in +1415. The last advice given by Henry V. to his +brothers was that they should make this captivity +perpetual. Therefore, whenever overtures +were made for his redemption, a strong party, +headed by Humphrey of Gloucester, rejected them +vehemently.</p> +<p> +In 1440, however, there was a turn in the tide +of sentiment. Possibly the low state of the English +exchequer made the duke's ransom more +attractive than his person. At any rate, 120,000 +golden crowns were accepted as his equivalent, +and the exile of twenty-five years returned to +France, having pledged himself never to bear +arms against England.</p> +<p> +Isabella of Burgundy was at Calais to welcome +him, and to escort him to St. Omer, where high +revels were held in his honour and in that of his +alliance with Marie of Cleves, Philip's niece.</p> +<p> +The week intervening between the betrothal +and the nuptials was passed in a succession of banquets +and tourneys, gorgeous in their elaboration.<span class="page"><a name="20">[page 20]</a></span> +Moreover, St. Andrew's Day chancing to fall just +then, the new Burgundian Order was convened +and the Duke of Orleans was elected a Knight of +the Golden Fleece, while in his turn he presented +his cousin with the collar of his own Order of the +Porcupine. Lord Cornwallis and other English +gentlemen who had accompanied Orleans across +the Channel participated in these gaieties, nor +were they among the least favoured guests, adds +Barante.</p> +<p> +Amity was triumphant, and there was a general +feeling abroad that the returned exile was henceforth +to be the ruling power in France. People +began to look to him to act as the go-between in +their behalf, to be their mediator with Charles +VII., still little known at his best. Many towns +turned towards him in hopes of finding a friend, +and among them was Bruges. But it was not royal +favours that Bruges sought. Her burghers felt +great inconvenience from the breach with their +sovereign duke. Anxious to be reinstated in his +grace, they seized the opportunity of reminding +Philip of his assertion, and they besought him to +enter their gates in company with the Duke of +Orleans, a prince of the blood, closer to the French +sovereign than the Duke of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +After some demur, Philip consented to grant +their petition. Possibly he was not loth to be +persuaded. The deputies hastened back to Bruges +to rejoice their fellow-citizens with the news, and +to prepare a reception for their appeased sovereign,<span class="page"><a name="21">[page 21]</a></span> +calculated to make him content with the late rebels.</p> +<p> +Before the grand cortège, composed of the two +dukes, their consorts, and the dignitaries who had +assisted in the feasts of marriage and of chivalry, +reached the gates of Bruges, the citizens were +ready with a touching spectacle of humility and +repentance.<a href="#I25"><sup>25</sup></a></p> + +<p> +A league from the gates, the magistrates and +burghers stood in the road awaiting the travellers +from St. Omer. All were barefooted and bareheaded. +Under the December sky they waited +the approach of the stately procession. When +the duke arrived, they all fell upon their knees and +implored him to forgive the late troubles and to +reinstate their city in his favour. Philip did not +answer immediately—delay was always a feature +of these episodes. Thereupon, the Duke of Orleans, +both duchesses, and all the gentlemen joined +their entreaties to the citizens' prayers. Again a +pause, and then, as if generously yielding to pressure, +Philip bade the burghers put on their shoes +and their hats while he accepted at their hands the +keys of all the gates. Then the long procession +moved on towards Bruges. At the gate were +the clergy, followed by the monks, nuns, and beguins +of the various convents and foundations, +bearing crosses, banners, reliquaries, and many +precious ecclesiastical treasures. There, too, were +the gilds and merchants, on horseback, with magnificent<span class="page"><a name="22">[page 22]</a></span> +accoutrements freshly burnished to do +honour to the welcome they offered their forgiving +overlord.</p> +<p> +Throughout Bruges, at convenient places, platforms +and stages were erected, whereon were enacted +dramatic performances, given continuously, +to provide amusement for the collected crowds. +Sometimes the presentation carried significance +beyond mere entertainment. Here a maid, garbed +as a wood nymph, appeared leading a swan which +wore the collar of the Golden Fleece and a porcupine. +This last beast was to symbolise the Orleans +device, <i>Near and Far</i>, as the creature was +supposed to project his spines to a distance.</p> +<p> +One enthusiastic citizen covered his whole house +with gold and the roof with silver leaves to betoken +his satisfaction. Indeed, if we may believe +the chroniclers, never in the memory of man had +any city incurred so much expense to honour its +lord. The duke permitted his heart to be touched +by these proofs of devotion, and on the very evening +of his arrival he evinced that his confidence +was restored by sending the civic keys and a gracious +message to the magistrates. At the news +of this condescension the cries of "<i>Noël</i>" re-echoed +afresh through the illuminated streets.</p> +<p> +Charles was not present at this entry, which +took place on Saturday, December 11th, but Philip +was so much entertained with the performance +that he sent for his son, and on the following Saturday +he and the Countess of Charolais came from<span class="page"><a name="23">[page 23]</a></span> +Ghent to join the party. The Duke of Orleans +and many nobles rode out of the city to meet the +young couple, who were formally escorted to the +palace by magistrates and citizens in a body. On +the Sunday there were repetitions of some of +the plays and every attention was offered by the +Bruges burghers to their young guests. When +Orleans departed with his bride on Tuesday, December +14th, what wonder that the lady wept in +sorrow at leaving these gay Burgundian doings!</p> +<p> +While Charles did not actually witness the humiliation +of the citizens, the seven-year-old boy +would, undoubtedly, have heard and known sufficient +of the cause of the festivals to be fully aware +that the citizens who had dared defy his father +were glad to buy back his smiles at any cost to +their pride and purse. He would have known, +too, that merchants from Venice, Genoa, Florence, +and elsewhere joined the Bruges burghers in the +welcome to the mollified overlord. It was a spectacle +of the relations between a city and the ducal +father not to be easily forgotten by the son.</p> +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#1">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="I1">The</a> indefatigable Gachard has published an itinerary of +Philip the Good, so far as he could make it. <i>(Collection des +voyages des souverains des Pays Bas</i>, i., 71.) Unfortunately, +owing to the destruction of papers, only a few years are +complete. Between 1428-1441, there is nothing. But the +itinerary for 1441 and for other years shows how often the +duke changed his residences. Sometimes he is accompanied +by Madame de Bourgogne, sometimes by M. and Madame de +Charolais.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#3">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="I2">It</a> was also said that the woollen manufactures of Flanders +were denoted by the emblem of the golden fleece.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#3">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="I3">Reiffenberg</a>, <i>Histoire de l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or,</i> p. xxi.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#3">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="I4">Hist.</a> de I'Ordre,</i> etc., p. i.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#4">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="I5">All</a> the Burgundian embassies were not as patent to the +public as were Isabella's. An item like the following from +the accounts of 1448-49 whets the reader's curiosity:<br /><br /> + +"To Jehan Lanternier, barber and varlet of the chamber, +for delivering to a certain person for certain causes and for +secret matters of which Monseigneur does not wish further +declaration to be made, 53 pounds 17 sous." + +(Laborde <i>Les Ducs de Bourgogne</i>, etc., "Preuves," i. xiii.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#5">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="I6">"Vingt-quatre</a> chevaliers gentilshommes de nom et d'armes +et sans reproches nés et procrées en léal mariage" <i>(see</i> description +of the first list).—<i>Hist. de l'Ordre,</i> p. xxi.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#6">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="I7">Jacquemin</a> Dauxonne, a merchant of Lombardy living +at Dijon, received twenty-two francs and a half for a rich +cloth of black silk draped about the baptismal font. Why +mourning was used on this joyful occasion does not appear. +(Laborde, i., 321.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#6">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="I8">Summary</a> of a register containing the acts of the Order +of the Golden Fleece quoted in <i>Histoire de l'Ordre,</i> pp. 12, 13.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#6">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="I9">St.</a> Remy, <i>Chronique</i>, ii., 284. St. Remy is usually called +<i>Toison d'Or.</i>]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#7">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="I10">His</a> full name was Charles Martin. One tower alone remains +of the palace where he was born.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#7">[Footnote 11:</a> <i><a name="I11">Hist,</a> de l'Ordre,</i> p. 13.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#7">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="I12">Selden</a> <i>(Titles of Honor</i>, p. 457), however, says he knows +not by what authority this statement is made and that he +knows nothing of it. Seven is the earliest age mentioned by +Gautier for receiving knighthood.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#8">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="I13">Deschamps,</a> <i>Œuvres Complètes</i>, ii., 214.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#9">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="I14">The</a> ancient quarrel between the old Holland parties of +Hooks and Cods continually blazed out anew. On one notable +occasion, to show her impartiality, the duchess appeared +in public accompanied by the stadtholder, Lelaing, a partisan +of the Hooks, and by Frank van Borselen, himself a Cod, the +widower of Jacqueline, the late Countess of Holland.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#10">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="I15">Barante,</a> <i>Histoire des Dues de Bourgogne</i>, vi., 2, note +by Reiffenberg.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#10">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="I16">See</a> <i>Catalogue des manuscrits des Ducs de Bourgogne,</i> +"Résumé historique," i., lxxix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#10">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="I17">Barante,</a> vi., 2, note.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#10">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="I18">Loomis,</a> <i>Medieval Hellenism</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#12">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="I19">Pirenne,</a> <i>Histoire de Belgique</i>, ii., 231.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#13">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="I20">It</a> was in June, 1434, that this alliance had been made. +Sigismund claimed that Philip had no right in Brabant, +Holland, Zealand, and Hainaut, which in his opinion were +lapsed fiefs, of the empire.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#14">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="I21">Putnam,</a> <i>A Medieval Princess</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#16">[Footnote 22:</a> <a name="I22">Monstrelet,</a> <i>La Chronique</i>, v., 344.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#17">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="I23">La</a> Marche, <i>Mémoires</i>, ii., 50.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#18">[Footnote 24:</a> <a name="I24">Reiffenberg,</a> <i>Essai sur les enfants naturels de Philippe de +Bourgogne.</i>]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#21">[Footnote 25:</a> <a name="I25">Meyer,</a> <i>Commentarii sive Annales rerum Flandricarum, +</i> p. 296.]</p> + +<hr /> + + +<span class="page"><a name="24">[page 24]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="II">II</a></h2> + +<h3>YOUTH</h3> + +<h4>1440-1453</h4> +<p> +The heir of Burgundy was still in very tender +years when he began to take official part in +public affairs, sometimes associated with one +parent, sometimes with the other.</p> +<p> +There was a practical advantage in bringing the +boy to the fore by which the duke was glad to +profit. With his own manifold interests, it was +impossible for him to be present in his various capitals +as often as was demanded by the usage of +the diverse individual seigniories. It was politic, +therefore, to magnify the representative capacity +of his son and of his consort in order to obtain the +grants and <i>aides</i> which certain of his subjects declared +could be given only when requested orally +by their sovereign lord. Thus, in 1444, it was +Count Charles and the duchess who appeared in +Holland to ask an <i>aide</i>.<a href="#II1"><sup>1</sup></a> In the following year, +Charles accompanied his father when Philip made +one of his rare visits—there were only three between +1428 and 1466—to Holland and Zealand.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="castle">[plate 5]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image05castle.jpg" width="400" height="673" alt="A CASTLE IN BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="25">[page 25]</a></span> +<p> +Olivier de la Marche was among the attendants +on this occasion, and he describes with great +detail how rejoiced were the inhabitants to have +their absentee count in their land.<a href="#II2"><sup>2</sup></a> Many +matters could only be set aright by his authority. +Among the complaints brought to him +at Middelburg were accusations against a certain +knight of high birth, Jehan de Dombourc. +Philip ordered that the man be arrested at once +and brought before him for trial. This was easier +said than done. Warned of his danger, Dombourc, +with four or five comrades, took refuge in the clock +tower of the church of the Cordeliers, a sanctuary +that could not be taken by storm.<a href="#II3"><sup>3</sup></a> He was provided +with a good store of food, this audacious +criminal, and prepared to stand a siege. There +he remained three days, because, for the honour of +the Church, they could not fire upon him.</p> + +<p> +"And I remember [adds La Marche] seeing a nun +come out and call to Jehan Dombourc, her brother, +advising him to perish defending himself rather than +to dishonour their lineage by falling into the hands +of the executioner. Nevertheless, finally he was forced +to surrender to his prince, and he was beheaded in the +market-place at Middelburg, but, at the plea of his +sister, the said nun, his body was delivered to her to +be buried in consecrated ground."</p> +<p> +In this same visit Philip presided over the Zealand +estates and the young count sat by his side,<span class="page"><a name="26">[page 26]</a></span> +not as an idle spectator, but because usage required +the presence of the heir as well as that of the +Count of Zealand.</p> +<p> +When Charles was twelve he was present at an +assembly of the Order of the Golden Fleece held +in Ghent. It was the first occasion of the kind +witnessed by La Marche, and very minute is his +description of the lavish magnificence of the +affair, undoubtedly intended to awe the citizens +into complying with the requests of their Count +of Flanders.</p> +<p> +Charles played a prominent part in all the functions, +and assisted in the election of his tutor, +Seigneur et Ber d'Auxy. Another candidate of +that year was Frank van Borselen, Count of Ostrevant, +widower of Jacqueline, late Countess of +Holland.</p> +<p> +In 1446, the little Countess of Charolais died at +Brussels. "Honourably as befitted a king's +daughter" was she buried at Ste. Gudule.<a href="#II4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Tireless in their devotion were the duke and +duchess in her last illness, and Charles VII. despatched +two skilled doctors to her aid but all efforts were vain.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Much bemourned was the princess for she was +virtuous. God have pity on her soul"</p> + +<p> +piously ejaculates La Marche.</p> + +<p> +A little item <a href="#II5"><sup>5</sup></a> in the accounts suggests that a +pleasant friendship had existed between the two<span class="page"><a name="27">[page 27]</a></span> +young people:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"To Jehan de la Court, harper of Mme. the Countess +of Charolais, for a harp which she had bought +from him and given to Ms. the Count of Charolais for +him to play and take his amusement, xii francs." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II6"><sup>6</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +It is easy to surmise that music was not, however, +the young count's favourite amusement. In +Philip's court, tournaments were still held and +afforded a fascinating entertainment for a lad +whose bent was undoubtedly towards a military +career.</p> + +<p> +One valiant actor in these tourneys where were +revived the ancient traditions of knighthood, was +Jacques de Lalaing, a chevalier with all the characteristics +of times past, fighting for fame in the +present. In his youth, this aspirant for reputation +swore a vow to meet thirty knights in combat +before he attained his thirtieth year. Dominated +by a desire to fulfil his vow, Lalaing haunted the +court of Burgundy, because the Netherlands were +on the highroad between England and many points +in Germany, Italy, and the East, and there he had +the best chance of falling in with all the prowess +that might be abroad. For stay-at-home prowess<span class="page"><a name="28">[page 28]</a></span> +he cared naught. A delightful personage is Messire +Jacques and a brave rôle does he play in the +series of jousts, sporting gaily on the pages of the +various Burgundian chroniclers, who recorded in +their old age what they had seen in their youth. +One description, however, of these encounters +reads much like another and they need not be +repeated.</p> +<p> +During his childhood Charles was a spectator +only on the days of mimic battle. In his seventeenth +year he was permitted to enter the lists as a +regular combatant, a permission shared by his fellow +pupils all eager to flesh their maiden spears. +The duke arranged that his son should have a preliminary +tilt a few days before the public affair in +order to test his ability. All the courtiers—and +apparently ladies were not excluded from the discussion +on the matter—agreed that no better +knight could be found for this purpose than +Jacques de Lalaing, who, on his part, was highly +honoured by being selected to gauge the untried +capabilities of the prince.<a href="#II7"><sup>7</sup></a></p> + +<p> +In the park at Brussels with the duke and duchess +as onlookers, the preliminary encounter took +place. At the very first attack, Charles struck +Messire Jacques on the shield and shattered his +lance into many pieces. The duke was displeased +because he thought that the knight had not exerted +his full strength and was favouring his son. He +accordingly sent word to Jacques that he must<span class="page"><a name="29">[page 29]</a></span> +play in earnest and not hold his force in leash. +Fresh lances were brought; again did the count +withstand the attack so sturdily that both lances +were shattered. This time the boy's mother was +the dissatisfied one, thinking that the knight was +too hard with his junior, but the duke only +laughed.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Thus differed the parents. The one desired him +to prove his manhood, the other was preoccupied +with his safety. With these two courses the trial +ended amid rounds of applause for the prince."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II8"><sup>8</sup></a></span></p> + + +<p> +The actual tourney was held on the Marketplace +in Brussels before a distinguished assembly. +Count Charles was escorted into the arena by his +cousin, the Count d'Estampes, and other nobles. +Seigneur d'Auxy, his tutor, stood near to watch +the maiden efforts of the prince and his mates. +He had reason to be proud of Charles, both for +his bearing and his skill. He gave and received +excellent thrusts, broke more than ten lances, +and did his duty so valiantly that in the evening +he received the prize from two princesses, and +"Montjoye" was cried by the heralds in his honour. +From that time forth, the count was considered +a puissant and rude jouster and gained +great renown.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"And that is the reason why I commence my memoirs +about him and his deeds<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II9"><sup>9</sup></a></span> [continues La Marche,<span class="page"><a name="30"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 30]</span></a></span> +on concluding his description of the tournament], +and I do not speak from hearsay and rumour. As +one who has been brought up with him from his youth +in his father's service and in his own, I will touch upon +his education, his morals, his character, and his habits +from the moment when I first saw him as appears +above in my memoirs.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"As to his character, I will commence at the worst +features. He was hot, active, and impetuous: as a +child he was very eager to have his own way. Nevertheless, +he had so much understanding and good sense +that he resisted his inclinations and in his youth no +one could be found sweeter or more courteous than he. +He did not take the name of God or the saints in vain, +and held God in great fear and reverence. He learned +well and had a retentive memory. He was fond of +reading and of hearing read the stories of Lancelot +and Gawain, but to both he preferred the sea and +boats. Falconry, too, he loved and he hunted whenever +he had leave. In archery he early excelled his +comrades and was good at other sports. Thus was +the count educated, trained, and taught, and thus did +he devote himself to good and excellent exercise."</p> + +<p> +That the report of the lavishness and extravagance +of the Burgundian court was no idle rumour, +exaggerated by frequent repetitions, is attested +to by every bit of contemporary evidence. Enthusiastic +and loyal chroniclers dwell on the magnificence, +and the arid details of bills paid show +what it cost to attain the vaunted perfection, while +the protests from taxpayers prove that this splendour<span class="page"><a name="31">[page 31]</a></span> +did not grow like the lilies of the field.</p> +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="accountbook">[plate 6]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image06accountbook.jpg" width="400" height="585" alt="FRONTISPIECE OF A XVTH CENTURY ACCOUNT BOOK" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +Philip's treasury had many separate compartments. +There were many quarters to which he +could turn for his needed supplies, but there were +times when his exchequer ran very threateningly +low, and his financial stress led him to be very +conciliatory towards the burghers with full purses.</p> +<p> +In 1445, Ghent had been honoured by the celebration +of the feast of the Order of the Golden +Fleece within her gates. Two years later, Philip +appeared in person at a meeting of the <i>collace</i>, or +municipal assembly, and delivered a harangue +to the Ghentish magistrates and burghers, flattering +them, moreover, by using their vernacular. +The tenor of this speech was as follows:<a href="#II10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"My good and faithful friends, you know how I +have been brought up among you from my infancy. +That is why I have always loved you more than the inhabitants +of all my other cities, and I have proved this +by acceding to all your requests. I believe then that +I am justified in hoping that you will not abandon +me to-day when I have need of your support. Doubtless +you are not ignorant of the condition of my father's +treasury at the period of his death. The majority +of his possessions had been sold. His jewels were in +pawn. Nevertheless, the demands of a legitimate +vengeance compelled me to undertake a long and +bloody war, during which the defence of my fortresses +and of my cities, and the pay of my army have necessitated<span class="page"><a name="32"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 32]</span></a></span> +outlays so large that it is impossible to estimate +them. You know, too, that at the very moment +when the war on France was at its height, I was obliged, +in order to assure the protection of my country of +Flanders, to take arms against the English in Hainaut, +in Zealand, and in Friesland, a proceeding costing +me more than 10,000 <i>saluts d'or,</i> which I raised +with difficulty. Was I not equally obliged to proceed +against Liege, in behalf of my countship of Namur, +which sprang from the bosom of Flanders? It is not +necessary to add to all these outlays those which I +assume daily for the cause of the Christians in Jerusalem, +and the maintenance of the Holy Sepulchre.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"It is true, however, that, yielding to the persuasions +of the pope and the Council, I have now consented +to put an end to the evils multiplied by war +by forgetting my father's death, and by reconciling +myself with the king. Since the conclusion of this +treaty, I considered that while I had succeeded in +preserving to my subjects during the war the advantages +of industry and of peace, they had submitted +to heavy burdens in taxes and in voluntary contributions, +and that it was my duty to re-establish order +and justice in the administration. But everything +went on as though the war had not ceased. All my +frontiers have been menaced, and I found myself +obliged to make good my rights in Luxemburg, so +useful to the defence of my other lands, especially +of Brabant and Flanders.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"In this way, my expenses continued to increase; +all my resources are now exhausted, and the saddest +part of it all is that the good cities and communes of +Flanders and especially the country folk are at the +very end of their sacrifices. With grief I see many<span class="page"><a name="33"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 33]</span></a></span> +of my subjects unable to pay their taxes, and obliged +to emigrate. Nevertheless, my receipts are so scanty +that I have little advantage from them. Nor do I +reap more from my hereditary lands, for all are equally +impoverished.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"A way must be found to ease the poor people, +and at the same time to protect Flanders from insult, +Flanders for whose sake I would risk my own person, +although to arrive at this end, important measures +have become imperative."</p> + +<p> +After this affectionate preamble, Philip finally +states that, in order to raise the requisite revenues, +no method seemed to him so good and so simple as +a tax on salt, three sous on every measure for a +term of twelve years. He promised to dispense +with all other subsidies and to make his son swear +to demand nothing further as long as the <i>gabelle</i> +was imposed.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Know [he added in conclusion] that even if you +consent to it I will renounce it if others prove of a different +opinion, for I do not desire that the communes +of Flanders be more heavily weighted than any other +portion of my territory."</p> + +<p> +The duke might have spared his trouble and his +elaborate condescension. The answer to his conciliatory +request was a flat refusal to consider +the matter at all. Salt was a vital necessity to +Flemish fisheries, and its cost could not be increased +to the least degree without serious inconvenience. +The Flemings were wroth at his imitating<span class="page"><a name="34">[page 34]</a></span> +the worst custom of his French kinsmen.</p> +<p> +Philip departed from Ghent in great dudgeon. +After a time he was persuaded that the indisposition +of the town to meet his reasonable wishes was +not due to the citizens at large, but to the machinations +of a few unruly agitators among the magistrates. +In 1449, therefore, he took a high-handed +course of trying to direct the issue of the regular +municipal elections, so as to ensure the choice of +magistrates on whose obedience he could rely. +The appearance of Burgundian troops in Ghent, +before the election of mid-August, aroused the +wrath of the community, who thought that their +most cherished franchises were in jeopardy.</p> +<p> +This was the beginning of a bitter struggle between +Ghent and Philip. The duke found it no +light matter to coerce the independent burghers +into remembering that they were simply part of +the Burgundian state. "<i>Tantæ molis erat liberam +gentem in servitutem adigere</i>!" ejaculates Meyer in +the midst of his chronicle of the details of fourteen +months of active hostilities.<a href="#II11"><sup>11</sup></a> Matters were long +in coming to an outbreak. Various points had +been contended over, when Philip had endeavoured +to change the seat of the great council, or +to take divers measures tending to concentrate +certain judicial or legislative functions for his own +convenience, but in a manner prejudicial to the +autonomy of Ghent. His centripetal policy was +disliked, but when his policy went further, and he<span class="page"><a name="35">[page 35]</a></span> +attempted to control purely civic offices, dislike +grew into resentment and the Ghenters rose in +open revolt.</p> + +<p> +For a time, their opposition passed in Philip's +estimation as mere insignificant unruliness. By +1452, however, the date of the tourney above described, +it became evident that a vital issue was at +stake. The Estates of Flanders endeavoured to +mediate between overlord and town, but without +success. Owing to Philip's interference in the +elections, the results were declared void, and when +a new election was appointed, the Burgundians +accused the city of hastily augmenting its number +of legal voters by over-facile naturalisation +laws. The gilds, too, evinced a readiness to be +very lenient in their scrutiny of candidates for +admission to their cherished privileges, preferring, +for the nonce, numbers to quality. Occupancy +of furnished rooms was declared sufficient for enfranchisement, +and there were cases where mere +guests of a bourgeois were hastily recorded on the +lists as full-fledged citizens.</p> +<p> +By these means the popular party waxed very +strong numerically. The sheriffs found themselves +quite unequal to holding the rampant spirit +of democracy in check. The regular government +was overthrown, and the demagogues succeeded in +electing three captains <i>(hooftmans)</i> invested with +arbitrary power for the time being. The decrees +of the ex-sheriffs were suspended, and a mass of +very radical measures promulgated and joyfully<span class="page"><a name="36">[page 36]</a></span> +confirmed by the populace, assembled on the +Friday market. It was to be the judgment of the +town meeting that ruled, not deputed authority. +One ordinance stipulated that at the sound of +the bell every burgher must hasten to the marketplace, +to lend his voice to the deliberations.</p> +<p> +For a time various negotiations went on between +Philip and envoys from Ghent. The latter took +a high hand and insinuated in unmistakable terms +that if the duke refused an accommodation with +them, they would appeal to their suzerain, the King +of France. No act of rebellion, overt or covert, +exasperated Philip more than this suggestion. +Charles VII. was only too ready to ignore those +clauses in the treaty of Arras, releasing the duke +from homage, and virtually acknowledging his +complete independence in his French territories. +The king accepted missives from his late vassal's +city, without reprimanding the writers for their +presumption in signing themselves "Seigneurs of +Ghent."<a href="#II12"><sup>12</sup></a> His action, however, was confined to +mild attempts at mediation.</p> + +<p> +It was plain to the duke that his other towns +would follow Ghent's resistance to his authority +if there were hopes of her success. Therefore he +threw aside all other interests for the time being, +and exerted himself to levy a body of troops to +crush Flemish pretensions. His counsellors advised<span class="page"><a name="37">[page 37]</a></span> +him to sound the temper of other citizens +and to ascertain whether their sympathies were +with Ghent. Answers of feeble loyalty came back +to him from the majority of the other towns. Undoubtedly +they highly approved Ghent's efforts. +They, too, could not afford to pay taxes fraught +with danger to their commerce, nor to relinquish +one jot of privileges dearly bought at successive +crises throughout a long period of years. The +only doubt in their minds was as to the ultimate +success of the burghers to stem the course +of Burgundian usurpation. Therefore, they first +hedged, and then consented to aid the duke. +This course was pursued by the Hollanders and +the Zealanders, all alike short-sighted.</p> +<p> +The Ghenters succeeded in possessing themselves +of the castle of Poucque by force, and of the +village of Gaveren by stratagem, taking advantage +in the latter case of the castellan's absence +at church.</p> +<p> +When every part of his dominions had been canvassed +for troops, and Philip was prepared for his +first active campaign against Ghent, he was anxious +to leave his heir under the protection of the +duchess, conscious that the imminent contest +would be bitter and deadly. A pretence was made +that the young count's accoutrements were not +ready, and that, therefore, he would have to remain +in Brussels.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"But he whose ambitions waxed, hastened the completion +of his accoutrements, and swore by St. George, +the greatest oath he ever used, that he would rather<span class="page"><a name="38"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 38]</span></a></span> +go in his shirt than not accompany his father to punish +his impudent rebel subjects."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II13"><sup>13</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The approaching hostilities were watched by +foreign merchants in dread of commercial disaster.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"On May 18th, the <i>nations</i> <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II14"><sup>14</sup></a></span> of the merchants of +Bruges departed thence to go to Ghent to try to make +peace between that city and the Duke of Burgundy, +and there were <i>nations</i> of Spain, Aragon, Portugal, +and Scotland, besides the Venetians, Milanese, Genoese, +and Luccans."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II15"><sup>15</sup></a></span></p> + + +<p> +But the men of Ghent were beyond the point +where commercial arguments could stem their +course. The very day that this company arrived +in the city, the burghers sallied forth six +or seven thousand strong, fully equipped for +offensive warfare.</p> +<p> +Both the actual engagements and guerilla skirmishes +that raged over a minute stretch of territory +were characterised by an extraordinary +ferocity. Around Oudenarde, which town Philip +was determined to relieve, men were beheaded +like sheep.</p> +<p> +In the first regular engagement in which Charles +took part, he showed a brave front and learned +the duties of a prince by rewarding others with the +honour of knighthood. Among those slain in the +course of the war, were Cornelius, Bastard of Burgundy, +and the gallant Jacques de Lalaing. Philip<span class="page"><a name="39">[page 39]</a></span> +grieved deeply over the death of the former, his +favourite among his natural sons, and buried him +with all honours in the Church of Ste-Gudule +in Brussels. The title by which he was known, +hardly a proud one it would seem, passed to his +brother Anthony. Lalaing, too, was greatly +mourned, thus prematurely cut down in his +thirty-third year.</p> +<p> +There was so much fear lest the duke's sole legitimate +heir might also perish in these conflicts where +there was no mercy, that Charles was persuaded +to go to visit his mother in the hope that she would +keep him by her side. She made a feast in his +honour, but, to the surprise of all, the duchess, +who had wished to protect her son from the mild +perils of a tourney, now encouraged him with +brave words to return to fight in all earnest for his +inheritance.<a href="#II16"><sup>16</sup></a> He himself was very indignant at +the efforts to treat him as a child.</p> + +<p> +The first truce and negotiations for peace, initiated +in the summer of 1452, were broken off +because the conditions were unbearable to the +Ghenters. Another year of warfare followed before +the decisive battle of Gaveren, in July, 1453, forced +them sadly to succumb. There was no other +course open to them. Not only were they defeated +but their numbers were decimated.<a href="#II17"><sup>17</sup></a> With +full allowance for exaggeration, it is certain that the<span class="page"><a name="40">[page 40]</a></span> +loss was very heavy. Terms scornfully rejected at +an earlier date were, in 1453, accepted with every +humiliating detail. More, the defeated rebels were +bidden to be grateful that their kind sovereign had +imposed nothing further to the conditions. As to +abating the severity of the articles, he declared +that he would not change an <i>a</i> for a <i>b</i>.<a href="#II18"><sup>18</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The chief provisions were as follows: The +deans of the gilds were deprived of participation +in the election of sheriffs. The privileges of the +naturalisation laws were considerably abridged. +No sentence of banishment could be pronounced +without the intervention of the duke's bailiff, +whose authorisation, too, was required before +the publication of edicts, ordinances, etc. The +sheriffs were forbidden to place their names at the +head of letters to the officers of the duke. The +banners were to be delivered to the duke and +placed under five locks, whose several keys should +be deposited with as many different people, without +whose consensus the banners could not be +brought forth to lead the burghers to sedition. +One gate was to be closed every Thursday in memory +of the day when the citizens had marched +through it to attack their liege lord, and another +was to be barred up in perpetuity or at the pleasure +of their sovereign. To reimburse the duke for his +enforced outlay, a heavy indemnity was to be paid<span class="page"><a name="41">[page 41]</a></span> +by the city.</p> +<p> +July 30th was the date appointed for the final +act of submission, the <i>amende honorable</i> of the +unfortunate city. The scene was very similar to +that played at Bruges in 1440. Two thousand +citizens headed by the sheriffs, councillors, and +captains of the burgher guard met the duke and +his suite a league without the walls of Ghent. +Bareheaded, barefooted, and divested of all their +robes of office and of dignity, clad only in shirts +and small clothes, these magistrates confessed +that they had wronged their loving lord by unruly +rebellion, and begged his pardon most humbly.</p> +<p> +The duke spent the night of July 29th at Gaveren, +prepared to march out in the morning with +his whole army in handsome array. Philip was +magnificently apparelled, but he rode the same +horse which he had used on the day of battle, with +the various wounds received on that day ostentatiously +plastered over to make a dramatic show +of what the injured sovereign had suffered at the +hands of his disloyal subjects.</p> +<p> +The civic procession was headed by the Abbot +of St. Bavon and the Prior of the Carthusians. +The burghers who followed the half-clad officials +were fully dressed but they, too, were barefoot and +ungirdled. All prostrated themselves in the dust +and cried, "Mercy on the town of Ghent." While +they were thus prostrate, the town spokesman of +the council made an elaborate speech in French, +assuring the duke that if, out of his benign grace. +he would take his loving and repentant subjects<span class="page"><a name="42">[page 42]</a></span> +again into his favour, they would never again give +him cause for reproach.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"At the conclusion of this harangue, the duke and +the Count of Charolais, there present, pardoned the +petitioners for their evil deeds. The men of Ghent +re-entered their town more happy and rejoiced than +can be expressed, and the duke departed for Lille, +having disbanded his army, that every one might +return to their several homes." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II19"><sup>19</sup></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +The joy experienced by the conquered, here described +by La Marche, as he looked back at the +event from the calm retirement of his old age, was +not visible to all eye-witnesses. The progress of +this war was watched eagerly from other parts of +Philip's dominion. His army was full of men from +both the Burgundies, who sent frequent reports +to their own homes. Some passages from one of +these reports by an unknown war correspondent +run as follows:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"As to news from here, Monday after St. Magdalen's +Day, Monseigneur the duke got the better of +the Ghenters near Gaveren between ten and eleven +o'clock. They attacked him near his quarters.... +The duke risked his own person in advance of his +company in the very worst of the slaughter, which +lasted from the said place up to Ghent, a distance of +about two leagues. The slain number three or four +thousand, more or less, and those drowned in the river +of Quaux about two hundred.... This Tuesday, +the date of writing, the army departs from their quarters<span class="page"><a name="43"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 43]</span></a></span> +to advance on Ghent to demand the conditions +lately offered them, and the bearer of this letter will +tell you what is the result. M. the duke and his army +marched up to Ghent and I have seen the bearing of +the citizens. They are very bitter and despondent. +M. the marshall has been parleying. I hear that matters +have been settled. I hear that the Ghenters' loss +is thirteen to fourteen thousand men. I cannot write +more for I have no time owing to the haste of the +messenger."</p> + +<p> +This was written July 23d. There is another +despatch of July 31st, giving the last news, which +was "very joyous." The public apology had just +been enacted—</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"and afterwards, in token of being conquered and as +a confession that my said seigneur was victorious, +those of Ghent have delivered up all their banners +to the number of eighty. And on this day my said +lord has created seven or eight knights and heralds +in honour of his triumph, which is inestimable." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#II20"><sup>20</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +The duke's victory was certainly "inestimable" +in its value to him, yet, in spite of the rigour enforced +on this defeated people, they were not +as crushed as they might have been had they<span class="page"><a name="44">[page 44]</a></span> +submitted in 1445. Philip was clever enough to +be more lenient than appeared at first. Ancient +privileges were confirmed in a special compact, +and the duke swore to maintain all former concessions +in their entirety except in the points above +specified. Liberty of person was guaranteed, +and it was expressly stipulated that if the bailiff +refused to sustain the sheriffs in their exercise of +justice, or tried to arrogate to himself more than his +due authority, he should forfeit his office. Lastly, +and more important than all, the duke made +no attempt to revive the demand for the <i>gabelle</i>—salt +was left free and untaxed. As a matter of +fact, too, the duke was not exigeant in the fulfilment +of every item of the treaty and, two years +later, he increased certain privileges. He had +cut the lion's claws but he had no desire to +pit his strength again with Flemish communes. +He had taught the audacious rebels a lesson and +that sufficed him.<a href="#II21"><sup>21</sup></a></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#24">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="II1">Blok</a>, <i>Eene Hollandsche stad onder de Bourg. Oostenrijksche +Heerschappij,</i> p. 84.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#25">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="II2">La</a> Marche, ii., 79, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#25">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="II3">See</a> also <i>Chronijcke van Nederlant,</i> p. 76, and <i>Vlaamsche +Kronijk,</i> p. 203. Ed. C. Piot.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#26">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="II4">D'Escouchy</a>, <i>Chronique</i>, i., 110.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#27">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="II5">The</a> items of the funeral expenses can be found in Laborde, +i., 380. There were 600 masses at two sous apiece.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#27">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="II6">In</a> that same year, 1440, in which this gift is recorded, +there is another item showing how Charles took his amusement +not only on the harp but in planning some of the elaborate +surprises regularly introduced between courses in the +banquets. "To Barthelmy the painter, for making the cover +of a pasty for the Count of Charolais to present to Monseigneur +on the night of St. Martin in the previous year, v +francs" (Laborde, i., 381).]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#28">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="II7">La</a> Marche, ii., 214.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#29">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="II8">Gachard</a> puts this tournament in Lent, 1452. Charles's +outfit cost 360 livres.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#30">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="II9">La</a> Marche, i., ch. 21.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#31">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="II10">Kervyn</a>, <i>Histoire de Flandre</i>, iv. Kervyn quotes from +the <i>Dagboek des gentsche collatie</i>, M. Schayes.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#34">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="II11">Meyer</a>, xvi., 303.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#36">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="II12">They</a> were charged with using this phrase. Gachard says +that they placed at the top of their letter their titles of sheriffs +and deans, as princes and lords take the title of their seignories.—(La +Marche, ii., 221. <i>See also</i> d'Escouchy, ii., 25.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#38">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="II13">La</a> Marche, ii., 230.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#38">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="II14">Associations</a> of merchants in foreign cities.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#38">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="II15">Chastellain</a>, <i>Œuvres</i>, ii., 221.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#39">[Footnote 16:</a> La <a name="II16">Marche</a>, ii., 312. Chastellain, ii., 278. See also +<i>Chronique d'Adrian de Budt</i>, p. 242, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#40">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="II17">Meyer</a>, p. 313. La Marche, ii., 313. Lavisse, <i>Histoire +de France</i>, accepts 13,000 as the number slain. Chastellain +(ii., 375) puts the number at 22-30,000, including those drowned +by the duke's order. Du Clercq lets a certain sympathy +for the rebellious people escape his pen. Chastellain +and La Marche treat the antagonism to taxes as unreasonable.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#40">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="II18">Chastellain</a>, ii., 387.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#42">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="II19">La</a> Marche, ii., 331. The Chastellain MS. is lacking for +this event.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#43">[Footnote 20:</a> <i><a name="II20">Revue</a> des sociétés savantes des départements</i>, 7me. série, +6, p. 209.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +These two reports were enclosed with brief notes dated +July 31 and August 8, 1453, from the ducal attorney at Amont +to the magistrates of Baume. The former was one of the +highest officials in the Franche-Comté. The reporter might +have been one of his secretaries. The two notes with their +unsigned enclosures were discovered (1881)in the archives of +the town of Baume-les-Dames.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#44">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="II21">Kervyn</a>, <i>Histoire de Flandre</i>, iv., 494.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="45">[page 45]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="III">III</a></h2> + +<h3>THE FEAST OF THE PHEASANT</h3> + +<h4>1454</h4> +<p> +After the fatigues of this contest with Ghent, +followed a period of relaxation for the Burgundian +nobles at Lille, where a notable round of +gay festivities was enjoyed by the court. Adolph +of Cleves inaugurated the series with an entertainment +where, among other things, he delighted his +friends by a representation of the tale of the miraculous +swan,<a href="#III1"><sup>1</sup></a> famous in the annals of his house +for bringing the opportune knight down the Rhine +to wed the forlorn heiress.</p> + +<p> +When his satisfied guests took their leave, +Adolph placed a chaplet on the head of one of the +gentlemen, thus designating him to devise a +new amusement for the company; and under +the invitation lurked a tacit challenge to make +the coming occasion more brilliant than the first. +Again and again was this process repeated. Entertainment +followed entertainment, all a mixture +of repasts and vaudeville shows in whose preparation +the successive hosts vied with each other to +attain perfection.</p> +<p> +The hard times, the stress of ready money, so +eloquently painted when the merchants were implored +to take pity on their poverty-stricken lord,<span class="page"><a name="46">[page 46]</a></span> +were cast into utter oblivion. It was harvest +tide for skilled craftsmen and artisans. Any one +blessed with a clever or fantastic idea easily +found a market for the product of his brain. He +could see his poetic or quaint conception presented +to an applauding public with a wealth of paraphernalia +that a modern stage manager would not +scorn. How much the nobles spent can only be +inferred from the ducal accounts, which are eloquent +with information about the creators of all +this mimic pomp. About six sous a day was the +wage earned by a painter, while the plumbers +received eight. These latter were called upon to +coax pliable lead into all sorts of shapes, often +more grotesque than graceful.</p> +<p> +One fête followed another from the early autumn +of 1453 to February, 1454, when "The Feast of +the Pheasant," as the ducal entertainment was +called, crowned the series with an elaborate magnificence +that has never been surpassed.</p> +<p> +Undoubtedly Philip possessed a genius for dramatic +effect and it is more than possible that he +instigated the progressive banquets for the express +purpose of leading up to the occasion with which +he intended to dazzle Europe.<a href="#III2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="poljester">[plate 7]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image07poljester.jpg" width="400" height="659" alt="COUNT OF ST. POL AND HIS JESTER" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +For the duke's thoughts were now turned from +civic revolts to a great international movement +which he hoped to see set in motion. Almost +coincident with the capitulation of Ghent to Philip's +will had been the capitulation of Constantinople +to the Turks. The event long dreaded by<span class="page"><a name="47">[page 47]</a></span> +pope and Christendom had happened at last +(May 29, 1453). Again and again was the necessity +for a united opposition to the inroads of the +dangerous infidels urged by Rome. On the eve +of St. Martin, 1453, a legate arrived in Lille bringing +an official letter from the pope, setting forth +the dire stress of the Christian Church, and imploring +the mightiest duke of the Occident to be her +saviour, and to assume the leadership of a crusade +in her behalf against the encroaching Turk.<a href="#III3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Philip was ready to give heed to the prayer. +Whatever the exact sequence of his plans in relation +to the court revels, the result was that his +own banquet was utilised as a proper occasion for +blazoning forth to the world with a flourish of trumpets +his august intention of dislodging the invader +from the ancient capital of the Eastern empire.</p> +<p> +The superintendence of the arrangements for +this all-eclipsing fête was entrusted, as La Marche +relates,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"to Messire Jehan, Seigneur de Lannoy, Knight of +the Golden Fleece, and a skilful ingenious gentleman, +and to one Squire Jehan Boudault, a notable and discreet +man. And the duke honoured me so far that he +desired me to be consulted. Several councils were +held for the matter to which the chancellor and the +first chamberlain were invited. The latter had just returned +from the war in Luxemburg already described.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"These council meetings were very important and +very private, and after discussion it was decided what +ceremonies and mysteries were to be presented. The<span class="page"><a name="48"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 48]</span></a></span> +duke desired that I should personate the character +of Holy Church of which he wished to make use at +this assembly."</p> + +<p> +As in many half amateur affairs the preparations +took more time than was expected. At the +first date set, all was not in readiness and the performance +was postponed until February 17th. +This entailed serious loss upon the provision merchants +and they received compensation for the +spoiled birds and other perishable edibles.<a href="#III4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The Royal Library at the Hague possesses a manuscript +copied from an older one which contains the order of proceedings +together with the text of all vows. There is a minute +description in Mathieu d'Escouchy, who claims to have been +present, and in a manuscript coming from Baluze, whose +anonymous author might also have been an eye-witness. Of +the various versions, that of La Marche seems to be the most +original. One record shows that "a clerk living at Dijon, +called Dion du Cret, received, in 1455, a sum of five francs +and a half for having, at the order of the accountants, copied +and written in parchment the history of the banquet of my +said seigneur, held at Lille, February 17, 1453, containing +fifty-six leaves of parchment" (La Marche, ii., 340 note). +It is possible that all the authors refreshed their memory with +this account, which seems to have been merely a copy.]</p> +<p> +The gala-day opened with a tournament at +which Adolph of Cleves again sported as Knight +of the Swan to the applause of the onlookers. +After the jousting, the guests adjourned to the banqueting +hall, where fancy had indeed, run riot, to +make ready for their admiring eyes and their +sagacious palates. <i>Entremets</i> is the term applied +to the elaborate set pieces and side-shows<span class="page"><a name="49">[page 49]</a></span> +provided to entertain the feasters between courses, +and these were on an unprecedented scale.</p> +<p> +Three tables stood prepared respectively for +the duke and his suite, for the Count of Charolais, +his cousins, and their comrades, and for the +knights and ladies. The first table was decorated +with marvellous constructions, among which was +a cruciform church whose mimic clock tower was +capacious enough to hold a whole chorus of singers. +The enormous pie in which twenty-eight musicians +were discovered when the crust was cut may +have been the original of that pasty whose opening +revealed four-and-twenty blackbirds in a similar +plight. Wild animals wandered gravely at a +machinist's will through deep forests, but in +the midst of the counterfeit brutes there was at +least one live lion, for Gilles le Cat<a href="#III5"><sup>5</sup></a> received twenty +shillings from the duke for the chain and locks +he made to hold the savage beast fast "on the day +of the said banquet."</p> + +<p> +Again there was an anchored ship, manned with +a full crew and rigged completely. "I hardly +think," observes La Marche, "that the greatest +ship in the world has a greater number of ropes +and sails."</p> +<p> +Before the guests seated themselves they +wandered around the hall and inspected the +decorations one by one. Nor was their admiration +exhausted when they turned to the discussion of the +toothsome dainties provided for their delectation.</p> +<p> +During the progress of the banquet, the story of<span class="page"><a name="50">[page 50]</a></span> +Jason was enacted. Time there certainly was for +the play. La Marche estimated forty-eight dishes +to every course, though he qualifies his statement +by the admission that his memory might be inexact. +These dishes were wheeled over the tables +in little chariots before each person in turn.</p> +<p> +"Such were the mundane marvels that graced +the fête," is the conclusion of La Marche's <a href="#III6"><sup>6</sup></a> exhaustive +enumeration of the masterpieces from +artists' workshops and ducal kitchen</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"I will leave them now to record a pity moving +<i>entremets</i> which seemed to be more special than the +others. Through the portal whence the previous +actors had made their entrance, came a giant larger +without artifice than any I had ever seen, clad in a long +green silk robe, a turban on his head like a Saracen in +Granada. His left hand held a great, old-fashioned +two-bladed axe, his right hand led an elephant covered +with silk. On its back was a castle wherein sat a +lady looking like a nun, wearing a mantle of black +cloth and a white head-dress like a recluse. <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#III7"><sup>7</sup></a></span></p> +<p class="quote"> +"Once within the hall and in sight of the noble +company, like one who had work before her, she said +to the giant, her conductor:</p> + +<blockquote> +"'Giant, prithee let me stay<br /> + For I spy a noble throng<br /> + To whom I wish to speak.'<br /><br /> +</blockquote> + +<p class="quote"> +"At these words her guide conducted his charge +before the ducal table and there she made a piteous<span class="page"><a name="51"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 51]</span></a></span> +appeal to all assembled to come to rescue her, Holy +Church, fallen into the hands of unbelieving miscreants. +As soon as she ceased speaking a body of officers +entered the hall, Toison d'Or, king-at-arms, +bringing up the rear. This last carried a live pheasant +ornamented with a rich collar of gold studded +with jewels. Toison d'Or was followed by two maidens, +Mademoiselle Yolande, bastard daughter of the +duke, and Isabelle of Neufchâtel, escorted by two gentlemen +of the Order. They all proceeded to the host. +After greetings, Toison d'Or then said:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"'High and puissant prince and my redoubtable +lord, here are ladies who recommend themselves very +humbly to you because it is, and has been, the custom +at great feasts and noble assemblies to present to the +lords and nobles a peacock or some other noble bird +whereon useful and valid vows may be made. I am +sent hither with these two demoiselles to present to you +this noble pheasant, praying you to remember them.'</p> +<p class="quote"> +"When these words were said, Monseigneur the +duke, who knew for what purpose he had given +the banquet, looked at the personified Church, and +then, as though in pity for her stress, drew from his +bosom a document containing his vow to succour +Christianity, as will appear later. The Church manifested +her joy, and seeing that my said seigneur had +given his vow to Toison d'Or, she again burst forth +forth into rhyme:</p> + +<blockquote> + "'God be praised and highly served<br /> + By thee, my son, the foremost peer in France.<br /> +Thy sumptuous bearing have I close observed<br /> +Until it seemed thou wert reserved<br /> +<span class="page"><a name="52"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 52]</span></a></span> + To bring me my deliverance.<br /> + Near and far I seek alliance<br /> +And pray to God to grant thee grace<br /> +To work His pleasure in thy place.<br /><br /> + + "'0 every prince and noble, man and knight,<br /> + Ye see your master pledged to worthy deed.<br /> +Abandon ease, abjure delight,<br /> +Lift up your hand, each in his right,<br /> + Offer God the savings from thy greed.<br /> + I take my leave, imploring each, indeed,<br /> +To risk his life for Christian gain,<br /> +To serve his God and 'suage my pain.'<br /><br /> +</blockquote> +<p class="quote"> +"At this the giant led off the elephant and departed +by the same way in which he had entered.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"When I had seen this <i>entremets</i>, that is, the +Church and a castle on the back of such a strange +beast, I pondered as to whether I could understand +what it meant and could not make it out otherwise +except that she had brought this beast, rare among +us, in sign that she toiled and laboured in great adversity +in the region of Constantinople, whose trials we +know, and the castle in which she was signified Faith. +Moreover, because this lady was conducted by this +mighty giant, armed, I inferred that she wished to +denote her dread of the Turkish arms which had +chased her away and sought her destruction.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"As soon as this play was played out, the noble +gentlemen, moved by pity and compassion, hastened +to make vows, each in his own fashion."</p> + +<p> +The vow of the Count of Charolais was as +follows:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"I swear to God my creator, and to His glorious +mother, to the ladies and to the pheasant, that, if my<span class="page"><a name="53"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 53]</span></a></span> +very redoubtable lord and father embark on this +holy journey, and if it be his pleasure that I accompany +him, I will go and will serve him as well +as I can and know how to do."</p> + +<p> +Other vows were less simple: all kinds of fantastic +conditions being appended according to individual +fancy. One gentleman decided never +to go to bed on a Saturday until his pledge were +accomplished. Another that he would eat nothing +on Fridays that had ever lived until he had +had an opportunity of meeting the enemy hand +to hand, and of attacking, at peril of his life, the +banner of the Grand Turk.</p> +<p> +Philip Pot vowed never to sit at table on a Tuesday +and to wear no protection on his right arm. +This last the duke refused to permit. Hugues de +Longueval vowed that when he had once turned +his face to the East he would abstain from wine +until he had plunged his sword in an infidel's blood, +and that he would devote two years to the crusade +even if he had to remain all alone, provided Constantinople +were not recovered. Louis de Chevelast +swore that no covering should protect his +head until he had come to within four leagues of +the infidels, and that he would fight a Turk on foot +with nothing on his arm but a glove. There was +the same emulation in the vows as in the banquets +and many of the self-imposed penalties were as +bizarre as the side-shows.</p> +<p> +There were so many chevaliers eager to bind +themselves to the enterprise that the prolonged +ceremony threatened to become tedious. The<span class="page"><a name="54">[page 54]</a></span> +duke, therefore, declared that the morrow would +be equally valid as the day. <a href="#III8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + + +<p class="quote"> +"To abridge my tale [continues La Marche], the +banquet was finished and the cloth removed and every +one began to walk around the room. To me it seemed +like a dream, for, of all the decorations, soon nothing +remained but the crystal fountain. When there was +no further spectacle to distract me, then my understanding +began to work and various considerations +touching this business came into my mind. First, I +pondered upon the outrageous excess and great expense +incurred in a brief space by these banquets, for +this fashion of progressive entertainments, with the +hosts designated by chaplets, had lasted a long time. +All had tried to outshine their predecessors, and all, +especially my said lord, had spent so much that I +considered the whole thing outrageous and without +any justification for the expense, except as regarded +the <i>entremets</i> of the Church and the vows. Even that +seemed to me too lightly treated for an important +enterprise.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Meditating thus I found myself by chance near a +gentleman, councillor and chamberlain, who was in +my lord's confidence and with whom I had some acquaintance. +To him I imparted my thoughts in the +course of a friendly chat and his comment was as +follows:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"'My friend, I know positively that these chaplet +entertainments would never have occurred except by<span class="page"><a name="55"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 55]</span></a></span> +the secret desire of the duke to lead up to this very +banquet where he hoped to achieve a holy purpose +and to resist the enemies of our faith. It is three +years now since the distress of our Church was presented +to the Knights of the Golden Fleece at Mons. +My lord there dedicated his person and his wealth +to her service. Since then occurred the rebellion of +Ghent, which entailed upon him a loss of time and +money. Thanks be to God, he has attained there a +good and honourable peace, as every one knows. +Now it has chanced that, during this very period, the +Turks have encroached on Christianity still further in +their capture of Constantinople. The need of succour +is very pressing and all that you have witnessed to-day +is proof that the good duke is intent on the weal of +Christendom.'"</p> + +<p> +During the progress of this conversation, a new +company was ushered into the hall, preceded by +musicians. Here came <i>Grâce Dieu</i>, clad as a nun +followed by twelve knights dressed in grey and +black velvet ornamented with jewels. Not alone +did they come. Each gentleman escorted a dame +wearing a coat of satin cramoisy over a fur-edged +round skirt <i>à la Portuguaise. Grâce Dieu</i> declared +in rhyme that God had heard the pious resolution +of Duke Philip of Burgundy. He had forthwith +sent her with her twelve attendants to promise +him a happy termination to his enterprise. Her +ladies, Faith, Charity, Justice, Reason, Prudence, +and their sisters, were then presented to him. +<i>Grâce Dieu</i> departs alone and no sooner has she +disappeared than Philip's new attributes begin to +dance to add to the good cheer. Among the knights<span class="page"><a name="56">[page 56]</a></span> +was Charles and one of his half-brothers; among +the ladies was Margaret, Bastard of Burgundy, +and the others were all of high birth. Not until +two o'clock did the revels finally cease.</p> +<p> +It must be noted that La Marche's reflections +upon the extravagance of the entertainment occur +also in Escouchy's memoirs. Probably both drew +their moralising from another author. It is +stated by several reputable chroniclers that Olivier +de la Marche himself represented the Church. That +he merely wrote her lines is far more probable. +Female performers certainly appeared freely in +these as in other masques, and there was no +reason for putting a handsome youth in this rôle +of the captive Church. In mentioning the plans +that La Marche claims to have heard discussed +in the council meeting, he says plainly that he +was to play the rôle of Holy Church, but as he +makes no further allusion to the fact, it may be +dismissed as one of his careless statements.</p> +<p> +This pompous announcement of big plans was +the prelude to nothing! Yet it was by no means +a farce when enacted. Philip fully intended to +make this crusade the crowning event of his +life, and his proceedings immediately after the +great fête were all to further that end. To obtain +allies abroad, to raise money at home, and to ensure +a peaceful succession for his son in case of his +own death in the East—such were the cares demanding +the duke's attention.</p> +<p> +The twenty-year-old Count of Charolais was<span class="page"><a name="57">[page 57]</a></span> +entrusted with the regency for the term of his +father's sojourn abroad in quest of allies, and +he hastened to Holland to assume the reins of +government, but he was speedily recalled to Lille +to submit once more to paternal authority before +being left to his own devices and to maternal +bias.</p> +<p> +For the ducal pair disagreed seriously on the +subject of their son's second marriage. Isabella +wished that a bride should be sought in England, +and this wish was apparently echoed by Charles +himself. The important topic was discussed with +more or less freedom among the young courtiers, +until the drift of the conversations, whose burden +was wholly adverse to his own fixed purpose, came +to Philip's ears, together with the information +that one of his own children was among those who +incited the count to independent desires about his +future wife. Very stern was the duke in his reprimand +to the two young men. He acknowledged +that force of circumstances had once led him into +friendly bonds with the foes of his own France, +but never had he been "English at heart." +Charles must accept his father's decision on pain +of disinheritance. "As for this bastard," Philip +added, turning to the other son, destitute of +status in the eyes of the law, "if I find that he +counsels you to oppose my will, I will have +him tied up in a sack and thrown into the +sea." <a href="#III9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The bride selected for the heir was Isabella of<span class="page"><a name="58">[page 58]</a></span> +Bourbon, daughter of the duke's sister, and the +betrothal was hastily made. Even the approval +of the bride's parents was dispensed with. +This passed the more easily as the young lady herself +was conveniently present in the Burgundian +court under the guardianship of her aunt, the +duchess, who had superintended her education. +A papal dispensation was more necessary than +paternal consent, but that, too, was waived as far +as the betrothal was concerned. To that extent +was Philip obeyed. Then Charles returned to +Holland and his father proceeded to Germany to +obtain imperial co-operation in his Eastern enterprise.</p> +<p> +The duke's departure from Lille was made very +privately at five o'clock in the morning. He was +off before his courtiers were aware of his last +preparations. That was a surprise, but not the +only one in store for those left behind. In +order to save every penny for his journey, Philip +ordered radical retrenchment in his household +expenses. The luxurious repasts served to his +retainers were abolished and all alike found themselves +forced to restrict their appetites to the dainties +they could purchase with the table allowance +accorded them. "The court's leg is broken," +said Michel, the rhetorician.<a href="#III10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> + +<p> +In his own outlay there was no stinting; the +duke's progress was pompous and stately as +was his wont. As he traversed Switzerland,<span class="page"><a name="59">[page 59]</a></span> +Berne, Zurich, and Constance asked and obtained +permission to show their friendship with +ceremonious receptions. Loud were the cries of +"<i>Vive Bourgogne</i>." Equally hospitable were the +German cities. Game, wine, fodder, were offered +for the traveller's use at every stage, as he and his +suite rode to the imperial diet.</p> +<p> +At Ratisbon, disappointment greeted him. The +emperor whom he had come so far to see in person +failed to appear. Unwilling to accede to the plan of +co-operation, afraid to give an open refusal, Frederic +simply avoided hearing the request. Essentially +lazy, he shrank from committing himself to a difficult +enterprise, nor was his ambition tempted by +possible glory. It had cost no pang to refuse the +crown of Bohemia and Hungary. But even had +he been personally ambitious he might still have +been slow to lend his adherence to the duke's project, +in the not unnatural dread lest the flashing +renown of the greatest duke of the Occident might +throw a poor emperor as ally into the shade. The +very warmth of Philip's reception in Germany had +chilled Frederic. From a retreat in Austria, he +sent his secretary, Æneas Sylvius, to represent +him at Ratisbon, a substitution far from pleasing +to the visitor.</p> +<p> +There were other defections, too, from the +diet. None of those present was in a position to +aid Philip in furthering his schemes. The matter +was brought forward and laid on the table to be +discussed at the next diet, appointed to meet in +November at Frankfort. But Philip would not<span class="page"><a name="60">[page 60]</a></span> +wait for that. Germany did not agree with him. +He was not well. Rumours there were of various +kinds about his reasons for returning home. They +do not seem to require much explanation, however. +He had not been met half way in Germany and +was highly displeased at the failure. Declining +all further entertainment proffered by the cities, +he travelled back to Besançon by way of Stuttgart +and Basel. In the early autumn he was at +Dijon.</p> +<p> +During this summer, negotiations about Charles's +marriage had continued. The Duke of Bourbon +was inclined to chaffer about the dowry demanded +by Philip. One of the estates asked for was +Chinon, and it was urged that it, a male fief, +was not capable of alienation. Philip was not +inclined to accept this reason as final and the +negotiations hung fire, much to the distress of the +Duchess of Bourbon, who feared a breach between +her husband and brother. Naïve are the +phrases in one of her letters as quoted by +Chastellain:<a href="#III11"><sup>11</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"MY VERY DEAR SEIGNEUR AND BROTHER,</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"I have heard all Boudault's message from you ... +To be brief, Monseigneur is content and ready to accede +the points that you demand. It seems to me +that you ought to give him easy terms and that you +ought to put aside any grudge you may cherish against +him. Monseigneur, since I consider the thing as +done, I beg you to celebrate the nuptials as soon as +possible although not without me as you have<span class="page"><a name="61"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 61]</span></a></span> +promised me." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#III12"><sup>12</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The king, too, was interested in the matter, and +wrote as follows to Duke Philip:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"DEAR AND MUCH LOVED BROTHER:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Some time ago my cousin of Bourbon informed +me of the negotiations for the marriage of my cousin +of Charolais, your son, to my cousin Isabella of Bourbon, +his daughter, which marriage has been deferred, +as he writes me, because he does not wish to alienate +to his daughter the seignory of Château-Chinon. It +is not possible for him to do this on account of the +marriage agreement of our daughter Jeanne and my +cousin of Clermont, his son, wherein it was stipulated +that Château-Chinon should go to them and their +heirs. Moreover, it cannot descend in the female +line, and in default of heirs male it must return to the +crown as a true appanage of France.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Lest, peradventure, you may doubt the truth of +this, and imagine that the point is urged by our cousin +of Bourbon simply as an excuse for not ceding the +estate, we assure you that it is true, and was considered +in arranging the alliance of our daughter so that +it is beyond the power of our cousin of Bourbon to +make any alienation or transfer of the territory at the +marriage of his daughter. We never would have +permitted the marriage of our daughter without this +express settlement. With this consideration it seems +to me that you ought not to block the marriage in +question, especially as my cousin says he is offering +you an equivalent. He cannot do more as we have +charged our councillor, the bailiff of Berry, to explain +to you in full. So pray do not postpone the marriage +for the above cause or for any cause, if by the permission<span class="page"><a name="62"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 62]</span></a></span> +of the Church and of our Holy Father it can be +lawfully completed.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> + "Given at Romorantin, Oct. 17.<br /><br /> + + "CHARLES.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#III13"><sup>13</sup></a></span></p> +<p class="rindent"> + CHALIGAUT."</p> + + +<p> +As the marriage was an event of importance, +and the circumstances are simple historic facts, it +is strange that there should be any uncertainty +regarding the details of its solemnisation. But +there is a certain vagueness about the narratives. +One version is so amusing that it deserves a slight +consideration.<a href="#III14"><sup>14</sup></a> The chronicler relates how +Charles VII. felt some uneasiness at the delay +in the negotiations. Conscious of the sentiments +of the Duchess of Burgundy, he feared lest +her well-known sympathies for England might +prevail in the final decision.</p> + +<p> +When Philip had returned to Dijon, the bailiff +of Berry came as the king's special envoy to discuss +some aspects of the subject with him. +The mission was gladly undertaken as the messenger +had never seen Philip nor his court and +he was pleased at the chance of meeting a personage +whose fame rang through Europe. Very graciously +was he received by the duke, who read the +king's letters attentively and replied to the envoy's +messages in general terms of courteous recognition, +without making his own intention manifest. The +bailiff waited for an answer, finding, in the meanwhile,<span class="page"><a name="63">[page 63]</a></span> +that his days passed very agreeably.</p> +<p> +As a matter of fact, before his arrival at Dijon +Philip Pot had set out for the Netherlands, bearing +the duke's orders to his son to celebrate his +nuptials without further delay. The duke did +not intend to be influenced by any one. It was +his will that his son should accept the bride selected +and that was all sufficient. The reason +why the duke detained the king's messenger was +that he "awaited news from Messire Philip de Pot, +whom he had sent in all speed to his son to hasten +the wedding."<a href="#III15"><sup>15</sup></a> The said gentleman found the +count at Lille with the duchess, his mother, and +he was so diligent in the discharge of his mission +that he made all the arrangements himself and +saw the wedding rites solemnised immediately. +The bridegroom did not even know of the plan +until the night preceding the important day. +Then Philip Pot rode back to Dijon.</p> + +<p> +When the duke was assured that the alliance +was irrevocably sealed he was quite ready to answer +the king's messenger, whom he at once invited +to an audience. In a casual fashion Philip +remarked:</p> +<p> +"Now bailiff, the king sent you hither about a +matter which I am humbly grateful for his interest +in. You know my opinion. I had no desire to +dissemble. Here is a gentleman fresh from +Flanders; ask him his news and note his reply."</p> +<p> +"What tidings, Monsieur, do you bring us?</p> +<p> +Prithee impart it" said the bailiff to the chevalier.<span class="page"><a name="64">[page 64]</a></span> +And the gentleman, laughing, replied: "By my +faith, Monsieur bailiff, the greatest news that +I know is that Monseigneur de Charolais is +married!"</p> +<p> +"Married! to whom?"</p> +<p> +"To whom?" responded the chevalier, "why, to +his first cousin, Monseigneur's niece."</p> +<p> +Merry was the duke over the Frenchman's +blank amazement. Again the latter had to be +reassured of the truth of the statement. Philip +Pot told him that it was so true that the wedded +pair had spent the night together according to +their lawful right.</p> +<p> +The bailiff did not know which way to turn. "So +he acted out his two rôles. Returning thanks to +the duke in the king's name with all formality, he +then joined in the general laugh over the unsuspected +trick. He was a man of the world and +knew how to take advantage of sense and of +folly."</p> +<p> +It was on the morrow of this hasty tying of the +wedding knot that the Countess of Charolais sent +a messenger to announce the fact to her parents. +They seem to have been perfectly satisfied, made +no further objection to any point, and the mooted +territory of Chinon made part of the dower in +spite of the reasons urged against it.</p> +<p> +As to the bailiff, when he made his adieux at +Dijon, Philip presented him with a round dozen +stirrup cups, each worth three silver marks, and +he went home a surprised and delighted man.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"About this time [says Alienor de Poictiers] Monsieur<span class="page"><a name="65"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 65]</span></a></span> +de Charolais married Mademoiselle de Bourbon +and he married her on the eve of All Saints<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#III16"><sup>16</sup></a></span> at Lille, +and there was no festival because Duke Philip was +then in Germany. Eight days after the nuptials the +duchess gave a splendid banquet where were all the +ladies of Lille, but they were seated all together, +as is usually done at an ordinary banquet, without +mesdames holding state as would have been proper +for such an occasion."</p> + + +<p> +It is evident from all the stories that Charles +protested against his father's orders as much as +he dared and then obeyed simply because he could +not help himself.</p> +<p> +Yet, strange to say, the unwilling bridegroom +proved a faithful husband in a court where marital +fidelity was a rare trait.</p> +<p> +Philip's plans for the international union against +the Turk were less easily completed than those +for the union of his son and his niece. In November, +the diet met at Frankfort; the expedition was +discussed and some resolutions were passed, but +nothing further was achieved.</p> +<p> +Charles VII. would not even promise co-operation +on paper. He had gradually extended his +own domain in French-speaking territory and had +dislodged the English from every stronghold except +Guisnes and Calais. Under him France was +regaining her prestige. Charles had much to lose,<span class="page"><a name="66">[page 66]</a></span> +therefore, in joining the undertaking urged by +Philip and he was wholly unwilling to risk it. +From him Philip obtained only expressions of +general interest in the repulse of the Turks, and +more definite suggestions of the dangers that +would menace Western Europe if all her natural +defenders carried their arms and their fortunes +to the East.</p> +<p> +When the anniversary of the great fête came +round not a vow was yet fulfilled!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#45">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="III1">A</a> performance repeated in our modern Lohengrin.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#46">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="III2">The</a> chroniclers are not at one on this point.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#47">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="III3">DuClercq</a>, <i>Mémoires</i>, ii., 159.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#48">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="III4">This</a> banquet at Lille was the subject of several descriptions +by spectators or at least contemporary authors.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#49">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="III5">Laborde</a>, i., 127.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#50">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="III6">II</a>., 361.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#50">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="III7">The</a> text says in the Burgundian or recluse fashion. <i>Béguine</i> +is probably the right reading.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#54">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="III8">Mathieu</a> d'Escouchy (ii., 222) gives all the vows as though +made then, and differs in many unessential points from La +Marche's account.<br /><br /> + +The Count of St. Pol was the only knight present who made +his going dependent on the consent of the King of France, a +condition very displeasing to his liege lord of Burgundy.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#57">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="III9">Du</a> Clerq, ii., 203.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#58">[Footnote 10:</a> '"<a name="III10">Michel</a> dit que le gigot de la cour était rompu."—La +Marche, i., ch. xiv.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#60">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="III11">Chastellain</a>, iii., 20, note.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#60">[Footnote 12:</a> "<a name="III12">Toute</a> fois que ce ne soit pas sans moy."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#62">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="III13">The</a> original, signed, is in the <i>Archives de la Côte-d'Or,</i> B. +200. <i>See</i> Du Fresne de Beaucourt, <i>Histoire de Charles VII</i>., v. +470.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#62">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="III14">Chastellain</a>, iii., 23, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#63">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="III15">Chastellain</a>, iii., 24]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#65">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="III16">The</a> chroniclers differ as to this date. Chastellain (iii., +25) says the first Sunday in Lent. D'Escouchy (ii., 270, ch. +cxxii) the night of St. Martin. Alienor de Poictiers, Hallowe'en +<i>(Les Honneurs de la Cour</i>, p. 187). The last was one +of Isabella's ladies in waiting.]</p> + + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="67">[page 67]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="IV">IV</a></h2> + +<h3>BURGUNDY AND FRANCE</h3> + +<h4>1455-1456.</h4> +<p> +The duke's journey failed in accomplishing its +object, but it proved an important factor in +the development of the character of Charles of +Burgundy. The opportunity to administer the +government in his father's absence changed him +from a youth to a man, and the manner of man he +was, was plain to see.</p> +<p> +His character was built on singularly simple +lines. Vigorous of body, intense of purpose, inclined +to melancholy, he was profoundly convinced +of his own importance as heir to the greatest duke +in Christendom, as future successor to an uncrowned +potentate, who could afford to treat +lightly the authority of both king and emperor +whose nominal vassal he was.</p> +<p> +The Ghent episode, too, undoubtedly had an +immense effect in enhancing the count's belief in +his father's power, in causing him to forget that +the communes of Flanders did not owe their existence +to their overlord. As yet, Charles of Burgundy +had not met a single check to his self-esteem, +to his family pride. As a governor, he probably +exercised his brief authority with the rigour of +one new to the helm.</p> +<span class="page"><a name="68">[page 68]</a></span> +<p class="quote"> +"And the Count of Charolais bore himself so well +and so virtuously in the task, that nothing deteriorated +under his hand, and when the good duke returned +from his journey, he found his lands as intact as +before."</p> + +<p> +Such, is La Marche's testimony.<a href="#IV1"><sup>1</sup></a> Intact undoubtedly, +but possibly the satisfaction was not +quite perfect. Du Clercq<a href="#IV2"><sup>2</sup></a> declares that Count +Charles acquitted himself honourably of his charge +and made himself respected as a magistrate. +Above all, he insisted that justice should be dealt +out to all alike. The only danger in his methods +was that he acted on impulse without sufficiently +informing himself of the matter in hand, or hearing +both sides of a controversy. As a result, his decisions +were not always impartial and the father +was preferred to the strenuous and impetuous son. +"Not that Philip was often inclined to recognise +other law than his own will, but he was more +tranquil, more gentle than his son, and more +guided by reason," adds a later author.<a href="#IV3"><sup>3</sup></a> There +was an evident dread as to what might be the +outcome of the count's untrained, youthful ardour.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="statue">[plate 8]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image08statue.jpg" width="400" height="750" alt="THE STATUE OF CHARLES OF BURGUNDY AT INNSBRÜCK" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +The duke's chief measures after his return in +February, 1455, seemed hardly calculated to +arouse any great personal devotion to himself or +a profound trust that his first consideration was +for the advantage of his Netherland subjects. His +thoughts were still turned to the East, and his +main interest in the individual countships was as +sources of supply for his Holy War. Considerable +sums flowed into his exchequer that were never<span class="page"><a name="69">[page 69]</a></span> +used for their destined purpose, but the duke cannot +be justly accused of actual bad faith in amassing +them. His intention to make the Eastern +campaign remained firm for some years.</p> + +<p> +In another matter, his despotic exercise of personal +authority, far without the pale of his jurisdiction +inherited or acquired, shows no shadow +of excuse.</p> +<p> +In the bishropic of Utrecht the ecclesiastical +head was also lay lord. Here the counts of Holland +possessed no voice. They were near neighbours, +that was all. Philip ardently desired to be +more in this tiny independent state in the midst of +territories acknowledging his sway.</p> +<p> +In 1455, the see of Utrecht became vacant and +Philip was most anxious to have it filled by his son +David, whom he had already made Bishop of +Thérouanne by somewhat questionable methods. +The Duke of Guelders also had a neighbourly interest +in Utrecht and he, too, had a pet candidate, +Stephen of Bavaria, whose election he urged. +The chapter resolutely ignored the wishes of both +dukes and the canons were almost unanimous in +their choice of Gijsbrecht of Brederode.<a href="#IV4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + +<p> +A very few votes were cast for Stephen of Bavaria, +but not a single one for David of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +Brederode was already archdeacon of the cathedral<span class="page"><a name="70">[page 70]</a></span> +and an eminently worthy choice, both for his +attainments and for his character. He was proclaimed +in the cathedral, installed in the palace, +and confirmed, as regarded his temporal power, +by the emperor.</p> +<p> +Philip, however, refused to accept the returns, +although not a single suffrage had been cast by +the qualified electors for his son. He despatched +the Bishop of Arras to Rome to petition the new +pope, Calixtus III., to refuse to ratify the late +election and to confer the see upon David, out of +hand. Philip's tender conscience found Gijsbrecht +ineligible to an episcopal office because +he had participated in the war against Ghent, +certainly a weak plea in an age of militant bishops!</p> +<p> +The pope was afraid to offend the one man in +Europe upon whose immediate aid he counted in +the Turkish campaign. He accepted the gift of +four thousand ducats offered by Gijsbrecht's envoys, +the customary gift in asking papal confirmation +for a bishop-elect, but secretly he delivered +to Philip's ambassador letters patent +creating David of Burgundy Bishop of Utrecht.<a href="#IV5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The Burgundian La Marche states euphemistically +that David was elected to the see, and the +Deventer people would not obey him, therefore +Philip had to levy an army and come in person to +support the new bishop.<a href="#IV6"><sup>6</sup></a> Du Clercq puts a +different colour on the story and d'Escouchy<a href="#IV7"><sup>7</sup></a> +implies that the whole trouble arose from party<span class="page"><a name="71">[page 71]</a></span> +strife which had to be quelled in the interests of +law and order.</p> + +<p> +Apart from any question of insult to the Utrechters +by imposing upon them a spiritual director of +acknowledged base birth, the right of choice lay +with them and the emperor had confirmed their +choice as far as the lay office was concerned. +While the issue was undecided, the Estates +of Utrecht appointed Gijsbrecht guardian and +defender of the see to assure him a legal status +pending the papal ratification. The people were +prepared to support their candidate with arms, a +game that Philip did not refuse, and the force of +thirty thousand men with which he invaded the +bishopric proved the stronger argument of the two +and able to carry David of Burgundy to the +episcopal throne, upon which he was seated in +his father's presence, October 16, 1455.</p> +<p> +Some of Philip's allies reaped certain advantages +from the situation. Alkmaar and Kennemerland +redeemed certain forfeited privileges +by means of their contributions to the duke's +army. The city of Utrecht preferred a compromise +to the risk of war. The bishop-elect, Gijsbrecht, +consented to withdraw his claim, being +permitted to retain the humbler office of provost +of Utrecht and an annuity of four thousand guilders +out of the episcopal revenues.</p> +<p> +Deventer was the only place which was obstinate +enough to persist in her rebellion and Philip +was engaged in bringing her citizens to terms by a +siege when news was brought to him that a visitor<span class="page"><a name="72">[page 72]</a></span> +had arrived at Brussels under circumstances which +imperatively demanded his personal attention.</p> +<p> +In the twenty years that had elapsed since the +Treaty of Arras, there had been great changes in +France in the character both of the realm and of +the ruler. Little by little the latter had proved +himself to be a very different person from the inert +king of Bourges.<a href="#IV8"><sup>8</sup></a> Old at twenty, Charles VII. +seemed young and vigorous at forty. Bad advisers +were replaced by others better chosen and his administration +gradually became effective. Fortune +favoured him in depriving England of the Duke of +Bedford (1435), the one man who might have +maintained English prestige abroad and peace at +home during the youth of Henry VI. It was at a +time of civil dissensions in England, that Charles +VII. succeeded in assuming the offensive on the +Continent and in wresting Normandy and Guienne +from the late invader.</p> + +<p> +But this territorial advantage was not all. Distinct +progress had been made towards a national +existence in France. The establishment of the +nucleus of a regular army was an immense aid +in curbing the depredations of the "<i>écorcheurs</i>," +the devastating, marauding bands which had +harassed the provinces. There was new activity +in agriculture and industry and commerce.<a href="#IV9"><sup>9</sup></a> The +revival of letters and art, never completely stifled, +proved the real vitality of France in spite of the +depression of the Hundred Years' War. Royal<span class="page"><a name="73">[page 73]</a></span> +justice was reorganised, public finance was better +administered. By 1456, misery had not, indeed, +disappeared, but it was less dominant.</p> + +<p> +The years of growing union between king and +his kingdom were, however, years of discord +between Charles and his son. The dauphin Louis +had not enjoyed the pampered, petted life of his +Burgundian cousin. Very poor and forlorn was +his father at the time of the birth of his heir +(1423).<a href="#IV10"><sup>10</sup></a> There was nothing in the treasury to +pay the chaplain who baptised the child or the +woman who nourished him. The latter received +no pension as was usual but a modest gratuity of +fifteen pounds. The first allowance settled on +the heir to his unconsecrated royal father's uncertain +fortunes was ten crowns a month. Every +feature of his infancy was a marked contrast to +the early life of the Count of Charolais.</p> +<p> +From his seventeenth year Louis was in +active opposition to the king, heading organised +rebellion against him in the war called the <i>Praguerie</i>. +Finally, Charles VII. entrusted to his +charge the administration of Dauphiné, thus practically +banishing him honourably from the court +where he was, evidently, a disturbing element. +The only restrictions placed upon him in his provincial +government were such as were necessary +to preserve the ultimate authority of the crown. +To these restrictions, however, Louis paid not +the slightest heed. He assumed all the airs of +an independent sovereign. He made wars and<span class="page"><a name="74">[page 74]</a></span> +treaties with his neighbours and at last proceeded +to arrange his own marriage.</p> + +<p> +At this time Louis was already a widower, having +been married at the age of thirteen to Margaret +of Scotland, who led a mournful existence at the +French court, where she felt herself a desolate +alien. Her death at the age of twenty was possibly +due to slander. "Fie upon life," she said on +her deathbed, when urged to rouse herself to resist +the languor into which she was sinking. "Talk +to me no more of it."</p> +<p> +Her husband cared less for her life than did +Margaret herself. He took no interest in the +inquiry set on foot to ascertain the truth of the +charges against the princess, and was more than +ready to turn to a new alliance. At the date of +his widowerhood he was in Dauphiné and his +own choice for a wife was Charlotte, daughter of +the Duke of Savoy. After negotiations in his +own behalf he informed his father of his matrimonial +project. It did not meet the views of +Charles VII., who ordered his son to abandon the +idea immediately.</p> +<p> +A messenger was despatched post haste to Chambéry +to stop the dauphin's nuptials.<a href="#IV11"><sup>11</sup></a> The duke +evaded an interview and the envoy was forced +to deliver his letter to the chancellor of Savoy. +On the morrow of his arrival, he was taken to +church, where the wedding ceremony was performed +(March 10, 1451), but his seat was in such a remote +place that he could barely catch a glimpse of the<span class="page"><a name="75">[page 75]</a></span> +bridal procession, though he saw that Louis was +clad in crimson velvet trimmed with ermine. Two +days later the envoy carried a pleasant letter to +the king, expressing regrets on the part of the +Duke of Savoy that the alliance was made before +the paternal prohibition arrived.</p> + +<p> +Nine years were spent by Louis in Dauphiné. +He introduced many administrative and judicial +reforms, excellent in themselves but not popular. +There were various protests and when he dared to +impose taxes without the consent of the Estates, +an appeal was made to the king begging him to +check his son in his illegal assumptions. Charles +summoned his son to his presence. Instead of +obeying this order in person, Louis sent envoys +who were dismissed by his father with a curt response: +"Let my son return to his duty and he +shall be treated as a son. As to his fears, security +to his person is pledged by my word, which my +foes have never refused to accept."<a href="#IV12"><sup>12</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Louis showed himself less compliant than his +father's foes. As Charles approached Dauphiné, +and made his preparations to enforce obedience, +Louis appealed to the mediation of the pope, of the +Duke of Burgundy, and of the King of Castile, +beside sending offerings to all the chief shrines in +Christendom, imploring aid against parental wrath. +Then his thoughts took a less peaceful turn. He +called the nobles of his principality to arms and +bade the fortified towns prepare for siege, while +he loftily declared that he would not trouble his<span class="page"><a name="76">[page 76]</a></span> +father to seek him. He would meet him at Lyons.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, the Count of Dammartin was directed +by the king to take military possession of +Dauphiné and to put the dauphin under arrest. +As he was <i>en route</i> to fulfil these orders, the count +heard that a day had been set by Louis for a great +hunt. That an excellent opportunity might be +afforded for securing his quarry in the course of +the chase, was the immediate thought of the king's +lieutenant. So there might have been had not +the wily hunter received timely warning of the +project for making <i>him</i> the game.</p> +<p> +At the hour appointed for the meet, the dauphin's +suite rode to the rendezvous, but the prince +turned his horse in the opposite direction and +galloped away at full speed, attended by a few +trusty followers. He hardly stopped even to take +breath until he was out of his father's domain, and +made no pause until he reached St. Claude, a small +town in the Franche-Comté, where he threw himself +on the kindness of the Prince of Orange.</p> +<p> +How gossip about this strange departure of +the French heir fluttered here and there! Du +Clercq<a href="#IV13"><sup>13</sup></a> tells the story with some variation from +the above outline, laying more stress on the popular +appeal to the king for relief from Louis's transgressions +as governor of Dauphiné, and enlarging +on the accusation that Louis was responsible for +the death of <i>La belle Agnès</i>, "the first lady of the +land possessing the king's perfect love." He adds +that the dauphin was further displeased because<span class="page"><a name="77">[page 77]</a></span> +the niece of this same Agnes, the Demoiselle de +Villeclerc, was kept at court after her aunt's death. +Wherever the king went he was followed by this +lady, accompanied by a train of beauties. It was +this conduct of his father that had forced the son +to absent himself from court life for twelve years +and more, during which time he received no allowance +as was his rightful due, and thus he had been +obliged to make his own requisitions from his +seigniory.</p> + +<p> +There were other reports that the king was +quite ready to accord his son his full state; others, +again, that Charles drove Louis into exile from +mere dislike and intended to make his second son +his heir and successor. At this point Du Clercq's +manuscript is broken off abruptly and the remainder +of his conjectures are lost to posterity. Where +the text begins again, the author dismisses all +this contradictory hearsay and says in his own +character as veracious chronicler, "I concern myself +only with what actually occurred. The dauphin +gave a feast in the forest and then departed +secretly to avoid being arrested by Dammartin."</p> +<p> +This flight was the not unnatural termination +of a long series of misunderstandings between a +father whose private conduct was not above criticism, +and a son, clever, unscrupulous, destitute +of respect for any person or thing except for the +superstitious side of his religion.</p> +<p> +Charles VII. was a curious instance of a man +whose mental development occurred during the +later years of his life. When his son was under<span class="page"><a name="78">[page 78]</a></span> +his personal influence his character was not one +to instil filial deference, and Louis certainly cherished +neither respect nor affection for the father +whose inert years he remembered vividly.</p> +<p> +Whether, indeed, the dauphin had any part in +Agnes Sorel's death which gave him especial reason +to dread the king's anger, is uncertain, but +of his action there is no doubt. To St. Claude he +travelled as rapidly as his steed could go, and from +that spot on Burgundian soil he despatched the +following exemplary letter to his father:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"MY VERY REDOUBTABLE LORD:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"To your good grace I recommend myself as +humbly as I can. Be pleased to know, my very redoubtable +lord, that because, as you know, my uncle +of Burgundy intends shortly to go on a crusade against +the Turk in defence of the Catholic Faith and because +my desire is to go, your good pleasure permitting, +considering that our Holy Father the Pope bade me +so to do, and that I am standard bearer of the Church, +and that I took the oath by your command, I am now +on my way to join my uncle to learn his plans so that +I can take steps for the defence of the Catholic Faith.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Also, I wish to implore him to find means of reinstating +me in your good grace, which is something that +I desire most in the world. My very redoubtable +lord, I pray God to give you good life and long.</p> +<p class="rindent"> + "Written at St. Claude the last day of August. <br /><br/> + + "Your very humble and obedient son, <br/><br/> + + "LOYS." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IV14"><sup>14</sup></a></span> </p> + +<p> +This letter hardly succeeded in carrying conviction<span class="page"><a name="79">[page 79]</a></span> +to the king. He characterised the projected +expedition to Turkey as a farce, a pretence, and +a frivolous excuse.<a href="#IV15"><sup>15</sup></a> Probably, too, he did not +contradict his courtiers when they declared that +the project had been in the wind a long time, and +that the Duke of Burgundy would be prouder than +ever to have the heir to France dependent on his +protection.</p> + +<p> +The epistle despatched, Louis continued his +journey under the escort of the Seigneur de Blaumont, +Marshal of Burgundy, at the head of thirty +horse. Their pace was rapid to elude the pursuit +of Tristan l'Hermite. The prince needed no spurs +to make him flee. Even if his father did not intend +to have him drowned in a sack his immediate +liberty was certainly in jeopardy. "In truth +this thing was a marvellous business. The Prince +of Orange and the Marshal of Burgundy were the +two men whom the dauphin hated more than any +one else, but necessity, which knows no law, overcame +the distaste of the dauphin."<a href="#IV16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Louvain was the next place where Louis felt +safe enough to rest. Here he wrote to the Duke +of Burgundy to announce his arrival within his +territory. The letter found Philip in camp before +Deventer. It is evident that he was entirely +taken by surprise, and was prepared to be very +cautious in his correspondence with the French +king. He assured him that he was willing to receive +and honour Louis as his suzerain's heir, but<span class="page"><a name="80">[page 80]</a></span> +he implored that suzerain not to blame him, the +duke, for that heir's flight to his protection.</p> + +<p> +His envoy, Perrenet, was charged with many +reassuring messages in addition to the epistle. +Before he reached the French court, his news was +no novelty. Rumour had preceded him. The +messenger was very eloquent in his assurances to +the king that Philip was wholly innocent in the +affair and a good peer and true. Perrenet</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"stayed at the French court until Epiphany and I do +not know what they discussed, but during that time +news came that the king had garrisoned Compiègne, +Lyons, and places where his lands touched the duke's +territories. When the envoy returned to the duke, +he published a manifesto ordering all who could +bear arms to be in readiness." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IV17"><sup>17</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Philip sent messages of welcome to Louis with +apologies for his own inevitable absence, and the +visitor was profuse in his return assurances to his +uncle that he understood the delay and would not +disturb his business for the world. "I have leisure +enough to wait and it does not weary me. I am +safe in a pleasant land and in a fine town which I +have long wished to see." He showed his courtesy +when the Count d'Étampes, Philip's nephew-in-law, +presented his suite, by pronouncing each +individual name and assuring its bearer that he +had heard about him.<a href="#IV18"><sup>18</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The count was commissioned to conduct the<span class="page"><a name="81">[page 81]</a></span> +dauphin to Brussels and we have the story of an +eye-witness of his reception by the ladies of the +ducal family:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"I saw the King of France, father of the present +King Charles, chased away by his father Charles for +some difference of which they say that the fair Agnes +was the cause, and on account of which he took refuge +with Duke Philip, for he had no means of subsistence.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IV19"><sup>19</sup></a></span></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The said King Louis, being dauphin, came to +Brussels accompanied by about ten cavaliers and by +the Marshal of Burgundy. At this time Duke Philip +was at Utrecht in war and there was no one to receive +the visitor but Madame the Duchess Isabella and +Madame de Charolais, her daughter-in-law, pregnant +with Madame Mary of Burgundy, since then Duchess +of Austria.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Monsieur the dauphin arrived at Brussels, where +were the ladies, at eight o'clock in the evening, about +St. Martin's Day.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IV20"><sup>20</sup></a></span> When the ladies heard that he +was in the city they hastened down to the courtyard +to await him. As soon as he saw them he dismounted +and saluted Madame the Duchess and Mme. de Charolais +and Mme. de Ravestein. All kneeled and then +he kissed the other ladies of the court."</p> +<p> +Alienor goes on to describe how a whole quarter +of an hour was consumed by a friendly altercation +between Isabella and her guest as to the exact +way in which they should enter the door, the<span class="page"><a name="82">[page 82]</a></span> +dauphin resolute in his refusal to take precedence +and Isabella equally resolute not even to walk by +the side of the future king. "Monsieur, it seems +to me you desire to make me a laughing stock, for +you wish me to do what befits me not." To this +the dauphin replied that it was incumbent upon +him to pay honour for there was none in the realm +of France so poor as he, and that he would not +have known whither to flee if not to his uncle +Philip and to her.</p> +<p> +Louis prevailed in his argument, and hostess +and guest finally proceeded hand in hand to the +chamber prepared for the latter and Isabella then +took leave on bended knee.</p> +<p> +When the duke returned to Brussels this contention +as to the proper etiquette was renewed. Isabella +tried to retain the dauphin in his own apartment +so that the duke should greet him there +as befitted their relative rank. She was greatly +chagrined, therefore, when Louis rushed down +to the courtyard on hearing the signs of arrival. +This punctilious hostess actually held the prince +back by his coat to prevent his advancing towards +the duke.</p> +<p> +Throughout the visit the minor points of etiquette +were observed with the utmost care. Both +duchess and countess refrained from employing +their train-bearers when they entered the dauphin's +presence. When he insisted that his hostess +should walk by his side, she managed her own +train if possible. If she accepted any aid from +her gentlemen she was very careful to keep her hand<span class="page"><a name="83">[page 83]</a></span> +upon the dress, so that technically she was still her +own train-bearer. Then, too, when the duchess +ate in the dauphin's presence, there was no cover +to her dish and nothing was tasted in her behalf.</p> +<p> +The Duke of Burgundy had to supply Louis +with every requisite, but he, too, never forgot for +a moment that this dependent visitor was future +monarch of France. Without doors as within, +every minor detail of etiquette was observed. The +duke never so far forgot himself in the ardour of +the chase as to permit his horse's head to advance +beyond the tail of the prince's steed.</p> +<p> +In February, 1457, on St. Valentine's Eve, Mary +of Burgundy was born. Our observant court +lady describes in detail the ceremonial observed +in the chamber of the Countess of Charolais and +at the baptism. Brussels rang with joyful bells +and blazed with torches, four hundred supplied +by the city ahd two hundred by the young father. +Each torch weighed four or five pounds.</p> +<p> +The Count of Charolais was his own messenger +to announce the birth of his daughter to the +dauphin and to ask him to stand god-father. Joyful +was Louis to accept the invitation and to bestow +his mother's name on the baby-girl. Ste. +Gudule was so far from the palace that the Church +of the Caudenberg was selected for the ceremony +and richly adorned with Holland linen, velvet, +and cloth of gold. The duchess carried her grandchild +to the font,—a font draped with cramoisy +velvet.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Monsieur the dauphin stood on the right and I<span class="page"><a name="84"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 84]</span></a></span> +heard it said that there was no one on the left because +there was none his equal. On that day, the duchess +wore a round skirt <i>à la Portuguaise</i>, edged with fur. +There was no train of cloth nor of silk, so I cannot +state who carried it,"</p> + +<p> +sagely remarks Alienor with incontrovertible logic.</p> +<p> +Later events made later chroniclers less enthusiastic +about the honour paid to Mademoiselle<a href="#IV21"><sup>21</sup></a> +Mary by the dauphin. In a manuscript of La +Marche's <i>Mémoires</i> at The Hague, the words "Lord! +what a god-father!" appear in the margin of the +page describing the baptism.<a href="#IV22"><sup>22</sup></a> But in these early +days of his five years' sojourn, Louis seems to have +been a pleasant person and to have posed as the +ruined poor relation, entirely free from pride at +his high birth and delighted to repay hospitality +by his general complaisance.</p> + +<p> +Charles VII. received all the reports with somewhat +cynical amusement. He had no great trust +in his son. "Louis is fickle and changeable and +I do not doubt that he will return here before long. +I am not at all pleased with those who influence +him," are his words as quoted by d'Escouchy.<a href="#IV23"><sup>23</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="louis">[plate 9]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image09louis.jpg" width="400" height="631" alt="LOUIS XI" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +Undoubtedly, though, the king was much surprised +at his son's action. He had rather expected +him to take refuge somewhere but he never +thought that the Duke of Burgundy would be his +protector—a strange choice to his mind. "My<span class="page"><a name="85">[page 85]</a></span> +cousin of Burgundy nourishes a fox who will eat +his chickens" is reported as another comment of +this impartial father.<a href="#IV24"><sup>24</sup></a> Like many a phrase, possibly +the fruit of later harvests, this is an excellent +epitome of the situation.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#68">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="IV1">I</a>.,ch. xxxi.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#68">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="IV2">II</a>.,204.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#68">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="IV3">Barante</a>, vi.,50.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#69">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="IV4">Some</a> of the canons wrote their reasons after their recorded +vote: "Because Duke Philip had made the candidate member +of his council of Holland, Zealand, and Friesland, in which +office Gijsbrecht had acquitted himself well." "Because all +the Sticht nobles were his relations," etc.—(Wagenaar, <i>Vaderlandsche +Historie,</i> iv., 50.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#70">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="IV5">Du</a> Clercq, ii., 210.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#70">[Footnote 6:</a> <i><a name="IV6">Mémoires</a></i>, i., ch. xxxiii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#70">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="IV7">II</a>., 315.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#72">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="IV8">See</a> Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 317.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#72">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="IV9">For</a> the effects of operations on a +large scale see <i>Jacques Cœur and Charles VII</i>., by Pierre Clémart.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#73">[Footnote 10:</a> <i><a name="IV10">Duclos</a></i>, "Hist. de Louis XI.," <i>Œuvres Complètes</i> v., 8.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#74">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="IV11">Duclos</a>, iii., 78.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#75">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="IV12">See</a> Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 292.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#76">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="IV13">II</a>.,223.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#78">[Footnote 14:</a> <i><a name="IV14">Lettres</a> de Louis XI</i>., i., 77.<br /><br/> + +According to the editor, Vaesen, the original of this letter +shows that <i>September 2nd</i> was written first and erased.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#79">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="IV15"></a>, iii., 185.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#79">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="IV16">Du</a> Clercq, ii., 228.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#80">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="IV17">Chastellain</a> iii., 197.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#80">[Footnote 18:</a> See <i><a name="IV18">Séjour</a> de Louis XI. aux Pays-Bas;</i> Reiffenberg: Nouveaux +mem. de l'Acad. Royale, 1829.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#81">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="IV19">Alienor</a> de Poictiers, <i>Les Honneurs de la Cour</i>, ii., 208. +It was early in October.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#81">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="IV20">This</a> date, November 11th, does not agree with the others.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#84">[Footnote 21:</a> "<a name="IV21">At</a> that time they did not say Madame, for Monsieur was +not the son of a sovereign."—La Marche, ii., 410, note.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#84">[Footnote 22:</a> <a name="IV22">La</a> Marche, ii., 410: "Dieu quel parrain!"]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#84">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="IV23">II</a>., 343.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#85">[Footnote 24:</a> <a name="IV24">Chastellain</a>, iii., 185; Lavisse iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 299.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="86">[page 86]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="V">V</a></h2> + +<h3>THE COUNT AND THE DAUPHIN</h3> + +<h4>1456-1461</h4> +<p> +The picture of the Burgundian court rejoicing +in happy unison over the advent of an heiress +to carry on the Burgundian traditions, with +the dauphin participating in the family joy, shows +the tranquil side of the first months of the long +visit. Before Mary's birth, however, an incident +had occurred, betraying the fact that the dauphin +and Charles VII. were not the only father and +son between whom relations were strained, and +that a moment had arrived when the attitude of +the Count of Charolais to the duke was no longer +characterised by unquestioning filial obedience.</p> +<p> +Charles was on his way to Nuremberg<a href="#V1"><sup>1</sup></a> to fulfil +a mission with certain German princes when the +dauphin alighted in Brabant, like "a bird of ill +omen," as he designated himself on one occasion. +The count did not return to Brussels until January +12, 1457. Thus he took no part in the hearty +welcome accorded to the visitor. It is more than +possible that the heir of Burgundy was not wholly +pleased with the state of affairs placidly existing +by mid-winter.</p> + +<p> +Instead of resuming the first position which he<span class="page"><a name="87">[page 87]</a></span> +had enjoyed during his brief regency, or the honoured +second that had been his after Philip came +back, Charles was now relegated to a third place. +Further, without having been consulted as to the +policy, he found that he was forced into following +his father's lead in treating a penniless refugee like +an invited guest, whose visit was an honour and +a joy. It is more than probable that Charles was +already feeling somewhat hurt at the duke's +warmth towards Louis when a serious breach +occurred between father and son about another +matter.</p> +<p> +It chanced that a chamberlain's post fell vacant +in his own household, and the count assumed that +the appointment of a successor was something that +lay wholly within his jurisdiction. When the +duke interfered in a peremptory fashion and insisted +that the appointment should be made at +his instance, the son refused to accept his authority, +especially as his father's nominee was Philip +de Croy, one of a family already over-dominant +in the Burgundian court. At least, that was +Charles's opinion. Therefore, when he obeyed +his father's commands to bring his <i>ordonnance</i>, or +household list, to the duke's oratory, he unhesitatingly +carried the document which contained +the name of Antoine Raulin, Sire d'Émeries, in +place of Philip de Croy.</p> +<p> +The duke was very angry at this apparent contempt +for his expressed wishes. Indignantly he +threw the lists into the fire with the words, "Now +look to your <i>ordonnances</i> for you will need new<span class="page"><a name="88">[page 88]</a></span> +ones<a href="#V2"><sup>2</sup></a>."</p> + +<p> +There was evidently a succession of violent +scenes in which the duchess tried to stand between +her husband and son. But Philip was beside himself +with wrath and refused to listen to a word +from her or from the dauphin, who also endeavoured +to mediate<a href="#V3"><sup>3</sup></a>.</p> + +<p> +Finally, the irate duke lost all control of himself, +ordered a horse, and rode out alone into the forest +of Soignies. When he became calmer it was dark +and he found himself far from the beaten tracks, +in the midst of underbrush through which he +could not ride. He dismounted and wandered +on foot for hours in the January night until +smoke guided him to a charcoal burner, who conducted +him to the more friendly shelter of a forester's +hut. In the morning he made his way to +Genappe.</p> +<p> +Meantime, in the palace, consternation reigned. +Search parties seeking their sovereign were out all +night. No one, however, was in such a state of +dismay as the dauphin, who declared that he +would be counted at fault when family dissensions +followed so soon on his arrival. Delighted he was, +therefore, to act as mediator between father and +son after the duke was in a sufficiently pacified<span class="page"><a name="89">[page 89]</a></span> +state to listen to reason. Charles betook himself +to Dendermonde for a time until the duke was +ready to see him<a href="#V4"><sup>4</sup></a>. His young wife made the +most of her expectations to soften her father-in-law's +resentment, and between her entreaties and +those of the guest, proud to show his tact and his +gratitude, the quarrel was at last smoothed over.</p> + +<p> +There was one marked difference between this +family dispute and the breach between the French +king and the dauphin. In the latter case no feeling +was involved. In the former, the son was +really deeply wounded by what he deemed lack +of parental affection for his interests. At the +same time he was shocked by the bitter words and +was, for the moment, so filled with contrition that +he was eager to make any concession agreeable to +the duke. He dismissed two of his servants<a href="#V5"><sup>5</sup></a>, +suspected by his father of fomenting trouble between +them, and he showed himself in general +very willing to placate paternal displeasure.</p> + +<p> +Reconciliation between duke and duchess was +more difficult. Isabella resented Philip's reproaches<span class="page"><a name="90">[page 90]</a></span> +for her sympathy with Charles. She +said she had stepped between the two men because +she had feared lest the duke might injure +his son in his wrath<a href="#V6"><sup>6</sup></a>. This was in answer to the +Marshal of Burgundy when he was telling her of +Philip's displeasure. She concluded her dignified +defence with an expression of her utter loneliness. +Stranger in a strange land she had no one belonging +to her but her son.</p> + +<p> +She was certainly present at the baptism of her +grandchild, but shortly afterwards she retired to +a convent of the Grey Sisters, founded by herself, +and rarely returned to the world or took part in +its ceremonies during the remainder of her life.</p> +<p> +The quarrel, too, left its scar upon Charles. It +is not probable that he had much personal liking +for the guest upon whom his father heaped courtesies +and solicitous care. On one occasion, when +the two young men were hunting they were separated +by chance. When Charles returned alone to +the palace, the duke was full of reproaches at his +son's careless desertion of the guest in his charge. +Again the court was organised into search parties +and there was no rest until the dauphin was discovered +some leagues from Brussels<a href="#V7"><sup>7</sup></a>. Here, also, +it is an easy presumption that the Count of Charolais +was a trifle sulky over his father's preoccupation +in regard to the prince.</p> + +<p> +The transient character of the dauphin's sojourn +in his cousin's domains soon changed. In +the summer of 1457, when news came that Dauphiné<span class="page"><a name="91">[page 91]</a></span> +had submitted to Charles VII., when the +successive embassies despatched by Philip to the +king had all proved fruitless in their conciliatory +efforts, Philip proceeded to make more permanent +arrangements for the fugitive's comfort.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Now, Monseigneur, since the king has been pleased +to deprive you of Dauphiné ... you are to-day +lord and prince without land. But, nevertheless, +you shall not be without a country, for all that I have +is yours and I place it within your hand without reserving +aught except my life and that of my wife. +Pray take heart. If God does not abandon me I will +never abandon you <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#V8"><sup>8</sup></a></span>."</p> + +<p> +The duke made good his words by giving his +guest the estate of Genappe, of which Louis took +possession at the end of July. Then as a further +step to make things pleasant for the exile, Philip +sent for Charlotte of Savoy who had remained +under her father's care ever since the formal marriage +in 1451. She was now eighteen.</p> +<p> +It was an agreeable spot, this estate at Genappe. +Louis's favourite amusement of the chase was easy +of access. "The court is at present at Louvain," +wrote a courtier<a href="#V9"><sup>9</sup></a> on July 1st, "and Monseigneur +the Dauphin likes it very much, for there is good +hunting and falconry and a great number of rabbits +within and without the city." With killing +of every kind at his service, what greater solace<span class="page"><a name="92">[page 92]</a></span> +could a homeless prince expect?</p> + +<p> +From Louvain to Genappe is no great distance, +and the sum of 1200 livres, furnished by Philip +for the dauphin's journey to his new abode, seemed +a large provision. The pension then settled on +him was 36,000 livres, and when the dauphiness +arrived 1000 livres a month were provided for +her private purse<a href="#V10"><sup>10</sup></a>.</p> + +<p> +Pleasant was existence in this château. There +was no dearth of company to throng around the +prince in exile, and the dauphin allowed no prejudice +of mere likes and dislikes, no consideration of +duty towards his host to hamper him in making +useful friends. A word here and a word there, +aptly thrown in at a time when Philip's anger had +exasperated, when Charles had failed to conciliate, +were very potent in intimating to many a Burgundian +servant that there might come a time when +a new king across the border might better appreciate +their real value than their present or +future sovereign.</p> +<p> +Hunting was a favourite amusement, but the +dauphin did not confine his invitations to sportsmen. +The easy accessibility of the little court +attracted men of science and of letters as well as +others capable of making the time pass agreeably. +When there was nothing else on foot, it is said that +the company amused themselves by telling stories, +each in turn, and out of their tales grew the collection +of the <i>Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles</i><a href="#V11"><sup>11</sup></a>, named in<span class="page"><a name="93">[page 93]</a></span> +imitation of Boccaccio's <i>Cento Novelle</i>.</p> + +<p> +The first printed edition of this collection was +issued in Paris, in 1486, by Antoine Verard, who +thus admonishes the gentle reader: "Note that +whenever <i>Monseigneur</i> is referred to, Monseigneur +the Dauphin must be understood, who has since +succeeded to the crown and is King Louis. Then +he was in the land of the Duke of Burgundy." +Another editor asserts that <i>Monseigneur</i> is evidently +the Duke of Burgundy and not Louis, and +later authorities decide that Anthony de la Sale +wrote the whole collection in imitation of Boccaccio, +and that the names of the narrators were as imaginative +or rather as editorial as the rest of the volume.</p> +<p> +If this be true, it maybe inferred that the author +would have given an appearance of verisimilitude +to his fiction by mentioning the actual habitués +of the dauphin's court. The name of the Count +of Charolais does not appear at all. The duke +tells three or more stories according to the interpretation +given to <i>Monseigneur</i>. With three +exceptions the tales are very coarse, nor does +their wit atone for their licentiousness. Possibly +Charles held himself aloof from the kind of talk +they suggest. All reports make him rigid in standards +of morality not observed by his fellows. That +he had little to do with the court is certain, whatever +his reason.</p> +<p> +Louis did not confine himself to the estate<span class="page"><a name="94">[page 94]</a></span> +assigned him. There were various court visits +to the Flemish towns where he was afforded excellent +opportunities for seeing the wealth of +the burghers and their status in the world of +commerce.</p> +<p> +Ghent was very anxious to have the duke bring +his guest within her gates and give her an opportunity +of displaying her regret for the past unpleasantness. +"In his goodness," Philip at last +yielded to their entreaties to make them a visit +himself, but he decided not to take the prince or +the count with him.<a href="#V12"><sup>12</sup></a> He was either afraid for +their safety or else he did not care to bring a future +French king into relation with citizens who might +find it convenient to remember his suzerainty in +order to ignore the wishes of their sovereign duke.<a href="#V13"><sup>13</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Eastertide, 1458, was finally appointed for this +state visit of reconciliation. The duke took the +precaution to send scouts ahead to ascertain that +the late rebels were sincere in their contrition, +and that there was no danger of anarchist agitations. +The report was brought back that all was +calm and that joyful preparations were making +to show appreciation of Philip's kindness.</p> +<p> +On April 22d, the duke slept at l'Écluse, and<span class="page"><a name="95">[page 95]</a></span> +on the 23d he was gaily escorted into the city by +knights and gentlemen summoned from Holland, +Hainaut, and Flanders, "but neither clerks nor +priests were in his train." As a further assurance +to him of their peaceful intention, the citizens +actually lifted the city gates off their hinges so as +to leave open exits.</p> +<p> +Once within the walls, the duke found the whole +community, who had shown intelligent and sturdy +determination not to endure arbitrary tyranny, +ready to weave themselves into a frenzy of biblical +and classical parable whose one purpose was to +prove how evil had been their ways. A pompous +procession sang <i>Te Deum</i> as the duke rode in, and +the first "mystery" that met his eyes within the +gates was a wonderful representation of Abraham +sacrificing Isaac, while the legend "All that the +Lord commanded we will do," was meant not to +refer to the Hebrew's fidelity to Jehovah, but to +the Ghenters' perfect submission to Philip. A +young girl stood ready to greet him with the words +of Solomon, "I have found one my soul loves."<a href="#V14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> + + +<p> +Farther on there were various emblems all designed +to compare Philip now to Cæsar, now to +Pompey, now to Nebuchadnezzar. The most +humiliating spectacle was that of a man dressed +in a lion's skin, thus personifying the Lion of Flanders, +leading Philip's horse by the bridle. <span class="page"><a name="96">[page 96]</a></span> +"<i>Vive +Bourgogne</i> is now our cry," was symbolised in +every vehicle which the rhetoricians could invent.</p> +<p> +Not altogether explicable is this extreme self-abnegation. +Civic prosperity must have returned +in four years or there would have been no money +for the outlay. Apparently, Philip's countenance +was worth more to them than their pride.</p> +<p> +The birth and death of two children at Genappe +gave the duke new reasons for showering ostentatious +favours on his guest, and furnished the +dauphin with suitable occasion for addressing his +own father, who answered him in kind.</p> +<p> +The following is one of the fair-phrased epistles:<a href="#V15"><sup>l5</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<p class="quote1"> + <i>The King to the Dauphin</i>, 1459.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"VERY DEAR AND MUCH LOVED SON:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"We have received the letters that you wrote us +making mention that on July 27 our dear and much +loved daughter, the dauphiness, was delivered of a +fine boy, for which we have been and are very joyous, +and it seems to me that the more God our Creator +grants you favour, by so much the more you ought to +praise and thank Him and refrain from angering Him, +and in all things fulfil His commandments.</p> +<p class="rindent"> + "Given at Compiègne, Aug.7th. <br /><br /> + + "CHARLES." </p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +During these five years, Charles was more or less +aloof from the courts of his father and of their +guest. He spent part of the time in Holland and +part at Le Quesnoy with his young wife. The +Count of St. Pol was one of his intimate friends,<span class="page"><a name="97">[page 97]</a></span> +and a friend who managed to make many insinuations +about the duke's treatment of his son and +infatuation about the Croys whom Charles hated +with increasing fervency.</p> +<p> +There is a story that Charles went from Le +Quesnoy to his father's court to demand a formal +audience from the duke in order to lodge his protest +against the Croys. Evidently relations were +strained when such a degree of ceremony was +needed between father and son.</p> +<p> +Gerard Ourré was commissioned to set forth the +count's grievances, and he was in the midst of his +carefully prepared statement when the duke interrupted +him with the curt observation: "Have a +care to say nothing but the truth and understand, +it will be necessary to prove every assertion." The +orator was discomfited, stammered on for a few +moments, and then excused himself from completing +his harangue. There were only a few nobles +present and all were surprised at this embarrassment, +as Gerard passed for a clever man. Then, +seeing that his deputy was too much frightened +to proceed, Charles took up the thread of his discourse. +In a firm voice he continued the list of +accusations against the Croys, only to be cut short +in his turn. Peremptory was the duke in his command +to his son to be silent and never again to +refer to the subject. Then, turning to Croy, Philip +added "see to it that my son is satisfied with you," +and withdrew from the audience chamber.</p> +<p> +Croy addressed Charles and endeavoured to be<span class="page"><a name="98">[page 98]</a></span> +conciliatory. "When you have repaired the ill +you have wrought I will remember the good you +have done," was the count's only reply. He took +leave of his father with an outward show of love +and respect and returned to his wife at Le Quesnoy, +escorted, indeed, by Croy out of the gates of +Brussels, but with no better understanding +between them.</p> +<p> +St. Pol found good ground to work on. He +inflamed the count's discontent and his distrust +of the duke's favourite until Charles despatched +him to Bourges on a confidential mission to ascertain +what Charles VII. would do for the heir of +Burgundy should he decide to take refuge in the +French court.<a href="#V16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> + +<p> +At the first interview "I was not present," states +the unknown reporter, but on succeeding occasions +this man heard for himself that the king was +ready to show hospitality to the Count of Charolais +who "has no ill intentions against his father. All +he wants to do is to separate him from the people +who govern him badly."</p> +<p> +The conferences were held in the lodgings of +Odet d'Aydie. Among those present was Dammartin +and the matter was discussed in its various +aspects. Jehan Bureau and the anonymous witness +were charged with drawing up a report of the +discussion. When this was presented to the king +it did not seem to him good. He doubted the good +faith of the count's message. He had been assured<span class="page"><a name="99">[page 99]</a></span> +that it was all a fiction especially designed by the +Sieur de Burgundy.</p> +<p> +Certain general promises were made in spite of +this royal distrust, quite natural under the circumstances. +If he decided to espouse the cause of +Henry VI., the Count of Charolais should be given +a command. It was evident that the count was +by no means ready to go to all lengths, for St. Pol +states in one of his conferences with the "late +king" that Charles of Burgundy had assured him +that for two realms such as his he would not do a +deed of villainy.</p> +<p> +Nothing came of this talk. It would have been +a singular state of affairs had the heirs of France +and Burgundy thus changed places in their fathers' +courts. Spying and counterspying there were +between the courts to a great extent and rumours +in number. A certain Italian writes to the Duke +of Milan as follows, on March 23, 1461, after he had +been at Genappe and at Brussels:<a href="#V17"><sup>17</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"M. de Croy has given me clearly to understand +that the reconciliation of the dauphin with the King +of France would not be with the approval of the +Duke of Burgundy. Nevertheless the prince laments +that since he received the dauphin into his states, and +treated him as his future sovereign, he has incurred +the implacable hatred of the king added to his ancient +grievances. On the other hand, the affairs of +England, on whose issue depends war or peace for the +duke, being still in suspense, it did not seem to him<span class="page"><a name="100"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 100]</span></a></span> +honest to make advances to the king at this moment.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"M. de Croy thinks that the dauphin does not seem +to have carried into this affair the circumspection +and reflection befitting a prince of his quality. He +has maintained towards the duke the most complete +silence on the affair of Genoa, and the proposition +concerning Italy. Croy does not think there is anything +in it, but if the thing were so it ought not to be +secret. He does not believe that peace will be made +between the dauphin and his father, and mentioned +that his brother was on the embassy from duke to +king, in order, I suppose, to probe the matter to the +bottom.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The dauphin it seems has been out of humour +with the Duke of Burgundy on account of the luke-warmness +shown for his interests by the ambassador +sent by this prince to the Duke of Savoy.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The silent agreement which reigns between the +dauphin and Monsg. de Charolais is one of the causes +which has chilled this great love between the dauphin +and the duke which existed at the beginning.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Moreover, the dauphin having spent largely, +especially in almsgiving without considering his +purse finds himself very hard pressed. He has only +two thousand ducats a month from the Duke of Burgundy +and that seems to force him into peace with +the king. The duke expects nothing during the +king's lifetime.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Everything makes me want to wait here for the +arrival of news from England. It is expected daily, +good or bad the last play must be made. The duke +fears a descent on Calais, and for this reason is going +to a town called St. Omer. Under pretext of celebrating +there the fête of the Toison d'Or he has ordered<span class="page"><a name="101">[page 101]</a></span> +all his escort to be armed."</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="philipandcharles">[plate 10]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image10philipandcharles.jpg" width="400" height="535" alt="PHILIP AND CHARLES OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +For a long time before his final illness the death +of Charles VII. was anticipated. When it came +it was a dolorous end.<a href="#V18"><sup>18</sup></a> At Genappe, the dauphin +had been making his preparations for the wished-for +event in many ways, all in exact opposition to +his father's policy. In Italy and in Spain he sided +with the opponents of Charles VII. In England, +his sympathies were all for the House of York +because his father was favourable to Henry of +Lancaster and Margaret of Anjou. He learned +with satisfaction of the success of Edward IV., +and was more than willing to see him invade +France. With certain princes of Germany he +entertained relations shrouded in mystery, while +his father's own agents disclosed secrets to him +from time to time.</p> + +<p> +In his exile he kept reminding official bodies at +Paris that he was heir to the throne. As dauphin +he claimed the right to give orders to the <i>parlement</i> +at Grenoble. There is no actual proof that +he had a hand in the conspiracies which troubled +the last year of his father's reign, but it is certain +that he managed to win to himself a party within +the royal circle.</p> +<p> +Certain councillors, fearful of their own fate, +did not hesitate to suggest that Louis should be +disinherited and his brother Charles put in his +stead, but this Charles VII. would not accept. He +kept hoping for Louis's submission. The latter,<span class="page"><a name="102">[page 102]</a></span> +however, had no idea of this. He was sure that +his father would not live to grow old. A trouble +in his leg threatened to be cancerous. In July, +there was a growth in his mouth. He died July +22nd, convinced that his son had poisoned him.</p> +<p> +After July 17th constant bulletins from the +king's bedside came to Louis. Genappe was too +far and the anxious son moved to Avesnes in order +to receive his messages more speedily. Our chronicler +Chastellain<a href="#V19"><sup>19</sup></a> begins his story of Louis's accession +as follows:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Since I am not English but French, I who am +neither Spanish nor Italian but French, I have written +of two Frenchmen, the one king, the other duke. I +have written of their works and their quarrels and +of the favour and glories which God has given them +in their time. + </p> + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + <br /> +<p class="quote"> +"Kings die, reigns vanish but virtue alone and meritorious +works serve man on his bier and gain him +eternal glory. O you Frenchmen, see the cause +and the end in my labours!"</p> + +<p> +The guest who had displayed so much humility +and thankfulness when he arrived, who had deprecated +honours to his high birth and desired to offer +all the courtesies, departed from the residence so +generously given him for five years in a very +cavalier manner.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Now the king left the duke's territories without +having taken leave nor said adieu to the Countess of<span class="page"><a name="103"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 103]</span></a></span> +Charolais, <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#V20"><sup>20</sup></a></span> although he was in her neighbourhood, +and he left behind him the queen, his wife. The said +queen had neither hackneys nor vehicles with which +to follow her husband. Therefore, the king ordered +her to borrow the hackneys of the countess and chariots, +too. Heartily did the countess accede to this request +in spite of the fact that the thing seemed to +her rather strange that a noble king, and one who +had received so much honour and service from the +House of Burgundy and had promised to recognise +it when the hour came, should thus depart thence +without saying a word. However, in spite of all, the +countess would gladly have given the queen the hackneys +as a gift if they had been asked, and she sent +them to her by one of her equerries named Corneille +de la Barre, together with chariots and waggons. +And thus the queen left the country just as her husband +had done without saying a word either to the +duke or the countess, and Corneille went with her +on foot to bring back the hackneys when the queen +had arrived at the place of her desire."</p> + + +<p> +Philip had difficulty in persuading his quondam +guest to show outward respect to his father's +memory. The duke clad himself and his suite in +deep mourning before setting out to join Louis at +Avesnes, whither representatives from the University +of Paris and from all parts of the realm had +flocked to greet their new sovereign.</p> +<p> +It was a great concourse that marched from +Avesnes as escort to the uncrowned king. Philip +was magnificent in his appointments as he entered<span class="page"><a name="104">[page 104]</a></span> +Rheims, and behind him came his son,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"the Count of Charolais who, equally with his noble +company of knights and squires, attracted hearts +and eyes in admiration of his rich array wherein +cloth of gold and jewelry, velvet and embroidery +were lavishly displayed. And the count had ten +pages and twenty-six archers, and this whole company +numbered three hundred horse." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#V21"><sup>21</sup></a></span></p> + + +<p> +This was a Thursday after dinner. Louis had +waited at St. Thierry. On the actual day of the +coronation, preliminaries absorbed so much time +that the long cavalcade did not enter Rheims +until seven o'clock. The king passed his night in +a very pious and prayerful manner, taking no repose +until 5 A.M. While his suite were occupied +at their toilets he slipped off alone to church.</p> +<p> +Finally all was ready for the grand ceremony. +Very magnificent were the duke's robes and ermine +when, as chief among the peers, he escorted his late +guest to be consecrated king, and very devout and +simple was Louis. After the consecration, the +king and his friends listened to an address from the +Bishop of Tournay, in which he described in Latin +the dauphin's sojourn in the Netherlands.</p> +<p> +The Duke of Burgundy was the hero of the occasion. +He felt that all future power was in his +hands and that Louis XI. could never do enough +to repay him for his wonderful hospitality. And<span class="page"><a name="105">[page 105]</a></span> +for a time Louis was quite ready to foster this +belief. When they entered Paris, the peer so far +outshone the sovereign that there was general +astonishment.<a href="#V22"><sup>22</sup></a> Moreover, whatever the latter +did have was a gift. The very plate used on the +royal table was a ducal present.<a href="#V23"><sup>23</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Louis took great pains to preserve an attitude +of grateful humility. When he met the <i>parlement</i> +of Paris, he asked the duke's advice about its reformation. +It was to Philip that all the petitioners +flocked. But Louis was conscious, too, that there +would be a morrow in Burgundy, and he took care +to be friendly with the count even while he was +flattering the duke. For this purpose he found +Guillaume de Biche a very useful go-between.<a href="#V24"><sup>24</sup></a> +This was one of the retainers dismissed in 1457 +by Charles at his father's request. He had then +passed into Louis's service. This man quickly +insinuated himself into the king's graces, was admitted +to his chamber at all hours, and walked +arm in arm with the returned exile through Paris.</p> + +<p> +The Burgundian exile had learned the mysteries +of the city well in his four years' residence. Louis +found him an amusing companion and skilfully +managed to flatter the count by his favour towards +the man whom he had liked.</p> +<p> +For six weeks Philip remained in the capital<span class="page"><a name="106">[page 106]</a></span> +and astonished the Parisians with the fêtes he +offered. Equally astonished were they with their +new monarch. Louis was thirty-eight and not +attractive in person. His eyes were piercing but +his visage was made plain by a disproportionate +nose. His legs were thin and misshapen, his gait +uncertain. He dressed very simply, wearing an +old pilgrim's hat, ornamented by a leaden saint. +As he rode into Abbeville in company with Philip, +the simple folk who had never seen the king were +greatly amazed at his appearance and said quite +loud, "Benedicite! Is that a king of France, the +greatest king in the world? All together his horse +and dress are not worth twenty francs."<a href="#V25"><sup>25</sup></a></p> + +<p> +From the beginning of his reign, Louis XI. +never lived very long in any one place. He did +not like the Louvre as a dwelling and had the palace +of the Tournelles arranged for him. Touraine +became by preference his residence, where he lived +alternately at Amboise and in his new château +at Plessis-lès-Tours. But his sojourns were always +brief. He wanted to know everything, and +he wandered everywhere to see France and +to seek knowledge. His letters, his accounts, +the chroniclers, the despatches of the Italian +ambassador, show him on a perpetual journey.</p> +<p> +He would set out at break of day with five or +six intimates dressed in grey cloth like pilgrims; +archers and baggage followed at a distance. He<span class="page"><a name="107">[page 107]</a></span> +would forbid any one to follow him, and often ordered +the gates of the city he had left to be closed, +or a bridge to be broken behind him. Ambassadors +ordered to see him without fail, sometimes +had to cross France to obtain an interview, at least +if their object was something in which he was not +much interested. Then he would often grant +them an audience in some miserable little peasant +hut.</p> +<p> +In the cities where he stopped he would lodge +with a burgomaster or some functionary. To +avoid harangues and receptions he would often +arrive unannounced through a little alley. If +forced to accept an <i>entrée</i> he stipulated that it +should not be marked with magnificence. There +never was a prince who so disliked ceremonies, +balls, banquets, and tourneys. At his court young +people were bored to death. He never ordered +festivals except for some visitor; his pleasures +were those of a simple private gentleman. He +liked to dine out of his palace. Cagnola relates +with surprise that he had seen the king dine after +mass in a tavern on the market-place at Tours. +He invited small nobles and bourgeois to dine +with him. He was intimate, too, with bourgeois +women, and indulged in gross pleasantries, speaking +to and of women without reserve, sparing +neither sister, mother, nor queen.</p> +<p> +Yet it was a sombre court. "Farewell dames, +citizens, demoiselles, feasts, dances, jousts, and<span class="page"><a name="108">[page 108]</a></span> +tournaments; farewell fair and gracious maids, +mundane pleasures, joys, and games," says Martial +d'Auvergne. Pompous magnificence may +have reminded Louis unpleasantly of his visit to +Burgundy.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#86">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="V1">He</a> had departed with Adolph de la Marck on November +19th.—<i>Archives du Nord</i>. See Du Fresne de Beaucourt, vi., +113. No mention of this seems to appear elsewhere.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#88">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="V2">Chastellain</a> (iii., 233) says that he heard the story from +the clerk of the chapel, sole witness of this family quarrel. +The duke was so angry that it was hideous to see him.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#88">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="V3">La</a> Marche, ii., 418; Du Clercq, ii., 237; Chastellain, iii., +230, etc. In the last the narrative is more elaborate. The +author dwells much on the danger to the young countess in +her delicate state of health.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#89">[Footnote 4:</a> "<a name="V4">Thus</a> there was much coming and going: and it was ordered +by Monseigneur le Dauphin that Monseigneur de Ravestein +and the king-at-arms of the Toison d'Or should go to +Dendermonde to learn the wishes of the Count of Charolais +and his intentions, of which I am entitled to speak for I was +despatched several times to Brussels in behalf of my said +Seigneur of Charolais, to ask the advice of the Chancellor +Raulin as to the best method of conducting the present +affair"—(La Marche, ii., 419.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#89">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="V5">La</a> Marche, ii., 420. One of these, Guillaume Biche, +went to France and La Marche says that he himself often went +to him to obtain valuable information.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#90">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="V6">La</a> Marche, ii., 418.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#90">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="V7">Du</a> Clercq, ii., 239.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#91">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="V8">Chastellain</a>, iii., 308.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#91">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="V9">Du</a> Fresne de Beaucourt, vi., 123. Thierry de Vébry to +the Count de Vaudemart.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#92">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="V10">Du</a> Fresne de Beaucourt, vi., 123.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#93">[Footnote 11:</a> <i><a name="V11">Les</a> Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles</i>, ed. A.J.V. Le Roux. The +stories are, as a rule, only retold tales.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#94">[Footnote 12:</a> "<a name="V12">The</a> spectacle was not witnessed by Count Charolais nor +by Louis the Dauphin, nor by the Lord of Croy, whom for +certain reasons he was unwilling to take with him." (Meyer, +P.322.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#94">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="V13">Kervyn</a>, <i>Hist. de Flandre</i>, v., 23. At this time Philip was +ignoring a peremptory summons to appear before the Parliament +of Paris.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#95">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="V14">Meyer</a>, p. 321.<br /><br /> + +All the legends were in Latin. <i>Inveni quem diligit anima +mea.</i>]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#96">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="V15">Du</a> Fresne de Beaucourt, vi., 267.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#98">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="V16">Report</a> of an eye-witness. (Duclos, v., 195.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#99">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="V17">Du</a> Fresne de Beaucourt. vi., 326.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#101">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="V18">Lavisse</a>, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 321.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#102">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="V19">IV</a>., 21.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#103">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="V20">Chastellain</a>, iv., 45.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#104">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="V21">Chastellain</a> was not present, but he says of Philip's suite +(iv., 47): "From what I have been told and what I have +seen in writing, it was a wonderful thing and its like had never +been seen in this kingdom."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#105">[Footnote 22:</a> "<a name="V22">And</a> I, myself, assert this for I was there and saw all the +nobles" (Chastellain, iv., 52).]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#105">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="V23">When</a> return presents were distributed to the nobles +Philip received a lion, Charles a pelican.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#105">[Footnote 24:</a> <a name="V24">Chastellain</a>, iv., 115.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#106">[Footnote 25:</a> <a name="V25">Lavisse</a>, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 325.]</p> + + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="109">[page 109]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="VI">VI</a></h2> + +<h3>THE WAR OF PUBLIC WEAL</h3> + +<h4>1464-1465</h4> +<p> +The era of good feeling between Louis XI. and +his Burgundian kinsmen was of short duration, +and no wonder. The rich rewards confidently +expected as fitting recompense for five +years' kindness more than cousinly, towards a +penniless refugee were not forthcoming.</p> +<p> +The king was lavish in fine words, and not chary +in certain ostentatious recognition towards his late +host, but the fairly munificent pension, together +with the charge of Normandy settled upon the +Count of Charolais, proved only a periodical reminder +of promises as regularly unfulfilled on each +recurring quarter day, while the post of confidential +adviser to the inexperienced monarch, which Philip +had intended to occupy, remained empty.</p> +<p> +Louis put perfect trust in no one but turned now +to one counsellor, now to another, and used such +fragments of advice as pleased his whim and paid +no further heed to the giver.</p> +<p> +Not long after Louis's coronation there occurred +that change in Philip's bodily constitution that +comes to all active men sooner or later. His health +began to give way, his energies relaxed, and matters +that had been of paramount importance<span class="page"><a name="110">[page 110]</a></span> +throughout his career were allowed to slip into +the background of his desires. In the famous +treaty of 1435, no article was rated at greater +importance than that which placed the towns +on the Somme in Philip's hands, subject to +a redemption of two hundred thousand gold +crowns. Whether Charles VII. had actually +pledged himself that the mortgage should hold at +least during Philip's life does not seem assured, +but that any sum would be insufficient to induce +the duke to release them unless his intellect were +somewhat deadened, is clear.</p> +<p> +In 1462, when he recovered from a sharp attack, +possibly the result of his indulgence in the pleasures +of the table during the prolonged festivities +at Paris, he did not regain his previous vigour. +This was the time, by the way, when opportunity +was afforded his courtiers to prove that devotion +to their seigneur outweighed personal vanity. +When his head was shaved by order of the court +physician, more than five hundred nobles sacrificed +their own locks so that their becoming curls +might not remind their chief of his own bald head. +The sacrifice was not always voluntary, adds an +informant.<a href="#VI1"><sup>1</sup></a> Philip forced compliance with this +new fashion upon all who seemed reluctant to be +unnecessarily shorn of what beauty was theirs by +nature's gift. This servility may have consoled +Philip for the deprivation of his hair. In his<span class="page"><a name="111">[page 111]</a></span> +depressed condition any solace was acceptable.</p> + +<p> +It was just when the duke was in this enfeebled +state that Louis, through the mediation of the +Croys, pushed forward his proposition to redeem +the towns and Philip agreed, possibly relying +upon the chance that it would be no easy matter +for the French king to wring the required sum +from his impoverished land. Philip's assent +was, however, promptly clinched by a cash +payment of half the amount<a href="#VI2"><sup>2</sup></a>; the remainder +followed.</p> + +<p> +Amiens, Abbeville, and the other towns, valuable +bulwarks for the Netherland provinces, fine +nurseries for the human material requisite for Burgundian +armies, rich tax payers as they were, all +tumbled into the outstretched hands of the duke's +wily rival.</p> +<p> +The transaction was hurried through and completed +before a rumour of its progress came to the +ear of the interested heir. Charles was in Holland +sulking and indignant. He had expected good +results from his tender devotion during his father's +acute illness, a devotion shared by Isabella of +Portugal who hastened to her husband's bedside +from her convent seclusion when Philip was in +need of her ministrations. But, in his convalescence, +Philip renewed his friendship for the Croys +whom Charles continued to distrust with bitterness<span class="page"><a name="112">[page 112]</a></span> +that varied in its intensity, but which never +vanished from his consciousness. The young +man felt misjudged, misused, and ever suspicious +that personal danger to himself lurked in the air +of his father's court.</p> +<p> +The various rumours of plots against his life +may not all have been baseless. At last, one of +own cousins, the Count of Nevers, was accused of +having recourse to diabolic means of doing away +with the duke's legitimate heir.<a href="#VI3"><sup>3</sup></a> Three little +waxen images were found in his house, and it was +alleged that he practised various magic arts withal +in order to win the favour of the duke and of the +French king, and still worse to cause Charles to +waste away with a mysterious sickness. The +accusations were sufficient to make Nevers +resign all his offices in his kinsman's court and +retire, post-haste, to France. Had he been wholly +innocent he would have demanded trial at the +hands of his peers of the Golden Fleece as behooved +one of the order. But he withdrew +undefended, and left his tattered reputation fluttering +raggedly in the breeze of gossip.</p> + +<p> +Charles stayed in Holland aloof from the ducal +court until a fresh incident drove him thither to +give vent to his indignation. Only three days +had Philip de Commines been page to Duke +Philip, then resident at Lille, when an embassy +headed by Morvilliers, Chancellor of France, was +given audience in the presence of the Burgundian<span class="page"><a name="113">[page 113]</a></span> +court, including the Count of Charolais. +The future historian,<a href="#VI4"><sup>4</sup></a> then nineteen years old, +was keenly alive to all that passed on that November +fifth, 1464. Morvilliers used very bitter +terms in his assertion that Charles had illegally +stopped a little French ship of war and arrested +a certain bastard of Rubempré on the false charge +that his errand in Holland, where the incident +occurred, was to seize and carry off Charles himself. +Moreover, one knight of Burgundy, Sir +Olivier de La Marche had caused this tale to be +bruited everywhere,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"especially at Bruges whither strangers of all nations +resort. This had hurt Louis deeply, and he now +demanded through his chancellor that Duke Philip +should send this same Sir Olivier de La Marche +prisoner to Paris, there to be punished as the case +required. Whereupon, Duke Philip answered that +the said Sir Olivier was steward of his house, born +in the County of Burgundy and in no respect subject +to the Crown of France."</p> + +<p> +Philip added that if his servant had wrought ill +to the king's honour he, the duke, would see to +his punishment. As to the bastard of Rubempré, +true it was that he had been apprehended in +Holland,<a href="#VI5"><sup>5</sup></a> but there was adequate ground for his +arrest as his behaviour had been strange, at least +so thought the Count of Charolais. Philip added<span class="page"><a name="114">[page 114]</a></span> +that if his son were suspicious</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"he took it not of him for he was never so, but of his +mother who had been the most jealous lady that ever +lived. But notwithstanding" [quoth he] "that +myself never were supicious, yet if I had been in my +son's place at the same time that this bastard of +Rubempré haunted those coasts I would surely have +caused him to be apprehended as my son did."</p> + +<p> +In conclusion, Philip promised to deliver up +Rubempré to the king were his innocence satisfactorily +proven.</p> +<p> +Morvilliers then resumed his discourse, enlarging +upon the treacherous designs of Francis, Duke +of Brittany, with whom Charles had lately sworn +brotherhood at the very moment when he was the +honoured guest of King Louis at Tours. During +this discussion the Count of Charolais became very +restive. Finally he could no longer endure +Morvilliers's indirect slurs, and</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"made offer eftsoon to answer, being marvellously +out of patience to hear such reproachful speeches +used of his friend and confederate. But Morvilliers +cut him off, saying: 'My Lord of Charolais, I am +not come of ambassage to you, but to my Lord your +father.' The said earl besought his father divers +times to give him leave to answer, who in the end said +unto him: 'I have answered for thee as methinketh +the father should answer for the son, notwithstanding +if thou have so great desire to speak bethink thyself +to-day and to-morrow speak and spare not.'"</p> + +<p> +Then Morvilliers to his former speech added that<span class="page"><a name="115">[page 115]</a></span> +he could not imagine what had moved the earl to +enter into the league with the Duke of Brittany +unless it were because of a pension the king had +once given him together with the government +of Normandy and afterwards taken from him.</p> +<p> +In regard to Rubempré, Commines adds to +his story Charles's own statement given on the +morrow:</p> +<p> +"Notwithstanding, I think nothing was ever +proved against him, though I confess the presumption +to have been great. Five years after +I myself saw him delivered out of prison." This +from Commines. La Marche is less detailed in +his record<a href="#VI6"><sup>6</sup></a> of the Rubempré incident:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The bastard was put in prison and the Count of +Charolais sent me to Hesdin to the duke to inform +him of the arrest and its cause. The good duke +heard my report kindly like a wise prince. In truth +he at once suspected that the craft of the King of +France lurked at the bottom of the affair. Shortly +afterwards the duke left Hesdin and returned to his +own land, which did not please the King of France +who despatched thither a great embassy with the +Count d'Eu at the head. Demands were made that +I should be delivered to him to be punished as he +would, because he claimed that I had been the cause +of the arrest of the bastard of Rubempré and also of +the duke's departure from Hesdin without saying +adieu to the King of France, but the good duke, +moderate in all his actions, replied that I was his +subject and his servitor, and that if the king or<span class="page"><a name="116"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 116]</span></a></span> +any one else had a grievance against me he would +investigate it. The matter was finally smoothed +over [adds La Marche], and Louis evinced a readiness +to conciliate his offended cousin."</p> + +<p> +In spite of La Marche, the matter proved to +be one not easily disposed of by soft phrases +flung into the breach. Charles obeyed his father +and prepared in advance his defence to the +chancellor. When he had finished his own statement +about Rubempré, he proceeded to the point +of his friendship with the Duke of Brittany, +declaring that it was right and proper and that +if King Louis knew what was to the advantage +of the French sovereign, he would be glad to +see his nobles welded together as a bulwark to his +throne. As to his pension, he had never received +but one quarter, nine thousand francs. He had +made no suit for the remainder nor for the government +of Normandy. So long as he enjoyed the +favour and good will of his father he had no need +to crave favour of any man.</p> +<p> +"I think verily had it not been for the reverence +he bore to his said father who was there present" +continues the observant page, "and to whom he +addressed his speech that he would have used +much bitterer terms. In the end, Duke Philip +very wisely and humbly besought the king not +lightly to conceive an evil opinion of him or his +son but to continue his favour towards them. +Then the banquet was brought in and the ambassadors +took their leave. As they passed out Charles<span class="page"><a name="117">[page 117]</a></span> +stood apart from his father and said to the archbishop +of Narbonne, who brought up the rear of +the little company:</p> +<p> +"'Recommend me very humbly to the good +grace of the king. Tell him he has had me scolded +here by the chancellor but that he shall repent +it before a year is past.'" His message was +duly delivered and to this incident Commines +attributes momentous results.</p> +<p> +Exasperated at the nonchalant manner in which +Louis's ambassadors treated him, indignant at +the injury to his heritage by the redemption of +the towns on the Somme, and further, already +alienated from his royal cousin through the long +series of petty occasions where the different +natures of the two young men clashed, in this +year 1464, Charles was certainly more than ready +to enter into an open contest with the French +monarch. It was not long before the opportunity +came for him to do so with a certain éclat.</p> +<p> +In the early years of his own freedom, before +he learned wisdom, Louis XI. had planted many +seeds of enmity which brought forth a plentiful +crop, and the fruit was an open conspiracy among +the nobles of the land.</p> +<p> +One of the causes of loosening feudal ties was the +gradual growth of the body of standing troops +instituted in 1439 by Charles VII. These, in the +regular pay of the crown, gave the king a guarantee +of support without the aid of his nobles. By +the date of Louis's accession, certain ducal houses<span class="page"><a name="118">[page 118]</a></span> +besides that of Burgundy had grown very independent +within their own boundaries: Orleans, +Anjou, Bourbon, not to speak of Brittany.<a href="#VI7"><sup>7</sup></a> Now +the efforts to curtail the prerogatives of these +petty sovereigns, begun by Charles VII., were +steady and persistent in the new reign. They +had no longer the power of coining money, of +levying troops, or of imposing taxes, while the +judicial authority of the crown had been extended +little by little over France. Then their privileges +were further attacked by Louis's restrictions of the +chase.</p> + +<p> +It was the accumulation of these invasions of +local authority, added to a real disbelief in the +king's ability, that led to a formation of a league +among the nobles, designed to check the centralisation +policy of the monarch, a League of Public +Weal to form a bulwark against the tyrannical +encroachments of their liege lord.</p> +<p> +Not to follow the steps of the growth of this +coalition, it is sufficient for the thread of this +narrative to say that it comprised all the great +French nobles, the princes of the blood as well as +others. Men whom Louis had flattered as well as +those whom he had slighted alike fell from his +standards, distrustful of his ability to withstand +organised opposition, and they threw in their lot +with the protestors so as not to miss their share +of the spoil.</p> +<p> +The Count of Charolais, as already mentioned,<span class="page"><a name="119">[page 119]</a></span> +was in a mood when his ears were eagerly open +to overtures from Louis's critics. The redemption +of the towns on the Somme he was unable to +prevent, but the affair left him very sore. Shortly +after its completion, the count did, indeed, succeed +in depriving the Croys of their ascendency +over the Duke of Burgundy, but when that long +desired victory was attained, the towns had one +and all accepted their transfer and were under +French sovereignty. When the count joined the +league, the hope of ultimate restoration was undoubtedly +prominent among the motives for his +own course of action, though his intimacy with +the chief leader of the revolt, the Duke of Brittany, +might easily have led to the same result.</p> +<p> +Towards Francis of Brittany, Louis XI. had +been especially wanting in tact during the first +months of his reign. The king treated him as a vassal +of France, while the duke held that he and his +forbears owed simple homage to the crown, not +dependence. Therefore, in order to resist being +subordinated, the Duke of Brittany resolved not +to leave his estates except in a suitable manner. +His messages to the king were sent in all ceremony, +he rendered proper homage, declared +his readiness to serve him as a kinsman and as +a vassal for certain territories, but demanded +freedom to exercise his hereditary rights and to +enjoy his hereditary dignities.<a href="#VI8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + +<p> +"Rude and strange" were the terms employed<span class="page"><a name="120">[page 120]</a></span> +by the king in response to these statements, and +then he proceeded to encroach still farther on +the duke's seigniorial rights by attempts to dispose +of the hands of Breton heiresses in unequal +marriages, and to arrogate to himself other rights—all +sufficient provocation to justify Francis of +Brittany in becoming one of the chiefs in the +league. Very delightful is Chastellain's colloquy +with himself <a href="#VI9"><sup>9</sup></a> as to the difficulty of maintaining +perfect impartiality in discussing the cause of +this Franco-Burgundian war, but unfortunately +the result of his patient efforts is lost.</p> + +<p> +Olivier de La Marche and Philip de Commines, +however, were both present in the Burgundian +army and their stories are preserved. La Marche +had reason to remember the first actual engagement +between the royal and invading forces at +Montl'héry, "because on that day I was made +knight." He does not say, as does Commines, +that this battle was against the king's desire. +Louis had hoped to avoid any use of arms and to +coerce his rebellious nobles into quiescence by +other methods. Not that they characterised +themselves as rebellious, far from it. Clear and +definite was their statement that in their +obligation</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"to give order to the estate, the police and the +government of the kingdom, the princes of the blood +as chief supports of the crown, by whose advice and +not by that of others, the business of the king and<span class="page"><a name="121"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 121]</span></a></span> +of the state ought to be directed, are ready to risk +their persons and their property, and in this laudable +endeavour all virtuous citizens ought to aid." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#VI10"><sup>10</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Thus wrote Charles to the citizens of Amiens, +and the words were typical of similar appeals made +in every quarter of the realm by the various +feudal chiefs to their respective subjects. In +truth this war, ostentatiously called that of +the Public Weal, was but a struggle on the part +of the great nobles for local sovereignty. The +weal demanded was home rule for the feudal +chiefs. The War of Public Weal was a fierce +protest against monarchical authority, against +concentration. A king indeed, but a king in +leading strings was the ideal of the peers.</p> +<p> +Thus matters stood in June, 1465. Louis +almost alone, deserted by his brother the Duke +of Berry, and his nobles banded together in apparent +unity, hedged in by their pompous and +self-righteous assertions that all their thoughts +were for the poor oppressed people whose burdens +needed lightening. Of all the great vassals, +Gaston de Foix was the single one loyal to the +king.</p> +<p> +The part of the great duke fell entirely to the<span class="page"><a name="122">[page 122]</a></span> +share of the Count of Charolais. A small force +was levied for him within the Netherlands, and he +started for Paris where he hoped to meet contingents +from the two Burgundies and his brother +peers of France with their own troops. His men +were good individually but they had not been +trained to act as one, and there was no coherence +between the different companies.</p> +<p> +July, 1465, found Charles at St. Denis, the appointed +rendezvous. He was first in the field. +While he awaited his allies, his little army became +restive at the situation in which they found +themselves, fifty leagues from Burgundian territory +with no stronghold as their base. It was +urged again and again upon the count that his first +consideration ought to be his men's safety. His +allies had failed him. He should retreat. "I +have crossed the Oise and the Marne and I will cross +the Seine if I have but a single page to follow +me," was the leader's firm reply to these demands.</p> +<p> +The leaguers were slow to keep their pledges, +and Charles decided that it was his mission to +prevent Louis from entering his capital, to which +he was advancing with great rapidity from the +south. To carry out this purpose Charles disregarded +all protests, crossed the Seine at St. Cloud, +and made his way to the little village of Longjumeau, +whither he was preceded by the Count +of St. Pol, commanding one division of the Burgundian +army. Montl'héry was a village still +farther to the south, and here it was that La<span class="page"><a name="123">[page 123]</a></span> +Marche and other gentlemen were knighted. +This ceremony was evidently part of the count's +endeavour to encourage his followers—all unwilling +to risk an engagement before the arrival +of the allies.</p> +<p> +To the king it was of infinite advantage that no +delay should occur. Nevertheless, it was Charles +who opened active hostilities on July 15th, with +soldiers who had not broken their fast that day. +Armed since early dawn, wearied by a forced +march with a July sun beating down upon their +heads, their movements hampered by standing +wheat and rye, the men were at a tremendous +disadvantage when they were led to the attack. +It was a hot assault. No quarter was given, +many fled. At length, Louis found himself abandoned +by all save his body-guard. Pressed +against the hill that bounded the grain fields, +the king at last retreated up its slope into a +castle on its summit.</p> +<p> +Charles rode impetuously after the retreating +royalists. Separated from his men, he fell +among the royal guard at the gate of the castle. +There was a vehement assault resisted as vehemently +by his meagre escort. Several fell and +Charles himself received a sword wound on his +neck where his armour had slipped. Recognised +by the French, he might have been taken or slain +in his resistance, when the Bastard of Burgundy +rode in and rescued him. Very desperate seemed +the count's condition. When night fell, no one<span class="page"><a name="124">[page 124]</a></span> +knew where lay the advantage. The fugitives +spread rumours that the king was dead and that +Charles was in possession, others carried the +reverse statements as they rode headlong to the +nearest safety. It was a rout on both sides with +no credit to either leader. But in the darkness +of the night, the king managed to slip out of his +retreat and march quietly towards the greater +security of Paris.</p> +<p> +It was a very shadowy victory that Charles +proudly claimed. All through the night of July +15th, the Burgundians were discussing whether +to flee or to risk further fighting against the odds +all recognised. Daybreak found the council in +session when a peasant brought tidings that the +foe had departed. The fires in sight only covered +their retreat. To be sure that same foe had +taken Burgundian baggage with them to Paris. +But what of that? The Burgundians held the +battlefield and they made the best of it.</p> +<p> +On July 16th, Louis supped with the military +governor of Paris and "moved the company, +nobles and ladies, to sympathetic tears by his +touching description of the perils he had met and +escaped." Charles, meanwhile, effected a junction +with his belated allies, Francis of Brittany and +Charles of France, the Duke of Berry, at Étampes. +Thither too, came the dukes of Bourbon and of +Lorraine, but none of these leaguers could claim +any share in the battle of Montl'héry.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="battlemont">[plate 11]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image11battlemont.jpg" width="400" height="516" alt="BATTLE OF MONTL'HÉRY (JULY 16, 1465)" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<span class="page"><a name="125">[page 125]</a></span> +<p> +While these peers perfected their plans to force +their chief into redressing the wrongs of the poor +people, the king was showing a very pleasant +side of his character to the Parisian citizens. +In response to a petition that he should take +advice on the conduct of his administration, he +declared his perfect willingness to add to his +council six burgesses, six members of <i>parlement</i>, +and the same number from the university. Besides +this concession, he relieved the weight of the +imposts and hastened to restore certain financial +franchises to the Church, to the university, and to +various individuals. Three weeks were consumed +in establishing friendly relations in this all important +city, and then the king departed for Normandy +to levy troops and to collect provisions for a siege.<a href="#VI11"><sup>11</sup></a> +There was need for this last for the allies had +moved up to the immediate vicinity of Paris.</p> + +<p> +Before the king's return to his capital on +August 28th, a formidable array was encamped +at Charenton and its neighbourhood. More +formidable, however, they were in numbers than +in strength. Like all confederated bodies there +was inherent weakness, for there was no leader +whom all would be willing to obey. The Duke of +Berry, heir presumptive to the throne, was the +only one among the peers whose birth might have +commanded the needful authority, but he had +not sufficient personal character to assert his<span class="page"><a name="126">[page 126]</a></span> +position. So the confederates remained a loose +aggregation of small armies. The longer they +remained in camp the weaker they grew, the +more disintegrated. A pitched battle might +have been a great advantage to these gallant +defenders of the Public Weal of France and that +was the last desire of their antagonist.</p> +<p> +Many skirmishes took place between the Parisians +and the leaguers, but no engagement. Once, +indeed, there were hurried preparations on the +part of the Burgundians to repulse an attack, of +whose imminence they were warned by a page +before break of day, one misty morning. Yes, +there was no doubt. The pickets could see the +erect spears and furled banners of the enemy +all ready to advance upon the unwary camp. +Quick were the preparations. There were no +laggards. The Duke of Calabria was more quickly +armed than even the Count of Charolais. He +came to a spot where a number of Burgundians, +the count's own household stood, by the standard. +Among them was Commines<a href="#VI12"><sup>l2</sup></a> and he heard the +duke say: "We now have our desire, for the +king is issued forth with his whole force and +marches towards us as our scouts report. Wherefore +let us determine to play the men. So soon +as they be out of the town we will enter and +measure with the long ell." By these words he +meant that the soldiers would speedily have a<span class="page"><a name="127">[page 127]</a></span> +chance to use their pikes as yard sticks to measure +out their share of the booty. False prophet was +the duke that time! When the daylight grew +stronger, the upright spears and furled banners +of the advancing foe proved to be a mass of thistles +looming large in the magnifying morning mist! +The princes took their disappointment philosophically, +enjoyed early mass, and then had their +breakfast.</p> + +<p> +The young Commines is surprised that Paris +and her environs were rich enough to feed so +many men. Gradually the aspect of affairs +changed. Negotiating back and forth became +more frequent. The disintegration of the allies +became more and more evident. Louis XI. +bided his time and then took the extraordinary +resolution to go in person to the camp at Charenton +to visit his cousin of Burgundy. With a very few +attendants, practically unguarded, he went down +the Seine. His coming had been heralded and +the Count of Charolais stood ready to receive +him, with the Count of St. Pol at his side. +"Brother, do you pledge me safety?" (for the +count's first wife was sister of Louis) to which +the count responded: "Yes, as one brother to +another."<a href="#VI13"><sup>13</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Nothing could have been more genial than was +the king. He assured Charles that he loved +a man who kept his word beyond anything.</p> +<p> +Veracity was his passion. Charles had kept the<span class="page"><a name="128">[page 128]</a></span> +promise he had sent by the archbishop of +Narbonne, and now he knew in very truth that he +was a gentleman and true to the blood of France. +Further, he disavowed the insolence of his chancellor +towards Charles, and repeated that his +cousin had been justified in resenting it. "You +have kept your promise and that long before the +day."<a href="#VI14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Then in a friendly promenade, Louis gave an +opportunity to Charles and St. Pol to state, +informally, the terms on which they would +withdraw from their hostile footing, and count +the weal restored to the oppressed public whose +sorrows had moved them to a confederation.</p> +<p> +Distasteful as was every item to Louis, he +accepted the requisition of those who felt that +they were in a position to dictate, and after a +little more parleying at later dates, the treaty +of Conflans was duly arranged. It was none too +soon for the allies. They could hardly have +held together many days longer in the midst of +the jealousies rife in their camps.</p> +<p> +The king paused at nothing. To his brother +he gave Normandy, to Charles of Burgundy the +towns on the Somme with guarantee of possession +for his lifetime, while the Count of St. Pol was +made Constable of France.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="publicweal">[plate 12]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image12publicweal.jpg" width="400" height="445" alt="LOUIS XI, WITH THE PRINCES AND SEIGNEURS OF THE WAR OF THE PUBLIC WEAL" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Boulogne and Guienne, too, were ceded to +Charles, lesser places and pensions to the other +confederates. The contest ended with complete<span class="page"><a name="129">[page 129]</a></span> +victory for the allies who were left with the +proud consciousness that they had set a definite +limit to royal pretensions, at least, on paper.</p> +<p> +After the treaty was signed, the king showed +no resentment at his defeat but urged his cousin +to amuse himself a while in Paris before returning +home. Charles was rash, but he had not the +temerity to trust himself so far. Pleading a +promise to his father to enter no city gate until +on paternal soil, he declined the invitation and +soon returned to the Netherlands, where his own +household had suffered change. During his absence, +the Countess of Charolais had died and +been buried at Antwerp. Charles is repeatedly +lauded for his perfect faithfulness to his wife, but +her death seems to have made singularly little +ripple on the surface of his life. The chroniclers +touch on the event very casually, laying more +stress on the opportunity it gave Louis XI. to +offer his daughter Anne as her successor, than on +the event itself.<a href="#VI15"><sup>15</sup></a></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#110">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="VI1">La</a> Marche, ii., 227. Peter von Hagenbach was the chamberlain +to enforce this.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#111">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="VI2">The</a> receipt for this half payment was signed October 8, +1462. (Comines, <i>Mémoires</i>, Lenglet du Fresnoy edition, ii., +392-403.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#112">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="VI3">Du</a> Clercq, iii., 236; Comines-Lenglet, ii., 393.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#113">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="VI4">Commines</a>, <i>Mêmoires</i> I., ch. i. In the above passages Dannett's +translation is followed for the racy English.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#113">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="VI5">Commines</a> says at The Hague; Meyer makes it Gorcum.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#115">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="VI6">III</a>., 3.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#118">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="VI7">Lavisse</a> iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 336.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#119">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="VI8">Chastellain</a>, v., i, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#120">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="VI9">V</a>., II.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#121">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="VI10">Letter</a> of the Count of Charolais to the citizens of Amiens. +(<i>Collection de Documents inédits sur l'histoire de France</i>.) +"Mélanges," ii., 317. In this collection taken from MS. +in the Bibl. Nat. there are many letters private and public +about these events.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#125">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="VI11">Since</a> its recovery from the English, there had been no +duke in Normandy. It was thus the one province open to +the king.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#126">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="VI12">I</a>., ch. xi. His vivacious story of the siege should be +read in detail.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#127">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="VI13">I</a>., ch. xii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#128">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="VI14">Commines</a>, I., ch. xii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#129">[Footnote 15:</a> La <a name="VI15">Marche</a>, iii., p. 27.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="130">[page 130]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="VII">VII</a></h2> + +<h3>LIEGE AND ITS FATE</h3> + +<h4>1465-1467</h4> +<p> +"When we have finished here we shall make +a fine beginning against those villains the +Liegeois." Thus wrote the count's secretary on +October 18th.<a href="#VII1"><sup>1</sup></a> Charles had no desire to rest on +the laurels won before Paris. To another city +he now turned his attention, to Liege which +owed nothing whatsoever to Burgundy.</p> + +<p> +Before the days when the buried treasures +of the soil filled the air with smoke, the valley +where Liege lies was a lovely spot.<a href="#VII2"><sup>2</sup></a> Tradition +tells how, in the sixth century, Monulphe, Bishop +of Tongres, as he made a progress through his +diocese was attracted by the beauties of the site +where a few hovels then clustered near the Meuse. +After looking down from the heights to the river's +banks for a brief space, the bishop turned to his +followers and said, as if uttering a prophecy:</p> +<p> +"Here is a place created by God for the salvation of<span class="page"><a name="131">[page 131]</a></span> +many faithful souls. One day a prosperous city +shall flourish here. Here I will build a chapel." +Dedicated to Cosmo and Damian, the promised +chapel became a shrine which attracted many +pilgrims who returned to their various homes with +glowing tales of the beautiful and fertile valley. +Little by little others came who did not leave, +and by the seventh century when Bishop Lambert +sat in the see of Tongres, Liege was a small town.</p> + +<p> +An active and loving shepherd was this Lambert. +He gave himself no rest but travelled continually +from one church to another in his diocese to look +after the needs of his flock. He was a fearless +prelate, too, and his words of well-deserved rebuke +to the Frankish Pepin for a lawless deed +excited the wrath of a certain noble, accessory +to the act. Trouble ensued and Lambert was +slain as he knelt before the altar in Monulphe's +chapel at Liege. Absorbed in prayer the pious +man did not hear the servants' calls, "Holy +Lambert, Holy Lambert come to our aid," words +that later became a war-cry when the bishop +was exalted into the patron saint of the town.</p> +<p> +Not until the thirteenth century, however, +when the episcopal see was finally established +at Liege, was Lambert's successor virtual lay +overlord of the region as well as Bishop of Liege. +Monulphe's little chapel had given way to a +mighty church dedicated to the canonised Bishop +Lambert. The ecclesiastical state became almost +autonomous, the episcopal authority being restricted<span class="page"><a name="132">[page 132]</a></span> +without the walls only by the distant +emperor and still more distant pope. Within +the walls, the same authority had by no means +a perfectly free hand. There were certain +features in the constitution of Liege which +differentiated it from its sister towns in the +Netherlands.</p> +<p> +Municipal affairs were conducted in a singularly +democratic manner. There was no distinction between +the greater and lesser gilds, and, within these +organisations, the franchise was given to the most +ignorant apprentice had he only fulfilled the simple +condition of attaining his fifteenth year. Moreover, +the naturalisation laws were very easy. +Newcomers were speedily transformed into citizens +and enjoyed eligibility to office as well as +the franchise. The tenure of office being for +one year only, there was opportunity for frequent +participation in public affairs, an opportunity +not neglected by the community.<a href="#VII3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The bishop was, of course, not one of the civic +officers chosen by this liberal franchise. He was +elected by the chapter of St. Lambert, subject to +papal and imperial ratification for the two spheres +of his jurisdiction. But in the exercise of his +function there were many restrictions to his free +administration, which papal and imperial sanction +together were unable to remove.</p> +<p> +A bishop-prince of Liege could make no change +in the laws without the consent of the estates,<span class="page"><a name="133">[page 133]</a></span> +and he could administer justice only by means of +the regular tribunals. Every edict had to be +countersigned. When there was an issue between +overlord and people, the question was submitted +to the <i>schepens</i> or superior judges who, before they +gave their opinion, consulted the various charters +which had been granted from time to time, +and which were not allowed to become dead letters. +A permanent committee of the three orders supervised +the executive and the administration of the +laws. These "twenty-two" received an appeal +from the meanest citizen, and the Liege proverb +"In his own home the poor man is king," was +very near the possible truth.</p> +<p> +Yet the wheels of government were by no +means perfect in their running. Many were the +conflicts between the different members of the +state, and broils, with the character of civil war +in miniature, were of frequent occurrence. The +submergence of the aristocratic element, the +nobles, destroyed a natural balance of power +between the bishop-prince and the people. The +commons exerted power beyond their intelligence. +Annual elections, party contests headed by rival +demagogues kept the capital, and, to a lesser +extent, the smaller towns of the little state in +continuous commotion.<a href="#VII4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The ecclesiastical origin of the community<span class="page"><a name="134">[page 134]</a></span> +was evident at all points of daily life. The cathedral +of St. Lambert was the pride of the city. Its +chapter, consisting of sixty canons, took the place +held by the aristocratic element in the other towns.</p> +<p> +In the cathedral, the holy standard of St. +Lambert was suspended. At the outbreak of +war this was taken down and carried to the door +by the clergy in solemn procession. There it +was unfurled and delivered to the commander +of the civic militia mounted on a snow-white +steed. When he received the precious charge he +swore to defend it with his life.</p> +<p> +One object of popular veneration was this +standard, another was the <i>perron</i>, an emblem of +the civic organisation. This was a pillar of +gilded bronze, its top representing a pineapple +surmounted by a cross. This stood on a pedestal +in the centre of the square where was the <i>violet</i> +or city hall. In front of the perron were proclaimed +all the ordinances issued by the magistrates, +or the decrees adopted by the people in +general assembly. On these occasions the tocsin +was rung, the deans of the gilds would hasten out +with their banners and plant them near the +perron as rallying points for the various gild +members who poured out from forge, work-shop,<span class="page"><a name="135">[page 135]</a></span> +and factory until the square was filled.</p> +<p> +There were two powerful weapons whereby the +bishop-prince might enforce his will in opposition +to that of his subjects did the latter become too +obstreperous. He could suspend the court of the +<i>schepens</i>, and he could pronounce an interdict +of the Church which caused the cessation of all +priestly functions. When this interdict was in +action, civil suits between burghers could be adjudged +by the municipal magistrates, but no +criminals could be arrested or tried. The elementary +principles of an organised society were +thrown into confusion. Still worse confusion +resulted from the bishop's last resort as prince of +the Church. An interdict caused the church bells +to be silent, the church doors to be closed. The +celebration of the rites of baptism, of marriage, +of burial ceased.<a href="#VII5"><sup>5</sup></a> The fear of such cessation was +potent in its restraint, unless the populace were +too far enraged to be moved by any consideration.</p> + +<p> +While the Burgundian dukes extended their +sway over one portion of Netherland territory +after another, this little dominion maintained +its complete independence of them. The fact that +its princes were elective protected it from lapsing +through heritage to the duke who had been so +neatly proven heir to his divers childless kinsfolk. +It was a rich little vineyard without his pale.</p> +<p> +They were clever people those Liegeois. Their<span class="page"><a name="136">[page 136]</a></span> +Walloon language is a species of French with +many peculiarities showing Frankish admixture.<a href="#VII6"><sup>6</sup></a> +The race was probably a mixed one too, but its +acquired characteristics made a very different +person from a Hollander, a Frisian, or a Fleming, +though there was a certain resemblance to the +latter.</p> + +<p> +In 1465, not yet exploited were the wonderful +resources of coal and minerals which now glow +above and below the furnace fires until, from a +distance, Liege looks like a very Inferno. But +the people were industrious and energetic in their +crafts. It was a country of skilled workmen. The +city of Liege is accredited with one hundred thousand +inhabitants at this epoch, and the numbers +reported slain in the various battles in which the +town was involved run into the thousands.<a href="#VII7"><sup>7</sup></a></p> + +<p> +In 1456, Philip of Burgundy, encouraged by his +success in the diocese of Utrecht, obtained a certain<span class="page"><a name="137">[page 137]</a></span> +ascendency over the affairs of Liege by interfering +in the election of a bishop. There was no +natural vacancy at the moment. John of Heinsberg +was the incumbent, a very pleasant prelate +with conciliatory ways. He loved amusement +and gay society, pleasures more easily obtainable +in Philip's court than in his own, and his agreeable +host found means of persuading him to resign all +the cares of his see. Then the enterprising duke +proceeded to place his own nephew, Louis of +Bourbon, upon the vacant episcopal throne.</p> +<p> +This nephew was an eighteen-year-old student +at the University of Louvain, destitute of a single +qualification for the office proposed. Nevertheless, +all difficulties, technical and general were +ignored, and a papal dispensation enabled the +candidate even to dispense with the formality of +taking orders. Attired in scarlet with a feathered +Burgundian cap on his head, Louis made his entry +into his future capital and was duly enthroned +as bishop-prince in spite of his manifest unfitness +for the place.</p> +<p> +Nor did he prove a pleasant surprise to his people, +better than the promise of his youth, as some +reckless princes have done. On the contrary, +ignorant, sensuous, extortionate, he was soon at +drawn swords with his subjects. After a time +he withdrew to Huy where he indulged in gross +pleasures while he attempted to check the rebellious +citizens of his capital by trying some of the +measures of coercion used by his predecessors as a<span class="page"><a name="138">[page 138]</a></span> +last resort.</p> +<p> +Liege was lashed into a state of fury. Matters +dragged on for a long time. The people appealed +to Cologne, to the papal legate, to the pope, and to +the "pope better informed," but no redress was +given. Philip continued to protect the bishop, +and none dared put themselves in opposition to +him. Finally, the people turned to Louis XI. for +aid. Their appeal was heard and the king's +agent arrived in the city just as one of the bishop's +interdicts was about to be enforced, an interdict, +too, endorsed by a papal bull, threatening the +usual anathema if the provisions were not +obeyed.</p> +<p> +It was the moment for a demagogue and one +appeared in the person of Raes de la Rivière, lord +of Heers. On July 5, 1465, there was to be unbroken +silence in all sacred edifices. Heers and his followers +proclaimed that every priest who refused +to chant should be thrown into the river. Mass +was said under those unpeaceful and unspiritual +conditions, and the presence of the French envoys +gave new heart to the bishop's opponents. A +treaty was signed between the Liegeois and Louis; +wherein mutual pledges were made that no +peace should be concluded with Burgundy in +which both parties were not included. It was a +solemn pledge but it did not hamper Louis when +he signed the treaty of Conflans whose articles +contained not a single reference to the Liegeois.</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, it chanced that the first report of<span class="page"><a name="139">[page 139]</a></span> +the battle of Montl'héry reaching Liege gave the +victory to Louis, a report that spurred on the +Liegeois to carry their acts of open hostility to +their neighbour, still farther afield. The other +towns of the Church state were infected by an anti-Burgundian +sentiment. In Dinant this feeling was +high, and there was, moreover, a manifestation +of special animosity against the Count of Charolais. +A rabble marched out of the city to the walls of +Bouvignes, a town of Namur, loyal to Burgundy, +carrying a stuffed figure with a cow-bell round its +neck. Certain well-known emblems of Burgundy on +a tattered mantle showed that this represented +Charles of Burgundy. With rude words the crowd +declared that they were going to hang the effigy as +his master, the King of France, had already hanged +Count Charles in reality. Further, they said +that he was no count at all, but the son of their +old bishop, Heinsberg. They went so far as to +suspend the effigy on a gallows and then riddled +it with arrows and left it dangling like a scarecrow +in sight of the citizens of Bouvignes.<a href="#VII8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The actual contents of the treaty made at +Conflans did not reach Liege until messages from +Louis had assured them that he had been mindful +of their interests in making his own terms, assurances, +however, coupled with advice to make peace +with their good friend the duke. But there +speedily came later information that the only +mention of Liege in the new treaty was an apology<span class="page"><a name="140">[page 140]</a></span> +that Louis had ever made friends in that +city!</p> +<p> +The rebels lost heart at once. Without the +king, they had no confidence in their own efforts. +Envoys were despatched to Philip who refused +to answer their humble requests for pardon until +his son could decide what punishment the principality +deserved. Nor was much delay to be +anticipated before an answer would be forthcoming. +Charles hastened to Liege direct from Paris, not +pausing even to greet his father. By the third +week of January, he was encamped between St. +Trond and Tongres, where a fresh deputation +from Liege found him. These envoys, between +eighty and a hundred, were well armed chiefly +because they feared attacks from their anti-peace +fellow-citizens.<a href="#VII9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> + +<p> +They found Charles flushed by his recent +achievement of bringing King Louis to his way of +thinking. His army, too, was a stronger body +than when it left the Netherlands. The troops +were more skilled from their experience and elated +at what they counted their success; more capable, +too, of acting as one body under the guidance of a +resolute leader, now inclined to despise councils +with free discussion. The count's quick temper +had gained him weight but it had made him feared. +The slightest breach of discipline brought a thunder-cloud +on his face. If we may believe one +authority,<a href="#VII10"><sup>10</sup></a> he himself was often so lacking in<span class="page"><a name="141">[page 141]</a></span> +discipline that he would strike an officer with a +baton, and once at least, he killed a soldier with +his own hand.</p> + +<p> +His audience with the envoys resulted in a +treaty, of which certain articles were so harsh +that the messengers were insulted when the +report was made in Liege. Only eleven out of +thirty-two gilds voted to accept all the articles. +A certain noble on pleasant terms with the count +offered to carry the unpopular document back +to him to ask for a modification of the harsh +terms.</p> +<p> +By this time the weather was severe. Charles's +troops were in need of repose, and it seemed +prudent to avoid hostility if possible. Charles +revoked the objectionable clauses in consideration +of an increase of the war indemnity. With this +change the treaty was accepted, and a Piteous +Peace it was indeed for the proud folk of Liege. +Instead of owing allegiance to emperor and to +pope alone as free imperial citizens, they agreed +to recognise the Burgundian dukes as hereditary +protectors of Liege.</p> +<p> +When it was desired, Burgundian troops could +march freely across the territory. Burgundian +coins were declared valid at Burgundian values. +No Liege fortresses were to menace Burgundian +marches, and unqualified obedience was pledged +to the new overlords. The same terms were +conceded to all the rebel towns alike except<span class="page"><a name="142">[page 142]</a></span> +to Dinant. The story of the personal insult to +himself and his mother had reached the count's +ears and he was not inclined to ignore the circumstance. +His further action was, however, +deferred.</p> +<p> +January 24, 1466, is the final date of the treaty<a href="#VII11"><sup>11</sup></a> +and, after its conclusion, Charles ordered a review +of his forces, a review that almost culminated in +a pitched battle between army and citizens of +St. Trond, and then on January 31st, the count +returned to Brussels where there was a great display +of Burgundian etiquette before the duke +embraced his victorious son.</p> + +<p> +Piteous as was the peace for Liege and the +province at large, still more piteous was the +lot of Dinant which alone was excluded from +the participation in the treaty. Her fate remained +uncertain for months. Other affairs occupied +the Count of Charolais until late in the summer +of 1466. Time had quickly proven that Louis, +well freed from the allies pressing up to the gates +of Paris, was in very different temper from Louis +ill at ease under their strenuous demands. Not +only had he withdrawn his promises in regard +to the duchy conferred on his brother, but he +had begun taking other measures, ostensibly +to prepare against a possible English invasion, +which alarmed his cousin of Burgundy for the +undisturbed possession of his recently recovered<span class="page"><a name="143">[page 143]</a></span> +towns on the Somme.</p> +<p> +Excited by the rumours of Louis's purposes, +Charles despatched the following letter from +Namur:<a href="#VII12"><sup>12</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"MONSEIGNEUR:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"I recommend myself very humbly to your good +grace and beg to inform you, Monseigneur, that +recently I have been advised of something very surprising +to me, Moreover, I am now put beyond doubt +considering the source of my information. It is with +much regret that I communicate it to you when I +remember all the good words you have given to me this +year, orally and in writing. Monseigneur, it is evident +that there has been some agreement between +your people and the English, and that the matter +has been so well worked that you have consented, +as I have heard, to yield them the land of Caux, +Rouen, and the connecting villages, and to aid them +in withholding Abbeville and the county of Ponthieu, +and further, to cement with them certain alliances +against me and my country in making them large +offers greatly to my prejudice and, in order to complete +the whole, they are to come to Dieppe.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur, you may dispose of your own as you +wish: but, Monseigneur, in regard to what concerns +me, it seems to me that you would do better to leave +my property in my hand than to be the instrument +of putting it into the hands of the English or of any +foreign nation. For this reason I entreat you, Monseigneur, +that if such overtures or greater ones have +been opened by your people that you will not commit<span class="page"><a name="144">[page 144]</a></span> +yourself to them in any manner but will insist on +their cessation, and that you will do this in a way +that I may always have cause to remain your very +humble servant as I desire to do with all my heart. +Above all, write to me your good pleasure, and I implore +you, Monseigneur, if there be any service that I +can render you, I am the one who would wish to +employ all that God has given me [to do it]. Written +at Namur, August 16th.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"Your very humble and obedient subject, <br /><br /> + +"CHARLES." </p> + +<p> +Then the count proceeded to Dinant to inflict +the punishment that the culprits had, to his mind, +too long escaped.</p> +<p> +Commines calls this a strong and rich town, +superior even to Liege.<a href="#VII13"><sup>13</sup></a> A comparison of the two +sites shows, however, that this statement could +hardly have been true at any time. Dinant lies in +a narrow space between the Meuse and high land. +A lofty rock at one end of the town dominating +the river is crowned by a fortress most picturesque +in appearance. It is difficult to estimate how +many inhabitants there actually were in the +place in 1466, but there is no doubt as to their +energy and character. As mentioned before, the +artisans had acquired a high degree of skill in their +specialty, and their brass work was renowned far +and wide. Pots and pans and other utensils +were known as <i>Dinanderies</i>.</p> + +<p> +The traffic in them was so important that<span class="page"><a name="145">[page 145]</a></span> +Dinant had had her own commercial relations +with England for a long period. Her merchants +enjoyed the same privileges in London as the +members of the Hanseatic League, and an English +company was held in high respect at Dinant.<a href="#VII14"><sup>14</sup></a> +The brass-founders' gild ranked at Dinant as the +drapers at Louvain, and the weavers at Ghent. +As a "great gild they formed a middle class between +the lower gilds and the <i>bourgeois</i>," the merchants +and richer folk.<a href="#VII15"><sup>15</sup></a> In municipal matters +each of these three classes had a separate vote.</p> + +<p> +As it happened, Dinant had not been very +ready to open hostilities against the House of +Burgundy though she was equally critical of +Louis of Bourbon in his episcopal misrule. It +was undoubtedly her rivalry with Bouvignes of +Namur that brought her into the strife. That +neighbour had taunted her rival to exasperation, +and the fact that it was safe under the Duke of +Burgundy and backed by him as Count of Namur, +had brought a Burgundian element into the local +contest.</p> +<p> +The incidents of the insult to Charles and the +aspersion on his mother's reputation undoubtedly +were due to an irresponsible rabble rather than +to any action that could properly be attributed +to the leading men. Further, it really seems +probable that the weight attached to the insulting +act never occurred to the respectable burghers<span class="page"><a name="146">[page 146]</a></span> +until they heard of it from others, so insignificant +were the participants in it.</p> +<p> +As soon as it was realised that serious consequences +might result from reckless folly, the +authorities were quite ready to separate themselves +from the event, and to arrest the culprits +as common malefactors. Once, indeed, the prisoners +were temporarily rescued by their friends, +and it seemed to Burgundian sympathisers a +suspicious circumstance that this happened just at +a moment when there was renewed hope for help +from Louis XI. When convinced that such hopes +were vain, the magistrates became seriously +alarmed and ready to go to any lengths to avert +Burgundian vengeance. Finally the following +letter was despatched to the Duke of Burgundy:<a href="#VII16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The poor, humble and obedient servants and +subjects of the most reverend father in God, Louis +of Bourbon, Bishop of Liege; and your petty neighbours +and borderers, the burgomaster's council and +folk of Dinant, humbly declare that it has come to +their knowledge that the wrath of your grace has +been aroused against the town on account of certain +ill words spoken by some of the inhabitants thereof, +in contempt of your honourable person. The city is +as displeased about these words as it is possible to be, +and far from wishing to excuse the culprits has arrested +as many as could be found and now holds them in +durance awaiting any punishment your <i>grace</i> may +decree. As heartily and as lovingly as possible do +your petitioners beseech your grace to permit your<span class="page"><a name="147"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 147]</span></a></span> +anger to be appeased, holding the people of Dinant +exonerated, and resting satisfied with the punishment +of the guilty, inasmuch as the people are bitterly +grieved on account of the insults and have, as before +stated, arrested the culprits."</p> + +<p> +With further apologies for any failure of duty +towards the Duke of Burgundy, the petitioners +humbly begged to be granted the same terms that +Liege and the other towns had received. March +31st is the date of this humble document. Months +of doubt followed before the terrible experience +of August proved the futility of their pleas, to +which the ducal family refused to listen, so deep +was their sense of personal aggrievement. Long +as it was since the duchess had taken part in public +affairs, she, too, had a word to say here. And +she, too, was implacable against the town where +any citizen had dared accuse her of infidelity to +her husband and to the Church whose interests +were more to her than anything in the world +except her son.<a href="#VII17"><sup>17</sup></a></p> + +<p> +The petition was as unheeded as were all the +representations of the would-be mediators. Again +Dinant turned in desperation to Louis XI. and +with assurances that after God his royal majesty +was their only hope, besought him from mere<span class="page"><a name="148">[page 148]</a></span> +charity and pity to persuade his cousin of Burgundy +to forgive them. Apparently Louis took +no notice of this appeal. Dinant's last hope was +that her fellow-communes of Liege would refuse +to ratify the treaty unless she, too, were included. +The sole concession, obtained by their envoys to +Charles in the winter, had been a short truce afterwards +extended to May, 1466.</p> +<p> +During that summer the critical position of the +little town was well known. Some sympathisers +offered aid but it was aid that there was possible +danger in accepting. Many of the outlaws from +Liege, who had been expressly excluded from the +terms of the peace, had joined the ranks of a certain +free lance company called "The Companions +of the Green Tent," as their only shelter was the +interlaced branches of the forest. To Dinant +came this band to aid in her defence.<a href="#VII18"><sup>18</sup></a> At one +time it seemed as though a peaceful accommodation +might be reached but it fell through. Not +yet were the citizens ready to surrender their +charters—"Franchises,—to the rescue," was a +frequent cry and no treaty was made.</p> + +<p> +Philip, long inactive, resolved to assist at the +reduction of this place in person. Too feeble to +ride, he was carried to the Meuse in a litter, and +arrived at Namur on August 14th. Then attended +by a small escort only, he proceeded to +Bouvignes, a splendid vantage point whence he +could command a view of the scene of his son's<span class="page"><a name="149">[page 149]</a></span> +intended operations. As the crisis became imminent +there were a few further efforts to effect a +reconciliation. When these failed, the town prepared +to meet the worst.<a href="#VII19"><sup>19</sup></a> Stories gravely related +by Du Clercq<a href="#VII20"><sup>20</sup></a> represent the people of Dinant +goaded to actual fury of resistance.</p> + +<p> +By August 7th, the Burgundian troops made +their appearance, winding down to the river. Conspicuous +among the standards—and nobles from +all Philip's dominions were in evidence—was the +banner of the Count of Charolais, displaying St. +George slaying the dragon.</p> +<p> +On Tuesday, August 19th, Dinant was invested +and the siege began. Within the walls the most +turbulent element had gained complete control of +affairs. All thought of prudence was thrown to +the winds. From the walls they hurled words +at the foe:</p> +<p> +"Is your old doll of a duke tired of life that you +have brought him here to perish?<a href="#VII21"><sup>21</sup></a> Your Count +Charlotel is a green sprout. Bid him go fight the +King of France at Montl'héry. If he waits for +the noble Louis or the Liegeois he will have to +take to his heels," etc.</p> + +<p> +It was a heavy siege and the town was riddled +with cannon-balls but there was no assault. By<span class="page"><a name="150">[page 150]</a></span> +the sixth day the magistrates determined to send +their keys to the Count of Charolais and beg for +mercy. The captain of the great gild of coppersmiths, +Jean de Guérin, tried to encourage the +faint-hearted to protest openly against this procedure. +Seizing the city colours he declared: +"I will trust to no humane sentiment. I am +ready to carry this flag to the breach and to live +or die with you. If you surrender, I will quit the +town before the foe enter it." It was too late, +the capitulation was made.</p> +<p> +When the keys were brought to Charles he +remembered that he was not yet duke and ordered +them presented to his father in his stead, and to +his half-brother Anthony was entrusted the task +of formally accepting the surrender.</p> +<p> +It was late in the evening when the Bastard +of Burgundy marched in. At first he held the +incoming troops well under control, but the stores +of wine were easy to reach, and by the morning +there were wild scenes of disorder. When Charles +arrived, however, on the morrow, Tuesday, just a +week after the beginning of the siege, lawlessness +was checked with a strong hand. Any ill treatment +of women was peculiarly repugnant to him, +and he did not hesitate to execute the sternest +justice upon offenders.<a href="#VII22"><sup>22</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="anthony">[plate 13]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image13anthony.jpg" width="400" height="586" alt="ANTHONY OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +His entry into the fallen town was made with +all the wonted Burgundian pomp. Nothing in the +proceedings occurred in a headlong or passionate<span class="page"><a name="151">[page 151]</a></span> +manner. A council of war was held and the +proceedings decided upon. The cruelty that was +exercised was used in deliberate punishment, +not in savage lawlessness. The personal insults +to his mother and to himself rankled in the count's +mind. As one author remarks<a href="#VII23"><sup>23</sup></a> with undoubted +reason, it is not likely that any of those responsible +for the insult were among those punished. After +the siege, "pitiable it was to see, for the innocent +suffered and the guilty escaped."</p> + +<p> +Certain rich citizens bought their lives with +large sums, others <i>were sold as slaves,</i><a href="#VII24"><sup>24</sup></a> or were +hanged or beheaded, or were thrown into the +Meuse.<a href="#VII25"><sup>25</sup></a> In the monasteries, life was conceded +to the inmates but that was all. All their property +was confiscated. The Count of St. Pol, now Constable +of France, tried to intercede for the citizens +with Philip who remained at Bouvignes, but to +no result. It might have been chance or it might +have been intentional that at last flames completed +the work of destruction. The abode of +Adolph of Cleves, at the corner of Nôtre Dame, +was found to be on fire at about one o'clock in the +morning of Thursday, August 28th.</p> + +<p> +That Charles was responsible for this conflagration +Du Clercq thinks is incredible.<a href="#VII26"><sup>26</sup></a> He would<span class="page"><a name="152">[page 152]</a></span> +certainly have saved all ecclesiastical property +which was almost completely consumed. Indeed, +Charles gave orders to extinguish the flames as +soon as they were discovered, but every one was +so occupied with saving his own portion of booty +that nothing was accomplished and the town-hall +caught fire and the church of Nôtre Dame. From +the latter some ornaments and treasures were +saved and the bones of Ste. Perpète, with other +holy relics, were rescued by Charles himself at risk +to his own life.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"It was never known how the fire originated. +Some say it was due to a defective flue. To my +mind," [concludes the pious historian], <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#VII27"><sup>27</sup></a></span> "it was the +Divine Will that Dinant should be destroyed on +account of the pride and ill deeds of the people. I +trust to God who knows all. The duke's people alone +lost more than a hundred thousand crowns' value."</p> + +<p> +<i>Cy fust Dinant</i>, "Dinant was," is the sum of his +description, four days after the conflagration. <a href="#VII28"><sup>28</sup></a></p> + +<p> +On September 1st, Philip, who had remained +at Bouvignes while all this passed under the +direction of Charles, took boat and sailed down +to Namur. It was almost a triumph,—that trip +that proved one of the last ever made by the proud +duke—and the procession on the river and the +entry into Namur were closed by a humble embassy<span class="page"><a name="153">[page 153]</a></span> +from Liege in regard to certain points of +their peace.</p> +<p> +Du Clercq gravely relates, by the way, that the +Count of St. Pol's men had had no part in the +plunder of Dinant. This was hard on the poor +fellows. Therefore, Philip turned over to their +mercies, as a compensation for this deprivation, +the little town of Tuin, which had been rebellious +and then submitted. Tuin accepted its fate, submitted +to St. Pol, and then compounded the right +of pillage for a round sum of money. Moreover, +they promised to lay low their gates and their +walls and those of St. Trond. In this way, it is +said that the constable made ten thousand +Rhenish florins. Still both he and his men felt +ill-compensated for the loss of the booty of Dinant.</p> +<p> +Charles continued a kind of harassing warfare +on the various towns of Liege territory. The +people of Liege themselves seem to have varied +in their humour towards Charles, sometimes being +very humble in their petitions for peace and again +very insolent. As a rule, this conduct seems to +be traceable to their hope of Louis's support. +On September 7th, there was one pitched battle +where victory decided the final terms of the +general peace, and after various skirmishes and +submissions, Charles disbanded his troops for the +winter and joined his father at Brussels.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#130">[Footnote 1:</a> <i><a name="VII1">Doc</a>. inédits sur l'hist. de France</i>. "Mélanges," ii., 398.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#130">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="VII2">Polain</a>, <i>Récits historiques sur l'ancien pays de Liège</i>, +I, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#132">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="VII3">See</a> Kirk, <i>Charles the Bold</i>, i., 329.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#133">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="VII4">Jacques</a> de Hemricourt suggested four chief points of +difficulty in Liege government:</p> +<ol><li> +The size of the council—two hundred, where twenty +would do.<br /><br /> +</li><li> +The equal voice granted to all gilds without regard to +size, when all were assembled by the council to vote on a +matter.<br /><br /> +</li><li> +Extension of franchise to youths of fifteen.<br /><br /> +</li><li> +Facile naturalisation laws.</li></ol> +<p class="footnote"> +(<i>See</i> Kirk, i., 325.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#135">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="VII5">In</a> many cases when the interdict was imposed, it is +probable that it was only partially operative.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#136">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="VII6">See</a> Victor Hugo, <i>Le Rhin</i>, i. The Walloon dialect varies +greatly between the towns. Here are a few words of the +"Prodigal Son" as they are written in Liege, Huy, and Lille:</p> +<ul class="none"><li> +LIEGE. Jésus lizi d'ha co: In homme aveut deux fis. +Li pus jone dérit à s'père: père dinnez-m'con qui m'dent riv' +ni di vosse bin; et l'père lezi partagea s'bin.<br /><br /> +</li><li> +HUY. Jésus l'zi d'ha co: Eun homme avut deux fis. Li +peus jone dérit a s'père etc.<br /><br /> +</li><li> +LILLE. Jesus leu dit incore: un homme avot deux garchens. +L'pus jeune dit à sin père-mon père donez me ch que +j'dor recouvre d'vo bien; et l'père leu-z-a doné a chacun leu +parchen. </li></ul> +<p class="footnote"> +See also <i>Doc. inédits concernant l'hist. de la Belgique</i>, +ii., 238, for comment on Scott's treatment of the language.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#136">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="VII7">The</a> numbers are probably exaggerated. To-day it +contains about two hundred thousand.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#139">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="VII8">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 203.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#140">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="VII9">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 249.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#141">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="VII10">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 239-262.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#142">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="VII11">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., ii., 285, 322. For letters and negotiations +anterior to this peace see p. 197 <i>et seq</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#143">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="VII12">Duclos</a>, v., 236.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#144">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="VII13">Book</a> ii., ch. i. To-day there are only about eight thousand +inhabitants.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#145">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="VII14">In</a> addition to Commines and Du Clercq <i>see also</i> Kirk, i., +385, for quotations from Borgnet and others.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#145">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="VII15">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., i., 213, <i>et passim</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#146">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="VII16">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd.,</i> ii., 350.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#147">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="VII17">Est</a> falme commune que tres haute princesse la ducesse +de Bourgogne, à cause desdictes injures at conclut telle +hayne sur cestedite ville de Dinant qu'elle a juré comme on +dist que s'il li devoit couster tout son vaellant, fera ruynner +cestedite ville en mettant toutes personnes à l'espée. (Gachard, +<i>Doc. inéd</i>., ii., 222.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#148">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="VII18">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., ii., 337, <i>et passim</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#149">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="VII19">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 273.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#149">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="VII20">He</a> says messengers were put to death without regard +to their sacred office, even a little child being torn limb from +limb. Priests were thrown into the river for refusing to say +mass, and the situation was strained to the last degree.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#149">[Footnote 21:</a> <i><a name="VII21">Qui</a> a mandé ce vieil monnart vostre duc</i>, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#150">[Footnote 22:</a> <a name="VII22">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 278.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#151">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="VII23">De</a> Ram, <i>Documents relatifs aux troubles du pays de Liége,</i> +"Henricus de Merica," p. 159.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#151">[Footnote 24:</a> <a name="VII24">Vel</a> vendebantur in servos. See De Ram <i>et passim</i> for +documents.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#151">[Footnote 25:</a> <a name="VII25">It</a> seems to be well attested that the prisoners were tied +together and drowned.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#152">[Footnote 26:</a> <a name="VII26">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 280.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#152">[Footnote 27:</a> <i><a name="VII27">Ibid</a>.</i>, 281.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#152">[Footnote 28:</a> <a name="VII28">In</a> 1472, a new church was erected "on the spot formerly +called Dinant" and after that, little by little, the town came +to life. (Gachard, <i>Analectes Belgiques</i>, 318, etc.).]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="154">[page 154]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="VIII">VIII</a></h2> + +<h3>THE NEW DUKE</h3> + +<h4>1467</h4> +<p> +The Good Duke's journey to Bouvignes where +he witnessed the manner in which his authority +was vindicated was his last effort. In +the early summer following, on Friday, June 10th, +Philip, then at Bruges, was taken ill and died on +the following Monday, June 13th, between nine +and ten in the evening.<a href="#VIII1"><sup>1</sup></a> Charles was summoned +on the Sunday, and it seemed as though his horse's +hoofs hardly struck the pavement as he rode, so +swift was his course on the way to Bruges.</p> + +<p> +When he reached the house where his father lay +dying, he was told that speech had already ceased, +but that there was still life. The count threw +himself on his knees by the bedside, weeping in all +tenderness, and implored a paternal benediction +and pardon for all wherein he had offended his +father. Near the duke stood his confessor who +begged the dying man to make a sign if he could +still understand what was said to him. On this<span class="page"><a name="155">[page 155]</a></span> +admonition and in reply to his son's prayers, +Philip turned his eyes to Charles, looked at him +and pressed the hand which was laid upon his own, +but further token was beyond his strength. The +count stayed by his side until he breathed his +last.</p> +<p> +Thus ended the life of a man who had been +a striking figure in Europe for forty years. +His most fervent dream, indeed, had never been +fulfilled. All his pompous vows to wrest the +Holy Land from the invading Turks had proved +vain. Many years had passed since he had had +military success of any kind, and even in his +earlier life his successes had been owing to diplomacy +and to a happy conjunction of circumstances +rather than to skilful generalship. He +possessed pre-eminently the power of personality.</p> +<p> +When Duke John of Burgundy fell on the bridge +at Montereau and Philip came into his heritage, +Henry V. of England was in the full flush of his +prosperity, standing triumphant over England +and France, and in a position to make good his +claim with three stalwart brothers to back him. +All these young men had died prematurely. +Their only descendant was Henry VI., and that +meagre and wretched representative of the ambitious +Henry V. had had no spark of the character +of his father and uncles. The one vigorous element +in his life was his wife, Margaret of Anjou, +who diligently exerted herself to keep her husband +on his throne. In vain were her efforts. By 1467,<span class="page"><a name="156">[page 156]</a></span> +Edward of York was on that throne. Gone, too, +was Charles VII., whose father's acts had clouded +his early, whose son darkened his latter years.</p> +<p> +Out of his group of contemporaries, Duke +Philip alone had marched steadily to every desired +goal. His epitaph gave a fairly accurate list of +his achievements in doggerel verses:</p> + +<blockquote> +"John was born of Philip, child of good King John.<br /> +To that John, I, Philip, was born his eldest son.<br /> +Flanders, Artois, and Burgundy his will bequeathed to me<br /> +Therein to follow him and rule them legally.<br /> +With Holland, Zealand, Hainaut, my own realm greater grew.<br /> +Luxemburg, Brabant, Namur soon were added too.<br /> +The Liegeois and the German my lawful rights defied,<br /> +By force of right and arms they have been pacified.<br /> +At one single time against me were maintained<br /> +French, English, German forces,—nothing have they gained.<br /> +Against King Charles the Seventh, I warred in great array.<br /> +From me he begged a peace and king was from that day!<br /> +The mighty conflicts that I fought in all are numbered seven.<br /> +Not once was I defeated. To God the praise be given.<br /> +Time and time again Liege and Ghent revolted,<br /> +But I put them down. I would not be insulted.<br /> +In Barrois and Lorraine, King René warred upon me.<br /> +Of Sicily erst king, captivity soon won he.<br /> +Louis, son of Charles, depressed and refugee,<span class="page"><a name="157">[page 157]</a></span><br /> +From me received his crown. Five years my guest was he.<br /> +Edward, Duke of York, fled, wretched, to my land;<br /> +That now he's England's king is due my aid and hand.<br /> +To defend the Church, which is the House Divine,<br /> +The Golden Fleece was founded, that great order mine.<br /> +Christian faith to succour in vigour and in strength,<br /> +My galleys sailed the sea in all its dreary length.<br /> +In later days I planned and most sincerely meant<br /> +To take the field myself, but Death did that prevent.<br /> +When Eugene the Pope by the council was disdained,<br /> +Through my control alone as Pope was he retained.<br /> +In 1467, Time my goal has set.<br /> +When I am seventy-one, I pay Dame Nature's debt.<br /> +With father and grandfather, I now lie buried here.<br /> +As in life I ever was their equal and their peer.<br /> +Good Jesu was my guide in every word and deed,<br /> +Beseech him every one that Heaven be my meed!"</blockquote> + +<p> +The territories thus named, that passed to the +new duke, covered a goodly space of earth. Had +Philip not slacked his ambition at a critical time, +undoubtedly he could have left a royal rather +than a ducal crown to his son. He did not so will +it, and, moreover, in a way he had receded from +his independence as he had accepted feudal obligations +towards Louis XI. which he never had +towards Charles VII.</p> +<p> +Lured by the hope of becoming prime adviser +of the French king, he had emphasised his position +as first peer of France. Thus it was as Duke of<span class="page"><a name="158">[page 158]</a></span> +Burgundy <i>par excellence</i> that Philip died, as the +typical peer whose luxury and magnificence far +surpassed the state possible to his acknowledged +liege. To his son was bequeathed the task of +attempting to turn that ducal state into state +royal, and of establishing a realm which should +hold the balance of power between France and +Germany.</p> +<p> +There was no doubt in Charles's mind as to +which was the greater, the cleverer, the more +powerful of the two, Louis the king and Charles +the duke. Had not the former been a beggarly +suppliant at his father's gates, as dauphin? As +king, had he not been forced to yield at the gates +of his own capital to every demand made by +Charles, standing as the conscientious representative +of the public welfare of France?</p> +<p> +Had not Louis befriended the contumelious +neighbour of Charles, only to learn that his Burgundian +cousin could and would deal summarily +with all protests against his authority among the +lesser folk on Netherland territory?</p> +<p> +The Croys made an attempt to gain the new +duke's friendship, as appears from this letter to +Duke Charles:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Our very excellent lord, we have heard that it has +pleased Our Lord to take to Himself and to withdraw +from the world the good Duke Philip, our beloved +lord and father, prince of glorious memory, august +duke, most Christian champion of the faith, patron +and pattern of the virtues and honours of Christianity,<span class="page"><a name="159"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 159]</span></a></span> +and the dread of infidel lands. By his valorous deeds, +he has won an immortal name among living men, and +deserves to our mind to find grace before the merciful +bounty of God whom we implore to pardon his faults.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Alas! our most doughty seigneur, thus dolorous +death shows what is to be expected by all mortals. +How many lands, how many nobles, how many peoples, +how many treasures, and how many powers would +have been ready to prevent what has come to pass, +and how many prayers would have risen to God +could He have prevented this death!...</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Death is inevitable, and the death of the good is +the end of all evils and the beginning of all benefits, +but still your loss and ours cannot pass without affliction. +Nevertheless, our most puissant lord, when we +consider that we are not left orphans, and that you, +his only son, remain to fill his place, this is a cause for +comfort.</p> + + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + +<p class="quote1"> +"We implore you to be pleased to count us your +loyal subjects and very humble servitors and to permit +us to go to you, to thus declare ourselves, etc.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"A. DE CROY, <br /><br /> +"J. DE CROY." </p> + +<p> +At the time of the duke's death, Olivier de La +Marche was in England, whither he had accompanied +the Bastard of Burgundy on a mission to +King Edward.<a href="#VIII2"><sup>2</sup></a> Right royally had the latter +received the embassy.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Clad in purple, the garter on his leg and a great +baton in his hand, he seemed, indeed, a personage +worthy of being king, for he was a fine prince with a<span class="page"><a name="160"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 160]</span></a></span> +grand manner. A count held the sword in front of +him, and around his throne were from twenty to +twenty-five old councillors, white-haired and looking +like senators gathered together to advise their master."</p> + +<p> +Thus appeared Edward on the occasion of a +tourney given in honour of the embassy which +La Marche proceeds to describe in detail. The +Bastard of Burgundy, wearing the Burgundian +coat-of-arms with a bar sinister, made a fine +record for himself.</p> +<p> +After the tournament he invited the ladies to a +Sunday dinner,</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"especially the Queen and her sisters and made great +preparations therefor and then we departed, Thomas +de Loreille, Bailiff of Caux, and I to go to Brittany to +accomplish our embassy. We arrived at Pleume +and were obliged to await wind and boats to go into +Brittany. While there, came the news that the Duke +of Burgundy was dead. You may believe how great +was the bastard's mourning when he heard of his +father's death, and how the nobility who were with +him mourned too. Their pleasures were melted into +tears and lamentations for he died like a prince in all +valour.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"In his life he accomplished two things to the full. +One was he died as the richest prince of his time, for +he left four hundred thousand crowns of gold cash, +seventy-two thousand marks of silver plate, without +counting rich tapestries, rings, gold dishes garnished +with precious stones, a large and well equipped +library, and rich furniture. For the second, he died +as the most liberal duke of his time. He married his<span class="page"><a name="161">[<span style="font-size:1.1em">page 161]</span></a></span> +nieces at his own expense; he bore the whole cost of +great wars several times. At his own expense, he +refitted the church and chapel at Jerusalem. He gave +ten thousand crowns to build the tower of Burgundy +at Rhodes; ... No one went from him who +was not well recompensed. The state he maintained +was almost royal. For five years he supported Monseigneur +the Dauphin, and was a prince so renowned +that all the world spoke well of him."</p> +<p> +The Bastard of Burgundy took leave of the +English court and hastened to Bruges to join his +brother, the Count of Charolais, who received him +warmly. "Henceforth," explains Olivier, "when +I mention the said count I will call him the Duke +of Burgundy as is reasonable."</p> +<p> +Solemnly was the prince's body carried into the +church of St. Donat in Bruges, there to repose +until it could be taken to Burgundy to be buried at +Dijon with his ancestors. La Marche dismisses +the funeral with a brief phrase as he was not himself +present at Bruges, being busied in Brittany. +There was a memorial service there, the finest he +ever saw. The arms of Burgundy were inserted +in the chapel decorations, not merely pinned on,<a href="#VIII3"><sup>3</sup></a> +a fact that impressed the chronicler. No nobles, +not even those from Flanders, were permitted to +put on mourning. The Duke of Brittany declared +that none but him was worthy of the honour for so +high a prince.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"So he alone wore mourning. At the end of the<span class="page"><a name="162"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 162]</span></a></span> +service I went to thank him for the reverence he had +shown the House of Burgundy, and he responded that +he had only done his duty. Then I finished my business +as quickly as I could and crossed the sea again +and returned to my new master."</p> + +<p> +In his treatise on the eminent deeds of the +Duke of Burgundy,<a href="#VIII4"><sup>4</sup></a> Chastellain recounts, more +at length than La Marche, all that his great master +had accomplished. Then he proceeds to describe +the duke as he knew him.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +He was medium in height, rather slight but +straight as a rush, strong in hip and in arm, his +figure well-knit. His neck was admirably proportioned +to his body, his hand and foot were +slender, he had more bone than flesh, but his +veins were full-blooded. Like all his ancestors, +his face was long, as was his nose, his forehead +high. His complexion was brunette, his hair +brownish, soft, and straight, his beard and eye-brows +the same colour, but the former curly, the +latter were bushy and inclined to stand up like +horns when he was angry. His mouth was well-proportioned, +his lips full and high-coloured; his +eyes were grey, sometimes arrogant but usually +amiable in expression. His personality corresponded +perfectly to his appearance. His countenance +showed his character, and his character +was a witness to the truth of his physiognomy. +Nothing was contradictory, perfect was the +harmony between the inner and the outer man,<span class="page"><a name="163"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 163]</span></a></span> +between the nobility of thought and the simple +dignity, well-poised and graceful. Among the +great ones of this earth, he was like a star in +heaven. Every line proclaimed "I am a prince +and a man unique."</p> +<p class="quote"> +It was for his bearing rather than his beauty +that he commanded universal admiration. In a +stable he would have looked like an image in a +temple. In a hall he was the decoration. Whereever +his body was, there, too, was his spirit, ready +for the demands of the hour. He was singularly +joyous and nicely tempered in speech with so +much personal magnetism that he could mollify +any enemy if he could only meet him face to face. +His dress was always rich and appropriate. He +was skilful in horsemanship, in archery, and in +tennis, but his chief amusement was the chase. +He liked to linger at the table and demanded good +serving but was really moderate in his tastes, +as often he neglected pheasant for a bit of Mayence +ham or salted beef. Oaths and abuse were never +heard from him. To all alike his speech was courteous +even when there was nothing to be gained.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Never, I assert, did falsehood pass his lips, +his mouth was equal to his seal and his spoken +word to his written. Loyal as fine gold and +whole as an egg." Chastellain repeats himself +somewhat in the profusion of his eulogy, but such +are the main points of his characterisation. Then +he proceeds to some qualifications:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"In order to avoid the charge of flattery, I acknowledge<span class="page"><a name="164"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 164]</span></a></span> +that he had faults. None is perfect except +God. Often he was very careless in administration, +and he neglected questions of justice, of finance, +and of commerce in a way that may redound to the +injury of his house. The excuse urged is that it was +his deputies who were at fault. The answer to that +is that he trusted too much to deputies and should not +be excused for his confidence. A ruler ought to understand +his business himself.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Also he had the vices of the flesh. He pleased his +heart at the desire of his eyes. At the desire of +his heart he multiplied his pleasures. His wishes +were easy to attain. What he wanted was offered +freely. He neglected the virtuous and holy lady his +wife, a Christian saint, chaste and charitable. For +this I offer no excuse. To God I leave the cause.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Another fault was that he was not wise in his +treatment of his nobles. Especially in his old age +he often preferred the less worthy, the less capable +advisers. The answer to this charge is that, as his +health failed, whoever was by his side obtained ascendency +over him and succeeded in keeping the others +at a distance. Ergo, theirs is the malice and the +excuse is to the princely invalid. In his solitude +even valets used their power, as is not wonderful.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"He went late to mass and often out of hours. +Sometimes he had it celebrated at two o'clock or even +three, and in so doing he exceeded all Christian +observance. For this there is no excuse that I dare +allege. I leave it to the judgment of God. He had, +indeed, obtained dispensation from the pope for +causes which he explained, <i>and he only</i> is responsible. +God alone can judge about him.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"It would be a dreadful shame if his soul suffered<span class="page"><a name="165"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 165]</span></a></span> +for this neglect in lifetime. Earth would not suffice +to deplore, nor the nature of man to lament the perdition +of such a soul and of such a prince. Hell is not +worthy of him nor good enough to lodge him. O +God, who rescued Trajan from Hades for a single +virtuous act, do not suffer this man to descend +therein!"</p> + + <p> +Having thus tried his best to give a vivid description +of the father's personality, while acknowledging +that he is not sure of the fate of +his soul, the chronicler decides that it would be an +excellent moment to paint the son, too, for all +time, in view of his mortality. "I will use the past +tense so that my words may be good for always."</p> +<p> +Duke Charles was shorter and stouter than +Duke Philip, but well formed, strong in arm and +thigh. His shoulders were rather thick-set and +a trifle stooping, but his body was well adapted +to activity. The contour of his face was rounder +than that of his father, his complexion brunette. +His eyes were black and laughing, angelically +clear. When he was sunk in thought it seemed as +though his father looked out of them. Like his +father's mouth was his, full and red. His nose +was pronounced, his beard brown, and his hair +black. His forehead was fine, his neck white +and well set, though always bent as he walked. +He certainly was not as straight as Philip, but +nevertheless he was a fine prince with a fair outer +man.</p> +<p> +When he began to speak he often found difficulty<span class="page"><a name="166">[page 166]</a></span> +in expressing himself, but once started his +speech became fluent, even eloquent. His voice +was fine and clear, but he could not sing, although +he had studied the technique and was fond of +music. In conversation he was more logical +than his father, but very tenacious of his own +opinion and vehement in its expression, although, +at the bottom, he was just to all men.</p> +<p> +In council he was keen, subtle, and ready. He +listened to others' arguments judicially and gave +them due weight before his own concluded the +discussion. He was attentive to his own business +to a fault, for he was rather more industrious +than became a prince. Economical of his own +time, he demanded conscience of his subordinates +and worked them very hard. He was fond of his +servants and fairly affable, though occasionally +sharp in his words. His memory was long and his +anger dangerous. As a rule, good sense swayed +him, but being naturally impetuous there was +often a struggle between impulse and reason.</p> +<p> +He was a God-fearing prince, was devoted to the +Virgin Mary, rigid in his fasts, lavish in charity. +He was determined to avoid death and to hold +on to his own, tooth and nail, and was his father's +peer in valour. Like his father, he dressed +richly; unlike him, he cared more for silver than +for jewels. He lived more chastely than is usual +to princes and was always master of himself. +He drank little wine, though he liked it, because +he found that it engendered fever in him. His<span class="page"><a name="167">[page 167]</a></span> +only beverage was water just coloured with wine. +He was inclined to no indulgence or wantonness. +"At the hour in which I write his taste for hard +labour is excessive, but in other respects his good +sense has dominated him, at least thus far. It is +to be hoped that as his reign grows older he will +curb his over-strenuous industry."</p> +<p> +As to the duke's sympathies, Chastellain regrets +that circumstances have turned him towards +England. Naturally he belonged to the French, +and it was a pity that the machinations of the +king, "whose crooked ways are well known to +God, have forced him into self-defence. Yet on +his forehead he wears the fleur-de-lys."</p> +<p> +Chastellain acknowledges that Charles is accused +of avarice, but defends him on the ground that he +has been driven into collecting a large army. "A +penny in the chest is worth three in the purse of +another." "To take precautions in advance is a +way to save honour and property," prudently adds +the historian, who evidently flourishes his maxims +to strengthen his own appreciation of the duke's +economy, which, quite as evidently, is not pleasing +to him. "I have seen him the very opposite +of miserly, open-handed and liberal, rejoicing in +largesse. When he came into his seigniory his +nature did not change." It was simply the exigencies +of his critical position that forced him to +restrain his natural propensities and thus to gain +the undeserved reputation for parsimony.</p> +<p> +It was also said that he was a very hard taskmaster,<span class="page"><a name="168">[page 168]</a></span> +but as a matter of fact he demanded +nothing of his soldiers that he was not ready to +undertake himself. Like a true duke, he was +his own commander, drew up his own troops +himself in battle array, and then passed from +one end of the line to the other, encouraging the +men individually with cheery words, promising +them glory and profit, and pledging himself to +share their dangers. In victory he was restrained +and showed more mercy than cruelty.</p> +<p> +After expatiating on the points where Charles +was like his father—conventional princely qualities +—Chastellain adds: "In some respects they differed. +The one was cold and the other boiling with +ardour; the one slow and prone to delay, the other +strenuous in his promptness; the elder negligent +of his own concerns, the younger diligent and alert. +They differed in the amount of time consumed +at meals and in the number of guests whom they +entertained. They differed more or less in their +voluptuousness and in their expenditures and in +the way in which they took solace and amusement." +But in all other respects, "in life they marched +side by side as equals and if it please God He will +be their conductor in glory everlasting" is the +final assurance of their eulogist.</p> +<p> +Yet, lavish as the Burgundian poet is in his adjectives +about his patron, there is considerable +discrimination between his summaries of the two +dukes. It is very evident that from his accession +Charles was less of a favourite than his father.<span class="page"><a name="169">[page 169]</a></span> +While endeavouring to be as complimentary as +possible, distrust of his capacities creeps out +between the lines. Chastellain died in 1475, and +thus never saw Charles's final disaster. But the +violence of his character had inspired lack of confidence +in his power of achievement, a violence +that made people dislike him as Philip with all +his faults was never disliked.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#154">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="VIII1">Du</a> Clercq, iv., 302 <i>et seq</i>. Erasmus was born in this +year, 1467.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#159">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="VIII2">II</a>., 49.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#161">[Footnote 3:</a> "<a name="VIII3">Non</a> par armes attachées à espingles."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#162">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="VIII4">Œuvres</a></i>, vii., 213.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="170">[page 170]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="IX">IX</a></h2> + +<h3>THE UNJOYOUS ENTRY</h3> + +<h4>1467</h4> +<p> +After the dauphin was crowned at Rheims, +he was monarch over all his domains. +Charles of Burgundy, on the other hand, had a +series of ceremonies to perform before he was properly +invested with the various titles worn by his +father. Each duchy, countship, seigniory had to be +taken in turn. Ghent was the first capital visited. +Then he had to exchange pledges of fidelity with +his Flemish subjects before receiving recognition +as Count of Flanders.</p> +<p> +According to the custom of his predecessors, +Charles stayed at the little village of Swynaerde, +near Ghent, the night before he made his "joyous +entry" into that city. It had chanced that the +day selected by Charles for the event was St. +Lievin's Day and a favourite holiday of the +workers of Ghent. The saint's bones, enclosed +conveniently in a portable shrine, rested in the +cathedral church, whence they were carried once a +year by the fifty-two gilds in solemn procession +to the little village of Houthem, where the blessed +saint had suffered martyrdom in the seventh century.<span class="page"><a name="171">[page 171]</a></span> +All day and all night the saint's devotees, +the Fools of St. Lievin, as they were called, remained +at this spot. Merry did the festival become +as the hours wore on, for good cheer was +carried thither as well as the sacred shrine.</p> +<p> +Now the magistrates were a little apprehensive +about the rival claims of the new count of +Flanders and the old saint of Ghent. They +knew that they could not cut short the time-honoured +celebration for the sake of the sovereign's +inauguration, so they decided to prolong +the former, and directed that the saint should leave +town on Saturday and not return until Monday. +This left Sunday free for the young count's entry. +It probably seemed a very convenient conjunction +of events to the city fathers, because the more +turbulent portion of the citizens was sure to follow +the saint.</p> +<p> +Accordingly, Charles made a very quiet and +dignified entrance,<a href="#IX1"><sup>1</sup></a> having paused at the gates to +listen to the fair words of Master Mathys de Groothuse +as he extolled the virtues of the late Count of +Flanders, and requested God to receive the present +one, when he, too, was forced to leave earth, as +graciously as Ghent was receiving him that day. +All passed well; oaths of fealty were duly taken +and given at the church of St. John the Baptist. +Charles himself pulled the bell rope according +to the ancient Flemish custom, and the Count of +Flanders was in possession. This all took place in<span class="page"><a name="172">[page 172]</a></span> +the morning of June 28th. At the close of the +ceremonies Charles withdrew to his hotel and +the magistrates to their dwellings.</p> + +<p> +The devotees of St. Lievin prolonged their +holiday until Monday afternoon. It was five +o'clock<a href="#IX2"><sup>2</sup></a> when the revellers returned to Ghent. +Many of the saint's followers were, by that time, +more or less under the influence of the contents +of the casks which had formed part of the outward-bound +burden. The protracted holiday-making +had its natural sequence. There was, however, +too much method in the next proceedings for it +to be attributed wholly to emotional inebriety.</p> + +<p> +The procession passed through the city gate +and entered a narrow street near the corn market, +where stood a little house used as headquarters for +the collection of the <i>cueillotte</i>, a tax on every article +brought into the city for sale, and one particularly +obnoxious to the people. Suddenly a cry +was raised and echoed from rank to rank of St. +Lievin's escort, "Down with the <i>cueillotte</i>."</p> +<p> +Then with the ingenious humour of a Celtic +crowd, quick to take a fantastic advantage of a +situation, a second cry was heard: "St. Lievin +must go through the house. Lievin is a saint +who never turns aside from his route."</p> +<p> +Delightful thought, followed by speedy action. +Axes were produced and wielded to good effect.</p> +<p> +Down came the miniature customs-house in a<span class="page"><a name="173">[page 173]</a></span> +flash. Little pieces of the ruin were elevated on +sticks and carried by some of the rabble as standards +with the cry "I have it—I have it." As +they marched the procession was constantly augmented +and the cries become more decidedly +revolutionary: "Kill, kill these craven spoilers +of God and of the world.<a href="#IX3"><sup>3</sup></a> Where are they? Let +us seek them out and slay them in their houses, +those who have flourished at our pitiable expense."</p> + +<p> +This was rank rebellion. Even under cover of +St. Lievin's mantle, resistance to regularly instituted +customs could hardly be described by any +other name. Excited by their own temerity, +the crowd now surged on to the great market-place +in front of the Hôtel de Ville, where the +Friday market is held, instead of returning the saint +promptly to his safe abiding-place as was meet.</p> +<p> +There the lawless deeds—lawless to the duke's +mind certainly—became more audacious. Counterparts +of the very banners whose prohibition +had been part of the sentence in 1453 were unfurled,<a href="#IX4"><sup>4</sup></a> +and their possession alone proved insurrectionary +premeditation on the part of the gild +leaders. Ghent was in open revolt, and the +young duke in their midst felt it was an open insult +to him as sovereign count.</p> + +<p> +His messenger failed to return from the market-place. +His master became impatient and followed<span class="page"><a name="174">[page 174]</a></span> +him to the scene of action with a small escort. As +they drew near, the crowd thickened and hedged +them in. The nobles became alarmed and urged +the duke to return, but cries from the crowd +promised safety to his person. To the steps of the +Hôtel de Ville rode the duke, his face dark, menacing +with suppressed wrath.<a href="#IX5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + +<p> +As he dismounted, he turned towards a man +whom he thought he saw egging on a disturbance +and struck him with his riding whip, saying, "I +know you." The man was quick enough to +realise the value of the duke's violence at that +moment and cried, "Strike again," but the Seigneur +Groothuse, who had already tried to check +Charles's anger and to curb the popular turbulence, +exclaimed, "For the love of God do not +strike again!" The wiser burgher at once understood +the unstable temper of the mob, which had +been fairly civil to the duke up to this moment. +There were ugly murmurs to be heard that the +blow would cost him dear.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Indeed," says the courtly Chastellain, "the mischief +was so imminent that God alone averted it, +and there was not an archer or noble or man so full +of assurance that he did not tremble with fear, nor +one who would not have preferred to be in India +for his own safety. Especially were they in terror +for their young prince, who, they thought, was exposed +to a dolorous death."</p> + +<p> +It was Groothuse alone who averted disaster:<span class="page"><a name="175">[page 175]</a></span></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Do you not see that your life and ours hang on a +silken thread? Do you think you can coerce a rabble +like this by threats and hard words—a rabble who +at this moment do not value you more than the least +of us? They are beside themselves, they have neither +reason nor understanding.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IX6"><sup>6</sup></a></span>... If you +are ready to die, I am not, except in spite of myself. +You must try quite a different method—appease +them by sweetness and save your house and your +life.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"What could you do alone? How the gods would +laugh! Your courage is out of place here unless it +enables you to calm yourself and give an example +to those poor sheep, wretched misled people whom +you must soothe. Go down in God's name. [They +were within the town hall.] Show yourself and you +will make an impression by your good sense and all +will go well."</p> + +<p> +To this eminently sound advice the young duke +yielded. He appeared on a balcony or on the upper +steps of the town hall and stood ready to harangue +his unruly and turbulent subjects. A moment +sufficed to still the turmoil and the silence showed +a readiness to hear him speak.</p> +<p> +Charles was not perfectly at ease in Flemish, +but he was wise enough to use that tongue. One +trait of the Ghenters was respect for the person +of their overlord. When that overlord showed +any disposition to meet them half-way the response +was usually immediate. So it was now. The<span class="page"><a name="176">[page 176]</a></span> +crowd which had been attending to St. Lievin, +and not to the duke's joyous entry, suddenly remembered +that his welcome had been strangely +ignored. Their grumblings changed to greetings. +"Take heart, Monseigneur. Have no fear. For +you we will live and die and none shall be so +audacious as to harm you. If there be evil fellows +with no bump of reverence, endure it for the +moment. Later you shall be avenged. No time +now for fear."</p> +<p> +This sounded better. Charles was sufficiently +appeased to address the crowd as "My children," +and to assure them that if they would but meet +him in peaceful conference, their grievances +should be redressed. "Welcome, welcome! we +are indeed your children and recognise your +goodness."</p> +<p> +Then Groothuse followed with a longer speech +than was possible either to Charles's Flemish or to +his mood. This address was equally well received, +and matters were in train for the appointment of +a conference between popular representatives and +the new Count of Flanders, when suddenly a tall, +rude fellow climbed up to the balcony from the +square. Using an iron gauntlet as a gavel to +strike on the wall, he commanded attention and +turned gravely to address the audience as though +he were on the accredited list of speakers:</p> +<p> +"My brothers, down there assembled to set your +complaints before your prince, your first wish—is +it not?—is to punish the ill governors of this town<span class="page"><a name="177">[page 177]</a></span> +and those who have defrauded you and him alike."</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," was the quick answer of the fickle +crowd.—"You desire the suppression of the <i>cueillotte</i>, +do you not?"—"Yes, yes."—"You want all +your gates opened again, your banners restored, +and your privileges reinforced as of yore?"—"Yes, +yes." The self-appointed envoy turned calmly to +Charles and said:</p> +<p> +"Monseigneur, this is what the citizens have +come together to ask you. This is your task. I +have said it in their behalf, and, as you hear, they +make my words their own."</p> +<p> +Noteworthy is Chastellain's pious and horrified +ejaculation over the extraordinary insolence of +this big villain, who thus audaciously associated +himself with his betters: "O glorious Majesty +of God, think of such an outrageous and intolerable +piece of villainy being committed before the +eyes of a prince! For a low man to venture to +come and stand side by side with such a gentleman +as our seigneur, and to proffer words inimical to +his authority—words the poorest noble in the +world would hardly have endured! And yet it +was necessary for this noble prince to endure and +to tolerate it for the moment, and needful that he +should let pass as a pleasantry what was enough +to kill him with grief."</p> +<p> +Groothuse's answer to the man was mild. +Evidently he did not think it was a safe moment +to exasperate the mob: "'My friend, there +was no necessity of your intruding up here, a<span class="page"><a name="178">[page 178]</a></span> +place reserved for the prince and his nobles. +From below, you could have been heard and +Monseigneur could have answered you as well +there as here. He requires no advocate to make +him content his people. You are a strange master. +Get down. Go down below and keep to your +mates. Monseigneur will do right by every one.'</p> +<p> +"Off went the rascal and I do not know what +became of him. The duke and his nobles were +simply struck dumb by the scamp's outrage +and his impudent daring."</p> +<p> +The sober report<a href="#IX7"><sup>7</sup></a> is less detailed and elaborate, +but the thread is the same. Monseigneur, having +returned to his hotel, sent Monseigneur de la +Groothuse, Jean Petitpas, and Richard Utenhove +back to the market to invite the people to put +their grievances in writing. A draft was made +and carried to the duke. After he had examined +it and discussed it with his council, he sent Monseigneur +de la Groothuse back to the market-place +to tell the people that he wanted to sleep +on the proposition and would give his answer +at an early hour on the morrow. All through the +night the people remained in arms on the market-place. +At about eight o'clock on June 30th +Groothuse returned, thanked the people in the +count's name for having kept such good watch, +and was answered by cries of "<i>À bas la cueillotte</i>."</p> + +<p> +Then he assured them that all was pardoned and +that they should obtain what they had asked in<span class="page"><a name="179">[page 179]</a></span> +the draft. Only he requested them to appoint +a committee of six to present their demands to +Monseigneur and then to go home. This they did. +St. Lievin was restored to the church and his followers +betook themselves to the gates specified +in the treaty of Gaveren. These they broke +down, and also destroyed another house where +was a tax collector's office.</p> +<p> +"The report of these events carried to Monseigneur +did not have a good effect upon his +spirit. On the morrow Monseigneur quitted +the city." The members of the corporation with +the two deans and the popular committee of six +having obtained audience before his departure, +Groothuse acted as spokesman: "We implore +you in all humility to pardon us for the insult +you have suffered, and to sign the paper presented. +The bad have had more authority than the good, +which could not be prevented, but we know truly +that if the draft is not signed they will kill us."</p> +<p> +It is evident in all this story that the municipal +authorities were frightened to death and that +Charles allowed himself to be restrained to an +extraordinary extent considering the undoubted +provocation. His reasons for conciliatory measures +were two, and literally were his ducats and +his daughter. He had with him all the portable +treasure and ready money that his father had had +at Bruges, a large treasure and one on which he +counted for his immediate military operations—operations +very important to the position as a<span class="page"><a name="180">[page 180]</a></span> +European power which he ardently desired to +attain.</p> +<p> +Still more important was the fact that his young +daughter, Mary, now eleven years old, was living +in Ghent, to a certain degree the ward of the city. +If the unruly majority should realise their strength +what easier for them than to seize the treasure +and hold the daughter as hostage, until her father +had acceded to every demand, and until democracy +was triumphant not only in Ghent but in the +neighbouring cities?</p> +<p> +Charles simply did not dare attempt further +coercion of the democratic spirit until he was +beyond the walls. It is evident that he was +completely taken by surprise at Ghent's attitude +towards him, as the city had always professed +great personal attachment to him. But there +was a difference between being heir and sovereign. +The agreement was signed, with a mental reservation +on the part of the Duke of Burgundy. He +only intended to keep his pledge until he could see +his way clear to make terms better to his liking.</p> +<p> +On Tuesday, June 30th, Charles left Ghent, taking +his daughter and his treasure away, but a safe +shelter for both was not easy to find. The duke's +anticipations of the effect of Ghent's actions upon +her neighbours were quickly proved to be no idle +fears. There were revolts of more or less importance +at Mechlin, at Antwerp, at Brussels, and +other places. Moreover, there was serious discussion +in the estates assembled at Louvain as to<span class="page"><a name="181">[page 181]</a></span> +whether Charles should be acknowledged as +Duke of Brabant, or whether the claims of his +cousin, the Count of Nevers, should be considered +as heir to Philip's predecessor, for the late duke's +title had never been considered perfect.</p> +<p> +Louis XI. seized the opportunity to urge the pretensions +of the latter, and there were many reasons +to recommend him, in the estimation of the +Brabanters, who saw advantage in having a +sovereign exclusively their own, instead of one +with the widespread geographical interests of the +Burgundian family. The final decision was, however, +for Charles; a notice of the resolution of the +deputies was sent to him at Mechlin, and he made +his formal "entry" into Louvain, where he received +homage from the nobles, the good cities, +and the university.</p> +<p> +The various insurgent manifestations were +promptly quelled one after another, but, with +a nature that neither forgot nor forgave, the +duke was strongly impressed by them as personal +insults. He blamed Ghent for their occurrence +and deeply resented every one. Throughout +Philip's whole career he remembered the localised +tenure of his titles and the fact that they were not +perfectly incontestable. For his own advantage +he often found a conciliatory attitude the best +policy. Charles considered all his rights heaven-born. +Questioning his authority was rank rebellion. +That he had accepted advice in regard to +Ghent, and had been ruled by expediency for the<span class="page"><a name="182">[page 182]</a></span> +nonce, did not mitigate his intense bitterness.</p> +<p> +In another town that gave him serious trouble +at this time, nothing led him to curb the severity +of his measures. Though only a "protector," +not an overlord, when he suppressed a rebellion +in Liege he rigorously exacted the most complete +and humiliating penalties. The city charters were +abrogated, all privileges were forfeited. As an +unprotected village must Liege stand henceforth, +walls and fortifications rased to the ground.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The perron on the market-place of the said town +shall be taken down, and then Monseigneur the duke +shall treat it according to his pleasure. The city +may not remake the said perron, nor replace another +like it in the market-place or elsewhere in the city. +Nor shall the said perron appear in the coat-of-arms +of Liege." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#IX8"><sup>8</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +This was a terrible indignity for the city and a +clear proof of their fear of their bishop's friend.</p> +<p> +The episode impressed the citizens of Ghent +with the duke's power, and made the more timorous +anxious to erase the event of 1467 from his +mind. The peace party finally prevailed in their +arguments, but the scene of abnegation and +self-humiliation crowning their apology was not +enacted until eighteen months after the events +apologised for, when the new duke had still further +proven his metal.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#171">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="IX1">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., i., 210, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#172">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="IX2">Some</a> authorities make this five A.M., but the +<i>Rapport</i> is probably correct.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#173">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="IX3">Chastellain</a>, v., 260 <i>et passim</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#173">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="IX4">So</a> say some historians. But it seems probable that the +drapery of St. Lievin's shrine was hastily used as a flag.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#174">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="IX5">Chastellain</a>, v., ch. 7, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#175">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="IX6">These</a> are Chastellain's words to be sure, but the sober +<i>Rapport</i> is similar in purport.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#178">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="IX7">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd.</i>, i., 212. ]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#182">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="IX8">Gachard</a>. <i>Doc. inéd</i>., ii., 462, "<i>Instrument notarié</i>."]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="183">[page 183]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="X">X</a></h2> + +<h3>THE DUKE'S MARRIAGE</h3> + +<h4>1468</h4> +<p> +For many months before Philip's death there +had been negotiations concerning Charles's +marriage with Margaret of York. Always feeling +a closer bond with his mother than with his father, +Charles's sympathy had ever been towards the +Lancastrian party in England, the family to whom +Isabella of Portugal was closely related. Only +the necessity for making a strong alliance against +Louis XI. turned him to seek a bride from the +House of York. It was on this business that La +Marche and the great Bastard were engaged +when Philip's death interrupted the discussion, +which Charles did not immediately resume on his +own behalf.</p> +<p> +Pending the final decision in regard to this +important indication of his international policy, +the duke busied himself with the adjustment of +his court, there being many points in which he did +not intend to follow his father's usage.<a href="#X1"><sup>1</sup></a> Philip's +lavishness, without too close a query as to the +disposition of every penny, was naturally very +agreeable to his courtiers. There was a liberal +air about his households. It was easy to come and +go, and it was pleasant to have the handling<span class="page"><a name="184">[page 184]</a></span> +of money and the giving of orders—orders which +were fulfilled and richly paid without haggling. +Charles had other notions. He was willing to pay, +but he wanted to be sure of an adequate return. +How he started in on his administration +with reform ideas is delightfully told by Chastellain.<a href="#X2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> + +<p> +One of his first measures when he was finally +established at Brussels was to secure more speedy +execution of justice. He appointed a new provost, +"a dangerous varlet of low estate, but excellently +fitted to carry out perilous work." Then he determined +to settle petty civil suits himself, as there +were many which had dragged on for a long time. +In order to do this and to receive complaints +from poor people, he arranged to give audience +three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and +Friday, after dinner. On these occasions he required +the attendance of all his nobles, seated +before him on benches, each according to his +rank. Excuses were not pleasantly accepted, so +that few places were empty. Charles himself +was elevated on a high throne covered with cloth +of gold, whence he pompously pronounced judgments +and heard and answered petitions, a process +that sometimes lasted two or three hours +and was exceedingly tiresome to the onlookers.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"In outer appearance it seemed a magnificent +course of action and very praiseworthy. But in +my time I have never heard of nor seen like action<span class="page"><a name="185"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 185]</span></a></span> +taken by prince or king, nor any proceedings in the +least similar.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"When the duke went through the city from +place to place and from church to church, it was +wonderful how much state and order was maintained +and what a grand escort he had. Never a +knight so old or so young who dared absent himself +and never a squire was bold enough to squeeze +himself into the knights' places."</p> + + +<p> +At the levee, the same rigid ceremony was +observed. Every one had to wait his turn in +his proper room—the squires in the first, the +knights in the second, and so on. All left the palace +together to go to mass. As soon as the +offering was made all the nobles were free to dine, +but they were obliged to report themselves to the +duke immediately after his repast. Any failure +caused the forfeiture of the fee for the day. It +was all very orderly and very dull.</p> +<p> +Thus Charles of Burgundy felt that he was law-giver, +paternal guide, philosopher, and friend to his +people. From time to time he delivered harangues +to his court, veritable sermons. He obtained hearing, +but certainly did not win popularity. The +adulatory phrases used as mere conventionalities +seemed to have actually turned his head. And +those stock phrases were very grandiloquent. +There is no doubt that such comparisons were +used as Chastellain puts into the mouths of the +first deputation from Ghent to ask pardon for the +sins committed at the dolorous unjoyous entry<span class="page"><a name="186">[page 186]</a></span> +into the Flemish capital.<a href="#X3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"My very excellent seigneur, when you who hold +double place, place of God and place of man, and have +in yourself the double nature by office and commission +in divine estate, and as your noble discretion knows +and is cognisant, like God the Father, Creator, of all +offences committed against you, and who may be +appeased by tears and by weeping as He permits +Himself to be softened by contrition, entreaties, etc., +and resumes His natural benignity by forgetting +things past [etc.].... Alas, what kindness +did He use toward Adam, His first offender, upon +whom through his son Seth He poured the oil of pity +in five thousand future years, and then to Cain the +first born of mother He postponed vengeance for his +crime for ten generations etc. What did he do in +Abraham's time, when He sent word to Lot that if +there were ten righteous men in Sodom and Gomorrah +He would remit the judgment on the two cities? In +Ghent," etc. <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#X4"><sup>4</sup></a></span></p> + + <p> +In the chancellor's answer to this plea, the<span class="page"><a name="187">[page 187]</a></span> +duke's consent to grant forgiveness to Ghent is +again compared to God's own mercy. The divine +attributes were referred to again and again, +not only on the pages of contemporaneous chroniclers +who may be accused of desiring ducal patronage, +but also in sober state papers.</p> +<p> +There was one antidote to this homage universally +offered to Charles wherever there was no +rebellion against him. One of the rules of the +Order of the Golden Fleece was that all alike +should be subject to criticism by their fellows. In +May, 1468, at Bruges, Charles held an assembly +of the Order, the first over which he had presided. +It was a fitting opportunity for the knights to +express their sentiments. When it came to his +turn to be reviewed, Charles listened quietly to +the representations that his conduct fell short of +the ideals of chivalry because he was too economical, +too industrious, too strenuous, and not sufficiently +cognisant of the merits of his faithful +subjects of high degrees.<a href="#X5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + +<p> +In these plaints, respectful as they are, there +is perhaps a note of regret for the lavish and amusing +good cheer of the late duke's times. Charles +was undoubtedly husbanding his resources at +this period. The vision of wide dominions was +already in his dreams, and he was prudent enough +to begin his preparations. And prudence is not +a popular quality. Still his courtiers were not +quite bereft of the gorgeous and spectacular entertainments<span class="page"><a name="188">[page 188]</a></span> +to which the "good duke" had accustomed +them. Soon after the assembly of the +Order, the alliance between Duke Charles and +Margaret of York was celebrated at Bruges. Our +Burgundian Chastellain is not pleased with this +marriage. That Charles inclined towards England +at all was due to the French king, whom +both he and his father had found untrustworthy. +Again, had there been any other eligible <i>partie</i> in +England Charles would never have allied himself +with King Edward when all his sympathies were +with the blood of Lancaster. But when King +Louis forsook his cousin Margaret of Anjou, whose +woes should have commanded pity, simply for the +purpose of undermining the Duke of Burgundy, +the latter felt it wise to make Edward his friend.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"That it was sore against his inclination he confessed +to one who later revealed it to me, but he +decided that it was better to injure another rather +than be down-trodden and injured himself. <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#X6"><sup>6</sup></a></span></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"For a long time there had been little love lost +between him and the king. The monarch feared the +pride and haughtiness of his subject, and the subject +feared the strength and profound subtilty of the +king who wanted, he thought, to get him under the +whip. And all this, alas, was the result of that +cursed War of Public Weal cooked up by the French +against their own king. When Charles was deeply +involved in it he was deserted by the others and the +whole weight of the burden fell on his shoulders, so +that he alone was blamed by the king, and he alone<span class="page"><a name="189"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 189]</span></a></span> +was forced to look to his own safety and comfort. It +is a pity when such things occur in a realm and +among kinsfolk."</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="charlesgolfleece">[plate 14]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image14charlesgolfleece.jpg" width="400" height="578" alt="CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY, PRESIDING OVER A CHAPTER OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Louis was busied with his own affairs in Touraine +when news came to him that the marriage +was to take place immediately. "If he mourned, +it is not marvellous when I myself mourn it for the +future result. But the king used all kinds of +machinations to break off the alliance.... +God suffered two young proud princes to try +their strength each at his will, often in ways that +would have been incompatible in common affairs."</p> +<p> +The fullest account of the wedding is given +by La Marche, an eyewitness of the event:<a href="#X7"><sup>7</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Gilles du Mas, maître d'hôtel du Duc de Bretagne—to +you I recommend myself. I have collected +here roughly according to my stupid understanding +what I saw of the said festival, to send it to you, +beseeching you as earnestly as I can to advise me +of the noble states and high deeds in your quarter +... as becomes two friends of one rank and +calling in two fraternal, allied and friendly houses.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"My lady and her company arrived at l'Écluse +on a Saturday, June 25th, and on the morrow +Madame the Duchess of Burgundy, mother of the +duke, Mlle. of Burgundy and various other ladies +and demoiselles visited Madame Margaret <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#X8"><sup>8</sup></a></span> and only +stayed till dinner. The duchess was greatly pleased<span class="page"><a name="190"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 190]</span></a></span> +with her prospective daughter-in-law and could not +say enough of her character and her virtues. There +remained with Dame Margaret, on the part of the +duchess, the Charnys, Messire Jehan de Rubempré +and various other ladies and gentlemen to act the +hosts to the strange ladies and gentlemen who had +crossed from England with the bride. The Count +and Countess de Charny met Madame as she disembarked +and never budged from her side until she +had arrived at Bruges.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The day after the duchess's visit, Monseigneur +of Burgundy made his way to l'Écluse with a small +escort and entered the chateau at the rear. After +supper, accompanied only by six or seven knights +of the Order, he went very secretly to the hôtel of +Dame Margaret, who had been warned of his intention, +and was attended by the most important members +of her suite, such as the Seigneur d'Escalles, the king's +brother.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"At his arrival when they saw each other the +greetings were very ceremonious and then the two +sat down on one bench and chatted comfortably +together for some time. After some conversation, +the Bishop of Salisbury, according to a prearranged +plan of his own, kneeled before the two and made +complimentary speeches. He was followed by M. +de Charny, who spoke as follows:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"'Monseigneur, you have found what you desired +and since God has brought this noble lady to port in +safety and to your desire, it seems to me that you +should not depart without proving the affection you +bear her, and that you ought to be betrothed now +at this moment and give her your troth.'</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Monseigneur answered that it did not depend<span class="page"><a name="191"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 191]</span></a></span> +upon him. Then the bishop spoke to Margaret and +asked her what she thought. She answered that it +was just for this and nothing else that the king of +England had sent her over and she was quite ready +to fulfil the king's command. Whereupon the +bishop took their hands and betrothed them. Then +Monseigneur departed and returned on the morrow +to Bruges.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Dame Margaret remained at l'Écluse until the +following Saturday and was again visited by Monseigneur. +On Saturday the boats were richly decorated +to conduct my lady to Damme, where she was +received very honourably according to the capacity +of that little town. On the morrow, the 3rd of July, +Monseigneur the duke set out with a small escort +between four and five o'clock in the morning, and +went to Damme, where he found Madame quite ready +to receive him as all had been prearranged, and +Monseigneur wedded her as was suitable, and the +nuptial benediction was duly pronounced by the +Bishop of Salisbury. After the mass, Charles returned +to his hotel at Bruges, and you may believe +that during the progress of the other ceremonies +he slept as if he were to be on watch on the following +night.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Immediately after, Adolph of Cleves, John of +Luxemburg, John of Nassau, and others returned to +Damme and paid their homage to the new duchess, +and then my lady entered a horse litter, beautifully +draped with cloth of gold. She was clad in white +cloth of gold made like a wedding garment as was +proper. On her hair rested a crown and her other +jewels were appropriate and sumptuous. Her English +ladies followed her on thirteen hackneys, two close by<span class="page"><a name="192"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 192]</span></a></span> +her litter and the others behind. Five chariots followed +the thirteen hackneys, the Duchess of Norfolk, +the most beautiful woman in England, being in the +first. In this array Madame proceeded to Bruges and +entered at the gate called Ste. Croix."</p> + +<p> +There were too many names to be enumerated, +but La Marche cannot forbear mentioning a noble +Zealander, Adrian of Borselen, Seigneur of Breda, +who had six horses covered with cloth of gold, +jewelry, and silk.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"I mention him for two reasons [he explains<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#X9"><sup>9</sup></a></span>]: +first, that he was the most brilliant in the procession, +and the second is that by the will of God he died on +the Wednesday from a trouble in his leg, which was +a pity and much regretted by the nobility.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The procession from Ste. Croix to the palace +was magnificent, with all the dignitaries in their +order. So costly were the dresses of the ducal household +that Charles expended more than forty thousand +francs for cloth of silk and of wool alone.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Prominent in this stately procession were the +nations or foreign merchants in this order: Venetians, +Florentines—at the head of the latter marched +Thomas Portinari, banker and councillor of the duke +at the same time that he was chief of their nation +and therefore dressed in their garb; Spaniards; Genoese—these +latter showed a mystery, a beautiful girl on +horseback guarded by St. George from the dragon.—Then +came the Osterlings, 108 on horseback, followed +by six pages, all clad in violet.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Gay, too, was Bruges and the streets were all<span class="page"><a name="193"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 193]</span></a></span> +decorated with cloth of gold and silk and tapestries. +As to the theatrical representations I can remember +at least ten. There were Adam and Eve, Cleopatra +married to King Alexander, and various others.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The reception at the palace was very formal. +The dowager duchess herself received her daughter-in-law +from the litter and escorted her by the hand +to her chamber, and for the present we will leave +the ladies and the knighthood and turn to the arrangement +of the hôtel.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"In regard to the service, Mme. the new duchess +was served <i>d'eschançon et d'escuyer tranchant et de +pannetier</i>. All English, all knights and gentlemen +of great houses, and the chief steward cried 'Knights +to table,' and then they went to the buffet to get the +food, and around the buffet marched all the relations +of Monseigneur, all the knights of the Order and of +great houses. And for that day Mme. the duchess +the mother declined to be served <i>à couvert</i> but left the +honour to her daughter-in-law as was right.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"After dinner the ladies retired to their rooms +for a little rest and there were some changes of dress. +Then they all mounted their chariots and hackneys +and issued forth on the streets in great triumph and +wonderful were the jousts of the Tree of Gold. Several +days of festivity followed when the usual pantomimes +and shows were in evidence.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Tuesday, the tenth and last day of the fête, the +grand <i>salle</i> was arranged in the same state as on the +wedding day itself, except the grand buffet which +stood in the middle of the hall. This banquet, too, +was a grand affair and concluded the festivities.</p> +<p class="quote"> +On the morrow, Wednesday, July 15th, Monseigneur<span class="page"><a name="194"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 194]</span></a></span> +departed for Holland on a pressing piece of business, +and he took leave of the Duchess of Norfolk and the +other lords and ladies of quality and gave them gifts +each according to his rank. Thus ends the story +of this noble festival, and for the present I know +nothing worth writing you except that I am yours."</p> + +<p> +To this may be added the letter of one of the +Paston family who was in Margaret's train.<a href="#X10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"John Paston the younger to Margaret Paston:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"To my ryght reverend and worchepfull Modyr +Margaret Paston dwelling at Caster, be thys delyveryed +in hast.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Ryth reverend & worchepfull Modyr, I recommend +me on to you as humbylly as I can thynk, +desyryng most hertly to her of your welfare & hertsese +whyche I pray God send you as hastyly as my hert +can thynk. Ples yt you to wete that at the makyng +of thys byll my brodyr & I & all our felawshep wer +in good helle, blyssyd be God.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"As for the gydyn her in thys countre it is as +worchepfull as all the world can devyse it, & ther wer +never Englyshe men had so good cher owt of Inglong +that ever I herd of.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"As for tydyngs her but if it be of the fest I can +non send yow; savyng my Lady Margaret was maryed +on Sonday last past at a town that is called Dame IIj +myle owt of Brugge at v of the clok in the morning; +& sche was browt the same day to Bruggys to hyr +dener; & ther sche was receyvyd as worchepfully +as all the world cowd devyse as with presession with +ladys and lordys best beseyn of eny pepell that ever +I sye or herd of. Many pagentys were pleyed in<span class="page"><a name="195"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 195]</span></a></span> +hyr way to Brugys to hyr welcoming, the best that +ever I sye. And the same Sonday my Lord the Bastard +took upon hym to answere xxiiij knyts & gentylmen +within viij dayis at jostys of pese & when that +they wer answered, they xxiiij & hymselve shold +torney with other xxv the next day after, whyche is on +Monday next comyng; & they that have jostyd with +hym into thys day have been as rychly beseyn, +& hymselfe also, as clothe of gold & sylk & sylvyr & +goldsmith's werk might mak hem; for of syche ger & +gold & perle & stonys they of the dukys coort neyther +gentylmen nor gentylwomen they want non; for with +owt that they have it by wyshys, by my trowthe, +I herd nevyr of so gret plente as ther is.</p> + + + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + +<p class="quote1"> +And as for the Dwkys coort, as of lords & ladys & +gentylwomen knyts, sqwyers & gentylmen I hert +never of non lyek to it save King Artourys cort. +And by my trowthe I have no wyt nor remembrance +to wryte to you half the worchep that is her; but +that lakyth as it comyth to mynd I shall tell you +when I come home whyche I trust to God shal not be +long to; for we depart owt of Brygge homward on +Twysday next comyng & all folk that cam with my +lady of Burgoyn out of Ingland, except syche as +shall abyd her styll with hyr whyche I wot well +shall be but fewe.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"We depart the sooner for the Dwk hathe word that +the Frenshe king is purposyd to mak wer upon hym +hastyly & that he is with in IIIj or v dayis jorney of +Brugys & the Dwk rydeth on Twysday next comyng +forward to met with hym. God geve hym good sped +& all hys; for by my trowthe they are the goodlyest<span class="page"><a name="196"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 196]</span></a></span> +felawshep that ever I cam among & best can behave +themselves & most like gentlemen.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Other tydyngs have we non her; but that the +Duke of Somerset & all hys band departyd well +beseyn out of Brugys a day befor that my Lady the +Duchess cam thedyr & they sey her that he is to +Queen Margaret that was & shal no more come +her agen nor be holpyn by the Duke. No more; but +I beseche you of your blessyng as lowly as I can, +wyche I beseche you forget not to geve me everday +onys. And, Modyr, I beseche you that ye wol be good +mastras to my lytyll man & to se that he go to scole.</p> + + + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + +<p class="quote1"> +Wreten at Bruggys the Friday next after Seynt +Thomas.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Your sone & humbyll servaunt,</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"J. PASTON THE YOUNGER."</p><br /> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#183">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="X1">Chastellain</a>, v., 570.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#184">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="X2">V</a>., 576.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#186">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="X3">This</a> deputation was composed of representatives from +"all the city in its entirety in three chief members—the +bourgeois and nobles, the fifty-two <i>métiers</i>, and the weavers +who possess twelve different places in the city entirely for +themselves and in their control." The formal apology was +made later. (Chastellain, v., 291.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#186">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="X4">Ibid</a></i> 306. By letters patent given on July 28, 1467, Duke +Charles pardoned the Ghenters and confirmed the privileges +which he had conceded to them, but he exacted that a deputation +from the three members [<i>Trois membres</i>] of the city +should come to Brussels to beg pardon on their knees, bareheaded, +ungirded, for all the disorder of St. Lievin. This act +of submission took place probably not until January, 1469, +though August 8, 1468, is also mentioned as the date.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#187">[Footnote 5:</a> <i><a name="X5">Hist</a>, de l'Ordre</i>, etc., p. 511.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#188">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="X6">Chastellain</a>, V., 342.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#189">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="X7">III</a>., 101. Evidently this was composed for a separate +work and then incorporated into the memoirs.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#190">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="X8">There</a> is a beautiful portrait of her in MS. 9275 in the +Bibliothèque de Burgogne. <i>See</i> also Wavrin, <i>Anchiennes +Croniques d'Engleterre</i>, ii., 368.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#192">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="X9">III</a>., 108.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#194">[Footnote 10:</a> <i><a name="X10">The</a> Paston Letters</i>, ii., 317.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="197">[page 197]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XI">XI</a></h2> + +<h3>THE MEETING AT PERONNE</h3> + +<h4>1468</h4> + +<p class="quote1"> +"My brother, I beseech you in the name of our +affection and of our alliance, come to my aid, +come as speedily as you can, come without delay. +Written by the own hand of your brother.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"FRANCIS."</p> + +<p> +Such were the concluding sentences of a fervent +appeal from the Duke of Brittany that followed +Charles into Holland, whither he had hastened +after the completion of the nuptial festivities.</p> +<p> +The titular Duke of Normandy found that his +royal brother was in no wise inclined to fulfil +the solemn pledges made at Conflans. His ally, +Francis, Duke of Brittany, was plunged into terror +lest the king should invade his duchy and +punish him for his share in the proceedings that +had led up to that compact.</p> +<p> +It is in this year that Louis XI. begins to show +his real astuteness. Very clever are his methods +of freeing himself from the distasteful obligations +assumed towards his brother. They had been +easy to make when a hostile army was encamped +at the gates of Paris. Then Normandy weighed +lightly when balanced by the desire to separate +the allies. That separation accomplished, the<span class="page"><a name="198">[page 198]</a></span> +point of view changed. Relinquish Normandy, +restored by the hand of heaven to its natural liege +lord after its long retention by the English kings? +Louis's intention gradually became plain and he +proved that he was no longer in the isolated +position in which the War for Public Weal had +found him. He had won to himself many adherents, +while the general tone towards Charles of +Burgundy had changed.<a href="#XI1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> + + +<p> +In April, 1468, the States-General of France +assembled at Tours in response to royal writs issued +in the preceding February.<a href="#XI2"><sup>2</sup></a> The chancellor, +Jouvençal, opened the session with a tedious, long-winded +harangue calculated to weary rather than +to illuminate the assembly. Then the king took +the floor and delivered a telling speech. With trenchant +and well chosen phrases he set forth the reasons +why Normandy ought to be an intrinsic part of +the French realm. The advantages of centralisation, +the weakness of decentralisation, were skilfully +drawn. The matter was one affecting the +kingdom as a whole, in perpetuity; it was not for +the temporal interests of the present incumbent +of regal authority, who had only part therein for <span class="page"><a name="199">[page 199]</a></span> +the brief space of his mortal journey. Louis's +words are pathetic indeed, as he calls himself a +sojourner in France, <i>en voyage</i> through life, as +though the fact itself of his likeness to the rest of +ephemeral mankind was novel to his audience. +He reiterated the statement that the interests +involved were theirs, not his.</p> +<p> +It was a goodly body which listened to Louis. +The greatest feudal lords, indeed, were not present, +but many of the lesser nobility were, while sixty-four +towns sent, all told, about 128 deputies. +These hearers gave willing attention to the thesis +that it was a burning shame for the French people +to pay heavy taxes simply to restrain the insolent +peers from rebelling against their sovereign—those +noble scions of the royal stock whose bounden +duty it was to protect the state and the head of the +royal house.</p> +<p> +What was the reason for their selfish insubordination? +The root of the evil lay in the past, +when extensive territories had been carelessly +alienated, and their petty over-lords permitted +to acquire too much independence of the crown, +so that the monarchy was threatened with disruption. +There was more to the same purpose +and then the deputies deliberated on the answer +to make to this speech from the throne. It was +an answer to Louis's mind, an answer that showed +the value of suggestion. Charles the Wise had +thought that an estate yielding an income of +twelve thousand livres was all-sufficient for a<span class="page"><a name="200">[page 200]</a></span> +prince of the blood. Louis XI. was more generous. +He was ready to allow his brother Charles +a pension of sixty thousand livres. But as to +the government of Normandy—why! no king, +either from fraternal affection or from fear of +war, was justified in committing that province +to other hands than his own.</p> +<p> +The States-General dissolved in perfect accord +with the monarch, and a definite order was left +in the king's hands, declaring that it was the +judgment of the towns represented that concentration +of power was necessary for the common +welfare of France. Public opinion declared that +national weakness would be inevitable if the feudatories +were unbridled in their centrifugal tendencies. +Above all, Normandy must be retained by the +king. On no consideration should Louis leave it +to his brother.<a href="#XI3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Before the dissolution of the assembly there +was some discussion as to the probable attitude +of the great nobles in regard to this platform of +centralisation. Very timid were the comments on +Charles of Burgundy. Would he not perhaps be +an excellent mediator between the lesser dukes +and the king? Would it not be better to suspend +action until his opinion was known, etc? But at +large there was less reserve. The statements +were emphatic. Naught but mischief had ever +come to France from Burgundy. The present +duke's father and grandfather had wrought all<span class="page"><a name="201">[page 201]</a></span> +the ill that lay in their power. As for Charles, +his illimitable greed was notorious. Let him rest +content with his paternal heritage. Ghent and +Bruges were his. Did he want Paris too? Let +the king recover the towns on the Somme. +Rightfully they were French. Louis made no +scruple in pleading the invalidity of the treaty of +Conflans, because it had been wrested from him by +undue influence. And this royal sentiment was +repeated here and there with growing conviction +of its justice.</p> +<p> +While Charles was occupied with the preparation +for his wedding, Louis was engaged in levying +troops and mobilising his forces, and these preparations +continued throughout the summer of +1468. Naturally, news of this zeal directed against +the dukes of Normandy and of Brittany followed +the traveller in Holland.</p> +<p> +Charles was in high dudgeon and wrote at once +to the king, reminding him that these seigneurs +were his allies, and demanding that nothing should +be wrought to their detriment. Conscious that his +remonstrance might be futile, and urged on by +appeals from the dukes, Charles hastened to cut +short his stay in Holland so that he might move +nearer to the scene of Louis's activities. His purpose +in going to the north had been twofold—to +receive homage as Count of Holland and Zealand, +and to use his new dignity to obtain large sums of +money for which he saw immediate need if he +were to hold Louis to the terms wrested from<span class="page"><a name="202">[page 202]</a></span> +him.</p> +<p> +In early July, Charles had crossed from Sluis in +Flanders to Middelburg, and thence made his progress +through the cities of Zealand, receiving homage +as he went. Next he passed to The Hague, +where the nobles and civic deputies of Holland +met him and gave him their oaths of fealty on +July 21st. Fifty-six towns<a href="#XI4"><sup>4</sup></a> were represented +and there were also deputies from eight bailiwicks +and the islands of Texel and Wieringen. "It +is noteworthy," comments a Dutch historian, +"that the people's oath was given first. The +older custom was that the count should give the +first pledge while the people followed suit."</p> +<p> +As soon as he was thus legally invested with +sovereign power, Charles demanded a large <i>aide</i> +from Holland and Zealand—480,000 crowns of +fifteen stivers for himself; 32,000 crowns as pin +money for his new consort; 16,000 crowns as donations +for various servants, and 4800 crowns towards +his travelling expenses. The total sum was +532,800 crowns. The share of Holland and West +Friesland was 372,800 crowns, and of Zealand +16,000 crowns, to be paid within seven and a half +years. In Holland, Haarlem paid the heaviest +quota, 3549 crowns, and Schiedam the smallest, +350 crowns, while Dordrecht and the South Holland +villages were assessed at 39,200 crowns, and<span class="page"><a name="203">[page 203]</a></span> +the remainder was divided among the other cities +and villages.</p> + +<p> +There was considerable opposition to the assessments. +In many cases the new imposts upon provisions +pressed very heavily on the poor villagers. +Having obtained promise of the grant, however, +Charles left all further details in its regard to +the local officials and returned to Brussels at the +beginning of August to make his own preparation. +For, by that time, Louis's intentions of evading the +treaty of Conflans were plain, though there still +fluttered a thin veil of friendship between the +cousins. Gathering what forces he could mobilise, +ordering them to meet him later, Charles moved +westward and took up his quarters at Peronne on +the river Somme.</p> +<p> +Louis had been bold in his utterance to the +States-General as to his perfect right to ignore the +treaty of Conflans, to dispossess his brother, and +to bring the great feudatories to terms. In the +summer of 1468 he made advances towards accomplishing +the last-named desideratum. Brittany +was invaded by royal troops, but his victory was +diplomatic rather than military, as Duke Francis +peaceably consented to renounce his close alliances +with Burgundy and England, nominally at +least. Further, he agreed to urge Charles of France +to submit his claims to Normandy to the arbitration +of Nicholas of Calabria and the Constable St. Pol.<a href="#XI5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + +<p> +Charles of Burgundy remained to be settled with<span class="page"><a name="204">[page 204]</a></span> +on some different basis. And in regard to him +Louis XI. took a resolve which terrified his +friends and caused the world to wonder as to his +sanity. All previous attempts at mediation having +failed—St. Pol was among the many who +tried—the king determined to be his own messenger +to parley with his Burgundian cousin. It is +curious how small was his measure of personal +pride. He had been negligent of his personal +safety at Conflans, but even then Charles had +better reason to respect and protect him than in +1468, after Louis had manoeuvred for three years +in every direction to harass and undermine the +young duke's power, and when, too, the latter was +aware of half of the machinations and suspicious +of more.</p> +<p> +Yet Louis's famous visit to Peronne was no sudden +hare-brained enterprise. There is much evidence +that he nursed the project for many weeks +without giving any intimation of his intentions. +Nor was the situation as strange as it appears, +looking backward.</p> +<p> +Charles had doubtless made all preparations +to combat Louis if need were, and had chosen +Peronne for his headquarters with the express +purpose of being able to watch France, and, at the +same time, he had published abroad that his military +preparations were solely for the purpose of +keeping his obligations to his allies. Now these<span class="page"><a name="205">[page 205]</a></span> +obligations were momentarily removed by the action +of those same allies. Francis of Brittany had +entered into amicable relations with his sovereign, +young Charles of France had accepted arbitration +to settle the fraternal relations of the royal brothers, +while the correspondence between Louis and Liege, +was still unknown to the Duke of Burgundy. +For the moment, the latter, therefore, had no definite +quarrel with the French king. But he was +not in the least anxious for an interview with him. +Charles was as far as ever from understanding +his cousin. Even without definite knowledge of +Louis's efforts to make friends in the Netherlands, +Charles suspected enough to turn his youthful distrust +of the man's character into mature conviction +that friendship between them was impossible. +But he could not refuse the royal overtures. His +letter of safe-conduct to his self-invited visitor +bears the date of October 8th, and runs as follows:<a href="#XI6"><sup>6</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"MONSEIGNEUR:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"I commend myself to your good graces. Sire, if it +be your desire to come to this city of Peronne in order +that we may talk together, I swear and I promise +you by my faith and on my honour that you may come, +remain and return in safety to Chauny or Noyon, +according to your pleasure and as often as it shall +please you, freely and openly without any hindrance +offered either to you or to any of your people by me +or by any other for any cause that now exists or <i>that</i><span class="page"><a name="206"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 206]</span></a></span> +<i>may hereafter arise</i>."</p> + +<p> +Guillaume de Biche acted as confidential messenger +between duke and king. He it was whom +Charles had dismissed from his own service in 1456 +at his father's instance. From that time on the +man had been in Louis's household, deep in his secrets +it was said, and certainly admitted to his +privacy to an extraordinary degree. This letter +was written by Charles in the presence of Biche, +through whose hand it passed directly to the +king.</p> +<p> +By October, Louis was at Ham, prepared to +move as soon as the safe-conduct arrived. No +time was lost after its receipt. On Sunday, October +9th, the king started out, accompanied by the +Bishop of Avranches, his confessor, by the Duke +of Bourbon, Cardinal Balue, St. Pol, a few more +nobles, and about eighty archers of the Scottish +guard. As he rode towards Peronne, Philip of +Crèvecœur, with two hundred lances, met him on +the way to act as his escort to the presence of +the duke, who awaited his guest on the banks of +a stream a short distance out of Peronne.</p> +<p> +St. Pol was the first of the royal party to meet the +duke as herald of Louis's approach. Then Charles +rode forward to greet the traveller. As he came +within sight of his cousin, he bowed low to his +saddle and was about to dismount when Louis, his +head bared, prevented his action. Fervent were +the kisses pressed by the kingly lips upon the +duke's cheeks, while Louis's arm rested lovingly<span class="page"><a name="207">[page 207]</a></span> +about the latter's neck. Then he turned graciously +to the by-standing nobles and greeted +them by name. But his cousinly affection was +not yet satisfied. Again he embraced Charles and +held him half as long as before in his arms. +How pleasant he was and how full of confidence +towards this trusted cousin of his!</p> +<p> +The cavalcade fell into line again, with the two +princes in the middle, and made a stately entry +into Peronne at a little after mid-day.<a href="#XI7"><sup>7</sup></a> The chief +building then and the natural place to lodge a royal +visitor was the castle. But it was in sorry repair, +ill furnished, and affording less comfort than a +neighbouring house belonging to a city official. +Here rooms had been prepared for the king and a +few of his suite, the others being quartered through +the town. At the door Charles took his leave and +Louis entered alone with Cardinal Balue and the +attendants he had chosen to keep near him. +These latter were nearly all of inferior birth, and +were treated by their master with a familiarity +very astonishing to the stately Burgundians.</p> + +<p> +Louis entered the room assigned for his use, +walked to the window, and looked out into the +street. The sight that met his view was most +disquieting. A party of cavaliers were on the +point of entering the castle. They were gentlemen<span class="page"><a name="208">[page 208]</a></span> +just arrived from Burgundy with their lances, +in response to a summons issued long before the +present visit was anticipated. As he looked down +on the troops, Louis recognised several men who +had no cause to love him or to cherish his memory. +There was, for instance, the queen's brother +Philip de Bresse<a href="#XI8"><sup>8</sup></a> who had led a party against +Louis's own sister Yolande of Savoy. At a time +of parley this Philip had trusted the sincerity of +his brother-in-law's profession and had visited +him to obtain his mediation. The king had +violated both the specified safe-conduct and +ambassadorial equity alike, and had thrown De +Bresse into the citadel of Loches, where he suffered +a long confinement before he succeeded in making +his escape. He was a Burgundian in sympathy as +well as in race. But with him on that October +day Louis noticed various Frenchmen who had +fallen under royal displeasure from one cause or +another and had saved their liberty by flight, +renouncing their allegiance to him for ever. +Four there were in all who wore the cross of St. +Andrew. Approaching Peronne as they had from +the south, these new-comers had ridden in at the +southern gates without intimation of this royal +visitation extraordinary until they were almost +face to face with guest and host. Their arrival +was "a half of a quarter of an hour later than that +of the king."</p> + + <p> +When Philip de Bresse and his friends learned<span class="page"><a name="209">[page 209]</a></span> +what was going on, they hastened to the duke's +chambers "to give him reverence." Monseigneur +de Bresse was the spokesman in begging the duke +that the three above named should be assured of +their security notwithstanding the king's presence +at Peronne,—of security such as he had pledged +them in Burgundy and promised for the hour when +they should arrive at his court. On their part +they were ready to serve him towards all and +against all. Which petition the duke granted +orally. "The force conducted by the Marshal of +Burgundy was encamped without the gates, and +the said marshal spoke no ill of the king, nor did +the others I have mentioned."<a href="#XI9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> + +<p> +It was, however, a situation in which apprehension +was not confined to the men of lower station. +To Louis, looking down from his window, there +seemed dire menace in the mere presence of these +persons who had heavy grievances against him, +and the unfortified private house seemed slight +protection against their possible vengeance. Here, +Charles might disavow injury to him as something +happening quite without his knowledge. On +ducal soil the safest place was assuredly under +shelter patently ducal. There, there would be no +doubt of responsibility did misfortune happen.</p> +<p> +Straightway the king sent a messenger to +Charles asking for quarters within the castle. The +request was granted and the uneasy guest passed<span class="page"><a name="210">[page 210]</a></span> +through the massive portals between a double +line of Burgundian men-at-arms. It was no cheerful, +pleasant, palatial dwelling-place this little old +castle of Peronne. So thick were the walls that +vain had been all assaults against it.<a href="#XI10"><sup>10</sup></a> Designed +for a fortress rather than a residence, it had been +repeatedly used as a prison, and the air of the +whole was tainted by the dungeons under its walls, +dungeons which had seen many unwilling lodgers. +Five centuries earlier than this date, Charles the +Simple had languished to death in one of the +towers.</p> + +<p> +This change of arrangement, or rather the +disquieting reason for the change, undoubtedly +clouded the peacefulness of the occasion. Yet +outward calm was preserved. Commines asserts +that the two princes directed their people to behave +amicably to each other and that the commands +were scrupulously obeyed. For two or three days +the desired conferences took place between Charles +and Louis. The king's wishes were perfectly +plain. He wanted Charles to forsake all other +alliances and to pledge himself to support his +feudal chief, first and foremost, from all attacks of +his enemies. The Duke of Brittany had submitted +to his liege. If the Duke of Burgundy +would only accept terms equally satisfactory in +their way, the pernicious alliance between the two +would vanish, to the weal of French unity.</p> +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="commines">[plate 15]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image15commines.jpg" width="400" height="547" alt="PHILIP DE COMMINES" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Apparently the first discussion was heard by none<span class="page"><a name="211">[page 211]</a></span> +except the Cardinal Balue and Guillaume de Biche. +Charles was willing to pledge allegiance and to promise +aid to his feudal chief, but under limitations +that weakened the value of his words. Nothing +could induce him to renounce alliance with other +princes for mutual aid, did they need it. There +was a second interview on the following day. +Charles held tenaciously to his position. Then +there came a sudden alteration in the situation, +a strange dramatic shifting of the duke's point of +view.</p> +<p> +The city of Liege had submitted perforce to the +behests of her imperious neighbour, but the citizens +had never ceased to hope that his unwelcome +"protection" might be dispensed with; that, by +the aid of French troops, they might eventually +wrest themselves free from the Burgundian incubus. +In spite of all promises to Charles, secret +negotiations between the anti-Burgundian party +and Louis XI. had never ceased. The latter never +refused to admit the importunate embassies to his +presence. He was glad to keep in touch with the +city even in its ruined condition. He sent envoys +as well as received them, and Commines states +definitely that, in making his plan to visit Peronne, +the fact of a confidential commission recently despatched +to Liege had wholly slipped the king's +mind.</p> +<p> +In that town the duke's lieutenant, Humbercourt, +had been left to supervise the humiliating changes +ordered. And the work of demolition was the only<span class="page"><a name="212">[page 212]</a></span> +industry. Other ordinary business was at a standstill. +For a period there was a sullen silence in the +streets and the church bells were at rest. In +April, a special legate from the pope arrived to see +whether ecclesiastical affairs could not be put on a +better footing.</p> +<p> +It was about the same time that the States-General +were meeting at Tours that, under the +direction of this legate, Onofrio de Santa-Croce, +the cathedral was purified with holy water, and +Louis of Bourbon celebrated his very first mass, +though he had been seated on the episcopal throne +for twelve years. Then Onofrio tried to mediate +between the city and the Duke of Burgundy. +To Bruges he went to see Charles, and obtained +permission to draft a project for the re-establishment +of the civic government, to be submitted to +the duke for approval.</p> +<p> +If Onofrio thought he had reformed the bishop +by forcing him into performing his priestly rites +he soon learned his mistake. That ecclesiastic +speedily disgusted his flock by his ill-timed festivities, +and then forsook the city and sailed away to +Maestricht in a gaily painted barge, with gay companions +to pass the summer in frivolous amusements +suited to his dissolute tastes. Such was the +state of affairs when the report of Louis's extensive +military preparations encouraged the Liegeois +to hope that he was to take the field openly against +the duke.</p> + <p> +About the beginning of September, troops of<span class="page"><a name="213">[page 213]</a></span> +forlorn and desperate exiles began to return to the +city. They came, to be sure, with shouts of <i>Vive le +Roi!</i> but, as a matter of fact, they seemed willing +to make any accommodation for the sake of being +permitted to remain. "Better any fate at home +than to live like wild beasts with the recollection +that we had once been men."</p> +<p> +To make a long story short, Onofrio again +endeavoured to rouse the bishop to a sense of his +duty. Again he tried to make terms for the exiles +and to re-establish a tenable condition. It was +useless. Louis of Bourbon refused to approach +nearer to Liege than Tongres, and declined to meet +the advances of his despairing subjects. It was +just at this moment that fresh emissaries arrived +from Louis, despatched, as already stated, <i>before</i> +Charles had consented to prolong the truce.</p> +<p> +Excited by their presence the Liegeois once +more roused themselves to action. A force of +two thousand was gathered at Liege, and advanced +by night upon Tongres—also without +walls—surrounded the house where lay their bishop, +and forced him to return to Liege. Violence there +was and loss of life, but, as a matter of fact, the +mob respected the person of their bishop and of +Humbercourt the chief Burgundian official. This +event happened on October 9th, the very day that +Louis rode recklessly into Peronne.</p> +<p> +On Wednesday, October 11th, the news of the +fray reached Peronne, but news greatly exaggerated +by rumour. Bishop, papal legate, and<span class="page"><a name="214">[page 214]</a></span> +Burgundian lieutenant all had been ruthlessly +murdered in the very presence of Louis's own +envoys, who had aided and abetted the hideous +crime! To follow the story of an eyewitness:<a href="#XI11"><sup>11</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Some said that everyone was dead, others asserted +the contrary, for such advertisments are never +reported after one sort. At length others came who +had seen certain canons slain and supposed the +bishop<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI12"><sup>12</sup></a></span> to be of the number, as well as the said seigneur +de Humbercourt and all the rest. Further, they +said that they had seen the king's ambassadors in the +attacking company and mentioned them by name. +All this was repeated to the duke, who forthwith +believed it and fell into an extreme fury, saying that +the king had come thither to abuse him, and gave +commands to shut the gates of the castle and of the +town, alleging a poor enough excuse, namely, that he +did this on account of the disappearance of a little +casket containing some good rings and money.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The king finding himself confined in the castle, +a small one at that, and having seen a force of archers +standing before the gate, was terrified for his person—the +more so that he was lodged in the neighbourhood +of a tower where a certain Count de Vermandois had +caused the death of one of his predecessors as king +of France.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI13"><sup>13</sup></a></span> At that time, I was still with the duke +and served him as chamberlain, and had free access<span class="page"><a name="215"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 215]</span></a></span> +to his chamber when I would, for such was the usage +in this household.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The said duke, as soon as he saw the gates closed, +ordered all to leave his presence and said to a few of us +that stayed with him that the king had come on purpose +to betray him, and that he himself had tried to +avoid his coming with all his strength, and that the +meeting had been against his taste. Then he proceeded +to recount the news from Liege, how the king +had pulled all the wires through his ambassadors, +and how his people had been slain. He was fearfully +excited against the king. I veritably believe that if +at that hour he had found those to whom he could +appeal ready to sympathise with him and to advise +him to work the king some mischief, he would have +done so, at the least he would have imprisoned him in +the great tower.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"None were present when the words fell from the +duke but myself and two grooms of the chamber, one +of whom was named Charles de Visen, a native of +Dijon, an honest fellow, in good credit with his master. +We aggravated nothing, but sought to appease the +duke as much as in us lay. Soon he tried the same +phrases on others, and a report of them ran through +the city and penetrated to the very apartment of the +king, who was greatly terrified, as was everyone, because +of the danger that they saw imminent, and +because of the great difficulty in soothing a quarrel +when it has commenced between such great princes. +Assuredly they were blameworthy in failing to notify +their absent servants of this projected meeting. +Great inconveniences were bound to arise from this +negligence."</p> + +<p> +Such is Commines's narrative. Eyewitness<span class="page"><a name="216">[page 216]</a></span> +though he was, it must be remembered that when +he wrote the account of this famous interview it +was long after the event, and when his point of +view was necessarily coloured by his service with +Louis. Delightful, however, are the historian's +own reflections that he intersperses with his plain +narrative. To his mind the only period when it is +safe for princes to meet is</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"in their youth when their minds are bent on pleasure. +Then they may amuse themselves together. +But after they are come to man's estate and are +desirous each of over-reaching the other, such interviews +do but increase their mutual hatred, even if +they incur no personal peril (which is well-nigh impossible). +Far wiser is it for them to adjust their +differences through sage and good servants as I have +said at length elsewhere in these memoirs."</p> + +<p> +Then our chronicler proceeds to give numerous +instances of disastrous royal interviews before +returning to his subject and to Peronne:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"I was moved [he adds again at the beginning of his +new chapter] to tell the princes my opinion of such +meetings.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI14"><sup>14</sup></a></span> Thus the gates were closed and guarded +and two or three days passed by. However, the +Duke of Burgundy would not see the king, nor had +Louis's servants entry to the castle except a few, and +those only through the wicket. Nor did the duke see +any of his people who had influence over him.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The first day there was consternation throughout<span class="page"><a name="217"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 217]</span></a></span> +the city. By the second day the duke was a little +calmed down. He held a council meeting all day +and the greater part of the night. The king appealed +to every one who could possibly aid him. He was +lavish in his promises and ordered fifteen thousand +crowns to be given where it might count, but the officer +in charge of the disbursement of this sum acquitted +himself ill and retained a part, as the king learned +later.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The king was especially afraid of his former servants +who had come with the army from Burgundy, +as I mentioned above, men who were now in the +service of the Duke of Normandy.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Diverse were the opinions in the above-mentioned +council-meeting. Some held that the safe-conduct +accorded to the king protected him, seeing that he +fairly observed the peace as it had been stated in +writing. Others rudely urged his capture without +further ceremony, while others again advised sending +for his brother, the Duke of Normandy, and concluding +with him a peace to the advantage of all the +princes of France. They who gave this advice +thought that in case it was adopted, the king should be +restrained of his liberty. Further, it was against all +precedent to free so great a seigneur when he had +committed so grave an offence.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"This last argument so nearly prevailed that I saw +a man booted and spurred ready to depart with a +packet of letters addressed to Monseigneur of Normandy, +being in Brittany, and stayed only for the +Duke of Burgundy's letter. However, this came to +naught. The king made overtures to leave as hostages +the Duke of Bourbon, the cardinal, his brother, and +the constable with a dozen others while he should be<span class="page"><a name="218"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 218]</span></a></span> +permitted to return to Compiegne after peace was +concluded. He promised that the Liegeois should +repair their mischief or he would declare himself their +foe. The appointed hostages were profuse in their +offers to immolate themselves, at least they were in +public. I do not know whether they would have +said the same things in private. I rather suspect not. +And in truth, I believe that those who were left +would never have returned.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"On the third night after the arrival of the news, +the duke never undressed, but lay down two or three +times on his bed, and then rose and walked up and +down. Such was his way when he was troubled. +I lay that night in his chamber and talked with him +from time to time. In the morning his fury was greater +than ever, his tone very menacing, and he seemed +ready to go to any extreme.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"However, he finally brought himself to say that +if the king would swear the peace and would accompany +him to Liege to help avenge Monsgn. of Liege, +his own kinsman, he would be satisfied. Then he suddenly +betook himself to the king's chamber and expressed +himself to that effect. The king had a friend<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI15"><sup>15</sup></a></span> +who warned him, assuring him that he should suffer +no ill if he would concede these two points. Did he +do otherwise he ran grave risk, graver than he would<span class="page"><a name="219"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 219]</span></a></span> +ever incur again."</p> + +<p> +When the duke entered the royal presence his +voice trembled, so agitated was he and on the +verge of breaking into a passion. He assumed +a reverential attitude, but rough were mien and +word as he demanded whether the king would +keep the treaty of peace as it had been drafted, +and whether he was ready to swear to it. "Yes" +was the king's response. In truth, nothing had +been added to the agreement made before Paris, +or at least little as far as the Duke of Burgundy +was concerned. As regarded the Duke of Normandy, +it was stipulated that if he would renounce +that province he should have Champagne and Brie +besides other neighbouring territories for his share.</p> +<p> +Then the duke asked if the king would accompany +him to avenge the outrage committed upon +his cousin the bishop.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"To which demand the king gave assent as soon as +the peace was sworn. He was quite satisfied to go to +Liege and with a small or large escort, just as the duke +preferred. This answer pleased the duke immensely. +In was brought the treaty, out of the king's coffer +was taken the piece of the true cross, the very one +carried by Saint Charlemagne, called the Cross of +Victory, and thereupon the two swore the peace.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"This was now October 14th. In a minute the bells +pealed out their joy throughout Peronne and all men +were glad. It hath pleased the king since to attribute +the credit of this pacification to me."</p> + +<p> +There was undoubtedly an immense sense of relief<span class="page"><a name="220">[page 220]</a></span> +in Peronne when this degree of accommodation +was reached. The duke was unwilling, however, +to have too much rejoicing in his domains until +he had ascertained for himself the state of Liege. +Among the letters despatched from Peronne this +October 14th, was the following to the magistrates +of Ypres:<a href="#XI16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Dear and well beloved friends, considering that we +have to-day made peace and convention with Monseigneur +the king, and that for this reason you might +be inclined to let off fire-works and make other manifestations +of joy, we hasten to advise you that ... our +pleasure is you shall not permit fireworks or +assemblies in our town of Ypres on account of the said +peace until we have subdued the people of Liege, and +avenged the said outrage [described above]. This with +God's aid we intend to do. We are on the point of +departure with all our forces for Liege. Beloved, +may our Lord protect you.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Written in our castle of Peronne, October 14, +1468."</p> + +<p> +A certain G. Ruple conveyed his own impressions +to the magistrates of Ypres, possibly managing to +slip them under the same cover.<a href="#XI17"><sup>17</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"To-day, at about 10 o'clock, peace was concluded +between the king and Monseigneur, and also between +the king and the Duke of Berry. Here, bells are ringing +and the <i>Te Deum</i> is sung. It is generally believed +that Monseigneur will depart to-morrow. God deserves +thanks for the result, for I assure you that last<span class="page"><a name="221"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 221]</span></a></span> +night the outlook was not clear." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI18"><sup>18</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The king wrote as follows to his confidential +lieutenant:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"PERONNE, October 14th.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur the grand master, you are already +informed how there has been discussion in my council +and that of my brother-in-law of Burgundy, as to the +best manner of adjusting certain differences between +him and me. It went so far that in order to arrive +at a conclusion I came to this town of Peronne. Here +we have busied ourselves with the requisitions passing +between us, so that to-day we have, thanks to our +Lord, in the presence of all the nobles of the blood, +prelates and other great and notable personages in +great numbers, both from my suite and from his, sworn +peace solemnly on the true cross, and promised to aid, +defend and succour each other for ever. Also on the +same cross we have ratified the treaty of Arras with +its corrections and other points which seemed productive +of peace and amity.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Immediately after this the Duke of Burgundy +ordered thanksgivings in the churches of his lands, +and in this town he has already had great solemnity. +And because my brother of Burgundy has heard that +the Liegeois have taken prisoner my cousin the +bishop of Liege, whom he is determined to deliver +as quickly as possible, he has besought me as a favour +to him, and also because the bishop is my kinsman +whom I ought to aid, to accompany him to Liege, +not far from here. This I have agreed to, and have +chosen as my escort a portion of the troops under<span class="page"><a name="222"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 222]</span></a></span> +monseigneur the constable, in the hopes of a speedy +return by the aid of God.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"And because it is for my weal and that of my +subjects I write to you at once, because <i>I am sure</i> +you will be pleased, and that you will order like +solemnities. Moreover, monseigneur the grand master, +as I lately wrote to you, pray as quickly as possible +disband my <i>arriere ban</i> together with the free lances, +and do every possible thing for the mass of poor +folks; appoint well-to-do men as leaders in every bailiwick +and district. Above all, see to it that they do +not indulge in any new and startling conduct. That +done, if you wish to come to Bohan, to be nearer me, +I would be glad, so as to be able to provide for any +further action that may arise. Written at Peronne +October 14th.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"Loys</p> +<p class="rindent"> +MEURIN.</p><br /> +<p class="quote"> +"To our dear and beloved cousin the Count of +Dammartin, grand master of France." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI19"><sup>19</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Dammartin thought that this letter was phrased +for the purpose of passing Charles's censorship. +He took the liberty of disregarding his master's +orders; the troops were not disbanded, and he held +himself in readiness to go to fetch the errant +monarch if he did not return speedily from the +enemy's country. His letter to the king and the +unwritten additions delivered by his confidential +messengers terrified his liege lest too much zeal +on his behalf in France might work him ill in<span class="page"><a name="223">[page 223]</a></span> +Liege. A week later Louis writes again:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +NAMUR, Oct. 22nd.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"MONSEIGNEUR THE GRAND MASTER:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"I have received your letter by Sire du Bouchage. +<i>Be assured that I make this journey to Liege under no +constraint, and that I never took any journey with such +good heart as I do this.</i> Since God and Our Lady +have given me grace to be friends with Monseigneur +of Burgundy, be sure that never shall our rabble over +there take arms against me. Monseigneur the grand +master, my friend, you have proved that you love me, +and you have done me the greatest service that you +can, and there is another service that you can do. +The people of Monseigneur of Burgundy think that +I mean to deceive them, and people there [in France] +think that I am a prisoner. Distrust between the +two would be my ruin.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur, as to the quarters of your men, +you know what we planned, you and I, touching the +action of Armagnac. It seems to me that you ought +to send your people straight ahead in that direction +and I will furnish you four or five captains as soon as I +am out of this, and you can make what choice you will. +M. the grand master, my friend, come, I beg you, to +Laon and await me there. Send me a messenger the +minute you arrive and I will let you have frequent +news. Be assured that as soon as the Liegeois are +subdued, on the morrow I will depart, for Monsg. of +Burgundy is resolved to urge me to go as soon as he +has finished his work at Liege, and he desires my +return more than I do. Francois Dunois will tell you +what good cheer we are making. Adieu, monseigneur,<span class="page"><a name="224"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 224]</span></a></span> +etc.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Writ at Namur, Oct. 22nd.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"LOUIS</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"TOUSSAINT.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"To our dear and beloved cousin the Count of +Dammartin, grand master of France." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XI20"><sup>20</sup></a></span></p> + + +<p>Letters of the same date to Rochefoucauld and +others also declare that Louis goes most gladly with +his dear brother of Burgundy and that the affair +will not require much time. To Cardinal Balue +he writes only a few words, telling him that +the messenger will be more communicative.</p> +<p> +Between Peronne and Namur did the party turn +aside to visit the young Duchess of Burgundy, either +at Hesdin or at Aire? Such is the conjecture +of a learned Belgian editor, and he carries his surmise +further in suggesting that in this brief sojourn +was performed Chastellain's mystery of "The +Peace of Peronne."<a href="#XI21"><sup>21</sup></a> Perhaps these verses, if put +in the mouths of Louis and Charles, may have +pleased the princely spectators of the dramatic +poem. Mutual admiration was the key-note +of these flowery speeches while the other +<i>dramatis personæ</i> expressed unstinted admiration<span class="page"><a name="225">[page 225]</a></span> +for the wonderful deed accomplished by these two +pure souls who have sworn peace when they +might have brought dire war on their innocent +subjects.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Never did David, nor Ogier, nor Roland, that +proud knight, nor the great Charlemagne, nor the +proud Duke of Mayence, nor Mongleive, the heir, from +whom issued noble fruit, nor King Arthur, nor Oliver, +nor Rossillon, nor Charbonnier in their dozens of victories +approach or touch with hand or foot the work +I treat of."</p> + + + ° ° ° + ° ° ° + ° ° ° +<br /> +<blockquote> +[The king speaks.]</blockquote> +<p class="quote"> +"Charles, be assured that Louis will be the re-establisher +and provider of all that touches your honour and +peace between you and him. That he will ever be +appreciator of you and avenger, a nourisher of joy +and love in repairing all that my predecessor did.</p> +<blockquote> +[The duke speaks.]</blockquote> +<p class="quote"> +"And Charles, who loves his honour as much as his +soul, wishes nothing better than to serve you and +this realm and to extol your house. For I know that is +the reason why I have glory and reputation. Then if +it please God and Our Lady, my body will keep from +blame."</p> + +<p> +One stanza, indeed, uttered by Louis strikes a +note of doubt: "Charles, so many debates may +occur, so many incidents and accidents in our +various actions, that a rupture may be dreaded."</p> +<p> +Vehemently did the duke repudiate the bare<span class="page"><a name="226">[page 226]</a></span> +possibility of a new breach between him and his +liege. The whole is a pæan at a love feast. If +the two together heard their counterfeits express +such perfect fidelity, how Louis XI. must +have laughed to himself behind his mask of forced +courtesy! Charles, on the other hand, was +quite capable of taking it all seriously, wholly unconscious +that he had not cut the lion's claws for +once and all.</p> + +<hr/> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#198">[Footnote 1:</a> <i><a name="XI1">See</a></i> Lavisse iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 356.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#198">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XI2">The</a> letters of convocation bear the date February 26, +1467, o.s. Tournay elected four deputies. By April 30th, +they had returned home, and on May 2d they made a +report. The items of expenditure are very exact. So hard +had they ridden that a fine horse costing eleven crowns was +used up and was sold for four crowns. M. Van der Broeck, +archivist of Tournay, extracted various items from the register +of the Council. <i>See</i> Kervyn's note. Chastellain, v., 387.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#200">[Footnote 3:</a> <i><a name="XI3">See</a></i> Lavisse iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 356.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#202">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XI4">Dordrecht</a> was not among them. Her deputies held that +it was illegal for them to go to The Hague. Some time later +Charles received the oaths at Dordrecht. (Wagenaar, <i>Vaderlandsche +Hist.</i>, iv., 101.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#203">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XI5">Treaty</a> of Ancenis, September 10, 1468. <i>See</i> Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>.] +One of the results of the War of Public Weal was that St. Pol +was appointed constable of France.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#205">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XI6">The</a> original is in the Mss. de Baluze, Paris, Bibl. Nat.; +Lenglet, iii., 19.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#207">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XI7">Commines</a> and a letter to the magistrates of Ypres are the +basis of this narrative. (Gachard, <i>Doc. inéd.</i>, i., 196.) There is, +however, a mass of additional material both contemporaneous +and commentating. <i>See also</i> Michelet, Lavisse, Kirk, etc. +Chastellain's MS. is lost.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#208">[Footnote 8:</a> <i><a name="XI8">See</a></i> Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 397.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#209">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XI9">Ludwig</a> v. Diesbach, (<i>See</i> Kirk, i., 559.) The author was +a page in Louis's train, who afterwards played a part in Swiss +affairs.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#210">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XI10">It</a> was never captured until Wellington took it in 1814.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#214">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XI11">Commines</a>, ii., ch. vii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#214">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XI12">The</a> bishop did indeed meet his death at the hands of the +mob, but it was many years later.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#214">[Footnote 13:</a> <i><a name="XI13">Le</a> roi ... se voyait logé, rasibus d'une grosse tour ou +un Comte de Vermandois fit mourir un sien prédécesseur Roy +de France</i>. (Commines, ii., ch. vii.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#216">[Footnote 14:</a> <i><a name="XI14">Memoires</a></i>, ii., ch. ix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#218">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XI15">Undoubtedly</a> Commines wishes it to be inferred that this +was he. The main narrative followed here is Commines, +whose memoirs remain, as Ste.-Beuve says, the definitive +history of the times. There are the errors inevitable to any +contemporary statement. Meyer, to be sure, says, apropos +of an incident incorrectly reported, <i>Falsus in hoc ut in pluribus +historicus</i>. Kervyn de Lettenhove three centuries later +is also severe. <i>See</i>, too, "L'autorité historique de Ph. de +Commynes," Mandrot, <i>Rev. Hist</i>., 73.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#220">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="XI16">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd.</i>, i., 199.] </p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#220">[Footnote 17:</a> <i><a name="XI17">Ibid</a>.</i>, 200.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#221">[Footnote 18:</a> <i><a name="XI18">Waer</a> ic certiffiere dat het dezen nacht niet wel claer ghestaen +heeft.</i>]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#222">[Footnote 19:</a> <i><a name="XI19">Lettres </a>de Louis XI</i>, iii., 289. The king apparently never +resented the part played by Dammartin when he was dauphin. +His letters to him are very intimate.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#224">[Footnote 20:</a> <i><a name="XI20">Lettres</a></i>, iii., 295. (Toussaint is probably Toustain.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#224">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XI21">Kervyn</a> ed., <i>Œuvres de Chastellain</i>, vii., xviii. <i>See</i> poem, +<i>ibid.</i>, 423. The MS. in the Laurentian Library at Florence +bears this line: "Here follows a mystery made because of the +said peace of good intention in the thought that it would be +observed by the parties." Hesdin is, however, a long way +out of the route between Peronne and Namur, where the party +was on October 14th. It would hardly seem possible for +journey and visit in so brief a time.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="227">[page 227]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XII">XII</a></h2> + +<h3>AN EASY VICTORY</h3> + +<h4>1468</h4> +<p> +It was in the midst of heavy rains that the +journey was made to Namur and then on +to the environs of Liege. Grim was the +weather, befitting, in all probability, Charles's +own mood. The king's escort was confined to +very few besides the Scottish guard, but a body +of three hundred troopers was permitted to follow +him at a distance, while the faithful Dammartin +across the border kept himself closely informed +of every incident connected with the march that +his scouts could gather, and in readiness to fall +upon Burgundian possessions at a word of alarm, +while he restrained his ardour for the moment in +obedience to Louis's anxious command.</p> +<p> +By the fourth week of October the Franco-Burgundian +party were settled close to Liege +in straggling camps, separated from each other by +hills and uneven ground. Long was the discussion +in council meeting as to the best mode of procedure. +Liege was absolutely helpless in the face of this +coalition. Wide breaches made her walls useless. +Moats she had never possessed, for digging was +well-nigh impossible on her rocky site covered by +mud and slime from the overflow of the Meuse. +On account of this evident weakness, the king<span class="page"><a name="228">[page 228]</a></span> +advised dismissing half the army as needless, advice +that was not only rejected immediately but which +excited Charles's doubts of the king's good faith. +Over a week passed and feeble Liege continued +obstinate, while each division of the army manoeuvred +to be first in the assault for the sake of +the plunder. But advance was very difficult, for +the soldiers were impeded in their movements +by the slime. Wild were some of the night skirmishes +over the uneven, slippery ground and +amidst the little sheltering hills.</p> +<p> +On one occasion, "a great many were hurt and +among the rest the Prince of Orange (whom I had +forgotten to name before), who behaved that day +like a courageous gentleman, for he never moved +foot off the place he first possessed.</p> +<p> +The duke, too, did not lack in courage but he +failed sometimes in order giving, and to say the +truth, he behaved himself not so advisedly as +many wished because of the king's presence."<a href="#XII1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> +<p> +There is no doubt that Charles entertained +increasingly sinister suspicions of his guest. He +thought the king might either try to enter the city +ahead of him and manage to placate his ancient +allies by a specious explanation, or else he might +succeed in effecting his escape without fulfilling +his compact. At last Charles appointed Sunday, +October 30th, for an assault. On the 29th, his own +quarters were in a little suburb of mean, low houses,<span class="page"><a name="229">[page 229]</a></span> +with rough ground and vineyards separating his +camp from the city. Between his house and that +of the king, both humble dwellings, was an old +granary, occupied by a picked Burgundian force +of three hundred men under special injunctions to +keep close watch over the royal guest and see that +he played no sudden trick. To further this purpose +of espionage, they had made a breach in the +walls with heavy blows of their picks.</p> +<p> +The men were wearied with all their marching +and skirmishing, and in order to have them in +fighting trim on the morrow, Charles had ordered +all alike to turn in and refresh themselves. The +exhausted troops gladly obeyed this injunction. +Charles was disarmed and sleeping, so, too, were +Philip de Commines and the few attendants that +lay within the narrow ducal chamber. Only a +dozen pickets mounted guard in the room over +Charles's little apartment, and kept their tired +eyes open by playing at dice.</p> +<p> +On that Saturday night when Charles was thus +prudently gathering strength for the final tussle, +the people of Liege also indulged in repose, counting +on Sunday being a day of rest, that is, +the major part of the burgher folk did within city +limits. But another plan was on foot among some +of the inhabitants of an outlying region. An +attack on the Burgundian camp was planned by a +band from Franchimont, a wild and wooded district, +south of the episcopal see. The natives +there had all the characteristics of mountaineers,<span class="page"><a name="230">[page 230]</a></span> +although the heights of their rugged country +reached only modest altitudes.<a href="#XII2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> +<p> +These invaders were fortunate in obtaining +as guides the owners of the very houses requisitioned +for the lodgings of the two princes. +Straight to their goal they progressed through +paths quite unknown to the foe, and therefore +unwatched. The highlanders made a mistake in +not rushing headlong to the royal lodgings, where +in the first confusion they might have accomplished +their design upon the lives of Louis and of Charles +or at least have taken the two prisoners. But a +pause at a French nobleman's tent created a disturbance +which roused the archers in the granary. +The latter sallied out, to meet with a fierce counter-attack. +In order to confuse them the mountaineers +echoed the Burgundian cries, <i>Vive +Bourgogne, vive le roy et tuez, tuez</i>, and they were +not always immediately identified by their harsh +Liege accent.</p> +<p> +The highlanders were far outnumbered by the +Burgundians, and it was only by dint of their +desperate courage and by reason of the pitchy +darkness and of the locality with its unknown +roughness that the former inflicted the damage +that they did.</p> +<p> +Commines and his fellows helped the duke into +his cuirass, and stood by his person, while the +king's bodyguard of Scottish archers "proved +themselves good fellows, who never budged from<span class="page"><a name="231">[page 231]</a></span> +their master's feet and shot arrow upon arrow out +into the darkness, wounding more Burgundians +than Liegeois." The first to fall was Charles's +own host, the guide of the marauders to his own +cottage door. There were many more victims +and no mercy. It was, indeed, an encounter +characterised by the passions of war and the +conditions of a mere burglarious attack on private +houses.</p> +<p> +Quaking with fear was the king. He thought +that if the duke should now fail to make a complete +conquest of Liege, his own fate would hang +in the balance. At a hasty council meeting held +that night, Charles was very doubtful as to the +expediency of carrying out his proposed assault +upon the city. Very distrustful of each other were +the allies, a fact that caused Philip de Commines +to comment,<a href="#XII3"><sup>3</sup></a> "scarcely fifteen days had elapsed +since these two had sworn a definitive peace and +solemnly promised to support each other loyally. +But confidence could not enter in any way."</p> +<p> +Charles gave Louis permission to retire to +Namur and wait until the duke had reduced the +recalcitrant burghers once for all. Louis thought +it wiser to keep close to Charles's own person until +they parted company for ever, and the morrow +found him in the duke's company as he marched +on to Liege.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"My opinion is, [says Commines], that he would +have been wise to depart that night. He could have<span class="page"><a name="232"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 232]</span></a></span> +done it for he had a hundred archers of his guard, +various gentlemen of his household, and, near at hand, +three hundred men-at-arms. Doubtless he was +stayed by considerations of honour. He did not wish +to be accused of cowardice."</p> + +<p> +Olivier de la Marche, also present as the princely +pair entered Liege, heard the king say: "March +on, my brother, for you are the luckiest prince +alive." As they entered the gates, Louis shouted +lustily, "<i>Vive Bourgogne</i>," to the infinite dismay +of his former friends, the burghers of Liege.</p> +<p> +The remainder of the history of that dire Sunday +morning differs from that of other assaults +only in harrowing details, and the extremity of the +pitilessness and ferocity manifested by the conquerors. +Charles had previously spared churches, +and protected the helpless. Above all he had +severely punished all ill treatment of respectable +women. Little trace of this former restraint was +to be seen on this occasion. The inhabitants were +destroyed and banished by dozens. Those who +fled from their homes leaving their untasted +breakfasts to be eaten by the intruding soldiers, +those who were scattered through the numerous +churches, those who attempted to defend the +breaches in the walls—all alike were treated without +mercy.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="olivier">[plate 16]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image16olivier.jpg" width="400" height="657" alt="OLIVIER DE LA MARCHE" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +The Cathedral of St. Lambert, Charles did +endeavour to protect. "The duke himself went +thither, and one man I saw him kill with his own +hand, whereupon all the company departed and<span class="page"><a name="233">[page 233]</a></span> +that particular church was not pillaged, but at +the end the men who had taken refuge there were +captured as well as the wealth of the church."</p> + +<p> +At about midday Charles joined Louis at the +episcopal palace, where the latter had found +apartments better suited to his rank than the rude +huts that had sheltered him for the past few days. +The king was in good spirits and enjoyed his dinner +in spite of the unsavoury scenes that were still +in progress about him. He manifested great joy +in the successful assault, and was lavish in his +praises of the duke's courage, taking care that his +admiring phrases should be promptly reported +to his cousin.<a href="#XII4"><sup>4</sup></a> His one great preoccupation, +however, was to return to his own realm.</p> +<p> +After dinner the duke and he made good cheer +together. "If the king had praised his works +behind his back, still more loud was he in his open +admiration. And the duke was pleased." No +telling sign of friendship for Charles had Louis +spared that day, so terrified was he lest some +testimony from his ancient protégés might prove +his ruin. "Let the word be Burgundy," he had +cried to his followers when the attack began.</p> +<blockquote>"<i>Tuez, tuez, vive Bourgogne</i>."</blockquote> +<p> +There is another contemporaneous historian +who somewhat apologetically relates the following +incident of this interview.<a href="#XII5"><sup>5</sup></a> In this friendly +Sabbath day chat, Charles asked Louis how he<span class="page"><a name="234">[page 234]</a></span> +ought to treat Liege when his soldiers had finished +their work. No trace of kindliness towards his +old friends was there in the king's answer.</p> +<p> +"Once my father had a high tree near his house, +inhabited by crows who had built their nests +thereon and disturbed his repose by their chatter. +He had the nests removed but the crows returned +and built anew. Several times was this repeated. +Then he had the tree cut down at the roots. After +that my father slept quietly."</p> +<p> +Four or five days passed before Louis dared +press the question of his return home. The following +note written in Italian, dated on the day of the +assault, is significant of his state of mind:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +LOUIS XI. TO THE COUNT DE FOIX</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur the Prince:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"To-day my brother of Burgundy and I entered +in great multitude and with force into this city of +Liege, and because I have great desire to return, I +advise you that on next Tuesday morning I will depart +hence, and I will not cease riding without making any +stops until I reach there.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII6"><sup>6</sup></a></span> I pray you to let me know +what is to be done.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Writ at Liege, October 30th.</p> + +<p class="rindent1"> +"LOYS <br /><br /></p> +<p class="rindent"> +"DE LA LOERE." </p> + + +<p> +Punctilious was Louis in his assurances to his<span class="page"><a name="235">[page 235]</a></span> +host that if he could be of any further aid he hoped +his cousin would command him. If there were, indeed, +nothing, he thought his best plan would be to +go to Paris and have the late treaty duly recorded +and published to insure its validity. Charles +grumbled a little, but finally agreed to speed his +parting guest after the treaty had been again +read aloud to the king so that he might dissent +from any one of its articles or ever after hold his +peace.</p> +<p> +Quite ready was Louis to re-confirm everything +sworn to at Peronne. Just as he was departing +he put one more query: "'If perchance my brother +now in Brittany should be dissatisfied with the +share I accord him out of love to you, what do you +want me to do?' The duke answered abruptly +and without thought: 'If he does not wish to +take it, but if you content him otherwise, I will +trust to you two.' From this question and answer +arose great things as you shall hear later. +So the king departed at his pleasure, and Mons. de +Cordes and d'Émeries, Grand Bailiff of Hainaut +escorted him out of ducal territory."<a href="#XII7"><sup>7</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"O wonderful and memorable crime of this king of +the French [declares a contemporaneous Liege sympathiser.]<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII8"><sup>8</sup></a></span> +Scarcely anything so bad can be found in +ancient annals or in modern history. What could be +more stupid or more perfidious, or a better instance<span class="page"><a name="236"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 236]</span></a></span> +of infamy than for a king who had incited a people to +arms against the Burgundians to act thus for the sake +of his own safety? Not once but many times had +he pledged them his faith, offering them defence +and assistance against the same Burgundians. And +now when they are overwhelmed and confounded +by this Burgundian duke, this king actually co-operates +with their foe, to their damage, wears that +foe's insignia and dares to hide himself behind those +emblems, and assist to destroy those to whom he +himself had furnished aid and subsidies with pledges +of good faith! I am ashamed to commit this to +writing, and to hand it down to posterity, knowing +that it will seem incredible to many. But it is so +notorious throughout France and is confirmed by so +many adequate witnesses who have seen and heard +these things that no room is left for doubt of their +veracity except to one desiring to ignore the truth."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII9"><sup>9</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +November 2d is the date of Louis's departure. +It needs no stretch of the imagination to believe +the words of his little Swiss page, Diesbach, when +he says that on reaching French soil Louis dismounted +and kissed the ground in a paroxysm of +joy that he was his own man again.<a href="#XII10"><sup>10</sup></a> Devoutly, +too, he gave thanks to God for helping him in his +need. Still this joy was concealed under euphemistic +phrases in his correspondence. On November +5th, he wrote again to the Duke of Milan<span class="page"><a name="237">[page 237]</a></span> +from Beaumont:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"We went in person with the duke against the +Liegeois, on account of their rebellion and offence, +and the city being reduced by force to the power +of the duke, we have left him in some part of Liege as +we were anxious to return to our kingdom of France."</p> + +<p> +In January, 1469, Guillaume Toustain, the +brother of the faithful secretary Aloysius Toustain, +who had written several of Louis's letters from +Liege, goes to Pavia to finish his studies, and Louis +writes to the Duke of Milan asking him to assure +his protégé a pleasant reception in the university.</p> +<p> +The ratification of the treaty took place duly +at Paris on Saturday, November 19th, and the +king also sternly forbade the circulation of any +"paintings, rondels, ballads, songs, or defamatory +pamphlets" about Charles.<a href="#XII11"><sup>11</sup></a> The same informant +tells us that loquacious birds were put under +a ban.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"And on the same day in behalf of the king, and by +virtue of his commission addressed to a young man +of Paris named Henry Perdriel, all the magpies, jays, +and <i>chouettes</i>, caged or otherwise, were taken in +charge, and a record was made of all the places where +the said birds were taken and also all that they knew +how to say, like <i>larron, paillart</i>, etc., <i>va hors, va! Perrette +donnes moi à boire</i>, and various other phrases that +they had been taught."</p> + +<p> +Abbé le Grand thinks that "Perrette" was +meant for Peronne instead of a mistress of Louis<span class="page"><a name="238">[page 238]</a></span> +of that name. But this conjecture seems the only +basis for the very deep-rooted tradition that <i>Peronne</i> +was a word Louis could not bear to have +uttered.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"In the way of justice there is nothing going on +here, [wrote one Anthony de Loisey from Liege to the +president of Burgundy], except every day they hang +and draw such Liegeois as are found or have been taken +prisoners and have no money to ransom themselves. +The city is well plundered, nothing remains but rubbish. +For example I have not been able to find a sheet +of paper fit for writing to you, but with all my pains +could get nothing but some leaves from an old book." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII12"><sup>12</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +Charles decided that nothing should be left +standing except churches and ecclesiastical buildings. +On November 9th, before the final fires +were lit, he departed from the wretched town +and went down the left bank of the Meuse to an +abbey on the river, where he paused for the +night. Four leagues distant from the city was +this place, and from it were plainly visible the +flames of the burning buildings on that grim St. +Hubert's Day—a day when Liege had been wont +to give vent to merriment.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"From all the dangers that had encompassed +him, Charles escaped with his life, simply because +his hour had not yet struck, and because he was +God's chosen instrument to punish the sinning +city," is the verdict of one chronicler who does +not spare his fellow-Liegeois for their follies while<span class="page"><a name="239"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 239]</span></a></span> +he profoundly pities their fate.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII13"><sup>13</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +Out of the many contemporaneous accounts +a portion of a private letter from the duke's cup-bearer +to his sister is added:<a href="#XII14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Very dear sister, with a very good heart I recommend +myself to you and to all my good friends, men +and women in our parts, not forgetting my <i>beaux-pères,</i> +Martin Stephen and Dan Gauthier. Pray know that, +thanks to God, I and all my people are safe and sound. +As to my horses, one was wounded and another is sick +in the hands of the marshals at Namur, and the others +are thin enough and have no grain to eat except hay. +The weather, has, indeed, been enough to strike a chill +to the hearts of men and horses. Since we left Burgundy +there have not been three fine days in succession +and we are in a worse state than wolves.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"You already know how we passed through Lorraine +and Ratellois without troubling about Salesart +or other French captains, nor the other Lorrainers +either, although they were under orders to attack us, +and were no more afraid of us than we of them. As +we approached the territory of Hainaut, M. the duke +sent Messire Pierre de Harquantbault<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII15"><sup>15</sup></a></span> to us to show +us what road to take. He told us that the duke had +made a treaty with the king, who had visited him, +news that filled us with astonishment....</p> +<p class="quote1"> +After skirmishing for several days we reached the<span class="page"><a name="240"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 240]</span></a></span> +faubourgs of Liege and remained there three of +four days under arms, with no sleep and little food, +and our horses standing in the rain with no shelter +but the trees. While we were thus lodged, the king +and the duke with a fair escort arrived and took up +their quarters in certain houses near the faubourg. +[... Constant firing was interchanged for several +days. Sallies were essayed and men were slain.]</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Finally a direct attack was made on the king and +Monseigneur and there were more of their people than +ours and that night Monseigneur was in great danger. +The following Sunday at 9 A.M. we began the +assault in three separate quarters. It was a fine thing +to see the men-at-arms march on the walls of the said +city, some climbing and others scaling them with +ladders. The standards of monseigneur the marshal +and monsgn. de Renty who had been stationed together +in the faubourgs, were the first within the said +city which contained at that moment sixteen to eighteen +thousand combatants, who were surprised when +they saw their walls scaled.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"In a moment we entered crying 'Burgundy' and +'city gained.' Ever so many of their people were +slain and drowned in their flight. We flew to reach +the market-place and the church of St. Lambert where +a number of prisoners were taken and thrown into the +water. Our ensign stood in the midst of the fray on +the market-place, in the hopes that they would rally +for a combat but they rallied only to flee. While we +held our position on the square several were created +knights.... All the churches—more than four +hundred—were pillaged and plundered. It is rumoured +that they will be burnt together with the rest of<span class="page"><a name="241"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 241]</span></a></span> +the city. Piteous it is to see what ill is wrought.... +[The king] stayed in the city with Monseigneur +two or three days. Then he departed, it is said for +Brussels to await my said lord. It is a great thing to +have seen the puissance of my master, <i>which is great +enough to defeat an emperor</i>. I believe the Burgundians +will shortly return to Burgundy.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"I paid my respects to my said lord, who received +me very well. At present I am listed<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XII16"><sup>16</sup></a></span> among those +whose term is almost expired and I am ready to follow +him wherever he wishes until my service is out, which +will be soon. I would have written before had I had +any one to send it by. Pray write me about yourself +by the first comer. Praying our Lord, beloved +sister, to keep you. Written in Liege, November +8, 1468.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"JEHAN DE MAZILLES."</p> + +<p> +This sober letter and other accounts by reliable +witnesses agree as to the terrible havoc wrought +in the city by the assault on October 30th and +by determined and systematic measures of destruction, +both during Charles's ten days' sojourn for the +express purpose of completing the punishment +and after his departure. Yet the result assuredly +fell short of the intention. The destruction was +not complete as was that of Dinant. Vitality +remained, apart from the ecclesiastical nucleus +intentionally preserved by the duke.</p> +<p> +Having watched the tongues of flame lap the +unfortunate city, Charles turned with his army<span class="page"><a name="242">[page 242]</a></span> +towards Franchimont, that rugged hill country +which had proved a nest of hardy and persistent +antagonists to Burgundian pretensions. Jehan de +Mazilles is in close attendance and gives further +details of the pitiless fashion in which Charles +carried out his purpose of leaving no seed +of resistance to germinate. Four nights and +three days they sojourned in a certain little +village while there was a hard frost and where, +without unarming, they "slept under the trees +and drank water." Meantime a small party +was despatched by the duke to attack the stronghold +of Franchimont. The despairing Liegeois +who had taken refuge there abandoned it, and it +was taken by assault. A few more days and the +duke was assured that Liege and her people were +shorn of their strength. When the remnant of +survivors began to creep back to the city and +tried to recover what was left of their property, +many were the questions to be settled. Lawsuits +succeeded to turmoils and lingered on for years.</p> +<p> +In the lordly manner of conquerors Charles, too, +demanded reimbursement for his trouble in bending +these free citizens to his illegal will. The +reinstated bishop wanted his rents and legal perquisites, +all difficult to collect, and many were the +ponderous documents that passed on the subject. +How justly pained sounds Charles's remonstrance +on the default of payment of taxes to his friend, +the city's lord!</p> +<p> +"Therefore [he writes,] in consideration of these<span class="page"><a name="243">[page 243]</a></span> +things, taking into account the terror of our departure +to Brussels last January, we decide, my brother and I, +that the payment of both <i>gabelle</i> and poll tax must be +forced, and that we cannot permit the retarding of +such taxes under any colour or pretence. At the +request of our brother and cousin we order the inhabitants +of the said territories to pay both <i>gabelle</i> and +poll tax, all that is due from the time it was imposed +and for the time to come, under penalty of the confiscation +of their goods and their persons."</p> +<p> +It was the old story of bricks without straw—taxes +and rents for property ruthlessly destroyed +were so easy. To this extent of tyranny had +Duke Philip never gone, and undoubtedly the +treatment of Liege was a step towards Charles's +final disaster. So much hatred was excited against +him that his adherents fell off one by one when his +luck began to fail him.</p> +<p> +No omen of misfortune was to be seen at this +time, however. That month of November saw +him master absolute wherever he was and he used +his power autocratically. At Huy, he had a number +of prisoners executed. At Louvain, at Brussels, +he gave fresh examples of his relentlessness as an +overlord.</p> +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#228">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XII1">Commines</a>, ii., ch. xi. It was not far from the place +where another Prince of Orange tried to cross the Meuse +exactly a hundred years later.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#230">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XII2">The</a> story of the "men of Franchimont" is questioned. +Commines is the only authority for it.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#231">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XII3">II</a>., ch. xiii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#233">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XII4">Commines</a>, ii., ch. xiii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#234">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XII5">Oudenbosch</a>, <i>Veterum scriptorum, etc. Amplissima Collectio</i>, +ed. E. Martene, iv. Rerum Leodiensim. Opus Adriani de Veteri Busco, p. 1343. +The writer acknowledges that the story is hearsay.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#234">[Footnote 6:</a> "<i><a name="XII6">Non</a> cessero di cavalchare senza fare demoia alcuna. +Lettres,iii</i>., 300.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#235">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XII7">Commines</a>, ii., ch. xiv.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#235">[Footnote 8:</a> "<i><a name="XII8">O</a> prœclarum et memorabile facinus hujus regis Francorum</i>."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#236">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XII9">Basin</a>, <i>Histoire des règnes de Charles VII. et de Louis XI</i>., +Quicherat ed., ii., 204. This also appears in <i>Excerpta ex Amelgardi. +De gestis Ludovici XI</i>., cap. xxiii. Martene's <i>Amplissima +Collectio,</i> iv., 740 <i>et seq</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#236">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XII10">Quoted</a> in Kirk, i., 606, note.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#237">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XII11">Jean</a> de Roye, <i>Chronique Scandaleuse</i>, ed. Mandrot, i., 220.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#238">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XII12">Comines</a>-Lenglet, iii., 83.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#239">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="XII13">Johannes </a>de Los, <i>Chronicon</i>, p. 60. <i>Quia hora nendum +venerat.</i> De Ram, "Troubles du pays de Liége."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#239">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XII14">Commynes</a>-Dupont, <i>Preuves</i>, iii., 242. Letter of Jehan +de Mazilles to his sister.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#239">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XII15">Hagenbach</a>, later Governor of Alsace.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#241">[Footnote 16:</a> <i><a name="XII16">Conte</a> aux escros</i>. This word strictly applies to the prisoners +on a jailer's list—evidently used in jest.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="244">[page 244]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XIII">XIII</a></h2> + +<h3>A NEW ACQUISITION</h3> + +<h4>1469-1473</h4> +<p> +This successful expedition against Liege +carried Charles of Burgundy to the very +crest of his prosperity. His self-esteem was +moreover gratified by the regard shown to him +at home and abroad. A man who could force +a royal neighbour into playing the pitiful rôle +enacted by Louis XI. at Peronne was assuredly a +man to be respected if not loved. And messages +of admiration and respect couched in various +terms were despatched from many quarters to the +duke as soon as he was at Brussels to receive them.</p> +<p> +Ghent had long since made apologies for the +sorry reception accorded to their incoming Count +of Flanders in 1467, but Charles had postponed +the formal <i>amende</i> until a convenient moment of +leisure. January 15, 1469, was finally appointed +for this ceremony and the occasion was utilised +to show the duke's grandeur, the city's humiliation, +to as many people as possible who might +spread the report far and wide.</p> +<p> +It was a Sunday. Out in the courtyard of the +palace the snow was thick on the ground where a +group of Ghent burghers cooled their heels for an +hour and a half, awaiting a summons to the ducal +presence. There, too, where every one could see<span class="page"><a name="245">[page 245]</a></span> +those emblems of the artisans' corporate strength, +fluttered fifty-two banners unfurled before the +deans of the Ghentish <i>métiers</i>.<a href="#XIII1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> +<p> +Within, the great hall of the palace showed a +splendid setting for a brilliant assembly. The +most famous Burgundian tapestries hung on the +walls. Episodes from the careers of Alexander, +of Hannibal, and of other notable ancients formed +the background for the duke and his nobles, +knights of the Golden Fleece, in festal array. As +spectators, too, there were all the envoys and +ambassadors then present in Brussels from +"France, England, Hungary, Bohemia, Naples, +Aragon, Sicily, Cyprus, Norway, Poland, Denmark, +Russia, Livornia, Prussia, Austria, Milan, +Lombardy, and other places."</p> +<p> +Charles himself was installed grandly on a kind +of throne, and to his feet Olivier de la Marche +conducted the civic procession of penitents. +Before this pompous gathering, after a statement +of the city's sin and sorrow, the precious charter +called the Grand Privilege of Ghent was solemnly +read aloud, and then cut up into little pieces with +a pen-knife. Next followed a recitation of the +penalties imposed upon, and accepted by, the citizens +(closing of the gates, etc)., and then the +paternal Count of Flanders, duly mollified, pronounced +the fault forgiven with the benediction, +"By virtue of this submission and by keeping <span class="page"><a name="246">[page 246]</a></span> +your promises and being good children, you shall +enjoy our grace and we will be a good prince." +"May our Saviour Jesus Christ confirm and preserve +this peace to the end of this century," is +the pious ejaculation with which the <i>Relation</i> +closes.</p> +<p> +Among the witnesses of the above scene, when +the independent citizens of Ghent meekly posed +as the duke's children, were envoys from George +Podiebrad, ex-king of Bohemia. Lately deposed +by the pope, he was seeking some favourable +ally who might help him to recover his realm. +He had conceived a plan for a coalition between +Bohemia, Poland, Austria, and Hungary to present +a solid rampart against the Turks, and strong +enough to dictate to emperor and pope. He +was ready for intrigue with any power and had +approached Louis XI. and Matthias Corvinus, +King of Hungary, before turning to Charles of +Burgundy.<a href="#XIII2"><sup>2</sup></a></p> +<p> +Meantime, the Emperor Frederic tried to knit +links with this same Matthias by suggesting that +he might be the next emperor, assuring him that +he could count on the support of the electors of +Mayence, of Trèves, and of Saxony. He himself +was world-weary and was anxious to exchange +his imperial cares for the repose of the Church +could he only find a safe guardian for his son, +Maximilian, and a desirable successor for himself.<span class="page"><a name="247">[page 247]</a></span> +Would not Matthias consider the two offices?</p> +<p> +Potent arguments like these induced Matthias +not only to turn his back on Podiebrad, but to +accept that deposed monarch's crown which the +Bohemian nobles offered him May 3, 1469. Then +he proceeded to ally himself with Frederic, elector +palatine, and with the elector of Bavaria. This +was the moment when the ex-king of Bohemia +made renewed offers of friendly alliance to Charles +of Burgundy. In his name the Sire de Stein +brought the draft of a treaty of amity to Charles +which contained the provision that Podiebrad +should support the election of Charles as King of +the Romans, in consideration of the sum of two +hundred thousand florins (Rhenish).<a href="#XIII3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> +<p> +This modest sum was to secure not only Podiebrad's +own vote but his "influence" with the +Archbishop of Mayence, the Elector of Saxony +and the Margrave of Brandenburg.<a href="#XIII4"><sup>4</sup></a> While +Podiebrad thus dangled the ultimate hopes of +the imperial crown before the duke's eyes, he +over-estimated his credulity. As a matter of +fact the royal exile had no "influence" at all +with the first named elector, and the last, too, +showed no disposition whatsoever to serve his +unstable policy. Both were content to advise +Emperor Frederic. The sole result of the empty +overtures was to increase Charles's own sense of<span class="page"><a name="248">[page 248]</a></span> +importance.</p> +<p> +Another negotiation which sought him unasked +had, however, a material influence on the course +of events, and must be touched on in some detail. +Sigismund of Austria—first duke then archduke,—Count +of Tyrol, cousin of the Emperor Frederic, +was a member of the House of Habsburg. In +1449, he had married Eleanor of Scotland, and +became brother-in-law of Louis during the term +of the dauphin's first marriage. An indolent, +extravagant prince, he was greatly dominated by +his courtiers. His heritage as Count of Tyrol included +certain territories lying far from his capital, +Innsbruck. Certain portions of Upper Alsace, +lands on both sides of the Rhine, Thurgau, Argau +in Switzerland, Breisgau, and some other seigniories +in the Black Forest were under his sway.</p> +<p> +These particular domains were so remote from +Innsbruck that the authority of the hereditary +overlord had long been eluded. The nobles pillaged +the land near their castles very much at +their own sweet will. The harassed burghers appealed +to the Alsatian Décapole,<a href="#XIII5"><sup>5</sup></a> and again to the +free Swiss cantons for protection, and sometimes +obtained more than they wanted.</p> +<p> +Mulhouse was seriously affected by these lawless +depredations. To her, Berne promised aid +in a twenty-five years' alliance signed in 1466, and +at Berne's insistance the cowardly nobles restrained<span class="page"><a name="249">[page 249]</a></span> +their license. But when the city attempted to +extend its authority Sigismund interfered. Having +no army, however, he could not recover Waldshut, +which the Swiss claimed a right to annex, +except by offering ten thousand florins for the +town's ransom. Poor in cash as he was in men, +he had, however, no means to pay this ransom +and begged aid in every direction. Moreover, he +feared further aggressions from the cantons, which +were growing more daring. What man in Europe +was better able to teach them a lesson than Charles, +the destroyer of Liege, the stern curber of undue +liberty in Flanders? Was he not the very person +to tame insolent Swiss cowherds?</p> +<p> +In the course of the year 1468, Sigismund made +known to Charles his desire for a bargain, intimating +that in case of the duke's refusal, he would carry his +wares to Louis XI. At that moment, Charles was +busied with Liege and showed no interest in Sigismund's +proposition. The latter tried to see Louis +XI. personally in accordance with his imperial +cousin's advice that an interview might be more +effective than a letter.</p> +<p> +It did not prove a propitious time, however; +Louis was deeply engaged with Burgundy and he +was not disposed to take any steps that might +estrange the Swiss—and any espousal of Sigismund's +interests might alienate them. He did not even +permit an opening to be made, but stopped Sigismund's +approach to him by a message that he +would not for a moment entertain a suggestion<span class="page"><a name="250">[page 250]</a></span> +inimical to those dear friends of his in the cantons—a +sentiment that quickly found its way to +Switzerland.</p> +<p> +Thus stayed in his effort to win Louis's ear, +Sigismund decided that he would make another +essay towards a Burgundian alliance, this time +face to face with the duke. On to Flanders he +journeyed and found Charles in the midst of +the ostentatious magnificence already described. +Ordinary affairs of life were conducted with a +splendour hardly attained by the emperor in the +most pompous functions of his court. Sigismund +was absolutely dazzled by the evidence of easy +prosperity. The fact that a maiden was the duke's +sole heiress led the Austrian to conceive the not +unnatural idea that this attractive Burgundian +wealth might be turned into the impoverished +imperial coffers by a marriage between Mary of +Burgundy and Maximilian, the emperor's son.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="mary1">[plate 17]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image17mary1.jpg" width="400" height="505" alt="MARY OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +The visitor not only thought of this possibility, +but he immediately broached it to Charles. The +bait was swallowed. As to the main proposition +which Sigismund had come expressly to make, +that, too, was not rejected. The duke perceived +that the transfer of the Rhenish lands to his jurisdiction +might militate to his advantage. A passage +would be opened towards the south for his troops +without the need of demanding permission from +any reluctant neighbour. The risk of trouble with +the Swiss did not affect him when weighing the +advantages of Sigismund's proffer, a proffer which<span class="page"><a name="251">[page 251]</a></span> +he finally decided to accept. Probably he found +his guest a pleasant party to a bargain, for not +only did he broach the tempting alliance between +Mary and Maximilian, but he, too, seems to have +hinted that the title of "King of the Romans" +might be added to the long list of appellations +already signed by Charles.<a href="#XIII6"><sup>6</sup></a> As Sigismund was +richer in kin, if not in coin, than the feeble Podiebrad, +Charles gave serious heed to the suggestion +which fell incidentally from his guest's lips, in +the course of the long conversations held at +Bruges.</p> +<p> +Certain precautions were taken to protect +Charles from being dragged into Swiss complications +against his will, and then in May, 1469, the +treaty of St. Omer was signed,<a href="#XIII7"><sup>7</sup></a> wherein the Duke +of Burgundy accorded his protection to Sigismund +of Austria and received from him all his seigniorial +rights within certain specified territories.</p> +<p> +The most important part of this cession comprised +Upper Alsace and the county of Ferrette, +but there were also many other fragments of +territory and rights of seigniory involved, besides +lordship over various Rhenish cities, such as +Rheinfelden, Saeckingen, Lauffenburg, Waldshut +and Brisac. This last named town commanded +the route eastward, as Waldshut that to the southeast, +and Thann the highway through the Vosges<span class="page"><a name="252">[page 252]</a></span> +region.</p> +<p> +Fifty thousand florins was the price for the property +and the claims transferred from Sigismund +to Charles. Ten thousand were to be paid at once, +in order to ransom Waldshut from the Swiss. The +remainder was due on September 24th. On his +part, Sigismund specifically recognised the duke's +right to redeem all domains nominally his but +mortgaged for the time being, certain estates or +seignorial rights having been thus alienated for +150 years.</p> +<p> +This territorial transfer was not a sale. It was +a mortgage, but a mortgage with possession to the +mortgagee and further restricted by the provision +that there could be no redemption unless the +mortgager could repay at Besançon the whole loan +plus all the outlay made by the mortgagee up to +that date. Instalment payments were expressly +ruled out. The entire sum intact was made obligatory. +Therefore the danger of speedy redemption +did not disquiet Charles. He knew the man +he had to deal with. Sigismund's lack of foresight +and his prodigality were notorious. There +was faint chance that he could ever command the +amount in question. Accordingly, Charles was +fairly justified in counting the mortgaged territory +as annexed to Burgundy in perpetuity.</p> +<p> +Sigismund pocketed his florins eagerly. Nothing +could have been more welcome to him. But this +relief from the pressure of his pecuniary embarrassment +did not inspire him with love for the man<span class="page"><a name="253">[page 253]</a></span> +who held his lost lands. His sentiments towards +Charles were very similar to those of an heir towards +a usurer who has helped him in a temporary +strait by mulcting him of his natural rights.</p> +<p> +As for the emperor, when this transfer of territory +was an accomplished fact, he began to take +fright at the consequences. He did not like this +intrusion of a powerful French peer into the imperial +circle.<a href="#XIII8"><sup>8</sup></a> At the same time he was ready to +make him share responsibility in any further +difficulties that might arise between Sigismund +and the Swiss.</p> +<p> +The least skilful of prophets could have foreseen +difficulties for Charles on his own account, both +foreign and domestic. His own relations with the +Swiss had always been friendly enough, but he had +never before been so near a neighbour, while, within +the Rhine lands, it was an open question whether +the bartered inhabitants were to enjoy or regret +their new tie with Burgundy. The importance of +their sentiments was a matter of as supreme indifference +to Charles as was danger from the Confederation. +Neither conciliation nor diplomacy +was in his thoughts. He had no conception of the +intricacies of the situation. He counted the landgraviate +as definitely his by the treaty of St. Omer +as Brabant by heritage or Liege by conquest.</p> +<p> +The need of a kindly policy towards the little valley<span class="page"><a name="254">[page 254]</a></span> +towns—a policy that might have won their allegiance—never +occurred to him. They were his +property and Peter von Hagenbach was, in course +of time, made lieutenant-governor in his behalf.</p> +<p> +Apart from all personal considerations of +enmity and amity of natives and neighbours, the +territory of Upper Alsace and the county of Ferrette, +delivered from needy Austria to rich Burgundy, +like a coat pawned by a poor student, was +held under very complex and singular conditions.<a href="#XIII9"><sup>9</sup></a> +The status of the bargain between Sigismund and +Charles was in point of fact something between +pawn and sale, according to the point of view. +Sigismund fully intended to redeem it, while +Charles did not admit that possibility as remotely +contingent. Nor was that the only peculiarity. The +itemised list of the ceded territories as given in +the treaty was far from telling the facts of the +possessions passing to Sigismund's proxy.</p> +<p> +In the first place the Austrian seigniories were +not compact. They were scattered here and there +in the midst of lands ruled by others, as the Bishop +of Strasburg, the Abbé of St. Blaise in the Black +Forest, the count Palatine, the citizens of Basel +and of Mulhouse, and others.</p> +<p> +The existent variety in the extent and nature<span class="page"><a name="255">[page 255]</a></span> +of Austrian title was extraordinary. Nearly every +possible combination of dismembered prerogative +and actual tenure had resulted from the long series +of ducal compositions. In some localities a toll or +a quit-rent was the sole cession, and again a toll or a +prerogative was almost the only residue remaining +to the ostensible overlord, while all his former +property or transferable birthright privileges +were lodged in various hands on divers tenures. +There were cases in which the mortgagee—noble, +burgher, or municipal corporation—had taken +the exact place of the Austrian duke and in so +doing had become the vassal of his debtor, +stripped of all vested interest but his sovereignty. +For in these bargains wherein elements of the +Roman contract and feudal customs were curiously +blended, two classes of rights had been invariably +reserved by the ducal mortgagers:</p> +<p> +(1) Monopolies, regal in nature, such as assured +free circulation on the highways, the old Roman +roads, all jurisdiction of passports and travellers' +protection.</p> +<p> +(2) The suzerainty. This comprised the power +to confer fiefs, of requisition of military service, +of requesting <i>aids</i> and admission to strongholds, +cities, or castles, <i>le droit de forteresse jurable et +rendable</i>.</p> +<p> +In these regards the compact between Charles +and Sigismund differed from all previous covenants +not only in degree, but in kind. The Duke of +Burgundy entered into the <i>sovereign</i> as well as<span class="page"><a name="256">[page 256]</a></span> +into the mangled, maimed, and curtailed proprietary +rights of the hereditary over-lord.</p> +<p> +In his assumption of this involved and doubtful +property, Charles laid heavy responsibilities on +his shoulders. The actual price of fifty thousand +gold florins paid to Sigismund was a mere fraction +of the pecuniary obligations incurred, while the +weight of care was difficult to gauge. He succeeded +to princes weak, frivolous, prodigal, whose misrule +had long been a curse to the land. The incursions +of the Swiss, the repeated descents of the +Rhine nobles from their crag-lodged strongholds +to pillage and destroy, terrified merchants and +plunged peaceful labourers into misery.</p> +<p> +Through hatred of the absentee Austrians, the +neighbouring cities repeatedly became the accomplices +of these brigands, affording them asylums +for refitting and free passage when they were +laden with evident booty.</p> +<p> +In all departments of finance and administration +disorder prevailed. The chief officials, castellans +and councillors, enjoyed high salaries for neglected +duties. The castles were in wretched repair and +there were insufficient troops to guard the roads. +There was no dependence upon the receipts nominally +to be expected. In the sub-mortgaged +lands, the lords simply levied what they could, +without the slightest responsibility for the order +of the domain; they did not hesitate to charge their +suzerain for repairs never made, confident that no<span class="page"><a name="257">[page 257]</a></span> +one would verify their declaration.</p> +<p> +In the territories of the immediate domain, the +Austrian dukes and their officials had no notion +of the rigid system maintained in Burgundy. +Only here and there can little memoranda be +found and these are confused and obscure. There +is a dearth of accurate records like those voluminous +registers of outlays kept by Burgundian receivers, +registers so rich in detail that they are +more valuable for the historian than any chronicle.</p> +<p> +Exact appraisal of the resources of these <i>pays +de par de là</i> was very difficult. Between 1469 +and 1473 there were three efforts to obtain reliable +information by means of as many successive commissions +despatched to the Rhine valley by the +Duke of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +Envoys drew up minutes of their observations +in addition to their official reports and all were +preserved in the archives. As these were written +from testimony gathered on the spot, such as the +accounts of the receivers now lost, etc., there is +real value in the documents.</p> +<p> +The first commission in behalf of Burgundy +was composed of two Germans and three Walloons. +One of the former was Peter von Hagenbach, +who won no enviable reputation in the later exercise +of his office as lieutenant-governor of the +annexed region, to which he was shortly afterwards +appointed. This first commission entered +into formal possession in Charles's name and +instituted some desired reforms immediately,<span class="page"><a name="258">[page 258]</a></span> +such as policing the highways, etc.</p> +<p> +The second commission made its visit in 1471. +It consisted of Jean Pellet, treasurer of Vesoul, and +Jean Poinsot, procureur-general of Amont.</p> +<p> +The third commission (1473) was under the +auspices of Monseigneur Coutault, master of accounts +at Dijon. He carried with him the report +of his predecessors and made his additions +thereto.</p> +<p> +Charles's directions to Poinsot and Pellet (June +13, 1471) were vague and general. They were +"to see the conduct of his affairs" <i>(voir la conduite +de ses affaires</i>). The important point was to find +out how much revenue could be obtained. As the +duke's plan of expansion grew larger he had need +of all his resources.</p> +<p> +The reports were eminently discouraging. Outlay +was needed everywhere—income was small. +As the chances of peculation diminished, the castellans +deserted their posts and left the castles +to decay. The Burgundian commission of 1471 +found the difficulties of their exploration increased +by two items. Charles had not advanced an +allowance for their expenses and they were anxious +to be back at Vesoul by Michaelmas, the +date of the change in municipal offices and of appropriations +for the year. It was in hopes of +receiving advance moneys that they delayed in +starting, but the approaching election and coming +winter finally decided them to set out, pay their +own expenses, and complete the business as rapidly<span class="page"><a name="259">[page 259]</a></span> +as they could in a fortnight.</p> +<p> +The summary of this report of 1471 was that +there was little present prospect that Charles would +be able to reimburse himself for his necessary expenses. +An undue portion of authority and of +revenue was legally lodged in alien hands. Charles +was possessed of germs of rights rather than of +actual rights. The earlier creditors of Austria held +all the best mortgages with their attendant emoluments. +The immediate profits accruing to the +Duke of Burgundy fell far short of the minimum +necessary to disburse to keep his government, his +strongholds, his highways in repair. Very disturbed +were the good treasurer of Vesoul and the +procureur-general of Amont at this state of affairs, +and distressed at the prospect of the ampler +receipts from Burgundy being required to relieve +the pressing necessities of the poor territories <i>de +par de là</i>.</p> +<p> +To avoid this contingency, the commissioners +recommended the duke to redeem all the existing +mortgages great and small. It would cost 140,000 +florins, but the revenue would at once increase +with the new security which would immediately +follow under firm Burgundian rule. Sole master, +Charles could then enforce obedience from +nobles and cities and better conditions would be +inaugurated.</p> +<p> +Evidently this rational advice was not taken, +for it is repeated by Coutault in 1473. Redemption +of the mortgages, "if your affairs can afford<span class="page"><a name="260">[page 260]</a></span> +it," is the counsel given by the chamber of accounts +at Dijon, though this sage board adds that +they were well aware that in the previous month +Monseigneur could not put his hands on a hundred +florins to redeem one wretched little <i>gagerie.</i> +The native coffers of the region did not suffice to +settle the salaries of the officers in charge.</p> +<p> +Such then was the new acquisition of Charles +after four years of his administration. Peter +von Hagenbach, his deputy in charge of this unremunerative +territory, is a character painted +in the darkest colours by all historians. It is +more than probable that his unpopular efforts +to make bricks without straw were largely +responsible for his unenviable reputation. +Ground between the upper and lower millstones +of Charles's clamours for revenues and +popular clamours that the people had nothing +wherewith to pay, Hagenbach developed into a +taskmaster of the hardest and most unpitying +type, who made himself thoroughly hated by the +people he was set to rule.</p> +<p> +It must be remembered that there was no cleft +in nationality or in language between governor +and governed. He was not a foreigner set over +them. He was one of them raised to a high position. +There was then no French element in +Lower Alsace. It was then German pure and +simple.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="map">[plate 18]</a></span> +<p class="center">Click on <b>Map</b> to enlarge<br /><br /> +<a href="#largemap"><img src="cbimages/image18map1.jpg" width="400" height="661" alt="MAP OF ALSACE AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES" border="0" /></a></p> +<br /><br /> + +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#245">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XIII1">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., i., 204-209. "Relation de l'assemblée +solennelle tenue à Bruxelles le 15 Jan., 1469."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#246">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XIII2">See</a>Toutey, <i>Charles le Téméraire et la ligue de Constance</i>, +p. 7.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#247">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XIII3">See</a> the text given in Comines-Lenglet, iii., 116. Charles +is characterised as <i>ducem strenuum in armis ac justitiæ +præcipium zelatorem</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#247">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XIII4">See</a> Toutey, p. 8; also Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 371.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#248">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XIII5">Thus</a> was named the assembly of ten Alsatian towns from +Strasburg to Basel, organised into a half independent confederation +by the Emperor Charles IV.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#251">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XIII6">Toutey</a>, p. 11.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#251">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XIII7">See</a> "Fontes Rerum Austriacarum" Chmel, J., <i>Urkunden +zur Geschichte von Osterreich</i>, etc., II<span class="super">2</span>, 223 <i>et passim</i>. One +document, p. 229, has <i>Marz</i> as a misprint for <i>Mai</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#253">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XIII8">Charles</a> was, to be sure, already within that circle for some +of his Netherland provinces, but his feudal obligations there +were very shadowy.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#254">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XIII9">See</a> Toutey, Lavisse, etc., and above all a valuable article +by L. Stouff, entitled "Les Possessions Bourguignonnes +dans la vallée du Rhin sous Charles le Téméraire," <i>Annales +de l'Est,</i> vol. 18. This article, is the result of a careful +examination of the reports made by Poinsot and Pellet, +Charles's commissioners.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="261">[page 261]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XIV">XIV</a></h2> + +<h3>ENGLISH AFFAIRS</h3> + +<h4>1470-1471</h4> +<p> +In order to follow out the extension of Burgundian +jurisdiction in one direction, the +course of events in the duke's life has been anticipated +a little. The thread of the story now returns +to 1469, when Charles and Sigismund separated +at St. Omer both well pleased with their bargain. +Charles tarried for a time at Ghent and Bruges and +then proceeded to Zealand and Holland, where his +sojourn had been interrupted in 1468 by his alarm +about French duplicity. In the glow caused by +his past achievements, his present reputation, and +future prospects, Charles of Burgundy was in a +mood to prove to his subjects his excellence as a +paternal ruler. Wherever he paused on his journey +easy access was permitted to his presence and he +was lavish in the time given to receiving petitions +from the humblest plaintiff. The following gruesome +incident is an illustration of the summary +methods attributed to him.<a href="#XIV1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> +<p> +Shortly before the ducal visit to Middelburg, the +governor, a man of noble birth, a knight, fell in +love with a married woman who indignantly repudiated<span class="page"><a name="262">[page 262]</a></span> +his advances. In revenge the governor had +the husband arrested on a charge of high treason. +The wife, left without a protector, continued +obdurate to the knight until the alternative of her +husband's release or his death was offered her as +the reward for accepting the governor's base suit +or as the penalty of her refusal. She chose to +redeem the prisoner. Having paid the price she +went to the prison and was led to her husband +truly, but he lay dead and in his coffin!</p> +<p> +When the Duke of Burgundy was once within +the Zealand capital, this injured woman hastened +to throw herself at his feet, a petitioner for justice. +He heard her complaint and straightway summoned +the ex-governor to his presence. The accused +confessed that he had been carried away +by his adoration for the woman, reminded Charles +of his long and faithful devotion to the late duke +and to himself, and offered any possible reparation +for his crime. The duke ordered him to marry his +victim. The widow was horrified at the suggestion, +but was forced by her family to accept it. After +the nuptial benediction, the knight again appeared +before Charles to assure him that the plaintiff was +satisfied. "She, yes," replied the duke coldly, +"but not I." He remanded the bridegroom to +prison, had him shriven and executed all within an +hour. Then the bride was summoned and shown +her second husband in his coffin as she had seen her +first, and on the same spot. "It was a penalty +that hit the innocent as well as the guilty, for the<span class="page"><a name="263">[page 263]</a></span> +plaintiff died from the double shock."</p> +<p> +The duke, satisfied with his rigour, went on to +Holland. Everywhere he evinced himself equally +uncompromising towards the nobles, amiable +and considerate towards the lower classes and +humble folk. Various other stories related about +him at this epoch are difficult to accept as authentic, +for the main detail has appeared at other +times under different guises. Wandering tales +seem to alight, like birds of passage, on successive +people in lands and epochs widely apart, mere +hallmarks of certain characteristics re-embodied.</p> +<p> +The Hague was the duke's headquarters during +two months, and there also he held open court and +gave audience to many embassies in the midst of +his administrative work pertaining to Holland +and its nearest neighbours. He took measures to +recover what he claimed had been usurped by +Utrecht, and he initiated proceedings to make +good the title of Lord of Friesland, that will-o'-the +wisp to successive Counts of Holland and never +acknowledged by the Frisians. In efforts to weld +together the various provinces the months passed, +until a new turn of foreign events began to absorb +the duke's whole attention.</p> +<p> +The details of English politics with all the reasons +for revolution and counter-revolution involved +in the complicated civil disorders, the Wars of +the Roses, affected Charles's policy but they can +only be suggested in his biography. It must be +remembered that the modern impression of English<span class="page"><a name="264">[page 264]</a></span> +stability and French fickleness in political institutions, +an impression casting reflections direct +and indirect upon literature as well as history, is +based on the changes in France from 1789 down +to the fourth quarter of the nineteenth century. +Quite the reverse is the earlier tradition based on +the kaleidoscopic shifts familiar to several generations +of observers in the fifteenth century<a href="#XIV2"><sup>2</sup></a>; stable +and firm felt the French as they heard the tidings +of the brief triumphs of belligerent factions across +the Channel.</p> +<p> +Since 1461, Henry VI. of the House of Lancaster +had been a passive prisoner, while Margaret of +Anjou had exhausted herself in efforts to win +adherents at home and abroad for her captive +husband and her exiled son.<a href="#XIV3"><sup>3</sup></a> In 1463, she had received +some aid, some encouragement from Philip +of Burgundy, although he had recognised Edward +IV. as king and although, too, his personal sympathies +were Yorkish rather than Lancastrian.</p> +<p> +It was Charles who escorted the errant lady into +Lille, but later the duke himself entertained her +munificently. The poverty-stricken exile probably +found the accompanying ducal gifts more<span class="page"><a name="265">[page 265]</a></span> +to the immediate purpose than the ducal feasts. +Two thousand gold crowns were bestowed upon +herself, a hundred upon each of her ladies, while +various Lancastrian nobles were tided over hard +times by useful sums of money.</p> +<p> +Pleasant though the recognition was, however, +the pecuniary assistance was quite insufficient +to accomplish Margaret's purpose. For nine years +Edward IV. sat on his throne and no serious efforts +were made to dislodge him. As he never forgot +his mother's lineage, the sympathies of Charles of +Burgundy were with the exiles, and Queen Margaret +may have counted confidently on that sympathy +proving valuable for her son as soon as +Charles himself had a free hand. But when he +came into his heritage, his marriage with Margaret +of York put a definite end to those hopes. +The new duke thereby declared his acceptance +of the king whom the Earl of Warwick had seated +upon the English throne. Then came clashing +of wills between that king and his too powerful +subject-adviser.<a href="#XIV4"><sup>4</sup></a> To punish his unruly royal +protégé, Warwick turned his attention to the +Duke of Clarence, brother and heir presumptive +to Edward IV. A marriage was planned between +this possible future monarch and the earl's +eldest daughter and then quickly celebrated +at Calais without the king's knowledge (July,<span class="page"><a name="266">[page 266]</a></span> +1469).</p> +<p> +In the same summer occurred a rising in Yorkshire, +possibly instigated by Warwick.<a href="#XIV5"><sup>5</sup></a> The malcontents, +sixty thousand strong, declared that +the king was giving ear to base counsellors and +must be coerced into better ways. An attempt +to suppress this revolt by the royal troops resulted +in a pitched battle where Earl Rivers, the father +of Elizabeth Woodville, the young queen, was +taken prisoner and beheaded.</p> +<p> +Edward, baffled, finally turned for aid to Warwick. +Over the Channel hastened the earl and his +new son-in-law, levied troops, met the king at +Olney, and—Edward found himself if not exactly +a prisoner, at least under restraint. Two sovereigns—both +without power even over their own +actions,—such was the situation in England at the +end of 1469, when Charles of Burgundy was self-complacently +regarding Louis XI. as a foe convinced +of his own inferiority.</p> +<p> +A menacing letter from this redoubtable ducal +brother-in-law was probably the reason why Edward +IV. was set at liberty, and why a reconciliation +was patched up between him and his +councillor, with full pardon for Warwick's adherents. +But it was short-lived. A fresh outbreak in +March, 1470, made another change. Warwick and +Clarence sided with the rebels, the king was victorious, +and his unfaithful friend and brother were +again forced to flee under a shower of menaces<span class="page"><a name="267">[page 267]</a></span> +hurled after them.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"But, and He [Clarence] or Richart Erle of Warrewyk +our Rebell and Traytour come into oure seid +Land we woll ... that ye doo Hym and Theym to +be arrested ... He that Taketh and Bryngeth unto +Us either of theym, he shal have for his Reward C.<i>l</i> of +Land in Yerely Value to Hym and to his Heyres or +Mil. <i>Lib</i> in Redy money at his election." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV6"><sup>6</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Such was the proclamation issued on March +22d by the king himself at York.</p> +<p> +Between Edward and Charles a new link had +just been forged in the chain of friendship. The +Order of the Garter is thus acknowledged by the +duke:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"We have to-day received from our much honoured +seigneur and brother, the king of England, his Order +of the Garter together with the mantle and other +ornaments and things appertaining to the said Order +and have ... taken the oath according to the +statutes of the Order.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Done in our city of Ghent under our Grand Seal, +February 4, 1469 [O.S.]." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV7"><sup>7</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Now it was in consideration of needs that might +arise in the near future, following on the trail +of these wide-reaching English convulsions, that +Charles felt it necessary to make preparations for +a strong military defence calculated to suit any<span class="page"><a name="268">[page 268]</a></span> +emergency. Louis XI. had a permanent force at +his command. He had made the beginning of the +French standing army, the nucleus of one of +those bodies that have ever since urged each +other on to expensive growth from opposite sides +of European frontiers. What one monarch possessed +that must his near neighbour have.</p> +<p> +Feudal service, volunteer militia, paid mercenaries, +were all alike unstable bulwarks for a nation. +Nation as yet Charles had not, but he wanted to +be betimes with his bulwarks. This was why he +issued an ordinance for the levy of a thousand +lances, amounting to five thousand combatants, +to be paid with regular wages and kept ready at +call under officers of his own appointment. The +ducal treasury could not stand the whole expense. +To meet the deficit, Charles asked from his Netherland +Estates an annual subsidy of 120,000 crowns +for three years. Power to impose taxes he had +none. A request to each individual province was +all the requisition that he could make.</p> +<p> +In this case, most of the provinces approached +had acceded to the demand, when the Estates of +Flanders convened at Lille. Here the Chancellor +of Burgundy expounded to them the grounds of +the demand, and then the session was changed to +Bruges, where they debated on the merits of the +request, urged on further by explanatory letters +from Charles. Finally, a deputation was appointed +by the Estates to go over to Ghent and +present a <i>Remonstrance</i> to their impatient sovereign<span class="page"><a name="269">[page 269]</a></span> +beggar.</p> +<p> +Three points were set forth. The deputies +objected to this grant being asked only from the +lands <i>de par de ça</i>—the Netherlands and not from +the Burgundies. Secondly, they wished a definite +assessment imposed on each province. Thirdly, +they desired a declaration that the fiefs and arrière-fiefs +already bound to furnish troops should be +exempt from share in this tax. The remonstrance +was courtly in tone. Written in French, the concluding +phrases were in Latin and suggested that +nothing was more becoming a prince than clemency, +especially towards his subjects.<a href="#XIV8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> +<p> +Vigorous and emphatic was the prince's +response.<a href="#XIV9"><sup>9</sup></a> How could Burgundy furnish money? +It is a poor land. It takes after France.<a href="#XIV10"><sup>10</sup></a> But +its men make a third of the army. They are the +Burgundian contribution. As to an assessment, +what is the use unless the tax is surely to be paid? +Only out of malice is this idle point suggested.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"You act as you have always done—you Flemings. +Neither to my father nor to me have you ever +been liberal. What you have granted—sometimes +more than our request—has always been given so +tardily as to prove the lack of good will. Your Flemish +skulls are hard and thick and you cling to your stubborn<span class="page"><a name="270"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 270]</span></a></span> +and perverse opinions.... I am half of +France and half of Portugal and I know how to meet +such heads as yours, ay and <i>will</i> do it. You have always +either hated or despised your prince—if powerful +you hated, if weak you despised. I prefer your +hatred to your contempt. Not for your privileges or +anything else will I permit myself to be trampled on—and +I have the power to prevent such trampling."</p> + +<p> +Laying stress on the extreme modesty of his +demand, whose purpose mainly was for defence of +Flanders, the duke proceeded to berate his visitors +soundly for their presumptuous haggling, declaring +that as to the fiefs and arrière-fiefs he would see to +it that no double burdens were borne.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"And when you shall have determined to accord +my request,—which you will assuredly do (and I do +not mean to burden you further unless I am forced +to it),—send some of your deputies after me to Lille or +St. Omer, and there, with my chancellor and my council, +I will determine the apportionment and we will +speak also of other matters touching my province of +Flanders."</p> + +<p> +It was this vehement oratory—and this vehemence +was repeated on many occasions—that did +more to alienate Charles from his hereditary subjects +than his actual demands. There is little +doubt that his period of residence in their midst +brought with it hatred rather than liking. No +political error of his serves to explain the Flemish +attitude towards the duke as does his method of +address, the gratuitous contempt displayed towards<span class="page"><a name="271">[page 271]</a></span> +burghers whose purses were needed for his +game. The <i>aide</i> was granted, indeed, but it was +levied with sullen reluctance.</p> +<p> +What cause Charles had to make his preparations, +what were the proceedings of the English +exiles may be seen from the following letters to his +mother and to the town of Ypres. The first is +probably in answer to her questionings; the second +is a specimen of the epistles showered upon the +border towns.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"TO MY VERY REDOUBTABLE LADY AND MOTHER,</p> +<p class="quote1"> +MADAME THE DUCHESS, AT AIRE:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"May it please you to know that in regard to what +the Sgr. de Crèvecœur has written you about the +king's proclamations that he intends to maintain his +treaties and promises to me, etc., and has no desire +to sustain the Earl of Warwick, and wishes my subjects +to be reimbursed for the damages inflicted by him and +his, assuredly, my Lady and Mother, the contrary +has been and is well known before the said publications +and after. The Earl of Warwick is my foe and +could not, according to the treaty existing between +the king and me, be received in Normandy or elsewhere +in the realm ... [complaints about the +procedure have been sent to king and parliament and +councillors, without redress, etc.] What is more, the +Admiral of France has sent thither a spy under pretext +of carrying a letter to Sgr. de la Groothuse, which +man was charged to spy upon my ships and by means +of a caravel named the <i>Brunette</i>, sent for this purpose +by the admiral, to cut the cables to set them adrift +and founder—or to capture certain ships with such<span class="page"><a name="272"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 272]</span></a></span> +captains, knights, and gentlemen as he could find, +and myself, too, if they were able.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Furthermore, the said spy was charged to spy +on my towns, etc., and those of the caravel called +the <i>Brunette</i> were charged, if they failed in taking +my ships, or in cutting their cables, to set fire to them—all +in direct conflict with the terms of the treaties, +and procedures that the king would never have tolerated +had he had the slightest intention of maintaining +his word ... [Charles does not consider Groothuse +to blame at all, etc.]<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV11"><sup>11</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +<i>Letter from Charles of Burgundy to the Magistrates +of Ypres, June 10, 1470</i></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"DEAR FRIENDS:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"It has come to your knowledge how after the +Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick were expelled +from England on account of their sedition and +their ill deeds, they have declared themselves both +by words and deeds of aggression our enemies, and +on <i>Vendredi absolut</i><span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV12"><sup>12</sup></a></span> went so far as to capture by fraud +ships and property belonging to our subjects, and +have further done damage whenever opportunity +presented itself.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"In order to repel them we have ordered them to be +attacked on the sea. Moreover, at the same time +we were advised that the same Clarence and Warwick +and their people, after they were routed at sea by the +troops of my honoured lord and brother, Edward, King<span class="page"><a name="273"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 273]</span></a></span> +of England, retreated to the marches of Normandy +and were honourably received at Honfleur by the +Admiral of France with all which they had saved +from the raid on our subjects after the defeat.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"All this was direct infringement of the treaties +lately made between Monseigneur the king and myself. +Therefore, we wrote at once to Monsgr. the king +begging him not to favour or aid the said Clarence +and Warwick in his land of Normandy or elsewhere +in his realm, nor to permit them to sell or distribute +the property of our subjects, and to show his will by +publishing such prohibitions throughout Normandy +and elsewhere where need is.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Also we wrote to the court of parliament at Paris, +and to the council of my said seigneur at Rouen. The +answer was that the king meant to keep the treaty +between him and us and had ordered his subjects +in Normandy not to retain the property belonging to +our subjects ... but we have since learned +that, notwithstanding, this same property has been +distributed and ransoms have been negotiated in the +sight and knowledge of the Admiral of France and his +officers.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Moreover, it is perfectly evident that by means +of the aid furnished by the king to the said Clarence +and Warwick, the latter are enabled to continue the +war on our subjects and not on the English, it being +understood that they who were banished from England +are not strong enough to return by the force +of arms but must do so by friendship and favour.... +On account of the above and other depredations, +we shall attack the said Warwick and Clarence +on the sea as pirates, and all who aid them as is +needful for the protection of our lands and subjects.</p><span class="page"><a name="274"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 274]</span></a></span> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Middelburg in Zealand, June 20, 1470."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV13"><sup>13</sup></a></span></p> + +<br /><hr style="color:#aaaaaa" /><br /><br /> +<p class="quote1"> +"Tell Monsieur de Warwick that the king will assist +him to recover England either with the help of Queen +Margaret or by whatever other means he may propose.... +Only let him communicate his desires +in this respect as speedily as possible and the +king will lay aside all other affairs for the purpose of +accomplishing it,"</p> + +<p> +wrote the complaisant King of France in his +directions to the confidential messenger sent to +discuss matters with the English earl.<a href="#XIV14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> +<p> +But that was not his language towards his +cousin of Burgundy, whom he assured that there +should be no infringement of their treaty, and that +it was greatly to his royal displeasure that Flemish +property captured at sea in defiance of that treaty +should be sold in French market-places. There +is a hot correspondence,<a href="#XIV15"><sup>15</sup></a> that is, it is hot on +the side of Charles, while Louis's phrases are +smoothly surprised at there being any cause for +dissatisfaction. The circumstances shall be investigated, +his cousin satisfied, etc. One letter from +the duke to two of Louis's council is emphatic in +its expressions of doubt as to the good faith of +these royal statements:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"ARCHBISHOP AND YOU ADMIRAL:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"The vessels which you assure me are destined by +the king for an attack on England have attempted<span class="page"><a name="275"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 275]</span></a></span> +nothing except against my subjects; but, by St. +George, if some redress be not seen to, I will take the +matter into my own hands without waiting for your +motions, tardy and dilatory as they are."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV16"><sup>16</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Reprisals were made accordingly, and the innocent +French merchants, coming peaceably to the +fair at Antwerp, suffered confiscation of their private +property, while the duke felt fully justified +in stationing his fleet off the coast of Normandy to +guard the Channel. Philip de Commines was one +of the company who went at the duke's behest +to Calais to urge the governor, Wenlock, to be +faithful to King Edward, and to give no shelter +to the rebellious earl and his protégé Clarence.<a href="#XIV17"><sup>17</sup></a></p> +<p> +Louis feared an outbreak of hostilities at an +inconvenient moment. He temporised. To Warwick, +he denied a personal interview, but at the +same time he sent him a confidential emissary, +Sr. du Plessis, to whom he wrote as follows:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Monsieur du Plessis, you know the desire I have +for Warwick's return to England, as well because I +wish to see him get the better of his enemies—or +that at least through him the realm of England may +be embroiled—as to avoid the questions which have +arisen out of his sojourn here.... For you +know that these Bretons and Burgundians have no +other aim than to find a pretext for rupturing peace +and reopening the war, which I do not wish to see<span class="page"><a name="276"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 276]</span></a></span> +commenced under this colour.... Wherefore +I pray you take pains, you and others there, to induce +Mons. de Warwick to depart by all arguments possible. +Pray use the sweetest methods that you can, so that +he shall not suspect that we are thinking of anything +else but his personal advantage."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV18"><sup>18</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +To gain time was Louis's ardent wish at that moment. +The envoys sent by Louis to placate the +duke's resentment at the incidents in connection +with the Warwick affair, and to assure him that +Louis meant well by him and his subjects, found +Charles holding high state at St. Omer. When +they were admitted to audience, the duke was discovered +sitting on a lofty throne, five feet above +floor level, "higher than was the wont of king or +emperor to sit." His hat remained on his head +as the representatives of his feudal overlord +bowed to him and he acknowledged their obeisance +by a slight nod and a gesture permitting +them to rise.</p> +<p> +Hugonet, a member of the ducal council, answered +their address with a prosy speech. Burgundian +officials revelled in grandiloquent +phrases—which this time bored Charles, He cut +short the harangue impatiently, took the floor himself, +and made a statement of the injuries he had +suffered. Louis had promised to be his friend, +but he was aiding the foe of the duke's brother. +The envoys repeated their sovereign's offers of +redress. Charles declared that redress was impossible.<span class="page"><a name="277">[page 277]</a></span> +Pained, very pained were the French +envoys to think that a petty dispute could not +be settled amicably. "The king desires to avoid +friction. He offers you friendship, peace, and redress +for every wrong. It will not be his fault if +trouble ensue. Monseigneur, the king and you +have a judge who is above you both."</p> +<p> +The insinuation that it was he who was ready to +break the peace infuriated Charles. He started to +his feet, his eyes flashing with fire. "Among us +Portuguese there is a custom that when our friends +become friends to our foes we send them to the +hundred thousand devils of hell."<a href="#XIV19"><sup>19</sup></a> "A piece of +bad taste to send by implication a king of France to +a hundred thousand devils," comments the suave +Chastellain, aghast at this impolite, emphatic, +though indirect reference to Louis XI.</p> +<p> +Equally aghast were the Burgundian courtiers +present at this occasion. After all, they, too, +were French by nature. To wreck the new-made +peace for the sake of the English alliance, which +had never been really popular among them, that +seemed an act of rash unwisdom.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"A murmur went the rounds of the ducal suite because +their chief thus implied contempt for the name +of France to which the duke belonged. Not going +quite so far as to call himself English, though that<span class="page"><a name="278"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 278]</span></a></span> +was what his heart was, he boasted of his mother, +ancient friend of England and enemy of France."</p> + +<p> +There were, indeed, times when the duke was +more emphatic in asserting his English blood. +Plancher cites a scrap of writing in his own hands +which probably belonged to a letter to the magistrates +and citizens of Calais, whom he addresses, +"O you my friends."<a href="#XIV20"><sup>20</sup></a> While reiterating that +he simply must defend his own state he adds, "By +St. George who knows me to be a better Englishman +and more anxious for the weal of England +than you other English ... [you] shall recognise +that I am sprung from the blood of +Lancaster," etc. His claims of kinship varied +with the circumstances.</p> +<p> +While he was so conscious of his own greatness, +present and future, and of his own laudable intentions +to do well by his subjects, it is quite possible, +too, that Charles was puzzled more or less consciously +by his failure to win popularity. For he +was quite as unpopular with his courtiers as with +his subjects. The former did not like the rigid +court rules. There was no pleasure in sitting +through audiences silent and stiff "as at a sermon," +and exposed to personal reprimands from +their chief if there were the slightest lapses from +his standard of conduct. They did not know on +what meat the duke was feeding his imagination, +an imagination that already saw him as Cæsar.<span class="page"><a name="279">[page 279]</a></span> +Had he actually attained the loftier rank that he +dreamed of, his premature arrogance might have +been forgotten, but his pride of glory invisible to +the world about him was undoubtedly a bar to his +popularity during the years 1470-73.</p> +<p> +Before this pompous scene passed at St. Omer, +Louis had been relieved of anxiety in regard to +the stability of his kingdom, and the dangers of +an heir like his brother who might easily be used +as a tool by some clever faction opposed to the +ruling monarch. On June 10th, a son was born +to him, afterwards Charles VIII. of France. Complaisant +still were his words to his Burgundian +cousin, but the moment was drawing near when +his efforts to circumvent him were no longer +secret.</p> +<p> +The embassy returned home. Possibly their +report of the duke's passionate words goaded the +king into discarding his mask of friendship. At +any rate, his next steps were unequivocal in +showing which side of the fresh English quarrel +he meant to espouse. Margaret of Anjou hated +the Earl of Warwick, not only because he had +unseated her husband but because he had doubted +her fidelity to that husband. Nevertheless, under +Louis's persuasions, she consented to forget her +past wrongs and to stake her future hopes on +fraternising with him on a basis of common hate +for Edward IV. The alliance was to be sealed by +the marriage of young Edward of Lancaster, the +prince whose very legitimacy Warwick had questioned,<span class="page"><a name="280">[page 280]</a></span> +with the earl's younger daughter. It was +a singular union to be accepted by the parents, +separated as they had been by the wall of insults +interchanged during more than a decade of bitter +enmity.</p> +<p> +Louis brought his cousin to this step of concession. +She saw her seventeen-year-old son betrothed +to the sixteen-year-old Anne Neville, and +later she herself swore reconciliation to Warwick +on a piece of the true cross in St. Mary's Church +at Angers (August 4, 1470).</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Monsieur du Plessis [wrote Louis XI. on July +25th], I have sent you Messire Ivon du Fou, to put +the affairs of Monsieur de Warwick in surety, and I +order him to make such arrangements that the people +of the said M. de Warwick will suffer no necessity +until he is there. To-day we have made the marriage +of the Queen of England and of him, and hope to-morrow +to have all in readiness to depart."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV21"><sup>21</sup></a></span></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="medal">[plate 19]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image19medal.jpg" width="400" height="213" alt="MEDAL OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Meanwhile, the king kept agents in all the Somme<span class="page"><a name="281">[page 281]</a></span> +towns, insinuating opposition to the duke, and +reminding the citizens that they were French at +heart. His ambassadors passed in and out of the +Burgundian court, saying many things in secret +besides those they said in public. Plenty there +were that wished for war, remarks the observant +Commines. Nobles like St. Pol and others could +not maintain the same state in peace as in war, +and state they loved. In time of war four hundred +lances attended the constable, and he had a large +allowance to maintain them from which he reaped +many a profitable commission besides the fees of +his office and his other emoluments. "Moreover," +adds Commines, "the nobles were accustomed to +say among themselves that if there were no battles +without, there would be quarrels within the realm."</p> +<p> +The matter of the grants to Charles of France +had been settled to his royal brother's liking, +not to that of his Burgundian ally. Champagne +and Brie, so cheerfully promised at Peronne, were +withdrawn and Guienne substituted. When Normandy +had been exchanged for Champagne and +Brie, as it was arranged at Peronne, Charles of +Burgundy approved the change as he thought it +assured him an obedient friend as neighbour.<a href="#XIV22"><sup>22</sup></a> +The second change, Guienne instead of Champagne +and Brie, was quite a different thing.</p> +<p> +Guienne bordered the Bay of Biscay far away<span class="page"><a name="282">[page 282]</a></span> +from Burgundy. Naturally, Charles was not content. +Then, too, it looked as though he had lost +a useful friend as well as a neighbour, for the new +Duke of Guienne was formally reconciled to his +brother and took oath that his fraternal devotion +to his monarch should never again waver.</p> +<p> +Long before Charles was completely convinced +that Louis was not going to maintain the humble +attitude assumed at Peronne and Liege, he became +very suspicious that intrigues were on foot against +him. "He hastened to Hesdin where he entered +into jealousy of his servants" says Commines. +That he was assured that there were reasons for +his apprehensions appears in an epistle circulated +as an open letter,<a href="#XIV23"><sup>23</sup></a> to various cities, wherein he +makes a detailed statement of the plots against his +life by one Jehan d'Arson and Baldwin, son of +Duke Philip.</p> +<p> +Sorry return was this from one recognised as +Bastard of Burgundy and brought up in the ducal +household. Further, one Jehan de Chassa, +Charles's own chamberlain, had taken French leave +of the duke's service and made his way to the king +in his castle of Amboise, where he had been pleasantly +received and promised rich reward when he +had "executed his damnable designs against our +person."</p> +<p> +Messengers sent by this Chassa to Baldwin in +Charles's court at St. Omer were arrested as suspicious, +and that circumstance frightened Baldwin<span class="page"><a name="283">[page 283]</a></span> +and caused him to take to his heels, leaving his +retinue, his horses, and his baggage behind. He +dreaded lest he might be attainted and convicted +of treason, and therefore he took shelter with the +king.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Saved from this conspiracy by the goodness and +clemency of God, we inform you of the events so that +you may render thanks by public processions, solemn +masses, sermons, and prayers, beseeching Him devoutly +and from the heart that He will always guard +and defend our person, our lands, seigniories, and +subjects from such plots.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"May God protect you, dear subjects. Written in +our castle of Hesdin, December 13, 1470.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"CHARLES.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"LE GROS." </p> + +<p> +It was not long before Charles had less reason +to fear French "subtleties." At an assembly of +notables<a href="#XIV24"><sup>24</sup></a> convened at Tours at the end of 1470, +Louis dropped the mask of friendship worn uneasily +for just two years, and made an open brief of his +grievances against the duke.</p> +<p> +His case was cited with a luxury of detail +more or less authentic. The interview at Peronne +was a simple trap conceived by Balue and the +Duke of Burgundy. The treaties of 1465 and 1468, +both obtained by undue pressure, had not been +respected by Charles, etc. The assembly was +obedient to suggestion. It was a packed house.</p> +<p> +Even Commines shows that it is not surprising<span class="page"><a name="284">[page 284]</a></span> +that there was unanimity<a href="#XIV25"><sup>25</sup></a> in the declaration +that according to God and his conscience in all +honour and justice the king was released from +those treaties, and the way was paved for an invasion +into Picardy as soon as possible.</p> +<p> +Charles's public accusations of plots against +him did not go unanswered. Jehan de Chassa +promptly issued a rejoinder:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"As Charles, soi-disant Duke of Burgundy, has +sent to divers places letters signed by himself and his +secretary, Jehan le Gros, written at Hesdin, December +13th, falsely charging me with plotting against his life +with Baldwin, Bastard of Burgundy, and Jehan +d'Arson, I, considering that it is matter touching +my honour, feel bound to reply.... By God +and by my soul I declare that these charges against me +made by Charles of Burgundy are false and disloyal +lies." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV26"><sup>26</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Baldwin, too, expressed righteous indignation +at the slur on his character, but he remained in +the French court as did many others who had +formerly served Charles.</p> +<p> +Meanwhile, the Earl of Warwick, having left his +daughter in the hands of Margaret of Anjou, openly +aided by Louis, sailed back to England in September +But there had been one further change of +base of which the earl was still unconscious. His +elder son-in-law had not rejoiced in the Warwick-Lancaster<span class="page"><a name="285">[page 285]</a></span> +alliance. It brought young Prince Edward +to the fore, and bereft the Duke of Clarence—long +ready to replace Edward of York—of +any immediate prospects. Therefore he was inclined +to accept offers of a reconciliation tendered +him by King Edward.</p> +<p> +Despite his secret change of heart, Clarence +sailed with Warwick and joined with him in the +proclamations scattered over England, declaring +that the exiles were returning to "set right and +justice to their places, and to reduce and redeem +for ever the realm from its thraldom." Never a +mention of either Edward IV. or Henry VI. +Perhaps it was as convenient to see which way +the wind blew and to put in a name accordingly.</p> +<p> +On landing, however, "King Henry VI." was +raised as a cry. In Nottinghamshire, where +Edward lay, not a word was heard for York. +There was no conflict. Edward felt that Fate had +turned against him and off he rode to Lyme with a +small following, took ship, and made for Holland. +It was stormy, pirates from the Hanseatic towns +gave chase, and glad was Edward to take shelter +at Alkmaar where De la Groothuse, Governor of +Holland, welcomed him in the name of the duke.<a href="#XIV27"><sup>27</sup></a> +Edward was quite destitute. He had nothing with +which to pay his fare across the Channel but a gown +lined with marten's fur, and as for his train, never +so poor a company was seen.</p> +<p> +Eleven days later, Warwick was master of all<span class="page"><a name="286">[page 286]</a></span> +England and official business was transacted in the +name of Henry VI., "limp and helpless on his +throne as a sack of wool." He was a mere shadow +and pretence and what was done in his name was +done without his will or knowledge.</p> +<p> +Charles of Burgundy did not hasten to greet his +unbidden guest. He would rather have heard that +his brother-in-law were dead, but he bade Groothuse +show him every courtesy and supply him +with necessaries and five hundred crowns a month +for luxuries. After a time, and perhaps informed +by weather prophets that the Lancastrian wind +blowing over in England was but a fickle breeze, +he consented to forget his hereditary sympathies.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The same day that the duke received news of the +king's arrival in Holland, I was come from Calais to +Boulogne (where the duke then lay) ignorant of the +event and of the king's flight.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV28"><sup>28</sup></a></span> The duke was first advised +that he was dead, which did not trouble him much +for he loved the Lancaster line far better than that of +York. Besides he had with him the Dukes of Exeter +and of Somerset and divers others of King Henry's +faction, by which means he thought himself assured +of peace with the line of Lancaster. But he feared +the Earl of Warwick, neither knew he how to content +him that was to come to him, I mean King Edward, +whose sister he had married and who was also +brother-in-arms, for the king wore the Golden Fleece +and the duke the Garter.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Straightway then the duke sent me back to Calais +accompanied by a gentleman or two of this new faction<span class="page"><a name="287"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 287]</span></a></span> +of Henry, and gave me instructions how to deal +with this new world, urging me to go because it was +important for him to be well served in the matter.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV29"><sup>29</sup></a></span> +I went as far as Tournehem, a castle near to Guisnes, +and then dared not proceed because I found people +fleeing for fear of the English who were devastating +the country.... Never before had I needed a +safe-conduct for the English are very honourable. +All this seemed very strange to me for I had never seen +these mutations in the world."</p> + +<p> +Commines was uncertain as to what he had +better do and wanted instructions. "The duke +sent me a ring from his finger, bidding me go +forward with the promise that if I were taken +prisoner he would redeem me." New surprises +met the envoy at Calais. None of the well-known +faces were to be seen. "Further, upon the gate +of my lodgings and the very door of my chamber +were a hundred white crosses and rhymes +signifying that the King of France and Earl of +Warwick were one—all of which seemed strange +to me." Well received was Commines and entertained +at dinner. It was told at table how within +a quarter of an hour after the arrival of news +from England every man wore this livery (the +ragged staff of Warwick), so speedy and sudden +was the change. "This is the first time that I +ever knew how little stable are these mundane +affairs."</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"In all communications that passed between them<span class="page"><a name="288"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 288]</span></a></span> +and me, I repeated that King Edward was dead, of +which fact I said I was well assured, notwithstanding +that I knew the contrary, adding further that though +it were not so, yet was the league between the Duke +of Burgundy and the king and realm of England such +that this accident could not infringe it—whomever +they would acknowledge as king him would we +recognise.... Thus it was agreed that the +league should remain firm and inviolate between us +and the king and realm of England save that for +Edward we named Henry."</p> + +<p> +Commines explains further that the wool trade +was what made amity with England necessary to +Flanders and Holland, "which is the principal +cause that moved the merchants to labour earnestly +for peace."</p> +<p> +Charles made vague promises to his uninvited +guest, declaring ostentatiously that his blood was +Lancastrian. Nevertheless he finally consented +to an interview with him of York, in spite of +the remonstrances of the Lancastrians, Somerset +and Exeter. "The duke could not tell whom to +please and either party he feared to displease. +But in the end, because sharp war was upon him +face to face, he inclined to the English dukes, +accepting their promises against the Earl of Warwick, +their ancient enemy." King Edward, "who +was on the spot and very ill at ease," was quieted +by secret assurances that the duke was obliged +to dissimulate. "Seeing that he could not keep +the king but that he was bound to return to England<span class="page"><a name="289">[page 289]</a></span> +and fearing for divers considerations altogether +to discontent him, Charles pretended that +he could not aid the king and forbade his subjects +to enter his service." Privately, however, he gave +him fifty thousand florins of St. Andrew's cross, and +had two or three ships fitted out at Vere in Zealand, +a harbour where all nations were received. Besides +this he secretly hired fourteen well appointed +"ships of the Easterlings, which promised to serve +him till he landed in England and for fifteen days +after, "great aid considering the times."</p> +<p> +King Edward departed out of Flanders in the +year 1471, when the Duke of Burgundy went to +wrest Amiens and St. Quentin back from the king.<a href="#XIV30"><sup>30</sup></a> +"The said duke thought now howsoever the world +went in England he could not speed amiss because +he had friends on both sides."<a href="#XIV31"><sup>31</sup></a></p> +<p> +Edward's adventures in England proved that he +had not lost his hold there. Warwick's extraordinary +brief success was but a flash in the pan. +London opened her gates and then the pitched battle +at Barnet gave a final verdict between the rival +Houses which England accepted. This battle +was fought on April 14th, when the thick fog and +the like speech of the two bodies caused hopeless +confusion. Many friends slew each other unwittingly, +and among the slain was the indefatigable, +energetic Warwick who had hoped to play with<span class="page"><a name="290">[page 290]</a></span> +his royal puppets. Only forty-four was he and +worthy of a better and more statesmanlike career.</p> +<p> +On that same day Margaret of Anjou and her son +landed at Weymouth. Hearing of Warwick's +death, they tried to reach Wales but were intercepted +and forced to fight at Tewkesbury. Here +the young prince, too, met his death. To Edward's +direct command is attributed the murder +of the unfortunate Henry VI. in the Tower, which +happened at about the same time. The desolated +Margaret of Anjou lingered five years under +restraint in England before she was ransomed by +King Louis.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Sir John Paston to Margaret Paston. Wreten +at London the Thorysdaye in Esterne weke, 1471.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"God hathe schewyd Hym selffe marvelouslye lyke +Hym that made all and can undoo agayn whare Hym +lyst."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIV32"><sup>32</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Charles of Burgundy could now pride himself on +his foresight. His brother of the two Orders was +himself again.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"The very day on which this fight happened [says +Commines] the Duke of Burgundy, being before +Amiens, received letters from the duchess his wife, +that the King of England was not at all satisfied with +him, that he had given his aid grudgingly and as if for +very little cause he would have deserted him. To +speak plainly there never was great friendship between +them afterwards. Yet the Duke of Burgundy seemed<span class="page"><a name="291"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 291]</span></a></span> +to be extremely pleased at this news and published it +everywhere."</p> + +<p> +A transaction of his own of this time, the duke +did not publish. It was a procedure perhaps +justified by these wonderful "mutations in the +world" which impressed Commines as strange +and terrible. The Duke of Burgundy caused a +legal document to be drawn up attesting his own +heirship to Henry VI. of England, and filed the +same in the Abbey of St. Bertin with all due +formality. If there came more "mutations" in +the world whose very existence was a new experience +to Philip de Commines, Charles was ready +to interpose his own plank in the new structure.</p> +<p> +In the archives of the House of Croy in the +château of Beaumont, rests this document, which +was duly signed by Charles on November 3, 1471, +in his own hand "so that greater faith" be given to +the statement that no one was truer heir to the +Lancaster House than Charles of Burgundy.<a href="#XIV33"><sup>33</sup></a> Two +canons attested the instrument as notaries, and the +witnesses were Hugonet, Humbercourt, and Bladet.</p> +<p> +It was expressly stipulated that if there were any<span class="page"><a name="292">[page 292]</a></span> +delay in the duke's entering upon his English inheritance—which +devolved to him through his +mother,—a delay caused by motives of public utility +of Christendom, and of the House of Burgundy, +this should not prejudice his rights or those of his +successors. A mere deferring of assuring the +titles, etc., brought no prejudice to his rights. +His delay ended in his death and Edward IV. never +had to combat this claim of the brother-in-law who +had helped him, though grudgingly, to regain his +throne.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#261">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XIV1">Meyer</a> is the earliest historian to tell this story and it is +vouched for by no existing contemporary evidence.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#264">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XIV2">From</a> Henry VI.-Henry VII. the English throne was twice +lost and twice regained by each of the rival Houses of York +and Lancaster. Thirteen pitched battles were fought between +Englishmen on English soil. Three out of four kings died by +violence. Eighty persons connected with the blood royal +were executed or assassinated.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#264">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XIV3">Ramsay</a>, <i>Lancaster and York</i>, ii., 232 <i>et seq.</i>; Oman, <i>Hundred +Years' War</i> and <i>Warwick, the King-maker</i>, are followed +here in addition to Kirk, Lavisse, etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#265">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XIV4">That</a> the king chose his wife without the earl's knowledge +or consent has been accepted as the chief cause, and again +denied by various authorities.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#266">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XIV5">See</a> Oman's <i>Warwick</i>, p. 185.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#267">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XIV6">Rymer</a>, <i>Fædera</i>, xi., 654; negotiations had been going on +for about a year.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#267">[Footnote 7:</a> <i><a name="XIV7">Ibid</a>.</i>, 651.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#269">[Footnote 8:</a> "<a name="XIV8">Quia</a> nihil est quod ita relucet in principe sicut clemencia +et maxime circa domesticos et subditos."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#269">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XIV9">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd.</i>, i., 216. The editor thinks that the +speech was preserved in the register of Ypres just as it was +delivered, untouched by chroniclers.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#269">[Footnote 10:</a> <i><a name="XIV10">Il</a> sent la France</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#272">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XIV11">Middleburg</a>, the 3d of June, 1470. "Madame's sign +manual" on the copy is dated June 6th. (Plancher, <i>Histoire +générale et particulière de Bourgogne</i>, etc., iv., cclxxi).]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#272">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XIV12">Good</a> Friday, April 20th.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#274">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="XIV13">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., i., 226.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#274">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XIV14">Comines</a>-Lenglet., "Preuves," iii., 124. Written at Amboise, +May, 12, 1470.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#274">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XIV15">Plancher</a>, iv., cclxi., etc.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#275">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="XIV16">Duke</a> Charles to the Council of the King at Rouen, May +29th. (Plancher, iv., cclxix.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#275">[Footnote 17:</a> <i><a name="XIV17">Mémoires</a></i>, iii., ch. iv.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#276">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="XIV18">Duclos</a> "Preuves," v., 296.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#277">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="XIV19">Chastellain</a>, v., 453. These phrases are, to be sure, those +of our literary and imaginative chronicler, but the substance +is that of attested words from Charles. M, Petit-Dutaillis +accepts it. (Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 363.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#278">[Footnote 20:</a> <i><a name="XIV20">See</a></i> Plancher, iv., cclxxxix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#280">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XIV21">Aujourd'hui</a> avons fait le mariage de la reine d'Angleterre +et de lui." Undoubtedly a half jocose way of stating +the alliance of the children. The following item occurs in the +King's accounts for December, 1470: "à maistre Jehan le prestre, +la somme de xxvii l. x.s.t pour vingt escus d'or à lui donnée +par le roy, pour le restituer de semblable somme que, par l'ordonnance +d'icellui seigneur, il avait baillée du sien au vicaire de +Bayeux auquel icellui seigneur en a fait don en faveur de ce +qu' il estait venu espouser le prince de Galles a la fille du +Comte de Warwick." This was a betrothal, not the actual +marriage. In August, Louis was still asking for a dispensation. +(Wavrin, Dupont ed., iii., 4I, note. See also <i>Lettres de +Louis XI</i>., iv., 131.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#281">[Footnote 22:</a> <a name="XIV22">A</a> group of smaller seigniories was also involved, Quercy, +Périgord, La Rochelle, etc. <i>See</i> letter-patent, +(Comines-Lenglet, +"Preuves," iii., 97.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#282">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="XIV23">Duclos</a>, "Preuves" v., 302.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#283">[Footnote 24:</a> <a name="XIV24">Comines</a>-Lenglet, "Preuves," iii., 68; Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 364.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#284">[Footnote 25:</a> <i><a name="XIV25">See</a></i> Lavisse iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 364. He states that the king named +all the deputies that the towns were to appoint.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#284">[Footnote 26:</a> <a name="XIV26">Duclos</a>, "Preuves," v., 307.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#285">[Footnote 27:</a> <a name="XIV27">Commines</a>, iii., ch. v.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#286">[Footnote 28:</a> <a name="XIV28">Commines</a>, iii., ch. vi.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#287">[Footnote 29:</a> <i><a name="XIV29">See</a></i> instructions given to him for this mission, Wavrin-Dupont, +iii., 271.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#289">[Footnote 30:</a> <a name="XIV30">Commines</a>, iii., ch. vii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#289">[Footnote 31:</a> <a name="XIV31">As</a> soon as Edward and his English exiles sailed, Charles +published a proclamation forbidding his subjects to aid him.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#290">[Footnote 32:</a> <i><a name="XIV32">Letters</a></i>, iii., 4.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#291">[Footnote 33:</a> <i><a name="XIV33">See</a></i> Gachard, <i>Études et Notices historiques concernant +l'histoire des Pays-Bas,</i> ii., 343, en approuvant et emologant +toutes les choses deseurdittes et chascune d'icelles et a fin que +plus grant foy soit adjoustée à tout ce que cy desus est escript, +avant signé ce présent instrument de nostre propre main et +le fait sceller de nostre seau en signe de vérité, l'an et jour +desusdit. [This in French, the body in Latin.]</p> +<p class="rindent2"> +"CHARLES."]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="293">[page 293]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XV">XV</a></h2> + +<h3>NEGOTIATIONS AND TREACHERY</h3> + +<h4>1471</h4> +<p> +All work had ceased at Paris for three days +by the king's command, while praise was +chanted to God, to the Virgin, and to all saints +male and female, for the victory won by Henry +of Lancaster, in 1470, over the base usurper Edward +de la Marche. From Amboise, Louis made +a special pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Celles at +Poitiers to breathe in pious solitude his own prayers +of thanksgiving for the happy event. The +battle of Tewkesbury stemmed the course of this +abundant stream of gratitude, and there were other +thanksgivings.<a href="#XV1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> +<p> +In the spring of 1471, Edward IV. was dating complacent +letters from Canterbury to his good friends +at Bruges,<a href="#XV2"><sup>2</sup></a> acknowledging their valuable assistance +to his brother Charles,<a href="#XV3"><sup>3</sup></a> recognising his +part in restoring Britain's rightful sovereign to his +throne. To his sister, the Duchess of Burgundy, +the returned exile gave substantial proof of his +gratitude in the shape of privileges in wool manufacture<span class="page"><a name="294">[page 294]</a></span> +and trade.<a href="#XV4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> +<p> +Like one of the alternating figures in a Swiss +weather vane the King of England had swung out +into the open, pointing triumphantly to fair weather +over his head, while Louis was forced back into +solitary impotence. He seemed singularly isolated. +His English friends were gone, his nobles +were again forming a hostile camp around Charles +of France, now Duke of Guienne, who had forgotten +his late protestations of fraternal devotion, +and there were many indications that the Anglo-Burgundian +alliance might prove as serious a peril +to France as it had in times gone by but not +wholly forgotten.</p> +<p> +The two most important of the disputed towns +on the Somme were, however, in Louis's possession, +and Charles of Burgundy, ready to reduce Amiens +by siege on March 10, 1471, consented to stay his +proceedings by striking a truce which was renewed +in July. This afforded a valuable respite to +the king, and he busied himself in energetic efforts +to detach his brother from the group of malcontents. +Various disquieting rumours about +the prince's marriage projects caused his royal +brother deep anxiety, and induced him to despatch +a special envoy to Guienne. To that envoy +Louis wrote as follows:<a href="#XV5"><sup>5</sup></a></p> + +<span class="page"><a name="295">[page 295]</a></span> +<p class="quote1"> +"MONSEIGNEUR DU BOUCHAGE:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Guiot du Chesney<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV6"><sup>6</sup></a></span> has brought me despatches +from Monsg. de Guienne and Mons. de Lescun and has, +further, mentioned three points to me: First, in +behalf of Mme. de Savoy,<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV7"><sup>7</sup></a></span> ... second, in regard +to M. d'Ursé ... third, touching the mission of +Mons. de Lescun to marry Monsg. of Guienne to the +daughter of Monsg. de Foix.... The Ursé +matter I will leave to you, and will agree to what you +determine upon. On the spot you will be a better +judge of what I ought to say and what would be advantageous +to me, than I can here.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"In regard to the third point, the Foix marriage, +you know what a misfortune it would be to me. +Use all your five senses to prevent it. I am told +that my brother does not really like the idea, and +it has occurred to me that Mons. de Lescun has +brought him to consent in order to further the +marriage of the duchess,<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV8"><sup>8</sup></a></span> so that in taking the sister, +the duke will be relieved of this sum, a condition that +would please him greatly because he has nothing to +pay it with. I would prefer to pay both it and all +the accompanying claims and then be through +with it. In effect, I beg you make him agree +to another [bride] before you leave, and do not be +in any hurry to come to me. If this Aragon affair<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV9"><sup>9</sup></a></span> +can be arranged you will place me in Paradise.</p> +<span class="page"><a name="296">[page 296]</a></span> +<p class="quote1"> +"<i>Item.</i> I have thought that Monsg. de Foix would +not approve this Aragon girl, because he himself has +some hopes of the kingdom of Aragon through his wife. +If Monsg. of Guienne were advised of this, I believe +it would help along our case.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"<i>Item.</i> It seems to me that you have a splendid +opportunity to be very frank with my brother. For +he has informed me through this man that the duke +[of Brittany] has paid no attention to the representations +made him in my behalf, through Corguilleray, and +since my brother himself confides this to me, you have +an opportunity to assure him that I thank him, and +that I never cherish him so highly as when he tells me +the truth, and that I now recognise that he does not +desire to deceive me, since he does not spare the duke +[of Brittany] and that, since he sees him opposed to me, +he should return the seal that you know of and refuse +to take his sister [Eleanor de Foix, the sister of the +Duchess of Brittany], or to enter into any other league.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"If he will choose a wife quite above suspicion, as +long as I live I will harbour no misgiving of him +and he shall be as puissant in all the realm of France +as I myself, as long as I live. In short, Mons. du +Bouchage my friend, if you can gain this point, you +will place me in Paradise. Stay where you are until +Monseigneur de Lescun has arrived, and a good piece +afterwards, even if you have to play the invalid, and +before you depart put our affair in surety if you can, +I implore you. And may God, Monseigneur du +Bouchage my friend, to whom I pray, and may Nostre +Dame de Behuart aid your negotiations. The women<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV10"><sup>10</sup></a></span> +of Mme. de Burgundy have all been ill with the<span class="page"><a name="297"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 297]</span></a></span> + <i>mal chault,</i> and it is reported that the daughter is seriously +afflicted and bloated. Some say that she is already +dead. I am not sure of the death but I am quite +certain of the malady.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Lannoy, Aug. 18th.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"LOYS. </p> +<p class="rindent"> +"TILHART." </p> +<p> +That the king's professed confidence in his +brother did not remove all suspicions of that +young man's steadfastness from his mind is shown +by the following letter, written two days later +than the above, to Lorenzo de' Medici:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Dear and beloved cousin, we have learned that +our brother of Guienne has sent to Rome to ask a dispensation +from the oath he swore to us, of which we +send you a duplicate. Since you are a great favourite +with our Holy Father pray use your influence with his +Holiness so that our brother may not obtain his dispensation, +and that his messenger may not be able to +do any negotiating. In this you will do us a singular +and agreeable pleasure which we will recognise in the +future as we have in the past on fitting occasion....</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at St. Michel sur Loire, August 20th.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"LOYS." </p> +<p> +Louis does not seem to have taken his own +doubts as to the very existence of Mary of Burgundy +very seriously. While he was infinitely anxious +to prevent her alliance with his brother, he +made overtures to betroth her to his baby son, +while he reminded her father in touching phrases +that he, Louis, was Mary's loving godfather and<span class="page"><a name="298">[page 298]</a></span> +hence exactly the person to be her father-in-law.</p> +<p> +The winter of 1471-72 was filled with attempts +to make terms between the king and the duke +before the termination of the truce. The king +was very hopeful of attaining this good result, +and sweetly trustful of the duke's pacific and +friendly intentions. He sternly refused to listen +to suggestions that Charles meant to play him +false and was very definite in his expressions of confidence. +The following epistle to his envoys at +the duke's court was an excellent document to +fall by chance into Burgundian hands:<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV11"><sup>11</sup></a></span></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"To MONSIEUR DE CRAON AND PIERRE D'ORIOLE:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"My cousin and monseigneur the general, I received +your letters this evening at the hostelry of +Montbazon where I came because I have not yet +dared to go to Amboise.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV12"><sup>12</sup></a></span> When I imparted to you +the doubts that I had heard, it was not with the purpose +of delaying you in completing your business but +only to advise you of the dangers that were in the air. +And to free you from all doubts I assure you, that if +Monseigneur of Burgundy is willing to confirm, by +writing or verbally, the terms which we arranged at +Orleans<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV13"><sup>13</sup></a></span>, I wish you to accept it and to clinch the +matter and I am quite determined to trust to it. As +to your suspicion that he may wish to make the chief<span class="page"><a name="299"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 299]</span></a></span> +promises in private letters without putting it in a +formal shape, you know that I agreed to it by a +pronotary, and when I have once accepted a thing +I never withdraw my decision.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"My cousin and you monseigneur the general, see to +it that Monseigneur of Burgundy gives you adequate +assurance of the letters that he is to issue. When I +once have the letter such as we agreed upon and he +is bound, I do not doubt that he will keep faith. If +my life were at stake, I am resolved to trust him. Do +not send me any more of your suspicions for I assure +you that my greatest worldly desire is that the matter +be finished, since he has given verbal assurance that +he wishes me well. You write that the pronotary +told you that I was negotiating in every direction. +By my faith, I have no ambassador but you, and by +the words that Monseigneur of Burgundy said to +you you can easily solve the question, for he has only +offered you what he mentioned before when the +matters were discussed. It looks to me as though +they were not free from traitors since they have Abbé +de Begars and Master Ythier Marchant.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV14"><sup>14</sup></a></span></p> +<p class="quote1"> +"A herald of the King of England came here on his +way to Monsg. of Burgundy, who asked for a safe conduct +to send a messenger to me for this truce. Since +your departure the council thought I ought not to +give any pass for more than forty days except to +merchants. If it please God and Our Lady that you +may conclude your mission, I assure you that as long +as I live I will have no embassy either large or small<span class="page"><a name="300"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 300]</span></a></span> +without immediately informing Monsg. of Burgundy +and I will only answer as if through him. I assure +you that until I hear from you whether Monsg. of +Burgundy decides to conclude this treaty or not as +we agreed together, I will make no agreement with +any creature in the world and of that you may assure +him.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Montbazon, December 11th (1471).</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"Loys." </p> + +<p> +At the same time Louis did not neglect friendly +intercourse with the towns he proposed to cede.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"To the inhabitants of Amiens in behalf of the king: +"Dear and beloved, we have heard reports at +length from Amiens and we are well content with you.... +Give credence to all my messengers say. +We thank you heartily for all that you and your deputies +have done in our cause."</p> + +<p> +At the Burgundian court the duke's friends +thought that he would play the part of wisdom +did he keep an army within call, and refrain from +implicitly trusting the king's promises. There was, +moreover, an impression abroad that the latter was +not in a position to be very formidable.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Once [says Commines]<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV15"><sup>15</sup></a></span> I was present when the +Seigneur d'Ursé [envoy from the Duke of Guienne] +was talking in this wise and urging the duke to +mobilise his forces with all diligence. The duke +called me to a window and said, 'Here is the Seigneur +d'Ursé urging me to make my army as big as possible,<span class="page"><a name="301"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 301]</span></a></span> +and tells me that we would do well for the realm. +Do you think that I should wage a war of benefit if I +should lead my troops thither?' Smiling I answered +that I thought not and he uttered these words: 'I +love the welfare of France more than Mons. d' Ursé +imagines, for instead of the one king that there is I +would fain see six.'"</p> + +<p> +The animus of this expression is clear. It implies +a wish to see the duke's friends, the French +nobles, exalted, Burgundy at the head, until the +titular monarch had no more power than half a +dozen of his peers. Yet Commines states in unequivocal +terms that Charles's next moves were to +disregard his friendship for the peers, to discard +their alliance, and to sign a treaty with Louis +whose terms were wholly to his own advantage +and implied complete desertion of the allied +interest.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"This peace did the Duke of Burgundy swear and +I was present<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV16"><sup>16</sup></a></span> and to it swore the Seigneur de Craon +and the Chancellor of France<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV17"><sup>17</sup></a></span> in behalf of the king. +When they departed they advised the duke not to disband +his army but to increase it, so that the king +their master might be the more inclined to cede +promptly the two places mentioned above. They +took with them Simon de Quingey to witness the +king's oath and confirmation of his ambassadors' +work. The king delayed this confirmation for several +days. Meanwhile occurred the death of his brother,<span class="page"><a name="302"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 302]</span></a></span> +the Duke of Guienne ... shortly afterwards +the said Simon returned, dismissed by the king +with very meagre phrases and without any oath +being taken. The duke felt mocked and insulted +by this treatment and was very indignant about it."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV18"><sup>18</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +This story involves so serious a charge against +Charles of Burgundy that the fact of his setting +his signature to the treaty has been indignantly +denied. Certain authorities impugn the historian's +truthfulness rather than accept the duke's +betrayal of his friends. It is true that only a few +months later than this negotiation, Commines +himself forsook the duke's service for the king's, +a change of base that might well throw suspicion +on his estimate of his deserted master.</p> +<p> +Yet it must be remembered that he does not +gloss over Louis's actions, even though he had +an admiration for the success of his political +methods, methods which Commines believed to +be essential in dealing with national affairs. In +many respects he gives more credit to the duke +than to the king even while he prefers the cleverer +chief. That there is no documentary evidence +of such a treaty is mere negative evidence and of +little importance.</p> +<p> +The fact seems fairly clear that Charles of Burgundy +was at a parting of the ways, in character +as in action. His natural bent was to tell the +truth and to adhere strictly to his given word.<span class="page"><a name="303">[page 303]</a></span> +He felt that he owed it to his own dignity. He felt, +too, that he was a person to command obedience +to a promise whether pledged to him by king or +commoner. In the years 1469-1472 several severe +shocks had been dealt him. He had lost all +faith in Louis, a faith that had really been founded +on the duke's own self-esteem, on a conviction +that the weak king must respect the redoubtable +cousin of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +The effect on Charles of his suspicions was to +make him adopt the tools used by his rival, or at +least to attempt to do so. At the moment of the +negotiation of 1471-1472, the duke's preoccupation +was to regain the towns on the Somme. That +accomplished, it is not probable that he would +have abandoned his friends, the French peers, +whom he desired to see become petty monarchs +each in his own territory. There seems no doubt +that words were used with singular disregard of +their meaning. It is surprising that time was +wasted in concocting elaborate phrases that +dropped into nothingness at the slightest touch. +In citing the above passage from Commines referring +to the treaty, the close of the negotiations +has been anticipated. Whether or not any draft +of a treaty received the duke's signature, the +king's yearning for peace ceased abruptly when +his brother's death freed him from the dread of +dangerous alliance between Charles of France +and Charles of Burgundy. As late as May 8th, +he was still uncertain as to the decree of fate<span class="page"><a name="304">[page 304]</a></span> +and wrote as follows to the Governor of Rousillon:<a href="#XV19"><sup>19</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Keep cool for the present I implore you. If the +Duke of Burgundy declares war against me, I will set +out immediately for that quarter [Brittany], and in +a week we will finish the matter. On the other hand, +if peace be made we shall have everything without a +blow or without any risk of restoration. However, +if you can get hold of anything by negotiating and +manoeuvring, why do it. As to the artillery, it is +close by you, and when it is time, and I shall have +heard from my ambassador, you shall have it at once."</p> + +<p> +Ten days later he is more hopeful.<a href="#XV20"><sup>20</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Since my last letter to you I have had news that +Monsieur de Guienne is dying and that there is no +remedy for his case. One of the most confidential +persons about him has advised me by a special messenger +that he does not believe he will be alive a +fortnight hence.... The person who gave me +this information is the monk who repeated his Hours +with M. de G[uienne.] I am much abashed at this +and have crossed myself from head to foot.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Moutils-lès-Tours, May 18th."</p> + +<p> +This prognostic was correct. In less than a +fortnight the Duke of Guienne lay dead, and the +heavy suspicion rested upon his royal brother of +having done more than acquiesce in the decree of +fate. Whether or not there was any truth in this +charge the king was certainly not heartbroken by +the loss. Indeed, the event interested him less<span class="page"><a name="305">[page 305]</a></span> +than the question of making the best use of the +remainder of his truce with Charles. The following +letters to Dammartin and the Duke of Milan +belong to this time.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Thank you for the pains you have taken but +pray, as speedily as you can, come here to draw up +your ordinance for we only have a fortnight more of +the truce. I have sent the artillery and soldiers to +Angers. Monsg. the grand master, strengthen Odet's +forces, do not let one man go, and see to it that the +seneschal of Guienne enrols sufficient to fill his company. +Then if there are more at large, form them +into a body and send them to me and I will find them +a captain and pay all those who are willing to stay.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"As to him,<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV21"><sup>21</sup></a></span> make him talk on the way and +learn whether he would like to enter into an agreement +in his brother's name, and work it so that the duke +will leave the Burgundian in the lurch at all points +for ever, and make a good treaty, as you will know +how, for I do not believe that the Seigneur de Lescun +left here for any other reason than to attempt to +make an arrangement of some kind.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Now monseigneur the grand master, you are wiser +than I and will know how to act far better than I +can instruct you, but, above all, I implore you come +in all haste for without you we cannot make an +ordinance.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Xaintes, May 28th.</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"LOYS."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV22"><sup>22</sup></a></span></p> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="306">[page 306]</a></span> +<p class="quote1"> +"AMBOISE, June 7th.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Loys, by the grace of God, King of France. Beloved +brother and cousin, we have received the letters +you have written making mention, as you have heard, +that in the truce lately concluded between us and +the Duke of Burgundy up to April 1st next coming, +which will be the year 1473, the Duke of Burgundy +has mentioned you as his ally, which you do not like +because you never asked the Duke of Burgundy to do +so, and you do not know whether he made this statement +on the advice of the Venetian ambassador who +is with him.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Therefore, and because you do not mean to +enter into alliance or understanding with the Duke of +Burgundy but wish to remain our confederate and +ally and have sworn to that effect before notaries, +and sealed your oath with your seal ... that +you are no ally of the Duke of Burgundy and that +you renounce and repudiate his nomination as such ... +also you may be certain that on our part +we are determined to maintain all friendship between +us and you ... and if we make any treaty in the +future we will expressly include you in it and never +will do <span style="font-size:1.1em">."<a href="#XV23"><sup>23</sup></a></span></p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur the grand master, I am advised +how while the truce is still in being, the Duke of +Burgundy has taken Nesle and slain all whom he +found within. I must be avenged for this. I wished +you to know so that if you can find means to do him +a like injury in his country you will do it there and +anywhere that you can without sparing anything. I +have good hopes that God will aid in avenging us, +considering the murders for which he is responsible<span class="page"><a name="307"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 307]</span></a></span> +within the church and elsewhere, and because by virtue +of the terms of their surrender [they thought] +they had saved their lives.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Done at Angers, June 19th.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"P.S.—If the said place had been destroyed and +rased as I ordered this never would have happened. +Therefore, see to it that all such places be rased to the +ground, for if this be not done the people will be +ruined and there will be an increase of dishonour and +damage to me."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV24"><sup>24</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +One fact stated by Louis in this letter was +true. Charles of Burgundy broke the truce when +it had but two weeks to run, and thus put himself +in the wrong. The death of Guienne made him +wild with anger. Apparently he had not believed +in the imminence of the danger, although he had +been constantly informed of the progress of the +prince's illness. But to his mind, it was the hand +of Louis, not the judgment of God, that ended the +life of the prince.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"On the morrow, which was about May 15, 1472, +so far as I remember [says Commines] came letters +from Simon de Quingey, the duke's ambassador to +the king, announcing the death of the Duke of Guienne +and that the king had recovered the majority of his +places. Messages from various localities followed +headlong one on the other, and every one had a different +story of the death.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"The duke being in despair at the death, at the<span class="page"><a name="308"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 308]</span></a></span> +instigation of other people as much concerned as +himself, wrote letters full of bitter accusations against +the king to several towns—an action that profited +little for nothing was done about it.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV25"><sup>25</sup></a></span>... In this +violent passion the duke proceeded towards Nesle +in Vermandois, and commenced a kind of warfare +such as he had never used before, burning and destroying +wherever he passed."</p> + +<p> +It is interesting to note how smoothly Commines +sails by the capital charges against the king. He +neither accepts nor denies the king's crime, while +frankly admitting that Guienne's decease was an +opportune circumstance for Louis. He apologises<span class="page"><a name="309">[page 309]</a></span> +for mentioning any evil report of either king or +duke, but urges his duty as historian to tell the +truth without palliation.</p> +<p> +Nesle was a little place on a tributary of the +Somme which refused the duke's summons to surrender, +sent to it on June 10th. It seems possible +that there was a misunderstanding between the +citizens and the garrison which resulted in the +slaughter of the Burgundian heralds. Whereupon, +the exasperated soldiers rushed headlong +upon the ill-defended burghers and wreaked a terrible +vengeance on the town.</p> +<p> +When the duke arrived on the spot, the carnage +was over, but he was unreproving as he inspected<span class="page"><a name="310">[page 310]</a></span> +the gruesome result. Into the great church itself +he rode, and his horse's hoofs sank through the +blood lying inches deep on the floor. The desecrated +building was full of dead—men, women, +and children—but the duke's only comment as he +looked about was, "Here is a fine sight. Verily +I have good butchers with me," and he crossed +himself piously.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Those who were taken alive were hanged, except +some few suffered to escape by the compassionate +common soldiers. Quite a number had their hands +chopped off. I dislike to mention this cruelty but I +was on the spot and needs must give some account +of it." <span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV26"><sup>26</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The story of the duke's treatment of the innocent +little town of Nesle is painted in colours quite +as lurid as the king's murder of his brother. There +is some ground for the denunciations of Charles, +but the gravest accusation, that the duke promised +clemency to the citizens on surrender and then +basely broke his word, does not deserve credence. +He was in a state of exasperation and the horrors +were committed in passion, not in cold blood.<a href="#XV27"><sup>27</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="standard">[plate 20]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image20standard.jpg" width="400" height="299" alt="BURGUNDIAN STANDARD CAPTURED AT BEAUVAIS" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +It is delightful to note the king's virtuous indignation<span class="page"><a name="311">[page 311]</a></span> +at his cousin's proceedings, coupled with his +regrets that he himself had not destroyed the town.</p> +<p> +With the terrible report of the events at Nesle +flying before his advance guard, Charles went on +towards Normandy. Roye he gained easily, and +then, passing by Compiègne where "Monseigneur +the grand master" had intrenched himself, and +Amiens with the good burghers whom Louis +delighted to honour, he marched on until he +reached Beauvais, an old town on the Thérain. +Some of the garrison from the fallen Roye had +taken refuge there, but the place was weak in its +defences, not even having its usual garrison or +cannon, as it happened.</p> +<p> +Disappointed in his first expectation of picking +the town like a cherry, Charles sat down before it. +The siege that followed won a reputation beyond +the warrant of its real importance from the extraordinary +tenacity and energy of the people in their +own defence. Every missile that the ingenuity of +man or woman could imagine was used to drive back +the besiegers when the town was finally invested.</p> +<p> +From June 27th to July 9th Charles waited, +then an assault was ordered. Charles laughed at +the idea of any serious resistance. "He asked +some of his people whether they thought the citizens +would wait for the assault. It was answered +yes, considering their number even if they had +nothing before them but a hedge."<a href="#XV28"><sup>28</sup></a> He took +this as a joke and said, "To-morrow you will not<span class="page"><a name="312">[page 312]</a></span> +find a person." He thought that there would +be a simple repetition of his experience at +Dinant and Liege, and that the garrison would +simply succumb in terror. When the Burgundians +rushed at the walls their reception showed not +only that every point had a defender, but also +that those same defenders were provided with +huge stones, pots of boiling water, burning torches—all +most unpleasant things when thrown in +the faces of men trying to scale a wall. Three +hours were sufficient to prove to the assailants +the difficulty of the task. Twelve hundred were +slain and maimed, and the strength of the place +was proven.</p> +<p> +Charles was not inclined to relinquish his scheme, +but the weather came to the aid of the besieged. +Heavy rains forced the troops to change camp. +More men were lost in skirmishes and mimic +assaults, losses that Charles could ill afford at the +moment. Finally at the end of three fruitless +weeks, the siege was raised and the Burgundians +marched on to try to redeem their reputation in +Normandy. Had Beauvais fallen, it would have +been possible to relieve the Duke of Brittany, +against whom Louis had marched with all his +forces and whom he had enveloped as in a net. +This reverse was the first serious rebuff that had +happened to Charles, and it marked a turn in his +fortunes.</p> +<p> +Louis fully appreciated the enormous advantage +to himself, and was not stinting in his reward to the<span class="page"><a name="313">[page 313]</a></span> +plucky little town. Privileges and a reduction +of taxes were bestowed on Beauvais. An annual +procession was inaugurated in which women +were to have precedence as a special recognition +of their services with boiling water and other +irregular weapons, while a special gift was bestowed +on one particular girl, Jeanne Laisné, who had +wrested a Burgundian standard from a soldier +just as he was about to plant it on the wall. Not +only was she endowed from the royal purse, but +she and her husband and their descendants were +declared tax free for ever.<a href="#XV29"><sup>29</sup></a></p> +<p> +<i>Charles to the Duke of Brittany</i></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"My good brother, I recommend myself to you +with good heart. I rather hoped to be able to march +through Rouen, but the whole strength of the foe was +on the frontier, where was the <i>grand master, of whose +loyalty I have not the least doubt</i>, so that the project +could not be effected. I do not know what will happen. +Realising this, I have given subject for thought +elsewhere and I have pitched my camp between +Rouen and Neufchâtel, intending, however, to return +speedily. If not I will exploit the war in another +quarter more injurious to the enemy, and I will exert +myself to keep them from your route. My Burgundians +and Luxemburgers have done bravely in Champagne. +I know, too, that you have done well on +your part, for which I rejoice. I have burned<span class="page"><a name="314"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 314]</span></a></span> +the territory of Caux in a fashion so that it will +not injure you, nor us, nor others, and I will +not lay down arms without you, as I am certain +you will not without me. I will pursue the work commenced +by your advice at the pleasure of Our Lord, +may He give you good and long life with a fruitful +victory.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at my camp near Boscise, September +4th.</p> +<p class="rindent1"> +"Your loyal brother,</p> +<p class="rindent"> +"CHARLES."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV30"><sup>30</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +The duke's course was marked by waste and +devastation from the walls of Rouen to those of +Dieppe, but nothing was gained from this desolation. +By September, keen anxiety about his +territories led him to fear staying so far from +his own boundaries, and he decided to return. +Through Picardy he marched eastward burning +and laying waste as before.</p> +<p> +Hardly had he turned towards the Netherlands, +when Louis marched into Brittany against his +weakest foe. There was no fighting, but Francis +found it wise to accept a truce. Odet d'Aydie, +who had ridden in hot haste to Brittany, scattering +from his saddle dire accusations of fratricide +against Louis—this same Odet became silenced and +took service with the king.<a href="#XV31"><sup>31</sup></a> When reconcilations +were effected, most kind to the returning ally or +servant did Louis always show himself.</p> +<p> +On November 3d, a truce was struck between<span class="page"><a name="315">[page 315]</a></span> +Louis and Charles, which, later, was renewed for +a year. But never again did the two men come +into actual conflict with each other, though they +were on the eve of doing so in 1475.</p> +<p> +The period of the great coalitions among the +nobles was at an end. Charles of France was +dead and so, too, were others who were strong +enough to work the king ill. The Duke of Brittany +showed no more energy. When again within +his own territories, Charles of Burgundy became +absorbed in other projects which he wished to +perfect before he again measured steel with Louis.</p> + +<blockquote> +"The Duke of Berry, he is dead,<br /> +Brittany doth nod his head,<br /> +Burgundy doth sulky sit,<br /> +While Louis works with every wit."<a href="#XV32"><sup>32</sup></a> +</blockquote> +<p> +Such was the tenor of a doggerel verse sung in +France, a verse that probably never came to +Charles's ears—though Louis might have listened +to it cheerfully.</p> +<p> +Infinitely disastrous were the events of that +summer to Charles of Burgundy. Not only had he +lost in allies, not only had he squandered life and +money uselessly in his reckless expedition over +the north of France, but his own retinue was +diminished and weakened by the men whom<span class="page"><a name="316">[page 316]</a></span> +Louis had succeeded in luring from his service. +The loss that Charles suffered was not only for +the time but for posterity. Among those convinced +that there was more scope for men of talent +in France than in Burgundy was that clever +observer of humanity who had been at Charles's +side for eight years. In August of 1472, Philip +de Commines took French leave of his master +and betook himself to Louis, who evidently was +not surprised at his advent.</p> +<p> +The historian's own words in regard to this +change of base are laconic: "About this time I +entered the king's service (and it was the year +1472), who had received the majority of the servitors +of his brother the Duke of Guienne. And he +was then at Pont de Cé."<a href="#XV33"><sup>33</sup></a> This passing from one +lord to another happened on the night between +the 7th and 8th of August, when the Burgundian +army lay near Eu.</p> +<p> +The suddenness of the departure was probably +due to the duke's discovery of his servant's intentions +not yet wholly ripe, and those intentions +had undoubtedly been formed at Orleans, in +1471, when Commines made a secret journey +to the king. On his way back to Burgundy, +he deposited a large sum of money at Tours. +Evidently he did not dare put this under his own +name, or claim it when it was confiscated as the +property of a notorious adherent of Louis's foe.<a href="#XV34"><sup>34</sup></a></p> +<span class="page"><a name="317">[page 317]</a></span> +<p> +When the fugitive reached the French court, +however, he was amply recompensed for all his +losses.<a href="#XV35"><sup>35</sup></a> For, naturally, at his flight, all his +Burgundian estates were abandoned.<a href="#XV36"><sup>36</sup></a> It was at +six o'clock on the morning of August 8th that the +deed was signed whereby the duke transferred +to the Seigneur de Quiévrain all the rights appertaining +to Philip de Commines, "which rights +together with all the property of whatever kind +have escheated to us by virtue of confiscation +because he has to-day, the date of this document, +departed from our obedience and gone as a fugitive +to the party opposed to us."<a href="#XV37"><sup>37</sup></a></p> +<p> +There are various surmises as to the cause of this +precipitate departure. Not improbable is the suggestion +that Charles often overstepped the bounds +of courtesy towards his followers. Once, so runs +one story, he found the historian sleeping on his +bed where he had flung himself while awaiting +his master. Charles pulled off one of his boots<span class="page"><a name="318">[page 318]</a></span> +"to give him more ease" and struck him in the +face with it. In derision the courtiers called +Commines <i>tête bottée</i>, and their mocking sank +deep into his soul.</p> +<p> +Contemporary writers make little of the chronicler's +defection. These crossings from the peer's +to the king's camp were accepted occurrences. +But by Charles they were not accepted. There +is a vindictive look about the hour when he disposes +of his late confidant's possessions, only +explicable by intense indignation not itemised +in the deed approved by the court of Mons.<a href="#XV38"><sup>38</sup></a></p> +<p> +More loyal was that other chronicler, Olivier +de la Marche, though to him, also, came intimations +that he would find a pleasant welcome at the +French court. He, too, had opportunities galore +to make links with Louis. The accounts teem +with references to his secret missions here and +there, and with mention of the rewards paid, all +carefully itemised. So zealous was this messenger +on his master's commissions, that his hackneys +were ruined by his fast riding and had to be sold +for petty sums. The keen eye of Louis XI. was +not blind to the quality of La Marche's services, +and he thought that they, too, might be diverted +to his use.<a href="#XV39"><sup>39</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Monsieur du Bouchage, Guillaume de Thouars has<span class="page"><a name="319"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 319]</span></a></span> +told me that Messire Olivier de la Marche is willing to +enter my service and I am afraid that there may be +some deception. However, there is nothing that I +would like better than to have the said Sieur de Cimay, +as you know. Therefore, pray find out how the +matter stands, and if you see that it is in good +earnest work for it with all diligence. Whatever you +pledge I will hold to. Advise me of everything.</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "Written at Cléry, October 16th [1472].</p> +<p class="quote1"> + "To our beloved and faithful councillor and chancellor,<br /> + Sire du Bouchage."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XV40"><sup>40</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +But La Marche was not tempted, and was +rewarded for his fidelity by high office in a duchy +which, shortly after these events, was "annexed" +to his master's domain.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#293">[Footnote 1:</a> <i><a name="XV1">Journal</a> de Jean de Roye</i>, i., 258.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#293">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XV2">Commynes</a>-Dupont, iii., 202.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#293">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XV3">Plancher</a>, iv., cccvi., May 28th.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#294">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XV4">Rymer</a>, <i>Fœdera</i>, xi., 735. <i>Pro Ducissa Burgundiæ super +Lana claccanda</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#294">[Footnote 5:</a> <i><a name="XV5">Lettres</a> de Louis XI.</i>, iv., 256.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#295">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XV6">One</a> of Guienne's retinue who, later, passed to Louis's +service.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#295">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XV7">Louis's</a> sister Yolande.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#295">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XV8">The</a> Duke of Brittany had married the third daughter of +the Count de Foix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#295">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XV9">This</a> was an allusion to a proposed marriage between +Guienne and Jeanne, reputed daughter of Henry IV. of Castile. +Vaesen cannot explain the use of Aragon. Various documents +relating to this negotiation are given. (Comines-Lenglet, +iii., 156.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#296">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XV10">Vaesen</a> gives <i>femmes</i>, Duclos <i>filles</i>. The king was above +all afraid that his brother might marry Mary of Burgundy.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#298">[Footnote 11:</a> <i><a name="XV11">Lettres</a> de Louis XI.</i>., iv., 286.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#298">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XV12">There</a> was a pestilence raging at Amboise.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#298">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="XV13">At</a> Orleans, in the last days of October and the first of +November, there was a conference wherein the king apparently +promised to restore St. Quentin and Amiens to Charles, +if he would renounce his alliance with the dukes of Brittany +and Guienne and would betroth his daughter to the dauphin.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#299">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XV14">Ythier</a> Marchant negotiated the proposed marriage +between Guienne and Mary of Burgundy. He had received +"signed and sealed blanks" from the two princes in order to +enable him to hasten matters. (<i>Lettres de Louis XI.</i>, iv., 289.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#300">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XV15">III</a>., ch. viii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#301">[Footnote 16:</a> "<a name="XV16">Cette</a> paix jura le Due de Bourgogne et y estois présent."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#301">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="XV17">The</a> king's envoys who had spent the winter in the Burgundian +court. <i>See</i> letter to them in December.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#302">[Footnote 18:</a> <i><a name="XV18">See</a></i> Kervyn, <i>Bulletin de l'Academie royale de Belgique</i>, p. +256. <i>Also</i> Kirk, ii., 160; Commynes-Mandrot, i., 234.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#304">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="XV19">Louis</a> to the Vicomte de la Belliére, <i>Lettres</i>, etc., iv., 319.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#304">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="XV20">Louis</a> to Dammartin, <i>Ibid</i>., 325. <i>Mars</i> was written first +and then replaced by <i>Mai</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#305">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XV21">Odet</a> d'Aydie, younger brother of the Seigneur de Lescun.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#305">[Footnote 22:</a> <i><a name="XV22">Lettres</a>, XI</i>., iv., 328. Louis to Dammartin, 1472.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#306">[Footnote 23:</a> <i><a name="XV23">Lettres</a></i>, iv., 331. Louis to the Duke of Milan.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#307">[Footnote 24:</a> <i><a name="XV24">Lettres</a></i>, etc., v., 4. Louis to Dammartin. <i>See also</i> Duclos, +v., 331. There are slight discrepancies between the two +texts, but the differences do not affect the narrative.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#308">[Footnote 25:</a> <a name="XV25">Odet</a> d'Aydie, whom Louis had hoped to have converted +to his cause, was the man to spread the charge against Louis +broadcast over the land. The truth of the death is not proven. +Frequent mentions of Guienne's condition occur through the +letters of the winter '71-72. The story was that the poison, +administered subtly by the king's orders, caused the illness +of both the prince and his mistress, Mme. de Thouan. She +died after two months of suffering, December 14th, while +he resisted the poison longer, though his health was completely +shattered and his months of longer life were unutterably +wretched and painful, a constant torture until death mercifully +released him in May. Accusations of poisoning are +often repeated in history. In this case, there was certainly +a wide-spread belief in Louis's guilt. In his manifestos, +(Lenglet, ii., 198) Charles declares that the king's tools in +compassing his brother's death were a friar, Jourdain Favre, +and Henri de la Roche, esquire of his kitchen.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +The story told by Brantôme <i>(Œuvres Complètes</i> de Pierre +de Bourdeille, Seigneur de Brantôme, ii., 329. "Grands +Capitaines Francois." There is nothing too severe for Brantôme +to say about Louis XI.) is very detailed. A fool +passed to Louis's service from that of the dead prince. +While this man was attending his new master in the church +of Notre Dame de Cléry, he heard him make this prayer to +the Virgin: "Ah! my good Lady, my little mistress, my great +friend in whom I have always put my trust, I pray thee be a +suppliant to God in my behalf, be my advocate with Him so +that He may pardon me for the death of my brother whom I +had poisoned by this wicked Abbé of St. John. I confess it +to thee as to my good patron and mistress. But what was +to be done? He was a torment to my realm. Get me +pardoned and I know well what I will give thee."</p> +<p class="footnote"> +Brantôme tells further that the fool, using the privilege of +free speech accorded to his class, talked about Guienne's death +at dinner in public and after that day was never seen again. +On the other hand, the young duke's will was all to his +brother's favour. Louis was made executor and legatee, +"and if we have ever offended our beloved brother," dictated +the dying man, "we implore him to pardon us as we with <i>débonnaire</i> +affection pardon him." Mandrot, editor of Commynes +(1901), i., 230, considers the whole story a malicious +fabrication of Odet d'Aydie, and other authorities refer the +cause to disease. The very date of the death varies from +May 12th to May 24th.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#310">[Footnote 26:</a> <a name="XV26">Commines</a>, iii., ch. ix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#310">[Footnote 27:</a> <a name="XV27">There</a> is a curious document in existence (see <i>Bulletins +de L'Hist. de France</i>, 1833-34) dated fifty years after the +event. It is the deposition of several old people who had +been just old enough to remember that awful experience of +their youth. Fifty years of repetition gave time for the +growth of the story.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#311">[Footnote 28:</a> <a name="XV28">Commines</a>, iii., ch. x.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#313">[Footnote 29:</a> <a name="XV29">Legend</a> makes it that Jeanne Laisné, called <i>Fouquet</i>, +chopped off the hands of the standard-bearer with a hatchet. +Hence her name was changed to <i>La Hachette</i>, and she is represented +with a hatchet.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#314">[Footnote 30:</a> <a name="XV30">Barante</a>, vii., 333.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#314">[Footnote 31:</a> <i><a name="XV31">See</a></i> Lavisse, iv<span class="super">ii</span>., 368.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#315">[Footnote 32:</a><span style="color:#ffffff"><a name="XV32">.</a></span></p> + +<p class="footnote1"> +"Berri est mort,<br /> + Bretagne dort,<br /> + Bourgogne hongne,<br /> + Le Roy besogne."</p> +<p class="footnote"> +Le Roux de Lincy, <i>Chants historiques et populaires du temps +de Louis XI</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#316">[Footnote 33:</a> <a name="XV33">Commines</a> also mentions here "the confessor of the Duke +of Guienne and a knight to whom is imputed the death of the +Duke of Guienne." (iii., ch. xi.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#316">[Footnote 34:</a> <a name="XV34">Kirk</a> (ii., 156) thinks that this confiscation was only Louis's +way of prodding him up to act.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#317">[Footnote 35:</a> <a name="XV35">Dupont</a> (Commynes, iii., xxxvi). The fugitive did not +enter immediately into his new possessions. The king's gift +of the principality of Talmont, dated October, 1472, was not +registered in <i>Parlement</i> until December 13, 1473, and in the +court of records May 2, 1474. Prince of Talmont did Commines +become at last, and as such he married Helen de +Chambes, January 27, 1473.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#317">[Footnote 36:</a> <a name="XV36">It</a> is strange that La Marche does not mention this +defection.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#317">[Footnote 37:</a> <a name="XV37">See</a> document quoted by Gachard, <i>Études et Notices</i>, etc. +ii., 344. The original is in the Croy family archives preserved +in the château of Beaumont.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#318">[Footnote 38:</a> <i><a name="XV38">See</a> also</i> Comines-Lenglet, i., xcj., for discussion of this +event. He asserts that the court of Burgundy was too +corrupt for honest men to endure it.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#318">[Footnote 39:</a> <i><a name="XV39">See</a></i> Stein. <i>Étude</i>, etc., <i>sur Olivier de la Marche</i>. (Mém. +Couronnés) xlix.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#319">[Footnote 40:</a> <a name="XV40">Letter</a> of Louis XI. in Bibl. Nat.: <i>Ibid.</i>, p. 179.]</p> + + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="320">[page 320]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XVI">XVI</a></h2> + +<h3>GUELDERS</h3> + +<h4>1473</h4> +<p> +The affairs of the little duchy of Guelders were +among the matters urgently demanding +the attention of the Duke of Burgundy at the close +of his campaign in France. The circumstances of +the long-standing quarrel between Duke Arnold +and his unscrupulous son Adolf were a scandal +throughout Europe. In 1463, a seeming reconciliation +of the parties had not only been effected +but celebrated in the town of Grave by a pleasant +family festival, from whose gaieties the elder duke, +fatigued, retired at an early hour. Scarcely was +he in bed, when he was aroused rudely, and carried +off half clad to a dungeon in the castle of +Buren, by the order of his son, who superintended +the abduction in person and then became +duke regnant. For over six years the old man +languished in prison, actually taunted, from time +to time, it is said, by Duke Adolf himself.</p> +<p> +Indignant remonstrances against this conduct +were heard from various quarters, and were all +alike unheeded by the young duke until Charles +of Burgundy interfered and ordered him to bring +his father to his presence, and to submit the dispute +to his arbitration. Charles was too near<span class="page"><a name="321">[page 321]</a></span> +and too powerful a neighbour to be disregarded, +and his peremptory invitation was accepted. +Pending the decision, the two dukes were forced +to be guests in his court, under a strict surveillance +which amounted to an arrest.</p> +<p> +The first suggestion made by Charles was for +a compromise between father and son. "Let +Duke Arnold retain the nominal sovereignty in +Guelders, actual possession of one town, and a fair +income, while to Adolf be ceded the full power of +administration." The latter was emphatic in +his refusal to consider the proposition. "Rather +would I prefer to see my father thrown into a well +and to follow him thither than to agree to such +terms. He has been sovereign duke for forty-four +years; it is my turn now to reign." Arnold +thought it would be a simple feat to fight out the +dispute. "I saw them both several times in the +duke's apartment and in the council chamber +when they pleaded, each his own cause. I saw the +old man offer a gage of battle to his son."<a href="#XVI1"><sup>1</sup></a> The +senior belonged to the disappearing age of chivalry. +A trial of arms seemed to him an easy and knightly +fashion of ending his differences with his importunate +heir.</p> +<p> +No settlement was effected before the French +expedition, but Charles was not disposed to let +the matter slip from his control, and when he +proceeded to Amiens, the two dukes, still under +restraint, were obliged to follow in his train. At<span class="page"><a name="322">[page 322]</a></span> +a leisure moment Charles intended to force them +to accept his arbitration as final. Before that +moment arrived, the more agile of the two plaintiffs, +Adolf, succeeded in eluding surveillance +and escaping from the camp at Wailly. He made +his way successfully to Namur disguised as a +Franciscan monk. Then, at the ferry, he gave +a florin when a penny would have sufficed. The +liberality, inconsistent with his assumed rôle, +aroused suspicion and led to the detection of his +rank and identity. He was stayed in his flight +and imprisoned in the castle of Namur to await a +decision on his case by his self-constituted judge. +This was not pronounced until the summer of +1473.</p> +<p> +By that time, Charles was resolved on another +course of action than that of adjusting a family +dispute in the capacity of puissant, impartial, +and friendly neighbour. Adolf's behaviour towards +his father had been extraordinarily brutal +and outrageous. Public comment had been excited +to a wide degree. It was not an affair to +be dealt with lightly by Duke Charles. The +young Duchess of Guelders was Catharine of +Bourbon, sister to the late Duchess of Burgundy, +and Adolf himself was chevalier of the Golden +Fleece. In consideration of these links of family +and knightly brotherhood, Charles desired that +the case should be tried with all formality.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="arnold">[plate 21]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image21arnold.jpg" width="400" height="631" alt="ARNOLD, DUKE OF GUELDERS" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +On May 3, 1473, an assembly of the Order was +held at Valenciennes,<a href="#XVI2"><sup>2</sup></a> and the knights were asked<span class="page"><a name="323">[page 323]</a></span> +to pass upon the conduct of their delinquent +fellow, who was permitted to present his own +brief through an attorney, but was detained in +his own person at Namur. The innocence or +guilt of his prisoner was no longer the chief point +of interest as far as the Duke of Burgundy was +concerned. The latter had made an excellent +bargain on his own behalf with the moribund Duke +of Guelders, who had signed (December, 1472) a +document wherein he sold to Charles all his +administrative rights in Guelders and Zutphen for +ninety-two thousand florins,<a href="#XVI3"><sup>3</sup></a> in consideration of<span class="page"><a name="324">[page 324]</a></span> +Arnold's enjoying a life interest in half of the +revenue of his ancient duchy. That clause soon +lost its significance. The old man's life ceased +in March, 1473, and, by virtue of the contract, +Charles proposed to enter into full possession of +his estates, setting aside not only Adolf, whom he +was ready to pronounce an outlawed criminal, +quite beyond the pale of society, but that +Adolf's innocent eight-year-old heir, Charles, whose +hereditary claims had also been ignored by his +grandfather.</p> +<p> +Before the knights of the Order as a final court, +were rehearsed all the circumstances of the old +family quarrel and of the late commercial transaction. +Their verdict was the one desired by their +chief. It was proven to their entire satisfaction +that Arnold's sale of the duchy of Guelders and +Zutphen was a legitimate proceeding, and that the +deed executed by him was a perfect and valid +instrument, whereby Charles of Burgundy was +duly empowered to enjoy all the revenues of, +and to exert authority in, his new duchy at his +pleasure. As to Duke Adolf, he was condemned +by this tribunal of his peers to life imprisonment +as punishment for his unfilial and unjustifiable<span class="page"><a name="325">[page 325]</a></span> +cruelty towards Arnold, late Duke of Guelders.</p> +<p> +Adolf's protests were stifled by his prison bars, +but the people of Guelders were by no means disposed +to accept unquestioned this deed of transfer, +made when the two parties to the conveyance +were in very unequal conditions of freedom. +In order to convince them of the justice of his +pretensions, Charles levied a force almost as efficient +as his army of the preceding summer, and +fell upon Guelders. A truce, a triple compact +with France and England, had recently been +renewed, so that for the moment his hands were +free from complications, an event commented +upon by Sir John Paston, as follows:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"April 16, 1473, CANTERBURY.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"As for tydings ther was a truce taken at Brusslys +about the xxvi day off March last, betwyn the Duke of +Burgoyn and the Frense Kings inbassators and Master +William Atclyff ffor the king heer, whiche is a pese +be londe and be water tyll the ffyrst daye off Apryll +nowe next comyng betweyn Fraunce and Ingeland, +and also the Dukys londes. God holde it ffor ever."</p> + +<p> +The writer had recently been in Charles's court. +Writing from Calais in February, he says:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"As ffor tydyngs heer ther bee but few saff that +the Duke of Burgoyen and my Lady hys wyffe fareth +well. I was with them on Thorysdaye last past at +Gaunt."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVI4"><sup>4</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The Duke of Burgundy was not the only pretender<span class="page"><a name="326">[page 326]</a></span> +to the vacated sovereignty of Guelders. +The Duke of Juliers was also inclined to urge his +cause, were Adolf's family to be set aside. At +the sight of Burgundian puissance, however, he +was ready to be convinced, and accepted 24,000 +florins for his acquiescence in the righteousness +of the accession. Several of the cities manifested +opposition to Charles, but yielded one after +another. In Nimwegen—long hostile to Duke +Arnold—there was a determined effort to support +little Charles of Guelders who, with his sister, was +in that city. The child made a pretty show on +his little pony, and there were many declarations +of devotion to his cause as he was put forward to +excite sympathy. For three weeks, the town +held out in his name. The resistance to the Burgundian +troops was sturdy. When the gates +gave way before their attacks the burghers defended +the broken walls. Six hundred English +archers were repulsed from an assault with such +sudden energy that they left their banners sticking +in the very breaches they thought they had won, +fine prizes for the triumphant citizens. But +the game was unequal, and the combatants, convinced +that discretion was the better part of +valour, at last accepted the Duke of Cleves as a +mediator with their would-be sovereign.</p> +<p> +On July 19th, a long civic procession headed +by the burgomasters, wearing neither hats nor +shoes, marched to the Duke of Burgundy with a +prayer for pardon on their lips. The leaders of the<span class="page"><a name="327">[page 327]</a></span> +opposition to his accession were delivered over to +the mercy of the victor. The garrison were accorded +their lives and a tax was imposed on the +city to indemnify the duke for his needless +trouble, and Guelders was added <i>de facto</i> to the +list of Burgundian ducal titles. In the various +state papers presently issued by the new ruler, the +mention of the circumstance of his accession to +the sovereignty was simple and straightforward, +as in a certain document appointing Olivier de la +Marche to be treasurer. The patent bears the +date of August 18th and was one of the earliest +issued by Charles in this new capacity.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"As by the death of the late Messire Arnold, in his +life Duke of Guelderland, these counties and duchy +have lapsed to me, and by the same token the offices +of the land have escheated to our disposition, and +among others the office of master of the moneys of +those countships ... using the rights, etc., escheated +to me, and in consideration of the good and +agreeable services already rendered and continually +rendered by our knight, etc., Olivier de la Marche, +having full confidence in his sense, loyalty, probity, +and good diligence—for these causes and others we +entrust the office of master and overseer of moneys of +the land of Guelders to him, with all the rights, duties, +and privileges thereto pertaining. In testimony of +this we have set our seal to these papers. Done in +our city of Nimwegen, August 18, 1473. Thus +signed by M. le duc."</p> + +<p> +On the back of this document was written:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"To-day, November 3, 1473, Messire Olivier de la<span class="page"><a name="328"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 328]</span></a></span> +Marche ... took the oath of office of +master and overseer of the land and duchy of +Guelders."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVI5"><sup>5</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The charge of the ducal children, Charles and +Philippa, was entrusted to the duke who, in his +turn, deputed Margaret of York to supervise +their education. In a comparatively brief time +agitation in behalf of the disinherited heir ceased, +and imperial ratification alone was required to +stamp the territory as a legal fraction of the +Burgundian domains. Under the circumstances +the minor heirs were the emperor's wards, and it +was his express duty to look to their interests, +but Frederic III. showed no disposition to assert +himself as their champion. On the contrary, +the embassy that arrived from his court on August +14th was charged with felicitations to his dear +friend, Charles of Burgundy, for his acquisition, +and with assurances that the requisite investiture +into his dignities should be given by his imperial +hand at the duke's pleasure.<a href="#XVI6"><sup>6</sup></a></p> +<p> +Communication between Frederic and Charles +had been intermittently frequent during the past +three years, and one subject of their letters was +probably a reason why Charles had been willing to +abandon a losing game in France to give another +bias to his thoughts. He was lured on by the +bait of certain prospects, varying in their definite<span class="page"><a name="329">[page 329]</a></span> +form indeed, but full of promise that he might be +enabled, eventually, to confer with Louis XI. from +a better vantage ground than his position as first +peer of France. The story of these hopes now +becomes the story of Charles of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +When Sigismund of Austria completed his +mortgage, in 1469, at St. Omer, and returned +home, as already stated, he was fired with zeal to +divert some of the dazzling Burgundian wealth +into the empty imperial coffers. An alliance +between Mary of Burgundy and the young Archduke +Maximilian seemed to him the most advantageous +matrimonial bargain possible for the +emperor's heir. He urged it upon his cousin with +all the eloquence he possessed, and was lavish +in his offers to be mediator between him and +his new friend Charles.</p> +<p> +Frederic was impressed by Sigismund's enthusiastic +exposition of the advantages of the match, +and little time elapsed before his ambassador +brought formal proposals to Charles for the alliance. +The duke received the advances complacently +and returned propositions significant of his +personal ambitions. As early as May, 1470, his +instructions to certain envoys sent to the intermediary, +Sigismund, are plain. In unequivocal +terms, his daughter's hand is made contingent on +his own election as King of the Romans, that +shadowy royalty which veiled the approach to the +imperial throne.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"<i>Item</i>—And in regard to the said marriage, the<span class="page"><a name="330"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 330]</span></a></span> +ambassadors shall inform Monseigneur of Austria +that, since his departure from Hesdin, certain people +have talked to Monseigneur about this marriage and +mentioned that, in return, the emperor would be willing +to grant to Monseigneur the crown and the +government of the Kingdom of the Romans, with the +stipulation that Monseigneur, <i>arrived at the empire by +the good pleasure of the emperor</i> or by his death, would, +in his turn, procure the said crown of the Romans for +his son-in-law. The result will be that the empire +will be continued in the person of the emperor's son +and his descendants.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"<i>Item</i>—They shall tell him about a meeting between +the imperial and ducal ambassadors, at which +meeting there was some talk of making a kingdom +out of certain lands of Monseigneur and joining these +to an <i>imperial</i> vicariate of all the lands and principalities +lying along the Rhine."</p> + +<p> +In the following paragraphs of this instruction,<a href="#XVI7"><sup>7</sup></a> +Charles directs his envoys to make it clear to +Monseigneur of Austria (Sigismund) that the +duke's interest in the plan does not spring from +avarice or ambition. He is purely actuated by a +yearning to employ his time and his strength for +God's service and for the defence of the Faith, +while still in his prime.</p> +<p> +Should the emperor refuse to approve the<span class="page"><a name="331">[page 331]</a></span> +duke's nomination as King of the Romans, the +ambassadors are instructed to say that they are +not empowered to proceed with the marriage +negotiations without first referring to their chief. +They must ask leave to return with their report. +If Sigismund should take it on himself to sound +the emperor again about his sentiments, the +envoys might await the result of his investigations. +He was to be assured that while Charles was +resolved to hold back until he was fully satisfied +on this point, if it were once ceded, he would +interpose no further delay in the celebration of the +nuptials. He must know, however, just what +power and revenue the emperor would attach +to the proposed title. He was not willing to +accept it without emoluments. His present +financial burdens were already heavy, etc. The +concluding items of the instructions had reference +to the marriage settlements.</p> +<p> +A kingdom of his own was not the duke's dream +at this stage of Burgundo-Austrian negotiations. +The title that Charles desired primarily was King +of the Romans, one empty of substantial sovereign +power, but rich with promise of the all-embracing +imperial dignity. Significant is the intimation +that after this preliminary title was conferred, its +wearer would be glad to have Frederic step aside +voluntarily. A resignation would be as efficient +as death in making room for his appointed +successor.</p> +<p> +Frederic III. had, indeed, intimated occasionally<span class="page"><a name="332">[page 332]</a></span> +that a life of meditation would suit his tastes +better than the imperial throne, but he seems +in no wise to have been tempted by the offer +made by Charles to relieve him of his onerous +duties, and then to pass on the office to his +son. At any rate, the emperor rejected the +opportunity to enjoy an irresponsible ease. His +answer to the duke was that he did not exercise +sufficient influence over his electors to ensure +their accepting his nominee as successor to the +<i>imperium</i>.</p> +<p> +There was, however, one honour that lay wholly +within his gift. If Charles desired higher rank, +the emperor would be quite willing to erect his +territories into a realm and to create him monarch +of his own agglomerated possessions, welded into +a new unity. This proposition wounded Charles +keenly. He assured Sigismund<a href="#XVI8"><sup>8</sup></a> (January 15, +1471) that his nomination as King of the Romans +would never have occurred to him spontaneously. +He had been assured that it was a darling project +of the emperor, and he had simply been willing +to please him, etc. As to a kingdom of his own, +he refused the proposition with actual disdain.</p> +<p> +Then various suitors for the hand of Mary of +Burgundy appeared on the scene successively. +To Nicholas of Calabria, Duke of Lorraine, grandson +of old King René of Anjou, she was formally +betrothed.<a href="#XVI9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> +<p> +"My cousin, since it is the pleasure of my very<span class="page"><a name="333">[page 333]</a></span> +redoubtable seigneur and father, I promise you +that, you being alive, I will take none other than +you and I promise to take you when God +permits it." So wrote Mary with her own hand +on June 13, 1472, at Mons. On December 3d, +she declared all such pledges revoked as though +they never had been made, and Nicholas, too, +formally renounced his pretensions to her hand.</p> +<p> +There were several moments when Charles of +France had appeared to be very near acceptance +as Mary's husband, and several other princes +seemed eligible suitors. Doubtless her father +found his daughter very valuable as a means of +attracting friendship. Doubtless, too, as Commines +says, he was not anxious to introduce any +son-in-law into his family. His fortieth year +was only completed in 1473, and he was by no +means ready to range himself as an ancestor.</p> +<p> +At successive times the negotiations between +Charles and Frederic were ruptured only to +be renewed on some slightly different basis. +Threaded together they made a story fraught +with interest for Louis XI., and one that, very +probably, he had an opportunity to hear. Up +to August, 1472, it is a safe inference that Philip +de Commines was fully cognisant of the propositions +and counter-propositions, the understandings +and misunderstandings, the private letters of, as +well as the interviews with, the accredited Austrian +envoys that appeared at one Burgundian camp +after another. Probably there was nothing more<span class="page"><a name="334">[page 334]</a></span> +valuable in the store of learning carried by the +astute historian from his first patron to his second +than all this fund of confidential miscellany.</p> +<p> +It seems a fair surmise that Louis XI. enjoyed +immensely the delightful private view into his +rival's dreams, the disappointments and rehabilitation +of his shattered visions. The relation +would have made him not only fully aware of the +reasons why Charles was diverted from his hot +pursuit of the Somme towns, but thoroughly informed +as to the great obstacles lying in the path +which the duke hoped to travel. Naturally, the +king was quite willing to rest assured that ruin +was inevitable. If his rival were disposed to +wreck himself rashly on German shoals, the king +was equally disposed to be an acquiescent onlooker +and to spare his own powder.</p> +<p> +On his part, Charles was wholly unconscious of +the extent of his loss of prestige within the French +realm in 1472. There had been other periods +when the king had appeared triumphant over +his aspiring nobles only to be again checked by +their alliance. In the radical change undergone +by the feudatories after Guienne's death and +Brittany's reconciliation, there was, however, no +opening left for the Duke of Burgundy's re-entry +as a French political leader. It was this definitive +cessation of his importance that Charles failed +to recognise. Confident that his star was rising +in the east he did not note the significance of its +setting in the west. Thereupon the situation<span class="page"><a name="335">[page 335]</a></span> +was,—Charles, believing that his plans were his +own secret, <i>versus</i> Louis, fully advised of those +plans and alert to all incidents of the past, present, +and future in a fashion impossible to the duke +in his absorbed contemplation of his own prospects, +blocking the scope of his view.</p> +<p> +With the emperor's congratulations at the +duke's accession to Guelders, and his offers to +invest him with the title, were coupled intimations +that it was an opportune moment to resume +consideration of an alliance between the Archduke +Maximilian and Mary of Burgundy. The +duke accepted the new overtures, and Rudolf +de Soulz and Peter von Hagenbach proceeded +to the Burgundian and Austrian courts respectively, +as confidential envoys to discuss the +marriage.<a href="#XVI10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> +<p> +Charles was far more gracious to De Soulz than +he had been to the last imperial messenger, the +Abbé de Casanova, who had restricted his proposals +to Mary's fortunes and ignored her father's. +The duke had no intention of permitting any conference +to proceed on that line. He was explicit +as to his requisitions. De Soulz was surprised +by a gift of ten thousand florins, explained by the +phrase, "because Monseigneur recognised the +love and affection borne him by the said count." +That was a simple retainer. Other benefits, offices, +and estates were conferred, to take effect on the +day when Monseigneur was named King of the<span class="page"><a name="336">[page 336]</a></span> +Romans.</p> +<p> +The instructions to Hagenbach were definite, +covering the ground of those previously mentioned, +issued in 1470. He was, however, +especially enjoined to assure Frederic that the +duke did not require his abdication. He would +be content to step into the shoes naturally +vacated by his death.</p> +<p> +The final suggestion resulting from these parleyings +was that an interview between the two principals +would be far more satisfactory than any +further interchange of messages. It was not only +a propitious time for a conference, but it was +necessary. The ceremony of investiture of the +duke into his latest acquired fief made it evidently +imperative that he should visit the emperor. +And to preparations for that event, Charles +turned his attention, now absolutely confident +that the outcome must be to his satisfaction. +He had as little comprehension of the character of +the man with whom he was to deal as he had of +Louis XI. The choice of a place caused some +difficulty, each prince preferring a locality near +his own frontier. Metz was selected and abandoned +on account of an epidemic. Finally Trèves +was appointed for the important occasion, and +Frederic sent official invitations to the princes of +the empire to follow him thither in October.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="mary2">[plate 22]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image22mary2.jpg" width="400" height="747" alt="MARY OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Before Charles arrived at the rendezvous, +another event had occurred that had an important +bearing on his fortunes. Nicholas, Duke of<span class="page"><a name="337">[page 337]</a></span> +Lorraine, died (July 27th), leaving no direct heir. +He had been relinquished as a son-in-law, but the +geographical position of his duchy made the question +of its sovereignty all important to Charles of +Burgundy. If it could be under his own control, +how convenient for the passage of his troops +from Luxemburg to the south! The taste for +duchies like many another can grow by what it +feeds upon.</p> +<p> +Prepared to set out for his journey to Trèves, +Charles hastened his movements and proceeded to +Metz with an escort so large that it had a formidable +aspect to the city fathers. Whether they +feared that their free city was too tempting a +base for attack on Lorraine or not, the magistrates +yet found it expedient to keep the Burgundian +thousands without their walls. The emperor, +too, was on his way to Trèves. Many of his suite +were occupying quarters in Metz. Room might +be found for Charles and his immediate retainers, +indeed, but the troops must make themselves +as comfortable as possible outside the gates. So +said the burgomaster, and Charles was forced to +yield and he made a splendid entry into the town +under the prescribed conditions.</p> +<p> +His own paraphernalia had been forwarded +from Antwerp, so that there should be an abundance +of plate, tapestry, etc., to grace his temporary +quarters, and the forests of Luxemburg had +been scoured to secure game for the banquets.</p> +<p> +It was all very fine, but Charles was not in a<span class="page"><a name="338">[page 338]</a></span> +humour to be pleased. He was annoyed about +his troops; very probably he had intended leaving +a portion at Metz, ready to be available in Lorraine +if occasion offered. He cut short his stay in the +town and marched on with his imposing escort to +Trèves, whence he hoped to march out again a +greater personage than any Duke of Burgundy +had ever been.<a href="#XVI11"><sup>[11]</sup></a></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#321">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XVI1">Commines</a>, iv., ch. i.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#323">[Footnote 2:</a> <i>Hist. <a name="XVI2">de</a> l'Ordre,</i> etc., p. 64. One of the places to be filled at +this session was that of Frank van Borselen, the widower +of Jacqueline, Countess of Holland. Thus the last faint trace +of the ancient family disappeared. It is expressly stated +in the minutes of the session that Adolf of Guelders was +asked to nominate candidates from his prison, but he would +not do it. Striking is Charles's remark on the nomination +of the son of the King of Naples. Considering that the Order +was already decorated and honoured by four kings, very excellent, +he judged it more <i>à propos</i> to distribute the five empty +collars within his own states. Nevertheless the infant was +elected, as was also Engelbert of Nassau.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +Various members are criticised as permitted by the rules +of the Order. There was reproach for Anthony the Bastard +for taking a gift of 20,000 crowns from Louis XI. Payable +as it was in terms, it savoured of a pension. Had Henry van +Borselen done all he could to prevent Warwick's landing in +England? etc.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +Among the minor pieces of business discussed was the +disposition of the scarlet mantles now discarded by the +chevaliers. It was decided after deliberation that they +should be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of +tapestries for the chapel of Dijon, and the treasurer was +deputed to see about it. Perhaps it was in this connection +that the discussion turned on the wide-spread use, or rather +abuse of gold and velvet. It tended to depreciate the Order +and the state of chivalry. But the sovereign thought it best +to defer this point until his return from his proposed journey +to Guelders. Lengthy, too, were the discussions upon the +exact usage in respect to wearing the collar and insignia of the +Order.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#323">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XVI3">The</a> first sum named was three hundred thousand.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#325">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="XVI4">The</a> Paston Letters, iii., 79.</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#328">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XVI5">See</a> <i>Mémoires Couronnés</i>, xlix., 180.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#328">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XVI6">Toutey</a>, p. 42; Lenglet, ii., 207. August 14th the +Duke of Burgundy crossed the Rhine and made his way to +Nimwegen where the ambassador of the emperor visited him.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#330">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XVI7">This</a> instruction, printed by Lenglet (iii., 238) from the +Godefroy edition of Commines, has no date and has been +referred to 1472. From internal evidence it seems fair to +conclude that it belongs rather to 1470. The question of the +marriage comes in at the end of the paper, the first part +being devoted to Swiss affairs.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#332">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XVI8">Toutey</a>, p. 36.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#332">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XVI9">Lenglet</a>, iii., 192.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#336">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XVI10">Toutey</a>, p. 44; Chmel, <i>Monumenta Habsburgica, I, 3.</i>]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#338">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XVI11">Toutey</a>, p. 46.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="339">[page 339]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XVII">XVII</a></h2> + +<h3>THE MEETING AT TRÈVES</h3> + +<h4>1473</h4> +<p> +On Wednesday, September 28th, Emperor +Frederic made his entry into the old +Roman city on the dancing Moselle. Two days +later, the Duke of Burgundy arrived and was welcomed +most pompously outside of Trèves, by his +suzerain.</p> +<p> +After the first greetings, ensued an argument +about the etiquette proper for the occasion, an +argument similar to those which had absorbed +the punctilious in the Burgundian court, when +the dauphin made his famous visit to Duke Philip. +For thirty minutes, the emperor argued with his +guest before feudal scruples were overcome and +the vassal was induced to ride by his chief's side +into the city.</p> +<p> +The entry was a grand sight, and crowds +thronged the streets, more curious about the +duke than about the emperor. Charles was then +in the very prime of life. His personality commanded +attention, but there were some among +the onlookers who found it more striking than +attractive. One bystander thought that the very +splendour of his dress, wherein cloth of gold +and pearls played a part, only brought into high<span class="page"><a name="340">[page 340]</a></span> +relief the severity of his features. His great +black eyes, his proud and determined air failed +to cast into oblivion a certain effect of insignificance +given by his square figure, broad shoulders, +excessively stout limbs, and legs rather bowed +from continuous riding.<a href="#XVII1"><sup>l</sup></a></p> +<p> +There is, however, another word portrait of the +duke as he looked in the year 1473, whose trend +is more sympathetic.<a href="#XVII2"><sup>2</sup></a> "His stature was small +and nervous, his complexion pale, hair dark +chestnut, eyes black and brilliant, his presence +majestic but stern. He was high-spirited, magnanimous, +courageous, intrepid, and impetuous. +Capable of action, he lacked nothing but prudence +to attain success."</p> +<p> +From the two descriptions emerges a fairly +clear picture of an energetic man, somewhat +undersized, and sometimes inclined to assert +his dignity in a fashion that did not quite comport +with his physical characteristics. The conviction +that he was a very important personage +with greater importance awaiting him, and his +total lack of a sense of humour, combined with his +inability to feel the pulse of a situation, undoubtedly +affected his bearing and made it seem more pompous.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="charles2">[plate 23]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image23charles2.jpg" width="400" height="527" alt="CHARLES THE BOLD" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="341">[page 341]</a></span> +<p> +The emperor was not an heroic figure in appearance +any more than he was in the records of his +reign, distinguished for being the feeblest as well +as the longest in the annals of the empire. He +was indolent, timid, irresolute, and incapable. His +features and manners were vulgar, his intellect +sluggish. Peasant-like in his petty economies, +he was shrewder at a bargain than in wielding +his imperial sceptre. At Trèves he was accompanied +by his son, the Archduke Maximilian, a +fairly intelligent youth of eighteen, very ready +to be fascinated by his proposed father-in-law, +who was a striking contrast to his own languid +and irresolute father, in energy and strenuous +love of action.</p> +<p> +As the two princes rode together into the city, +Charles's accoutrements attracted all eyes. The +polished steel of his armour shone like silver. Over +it hung a short mantle actually embroidered with +diamonds and other precious stones to the value +of two hundred thousand gold crowns. His +velvet hat, graciously held in his hand out of +compliment to the emperor, was ornamented +with a diamond whose price no man could tell. +Before him walked a page carrying his helmet +studded with gems, while his magnificent black +steed was heavily weighted down with its rich +caparisons.</p> +<p> +Frederic III., very simple in his ordinary dress, +had exerted himself to appear well to his great<span class="page"><a name="342">[page 342]</a></span> +vassal. His robe of cloth of gold was fine, though +it may have looked something like a luxurious +dressing-gown, as it was made after the Turkish +fashion and bordered with pearls. The emperor +was lame in one foot, injured, so ran the tradition, +by his habit of kicking, not his servants, but innocent +doors that chanced to impede his way.</p> +<p> +The Archduke Maximilian, gay in crimson and +silver, walked by the side of an Ottoman prince, +prisoner of war, and converted to Christianity by +the pope himself. And then there was a host +of nobles, great and small. Among them were +Engelbert of Nassau<a href="#XVII3"><sup>3</sup></a> and the representative +of the House of Orange-Châlons, whose titles were +destined to be united in one person within the +next half-century.</p> +<p> +The magnificence remained unrivalled in the +history of royal conferences. The very troopers +wore habits of cloth of gold over their steel, while +their embroidered saddle-cloths were fringed +with silver bells. Surpassing all others, were +the heralds-at-arms of the various individual +states which acknowledged Charles as their sovereign, +seigneur, count, or duke as the case might +be. They preceded their liege lord, clad in their +distinctive armorial coats, ablaze with colour. +Before them were the trumpeters in white and +blue, their very instruments silvered, while first<span class="page"><a name="343">[page 343]</a></span> +of all rode one hundred golden haired boys, "an +angel throng."</p> +<p> +It was so difficult to decide as to the requisite +etiquette of escort, that the emperor and duke +agreed to separate on the fairly neutral ground +of the market-place. Each proceeded with his +own suite to his lodgings, Frederic to the archbishop's +palace, and Charles to the abbey of St. +Maximin, which had conferred on him, some years +previously, the honorary title of "Protector." +His army was quartered within and without the +city. Two days for repose and then the first +official interview took place, which is described +as follows, by an unknown correspondent, evidently +in the ducal suite:<a href="#XVII4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Yesterday, which was Sunday, Monseigneur +waited upon the emperor and escorted him to his own +lodging which is in the abbey of St. Maximin. My said +lord was clad in ducal array except for his hat. The +emperor wore a rich robe of cloth of gold of cramoisy, +and his son was in a robe of green damask. As to +their people, both suites were very brave, jewelry +and cloth of gold being as common as satin or taffeta. +Monseigneur received the emperor in a little chamber +decorated with hangings from Holland that many +recognised.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"The emperor made the Bishop of Mayence his +mouthpiece to describe the stress of Christianity and +to urge Charles to lend his assistance. Having listened +to this address, Monseigneur requested the<span class="page"><a name="344"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 344]</span></a></span> +emperor to please come into a larger place where +more people could hear his answer. Accordingly +they entered a hall decorated with the tapestry of +Alexander, while the very ceiling was covered with +cloth of gold. There was a dais whereon stood a +double row of seats. Benches and steps were spread +over with tapestry wrought with my lord's arms. +Thither came the emperor and mounted the dais with +difficulty.... Mons., the chancellor, clad +in velvet over velvet cramoisy, first pronounced a +discourse in beautiful Latin as a response to what +had been said by the seigneur of Mayence. Then, +showing how the affairs of my said lord were affected +by the king, he began with an account of the king's +reception by Monseigneur, whom God absolve [evidently +the late duke], in his own residence, and he +continued down to the present day, dilating upon +the great benefits, services, and honour by him [Louis] +received in the domains of Burgundy, and the extortions +he had made since and desires to make. Never a +word was forgotten, but all was well stated, especially +the case of M. de Guienne.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVII5"><sup>5</sup></a></span> Finally, Monseigneur +declared that if his lands were in security, there was +nothing he would like better than to give aid to +Christianity.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"After this statement, which was marvellously +honest, the emperor arose from the throne, wine +and spices were brought, and then Monseigneur +escorted the emperor to his quarters with grand +display of torches. This is the outline of what happened +on October 4th, in the said year lxxiii. And<span class="page"><a name="345"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 345]</span></a></span> +as to the future, next Thursday the emperor will dine +where Monseigneur lodges, <i>et là fera les grants du +roy</i>,<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVII6"><sup>6</sup></a></span> and there will be novelties. In regard to the +fashion of the said emperor and his estate, he is a very +fine prince and attractive, very robust, very human, +and benign. I do not know with whom to compare +his figure better than Monseigneur de Croy, as +he was eight or ten years ago, except that his flesh +is whiter than that of the Sr. de Croy. The emperor +has seven or eight hundred horse as an escort, but the +major part of the nobles present come from this locality. +In regard to Monseigneur's departure, there is no +news, and they make great cheer—this is all for this +time."</p> + +<p> +The German scholars in the imperial party +listened most attentively to the style of the +Netherlander's speech as well as to his subject-matter. +"More abundant in vocabulary than +elegant in Latinity," was their comment, a fault +they considered marking all French Latin. The +audience found time to note the style for the +subject of the address did not interest them +greatly. The least observant onlooker knew that +the main purpose of this interview was not the +plan of a Turkish campaign, though Frederic +appointed a committee to discuss that, whose +members, Burgundian and German in equal +numbers, were instructed to study the Eastern +question while emperor and duke were absorbed<span class="page"><a name="346">[page 346]</a></span> +in other matters.<a href="#XVII7"><sup>7</sup></a> In their very first session, +this committee decided that the chief obstacle +to a Turkish expedition was the Franco-Burgundian +quarrel. This point was also raised by +Charles in his first conference with Frederic. +No campaign was feasible until the European +powers were ready to act in concert. Louis XI. +was aiding and abetting the heathen by being a +disturbing element which rendered this desired +unity impossible. So Frederic appointed a fresh +commission to discuss European peace. And +this insolvable problem was a convenient blind +for other discussions.</p> +<p> +On October 5th, a Burgundian fête gave new +occasion for a display of wealth; "vulgar ostentation," +sneered the less opulent German nobles +who tried to show that their pride was not +wounded by the sharp contrasts between imperial +habits and those of a mere duke. On their side, +the Burgundians remarked that it was a pity to +waste good things on boors so little accustomed +to elegantly equipped apartments that they used +silken bedspreads to polish up their boots!</p> +<p> +A running commentary of international criticism, +fine feasts, ostensible negotiations about +projects that probably no one expected would +come to pass, and an undercurrent, persistent +and mandatory, of demands emphatically made on +one side, feebly accepted by the other while the +two principals were together, and petulantly disliked<span class="page"><a name="347">[page 347]</a></span> +by the emperor as soon as he was alone again +—such was the course of the conference.</p> +<p> +Frederic III. had one simple desire—to marry +his son to the Burgundian heiress. Charles +desired many things, some of which are clear +and others obscure. The very fact that the +emperor did not at once refuse his demands, +gave him confidence that all were obtainable. +Very probably he hoped to overawe his feudal +chief by a display of his resources, and by showing +the high esteem in which he was held by all nations. +There at Trèves, embassies came to him from +England, from various Italian and German states, +and from Hungary.</p> +<p> +On October 15th, a treaty was signed that +made the new Duke of Lorraine virtually a vassal +to Charles, an important step towards Burgundian +expansion. There was time and to spare for +these many comings and goings during the eight +weeks of the sojourn at Trèves, and the duke was +not idle. That his own business hung fire, he +thought was due to the machinations of Louis XI. +He had no desire to prolong his visit, for he was +well aware of the risk involved in keeping his +troops in Trèves.<a href="#XVII8"><sup>8</sup></a> At first the magnificence of +his equipage had amused the quiet old town, but +little by little, in spite of the duke's strict discipline, +the presence of idle soldiers became very +onerous. Charles did not hesitate to hang on the +nearest tree a man caught in an illicit act, but<span class="page"><a name="348">[page 348]</a></span> +much lawlessness passed without his knowledge. +Provisions became very dear; there was some +danger of an epidemic due to the unsanitary +conditions of the place, ill fitted to harbour so +many strangers. The precautions instituted by +the Roman founders in regard to their water +supply had long since fallen into disuse.</p> +<p> +Weary of delays, the duke demanded a definite +answer from the emperor as to the proposed kingdom, +the matrimonial alliance, and his own status. +Frederic appeared about to acquiesce, and then +substituted vague promises for present assent +to the demands. But when Charles, indignant, +broke off negotiations on October 31st, and +began to prepare for immediate departure, Frederic +became anxious, renewed his overtures, and +a new conference took place, in which he consented +to fulfil the duke's wishes, with the proviso +the sanction of his election should be obtained.</p> +<p> +Charles promised to go against the Turk in +person, and to place a thousand men at Frederic's +disposal, so soon as all points at issue between +him and Louis XI. were settled, and provided that +his estates were erected into a kingdom, which +should also comprise the bishoprics of Liege, +Utrecht, Toul, Verdun, and the duchies of Lorraine, +Savoy, and Cleves. This realm was to be +a fief of the empire like Hungary, Bohemia, and +Poland, and transmissible by heredity in the male +and female line—a necessary recognition of a +woman's right, approved by both parties, for<span class="page"><a name="349">[page 349]</a></span> +Mary of Burgundy was to marry Maximilian.</p> +<p> +Electoral confirmation alone was wanting, +and in regard to that there was much voluminous +correspondence and much shuffling of responsibility. +The electors of Mayence and of +Trèves were the only ones present to speak for +themselves, and they declared that the matter +ought to be referred to a full conclave of the +electoral college.<a href="#XVII9"><sup>9</sup></a> Let the candidate for royalty +await the decision of the next diet, appointed for +November at Augsburg.</p> +<p> +Never loth to delay, the emperor proposed +this solution to Charles, who replied haughtily +that if his request were not complied with he +would join Louis XI. in a league hostile to the +empire. This was on November 6th. The Archbishop +of Trèves then suggested that if the question +could not wait for a diet, at least the electors +should be summoned, especially the elector of +Brandenburg, whom he knew to be influential +with the emperor, and who was a leader in the +anti-Burgundian and anti-Bohemian German +party. This seemed fair, but the emperor suddenly +put on a show of authority and declared, with +an injured air, that he was perfectly free to act +on his own initiative without confirmation. In +the interests of Christianity and of the empire he +would appoint Charles of Burgundy chief of the<span class="page"><a name="350">[page 350]</a></span> +crusade, and he would crown him king.</p> +<p> +The organised opposition to his plan came to the +duke's ears and made him very angry. Yet, at +the same time, he had no desire to dispense with +electoral consent. Possibly he felt that the +imperial staff alone was too feeble to conjure +his kingdom into permanent existence. It was +finally decided that Frederic III. should display +his power to the extent of investing Charles at +once with the duchy of Guelders, while the more +important investiture should be postponed.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="max">[plate 24]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image24max.jpg" width="400" height="717" alt="MAXIMILIAN OF AUSTRIA" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +Very imposing was the ceremony enacted in the +market-place. Frederic was exalted upon a +high platform ascended by a flight of steps. +Charles, clad in complete steel but bareheaded +and unattended, rode slowly around the platform +three times, "which they say was the custom in +such solemnities of investiture," adds an eyewitness,<a href="#XVII10"><sup>10</sup></a> +as though he considered the ceremony +somewhat archaic. Then the candidate dismounted, +received the mantle of the empire from +an attendant, and slowly ascended the steps to the +emperor's feet, while a new escutcheon, displaying +the insignia of the freshly acquired fiefs, quartered +on the Burgundian arms, was carried before him. +Kneeling at the emperor's feet, the duke laid +two fingers on his sword hilt and repeated the<span class="page"><a name="351">[page 351]</a></span> +oath of fealty and service in low but distinct tones. +Other rites followed, and then Charles was proclaimed +Duke of Guelders.</p> + +<p> +Thus one object of the conference was attained, +and all the world thought it was only a question +of time when the greater investiture would be +celebrated. Charles's star was in the ascendant. +There seemed no limit to the power he had acquired +over his suzerain, who apparently graciously +nodded assent to his requests, while the +duke, too, withdrawing from his alliance with the +King of Hungary, appeared very conciliatory +in all doubtful issues. At the same time, his +confidence in Frederic was by no means perfect.</p> +<p> +"The emperor is acting with perfect imperial +authority and thinks that no one has a right to +dispute it, nevertheless the duke yearns for the +sanction of the electors and is set upon obtaining +it."<a href="#XVII11"><sup>11</sup></a> The tone taken by Charles was that of humble +ignorance. "Little instructed as I am in imperial +German law, I am anxious to have your +opinion on the legal ability of the emperor to +erect a kingdom." On November 8th, in the +evening, the electors present in Trèves declared +that they were not exactly sure about the imperial +authority, but they were sure that it was +not their duty to discuss the legal attributes of +imperial puissance.</p> +<p> +Under these circumstances what remained to<span class="page"><a name="352">[page 352]</a></span> +hinder the attainment of Charles's desire? The +emperor consented, and the only people who +could have stayed his consent expressly stated +that his was the final word, not theirs. It was easy +for onlookers to conclude not only that the coronation +was certain but that it was done.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Know that our lord the emperor has made the +Duke of Burgundy a king of the lands hereafter mentioned +and has assured the royal title to him and his +heirs, male and female; all the territories that he holds +from the empire together with Guelderland lately +conquered, and the land of Lorraine, lately lapsed to +the empire in fief, besides the duchy of Burgundy +that formerly was held from the crown of France; +also the bishoprics of Liege, Utrecht, Dolen, and others +belonging to the empire, besides a few seigniories, also +imperial fiefs. All this, royalty and principalities, he +receives from a Roman emperor."</p> + +<p> +So wrote Albert of Brandenburg on November +13th, trusting to the word of an envoy who had +left matters in so advanced a state when he departed +from Trèves that he felt safe in concluding +that achievement had been reached.<a href="#XVII12"><sup>12</sup></a></p> +<p> +Various letters from the citizens of Berne, too, +were filled with rumours from Trèves. Most +extraordinary is one of November 29th, intended +to go the rounds of the Swiss confederacy, containing +<i>exact details of the coronation of Charles +as it had taken place five days previously</i>. The<span class="page"><a name="353">[page 353]</a></span> +boundaries of the new kingdom were specified.<a href="#XVII13"><sup>13</sup></a> +Venice, in hot haste to please the monarch, had instantly +shown exceptional honour to the Burgundian +resident. How exact it all sounded! Yet +there was no truth in it.</p> +<p> +The vacillating emperor was affected by the +attitude of his suite, and by their varying representations. +There is no actual proof of French +interference, but French agents had been seen +in the city, and might have had private audiences +with the emperor. Gradually, relations changed +between Charles and Frederic. There was a cloud, +not dissipated by a three days' fête given by the +duke (November 19th-22d), evidently in farewell. +Was Charles too exigeant with his demands, too +chary of his daughter? Probably.</p> +<p> +On November 23d, instead of a definitive treaty +a simple convention was signed, postponing the +coronation until February. Emperor and regal +candidate were to meet again at Besançon, +Cologne, or Basel. In the interval, Charles was +to come to a satisfactory understanding with the +electors and obtain their official endorsement for +the imperial grant.</p> +<p> +November 25th was appointed, <i>not</i> for the +regal investiture, but for Frederic's departure. +On the evening of the 24th, he gave audience to +his councillors and princes. The electors present +were urged by the Burgundians to give their own +conditional approval at least, and to consent to a<span class="page"><a name="354">[page 354]</a></span> +reduction of the military obligations to be incurred +by Charles. It was a crisis, however, where +nobody wished to pledge anything definitely. +There was an evident disposition to await some +further issue before final action.</p> +<p> +The leave-taking between the bargain makers +was expected to be as pompous as had been the +entry into Trèves. It was far into the night of +November 24th when the audience broke up. +Little rest was there for the imperial suite, for when +the tardy November sun arose above the eastern +horizon, its rays met Frederic sailing down the +Moselle. Not only had no imperial adieux been +uttered, but no imperial debts had been settled. +This was the news that was awaiting Charles when +he awoke. Baffled he was, but not in his hope +of being a king that day. No, only in his expectation +of a stately pageant.<a href="#XVII14"><sup>14</sup></a> In all haste he +sent Peter von Hagenbach to ride more swiftly +along the bank than the boat could sail, so as to +overtake the traveller and urge him to wait for +a few more words on divers topics. In one account +it is reported that Frederic, though annoyed +at the interruption, still assented to Hagenbach's +request. No sooner was the latter away, however, +than he changed his mind and continued his +course.</p> +<p> +Rumour was busy, in regard to this strange<span class="page"><a name="355">[page 355]</a></span> +exit of the emperor from the scene. The general +belief among contemporaries was that it was on +the eve of the intended coronation that Frederic +turned his back on the scene. Take first the +words of Thomas Basin, whose statement that he +was in the very midst of the events can hardly +be doubted:<a href="#XVII15"><sup>15</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"But alas how easily and instantly human desires +change, and how fragile are the alliances and friendships +of men, especially of princes, which are not joined +and confirmed by the glue of Christ ... as the +sacred Psalm sings, 'Put not your trust in princes +nor in the sons of men in whom there is no safety.' +Suddenly, forsooth, when they were thought to be +harmonious in charity, benevolence, and friendship, +when they offered each other such splendid entertainment, +when they feasted together in regal luxury +in all unity and friendship, when all things, as has +been said, needed for the magnificence of such a great +honour were made ready and prepared, so that on +the third day should occur the celebration of that +regal dignity <i>[fastigii],</i> and the <i>[provectio]</i> promotion +of a new king and the erection of a new kingdom +or the restoration and renovation of an ancient one, +now obsolete from antiquity, were expected by all with +great attention;—something occurred. I do not know +what; hesitation or suspicion, fancied or justified, unexpectedly +affected the emperor ... and embarking on +his ship in the very early morning he sailed down the +river Moselle to the Rhine. And thus was frustrated +the hope of the duke and of all the Burgundians who<span class="page"><a name="356"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 356]</span></a></span> +believed that he was to be elevated to a king. In a +moment this hope was extinguished like a candle.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"We were present there in the city of Trèves, attached +to the suite of neither prince, not serving +or pretending to serve either of them. But we ascertained +nothing either then or later, although we made +many inquiries, about the cause of this sudden departure +and we are still ignorant of the truth. When +the day broke after the emperor's departure, and the +duke was informed of the fact, he was also assured +that the vessel in which the emperor sailed was opposite +the monastery of St. Mary Blessed to the Martyrs. +So he sent messengers hastily to beg the emperor to +stay for a very brief interview with the duke, assuring +him that the very least delay possible should occur if +he did the favour. But no attention was paid to the +signals from the shore and the course was continued."</p> + +<p> +The bishop wrote these words some time after +the event. There are other accounts preserved, +actual letters written within a few days or weeks +of November 25th, wherein is evinced similar +ignorance of what had actually passed. The +following gives several suggestions of difficulties +not mentioned elsewhere. A certain Balthasar +Cesner, secretary, writes to Master Johannes +Gelthauss and others in Frankfort, from Cologne, +on December 6th.<a href="#XVII16"><sup>16</sup></a> He was attached to the imperial +service, and possibly was one of the few<span class="page"><a name="357">[page 357]</a></span> +attendants on Frederic in the hasty journey from +Trèves. After touching on Cologne affairs he +proceeds:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"I must inform your excellencies how the Duke of +Burgundy came with all pomp for his coronation as +king of the kingdom of Burgundy and Friesland with +twenty-six standards besides a magnificent sceptre +and crown. He also wished to take his duchy and +territories in Savoy<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVII17"><sup>17</sup></a></span> and Guelders and others in fief +from him [the emperor] and not from the empire.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVII18"><sup>18</sup></a></span> +This and other extraordinary demands his imperial +grace did not wish to grant, and on that account he has +broken off the interview and gone away. Everything +was prepared for the coronation, the chair for the +taking.<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XVII19"><sup>19</sup></a></span> It is said that he is to be crowned in Aix. +It may be hoped not [<i>non speratur</i>]. You can +understand me as well as your faithful servant.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Dear Master Hans I hope that you will not laugh +at me. I can please my gracious lord and be worthy +of praise if you will only trust me.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Despatched from Cologne on St. Nicholas Day itself.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"To the Jurisconsult Master Johannes Gelthauss, +Distinguished advocate, master, preceptor of the city +of Frankfort."</p> + +<p> +The two kingdoms are also mentioned by Snoy:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Two realms, namely Burgundy and Frisia; in the<span class="page"><a name="358"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 358]</span></a></span> +second, Holland, Zealand, Guelders, Brabant, Limburg, +Namur, Hainaut, and the dioceses of Liege, +Cambray, and Utrecht; in the first, Burgundy, Luxemburg, +Artois, Flanders, and three bishoprics."</p> + +<p> +The chronicler adds that this plan was discussed +in secret conference.<a href="#XVII20"><sup>20</sup></a></p> +<p> +Again the rumour that the final straw that +broke the emperor's resolution was the duke's +desire to take Savoy and Guelders from his hand +alone, is suggestive. On the duke's part, this +wish might indicate an attempt to separate a +portion of territory from the empire in a way +to deceive his contemporaries into thinking that +his kingdom was an imperial fief, while, in +reality, it was an independent realm, as he or his +successors could declare at a convenient moment. +But this seems at variance with his attested +desire for electoral support.</p> +<p> +It was a curious tangle and never fully unravelled. +Yet, considering the emperor's personal<span class="page"><a name="359">[page 359]</a></span> +characteristics, his last action does not seem +inexplicable. As his visitor showed the intensity +of his will, Frederic became restive. Phlegmatic, +obstinate, yet conscious of his own weakness, +personal conflicts with a nature equally obstinate +and much more vigorous were exceedingly unpleasant. +The collision made him writhe uneasily +and prefer to slip out of his embarrassment as +quietly as he could.</p> +<p> +The proposed leave-taking was to be very magnificent, +and the magnificence again was significant +of Burgundian wealth. Whether the duke +would surely keep his pledge of sharing that +wealth with the archduke if the emperor went so +far that he could not draw back, was a consideration +that undoubtedly may have affected Frederic. +Had Mary of Burgundy accompanied her father, +had the wedding of the daughter and investiture +of the new king been planned for the same day, +had the promises been exchanged simultaneously, +the leave-taking might have passed, indeed, as a +third ceremonial in all stateliness.</p> +<p> +If Frederic doubted the surety of his bargain, +it is not surprising. It was notorious how the +duke had played fast and loose with his daughter's +hand, withdrawing it from the grasp of a suitor +as the greater advantages of another alliance +were presented to him, or as the mere disadvantage +of any marriage at all became unpleasantly +near. Vigorous man of forty that he was, +Charles had no personal desire to see a son-in-law,<span class="page"><a name="360">[page 360]</a></span> +<i>in propria persona</i>, waiting for his shoes—a fact +perfectly patent to the emperor, as it was to the +rest of the world.</p> +<p> +The task of making the imperial adieux was +entrusted to the imperial chamberlain, Ulrich +von Montfort, who duly presented his master's +formal excuses to the duke, on the morning of +November 25th. "Important and urgent affairs +had necessitated his presence elsewhere. The +arrangement discussed between them was not +broken but simply postponed until a more convenient +occasion rendered its execution possible," +etc.</p> +<p> +The Strasburg chronicles report that Charles +was in a towering rage on receiving this communication. +He clinched his fists, ground his teeth, +and kicked the furniture about the room in which +he had locked himself up.<a href="#XVII21"><sup>21</sup></a> But by the time +these words were penned, these authors were +better informed than Charles about the ultimate +result of the emperor's intentions. The duke +may have been angry, but he certainly controlled +himself sufficiently to give several audiences in +the course of the day—to envoys from Lorraine +among others—and was ready to take his own +departure by evening, not doubting that the +crown and sceptre, carefully packed with the +mountain of his valuable treasure, would assuredly +fulfil their destiny in the near future. Trèves was +left to its pristine repose, and Charles was the last<span class="page"><a name="361">[page 361]</a></span> +man to realise that in its silence were entombed +for ever his chances of wearing the prematurely +prepared insignia.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#340">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XVII1">This</a> comment of the Strasburg chronicler, Trausch, is +quoted by De Bussière in his <i>Histoire de la Ligue contre +Charles le Téméraire</i>, p. 64. Kirk (ii., 222) points out that +this contemporary had a peculiar hostility towards Charles.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#340">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XVII2">Guillaume</a> Faret or Farrel. His <i>Hist. de René II.</i> is lost. +This citation from it is found in <i>La Guerre de René II. contre +Charles le Hardi</i>, by P. Aubert Roland.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#342">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XVII3">He</a> had been made knight of the Golden Fleece at the +May meeting. From this time on some member of the +Nassau family was prominent in Burgundian affairs.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#343">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XVII4">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inédits</i>, i., 232. Letter from Trèves, October +4, 1473.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#344">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XVII5">About</a> this time Louis XI. made strenuous efforts to unravel +the mystery of his brother's death. (Letter to the +chancellor of Brittany, <i>Lettres de Louis XI</i>., v., 190.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#345">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XVII6">Gachard</a> could not explain this phrase. It might easily +refer to the desired investiture.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#346">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XVII7">Chmel</a>, <i>Mon. Habs</i>., i., lxxvii., 50, 51: Toutey, p. 50.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#347">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XVII8">Toutey</a>, p. 53.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#349">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XVII9">Toutey</a> bases this statement on three letters (October 30, +31, and November 7, 1473) written by the envoys of the elector +of Brandenburg, Ludwig von Eyb and Hertnid von Stein.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#350">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XVII10">Basin</a>, <i>Histoire des règnes de Charles VII. et de Louis XI.</i>, +ii., 323. Between Nov. 6th and this ceremony there had +been new ruptures. Hugonet had gone back and forth many +times between the chiefs and "all the world had wondered."]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#351">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XVII11">Albert</a> of Brandenburg to the Duke of Saxony. (Muller, +<i>Reichstag Theatrum</i>, p. 598.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#352">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XVII12">Toutey</a>, p. 57.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#353">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="XVII13">Toutey</a>, p. 60, note.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#354">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XVII14">In</a> this account, differing from the current tradition, +Toutey has followed Bachmann's conclusions (<i>Deutsche +Reichsgeschichte,</i> ii., 435).]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#355">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XVII15">Basin</a>, ii., 325.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#356">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="XVII16">Preserved</a> in the municipal archives in Frankfort (nr. +5808 or ch. lit. clausa c. sig in verso impr.). This is published +by Karl Schellhass in <i>Deutsche Zeitschrift für +Geschichtewissenschaft,</i> +(1891) pp. 80-85. The language is a queer mixture +of German and Latin.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#357">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="XVII17">Charles</a> asked on October 23d, through his chancellor, for +investiture into Savoy. (Note by Schellhass.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#357">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="XVII18">Under</a> this head is meant Lorraine, which he alleged had +lapsed to the emperor at the death of Nicholas of Calabria.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#357">[Footnote 19:</a> <a name="XVII19">This</a> means the throne from which Charles was to step +down to receive the fief.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#358">[Footnote 20:</a> "<a name="XVII20">Loquitur</a> etiam ferunt de regnis Frisiæ et Burgundiæ sibi +constituendes quæ audissimis auribus accepta visus non tam +negare imperator quam dissimulare.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +"Nam et ad eam [majestatem regiam] aspirare et ditiones +suas velle in duo regna partiri visue Burgundiæ et Frisiæ: in +hoc Hollandia, Zelandia, Gelria, Brabantia, Limburgum, +Namureum, Hannonia et dioceses Leodiensis, Cameracensis +et Trajectina: altero Burgundia, Luxemburgum, Arthesia, +Flandria, ecclesæque cathedrales Sadunensis, Tullensis Verdunensis +essent." (P. 1131.)</p> +<p class="footnote"> +Renier Snoy was born the year of Charles's death, so that +his statement is tradition but founded on what he might +have heard from eye-witnesses.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#359">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XVII21">Chmel</a>, i., 49-51; Toutey, p. 59.]</p> + + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="362">[page 362]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XVIII">XVIII</a></h2> + +<h3>COLOGNE, LORRAINE, AND ALSACE</h3> + +<h4>1473-1474</h4> +<p> +Late as it was in November, the weather was +still very mild, and as the emperor and +duke travelled in opposite directions, neither the +former as he went down to Cologne, nor the latter +as he passed up the valley of the Moselle to that of +the Ell, was hindered by autumn storms. The +summer of 1473 had been marked by unprecedented +heat and a prolonged drouth.<a href="#XVIII1"><sup>1</sup></a> Forest +fires raged unchecked on account of the dearth of +water and, for the same reason, the mills stood +still. The grape crops, indeed, were prodigious, +but the vintage was not profitable because the +wine had a tendency to sour. Gentle rains in +September prepared the ground for an untimely +fertility. Trees blossomed and, though some fruits +withered prematurely, cherries actually ripened. +Thus the Rhinelands presented a pleasant appearance +as Charles rode to Lorraine.</p> +<p> +His first pause was at Thionville in Luxemburg, +where he stayed about a fortnight and received +ambassadors from Hungary, Poland, Venice,<span class="page"><a name="363">[page 363]</a></span> +England, Denmark, Brittany, Ferrara, the Palatinate, +and Cologne.<a href="#XVIII2"><sup>2</sup></a> The result of his conference +with the last named was a declaration on the +duke's part which seriously affected his later +career. The condition of Cologne must be touched +on as an essential part of this narrative.</p> +<p> +The late Duke of Burgundy had attempted to +pursue a line of policy in regard to the ecclesiastical +elections in the diocese of Cologne that had +succeeded in Liege and in Utrecht. In 1463, +he had tried to force the chapter to elect his candidate. +They had refused to follow his leading, +but their own choice, Robert, brother of the elector-palatine, +did not prove a congenial chief, and +the new prelate turned to Philip for aid when he +found his chapter disposed to restrict both his +revenues and his temporal authority. Later, in +1467, as the audacity of his opponents increased, +the archbishop appealed to his brother, the elector, +and to Charles of Burgundy. The latter was busy +in France, but he wrote a sententious letter to +Cologne, exhorting both chapter and city to be +obedient to their chosen spiritual and lay lord. +This intervention was resented. The breach widened +between Robert and his people, culminating<span class="page"><a name="364">[page 364]</a></span> +in actual hostilities. The chapter took possession +of the town of Neuss, accepted Hermann of Hesse +as their protector, and sent an embassy to Rome +to state their grievances. The elector aided his +brother and the belligerent parties grew in strength.</p> +<p> +The city of Cologne wavered for a space, undecided +which cause to espouse, and finally chose the +chapter's side, signing a five years' alliance with +that body, which had officially renounced allegiance +to Robert, pending the judgment of pope +and emperor on the dissension. Such was the +state of affairs when Charles entered into possession +of Guelders and manifested a disposition to +interest himself in Cologne. He informed the +chapter that he was greatly displeased with their +contumely. To Cologne he said, "Be neutral," +but the burghers showed so little inclination to +heed his neighbourly advice that he tried harsher +measures and permitted Cologne merchants to be +molested in his domains.</p> +<p> +In 1473, all hostilities were suspended in the +hopes of imperial intervention.<a href="#XVIII3"><sup>3</sup></a> While Charles +was still in Guelders, Robert paid him a visit, held +long conferences with him, and probably received +promises of future aid, for he had an air of arrogance +when he returned from the interview. +During the sojourn of duke and emperor at +Trèves, a papal legate, the Bishop of Fossombrone, +arrived from Rome with plenary powers<span class="page"><a name="365">[page 365]</a></span> +to settle Cologne affairs, and his measures were +endorsed by Charles in a letter from Trèves.</p> +<p> +For a time Frederic III. seemed inclined to +refrain from interference, then something influenced +him in another direction. When he arrived +at Cologne in November, he received a +warm welcome and costly gifts, which he repaid +by conferring a mass of privileges on his "good +city,"—cheap and easy benefits,—but he did not +prove an efficient arbitrator, simply postponing +any decision from day to day, though he was +begged to settle all difficulties before Charles +should attempt to relieve him of the trouble.</p> +<p> +True, Charles was detained elsewhere. But he +no longer felt the need of conciliating the emperor, +and at Thionville, on December 11, 1473, he +issued a manifesto declaring that his friend Robert +was entirely in the right, his opponents in the +wrong.<a href="#XVIII4"><sup>4</sup></a> As these latter defied papal legate and +arbitrator duly authorised to settle the points of +dispute, he, Charles of Burgundy, would constitute +himself defender of the insulted archbishop. At +the same time, he despatched Ètienne de Lavin +to check the encroachments of the insolent rebels. +The declaration emboldened Robert to defy the +emperor's summons to meet him and the papal +legate. They both declared that they would take +measures to bring him to obedience, but Frederic +did not wish to tarry longer at Cologne. In +January he took his departure, having directed<span class="page"><a name="366">[page 366]</a></span> +Hermann of Hesse to protect that see against all +aggression.</p> +<p> +Apparently, at that time, in spite of the manifesto, +there was no formal treaty between Charles +and Robert, but there are two drafts for such a +treaty in existence,<a href="#XVIII5"><sup>5</sup></a> wherein the former pledged +himself to force chapter, nobles, and city to submission, +in consideration of the sum of 200,000 +florins, while the archbishop gave permission to +his ally to garrison all strongholds, including +Cologne. Pending his autumn sojourn in the +upper Rhinelands, Charles had, therefore, plans +regarding Cologne definitely in mind.</p> + +<h4><i>Lorraine</i></h4> +<p> +This duchy was even more interesting to Charles +than Cologne, and there were many matters in its +regard which demanded his urgent attention in +1473. It, too, was a pleasant territory, and +conveniently adjacent to Burgundian lands. A +natural means of annexation had been considered +by Charles in the proposed marriage between +Nicholas, Duke of Lorraine, and Mary of Burgundy. +When that project was abandoned to suit Charles's +pleasure, he retained the friendship of his rejected +son-in-law until the latter's death in the +spring of 1473. So unexpected was this event, that +there was the usual suspicion of poisoning, and this<span class="page"><a name="367">[page 367]</a></span> +crime, too, was charged to the account of Louis +XI., apparently without foundation. Certainly +that monarch reaped no immediate advantage +from the death, for the family to whom the succession +passed was more friendly to Burgundy +than to France.</p> +<p> +The heir to the childless Nicholas was his aunt +Yolande of Anjou, daughter of old King René +of Anjou, sister to the unfortunate Margaret, late +Queen of England, and widow of the Duke of +Vaudemont. The council of Lorraine lost no +time in acknowledging Yolande as their duchess. +She hastened to Nancy, the capital, with her +son René, aged twenty-two, where they were +received hospitably, and then Yolande formally +abdicated in favour of the young man, who was +duly accepted as Duke of Lorraine.</p> +<p> +Now there was a large party of Burgundian +sympathisers in Nancy, and it was probably owing +to their pressure that very strong links were at +once forged between Charles and the new sovereign +of the duchy. The apprehension lest the former +should protect the land as he had the heritage of +his namesake, little Charles of Guelders, was +expressed by the timorous, but their counsels +were overweighted, and, on October 15th, René +accepted a treaty whose terms were very favourable +to Burgundy. In exchange for being "protector,"—an +office that the emperor had already +been asked to change into suzerainty,—René +cemented an alliance, offensive and defensive,<span class="page"><a name="368">[page 368]</a></span> +with Charles, giving the latter full permission to +march his forces across Lorraine. Further, he +pledged himself to appoint as officials in all important +places on the route "men bound by oath +to the Duke of Burgundy." Yes, more, these +were discharged from fidelity to Renè in case he +abandoned Burgundian interests.</p> +<p> +Yolande of Vaudemont endorsed these articles +by adding her signature to that of her son. +Charles feared, however, that the provisions might +not be adhered to by the Lorrainers—so humiliating +were the terms—and exacted in addition the +signatures of the chief nobles. On November +18th, seventy-four of these gentlemen attested +their approval of an act that practically delivered +their land to a stranger,—evidence that they +doubted the ability of their hereditary chief, and +preferred Burgundy to France.</p> +<p> +There is a story that Charles tried other methods +than diplomacy, before he got the better of the +young duke in this bargain, that he actually had +him stolen away from the castle of Joinville +where he was staying with his mother.<a href="#XVIII6"><sup>6</sup></a> Louis +promptly came forward and arrested a nephew of +the emperor, a student in the University of Paris, +and kept him as a hostage until the release of +René. Rumour, too, asserts that there was a +treaty of Joinville, wherein René asserted his<span class="page"><a name="369">[page 369]</a></span> +friendship with Louis, which was intermitted by +his relations with Charles, to be resumed later. +That also seems to be improbable. The formal +alliance with Louis did not come then, though +the king took immediate care to build up a party +in his behalf in Lorraine, and to keep himself informed +of the progress of the new regime.</p> +<p> +From Thionville, Charles journeyed on to +Nancy, where he was welcomed by his protégé, +outside the city walls, and the two rode in together +as the duke and the emperor had entered +Trèves. Charles had been so long keeping up a +show of obsequiousness which he did not feel that, +undoubtedly, he enjoyed again being the first +personage.<a href="#XVIII7"><sup>7</sup></a> He refused, however, to accept the +young man's hospitality, and spent the two +days of his sojourn in the house of a certain Malhortie, +where he felt more at ease in his conferences +with Lorrainers willing to proceed further +to the disadvantage of their new sovereign.</p> +<p> +The ally certainly became more exigeant. In +various towns on the Moselle, Épinal, Charmes, +Dompaire, etc., the Lorraine soldiers were replaced +by Burgundians. This immediate and +arrogant use of the rights he had wrested from +the Duke of Lorraine alienated many who had +been warm for Burgundy. René himself admired +Charles as Maximilian had done. The strong +man exercised a fascination over both youths, +but the duke did not turn this admiration into real<span class="page"><a name="370">[page 370]</a></span> +friendship, underestimating the character of his +protégé. His measures, too, were taken without +the slightest consideration for local feeling. Garrison +after garrison was installed and commanded +to obey his officers alone, while the soldiers were +allowed to levy their own rations, equivalent to +raids on a friendly country. As always, the +agglomeration of mercenary companies was +difficult to control. The duke did not succeed in +having those remote from his jurisdiction kept in +due restraint. Complaints began to pour into +his headquarters. Public sentiment shifted day +by day. The Burgundian became the personification +of a public foe. Before Charles proceeded on +his way to Alsace, René had begun to lose his +admiration and it was not long before he impatiently +awaited an opportunity to break with +his too doughty protector.</p> + +<h4><i>Alsace</i></h4> +<p> +During the four years that Charles had delayed +in coming to look at the result of the bargain +of 1469 in the Rhine valley, his lieutenant, Peter +von Hagenbach, had given the inhabitants reason +to regret the easy-going absentee Austrian +seigneurs. Much had been done, undoubtedly, in +restraining the lawlessness of the robber barons. +The roads were well policed, and safety was +assured to travellers. "I spy," was the motto +blazoned on the livery of the forces led by Hagenbach<span class="page"><a name="371">[page 371]</a></span> +up and down the land, until he had unearthed +lurking vagabonds. It was acknowledged that +gold and silver could be carried openly from place +to place, and that night journeys were as safe as +day. Still, this advantageous change had not +won popularity for the man who wrought it. +Perhaps the people thought it less burdensome to +make their own little bargains with highwaymen +or petty nobles,<a href="#XVIII8"><sup>8</sup></a> a law unto themselves, than to +meet the rigorous requisitions of the Burgundian +tax collector.</p> +<p> +It was the country that had profited most by +the new administration. The small towns had +long enjoyed great independence, and had shown +ability in managing their own affairs. They +wanted no interference. Not liked by those +whom he had really protected, Hagenbach was +absolutely hated by the burghers who felt his iron +hand, without acknowledging that its pressure +had more good than evil in it.</p> +<p> +Then there were the neighbours to be considered. +The Swiss had hated Sigismund and all Austrians, +and had been prepared to prefer Burgundy as a +power in the Rhinelands. But Hagenbach took +no pains to win their friendship. His insolent +fashion of referring to them as "fellows" or +"rascals," added to acts of aggression, unchecked +if not condoned by him, aroused bitter dislike +to him in the confederated cantons,<a href="#XVIII9"><sup>9</sup></a> and in their<span class="page"><a name="372">[page 372]</a></span> +allies, Berne, Mulhouse, etc. By 1473, there +was a growing sentiment in Helvetia that they +would be happier if Austria had her own again, +while the uneasiness in the cities that stood alone +had greatly increased.</p> +<p> +Within Hagenbach's immediate jurisdiction, the +opposition to his measures took a definite form +long before the duke's arrival there. The various +commissioners sent by Charles to inspect the +quality of his bargain had all agreed in an urgent +recommendation to the duke to redeem, at the +earliest possible moment, all the troublesome +mortgages honeycombing his authority. Hagenbach, +too, was fully convinced of the necessity +for this measure, but he was not provided with +sufficient money to accomplish it.</p> +<p> +In the spring of 1473, therefore, he resolved to +lay a new tax on wine. This impost, called the +"Bad Penny," was bitterly resented for two reasons. +The burden was oppressive to the vintners and +it was an illegal measure, as no sanction had been +given by the local estates. Three towns, Thann, +Ensisheim, and Brisac, declared that they were +determined to refuse payment.</p> +<p> +Hagenbach marched a force into the Engelburg, +a stronghold dominating Thann, bombarded the +town, and took it easily. Thirty citizens were +condemned to death as leaders in an iniquitous<span class="page"><a name="373">[page 373]</a></span> +rebellion against the just orders of their lawful +governor. Some of these, indeed, were pardoned, +though their estates were confiscated, but five +or six were publicly executed, and their bodies +hung exposed to view on the market-place, as a +hideous object-lesson of the cost of resisting +Burgundian orders.</p> +<p> +One execution sufficed to render Ensisheim +submissive, but Brisac proved more obstinate. +The magistrates there did not resort to force. +They declared there was no need, for they were +fully protected by the article in the treaty of St. +Omer, which forbade arbitrary imposition of any +tax on the part of the suzerain. Their determined +refusal made the lieutenant consent to refer +the question to the Duke of Burgundy, and +messengers were despatched to Trèves to represent +the respective grievances of governor and +governed. The collection of the tax was postponed +until Charles could examine the situation.</p> +<p> +A determined effort to bring the independent +town of Mulhouse under Burgundian sway was +another act of 1473, fanning opposition to a white +heat that forged organised resistance to any +extension of Burgundian authority. For three +years, Hagenbach had endeavoured to convince +the burghers of that imperial city that they would +be wise to accept the duke's protection and have +their debts paid. The latter were, indeed, oppressive, +but there was fear lest "protection" +might be more so, and conference after conference<span class="page"><a name="374">[page 374]</a></span> +failed to produce the acquiescence desired by +Hagenbach.</p> +<p> +In 1473, that zealous servant of Burgundy declared +that if the burghers persisted in their refusal +he would resort to force. Their reply was that +Mulhouse could not take such an important +step without consulting her friends, the Swiss. +"Are the cantons going to help you pay your +debts?" was the sneering comment of Hagenbach. +"Mulhouse is a bad weed in a rose garden, a plant +that must be extirpated. Its submission would +make a charming pleasure ground out of the +Sundgau, Alsace, and Breisgau. The duke knew +no city which he would prefer to Mulhouse for +a sojourn," were his further statements.<a href="#XVIII10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> +<p> +Two days were given to the town council for an +answer. Hagenbach remarked that it was useless +to think that time could be gained until the +mortgaged territories should return to Austria. +"Far from planning redemption, Duke Sigismund +is now preparing to cede to <i>Charles le téméraire</i> as +much again of his domain and vassals." Still +Mulhouse was not convinced that the only course +open to her was to let Charles pay her debts and +receive her homage. No answer was forthcoming +in the two days, but ready scribes had prepared +many copies of Hagenbach's letter, which were +sent to all who might be interested in checking<span class="page"><a name="375">[page 375]</a></span> +these proposals of Burgundy.</p> +<p> +On February 24, 1473, a Swiss diet met at Lausanne +and there the matter was weighed. Hagenbach's +letter was shown to those who had not +seen it, and methods of rescuing Mulhouse from +her dilemma were carefully considered. Years +ago a union had existed between the forest cantons +and the Alsatian cities. There were propositions +to renew this alliance so as to present a strong front +to their Burgundian neighbour. The cantons +had enough to do with their own affairs, but the +result of the discussion was that, on March 14th, +a ten-year Alsatian confederation was formed in +imitation of the Swiss.</p> +<p> +The chief members were Basel, Colmar, Mulhouse, +Schlestadt, and two dioceses, and it is referred +to as the <i>Basse-Union</i> or the Lower Union, +the purposes being to guarantee mutually the rights +of the contracting parties, to meet for discussion +on various questions, and, specifically, to help +Mulhouse pay her debts. A few days later, +March 19th, there was a fresh proposition to +make an alliance between this <i>Basse-Union</i> and +the Swiss confederation. This required a <i>referendum</i>. +Each Swiss delegate received a copy +of the articles to take back to his constituents for +their consideration. No bond between the confederation +and the union was, however, in existence +at the time when Charles was approaching +Alsace. Various conciliatory measures on his +part had somewhat lessened immediate opposition<span class="page"><a name="376">[page 376]</a></span> +to him, but, nevertheless, there were frequent +conferences about affairs. Diets were almost +continuous and there were strenuous efforts to +raise money to free Mulhouse from her hampering +financial embarrassments.</p> +<p> +Hagenbach had not followed up his threats +of immediate war measures, but it was known +that he had obtained imperial authorisation to +assume the jurisdiction of Mulhouse, a step +which her allies hoped to forestall by settling her +debts. Strasburg offered to contribute six hundred +florins, Berne and Soleure seven hundred, +Basel four hundred, while Colmar, Schlestadt, +Obernai, and Kaisersberg together hoped to raise +another four hundred. A diet was called at +Basel for December 11th, and Zürich and Lucerne +were expected to enter into the union. The tidings +of the duke's approach were undoubtedly +a stimulus to these renewed efforts to make the +league strong enough to withstand him. The +sentiment expressed by the pious Knebel, "May +God protect us from his mighty hand," voiced +probably a wide-spread dread.</p> +<p> +When Charles entered Alsace, his escort was +large enough to inspire fear, but there was no +opposition to his advance, though consultations, +now at one city, now at another, were frequent. +The duke paid little heed to their deliberations, +under-estimating their importance, while he was +gracious to any words of welcome offered to him. +Strasburg sent him greetings while he rested at<span class="page"><a name="377">[page 377]</a></span> +Châtenois, and so did Colmar. The latter town +expressed her willingness to receive him and an +escort of one or two hundred, but was firm in her +refusal to admit a larger force within her walls. +By this precaution, Charles was baffled in his plot +to gain possession of the town, and so passed on +his way.</p> +<p> +On Christmas eve, the traveller made a formal +entry into Brisac, where a temporary court was +established, and where audience was given to +various embassies with the customary Burgundian +pomp. Meanwhile the troops, forced to camp +without the walls, were a burden to the land, +and seem to have been more odious than usual +to their unwilling hosts.</p> +<p> +The citizens of Brisac offered homage on their +knees and had their hopes raised high by their +suzerain's pleasant greeting, but they failed to +obtain the hoped for assurance that the treaty +of St. Omer should be observed in all respects. +Among the envoys were many who undertook to +remonstrate in a friendly fashion about the imposition +of the "Bad Penny" tax on the Alsatians, and +the over-severity of Hagenbach's administration. +The cause of Mulhouse, too, was urged, notably by +Berne. The representations of these last envoys +were received most courteously. The duke rather +thought that the city could be detached from the +league, and therefore gave himself some trouble +to establish friendly relations.</p> +<p> +To Mulhouse, too, his tone was conciliatory.<span class="page"><a name="378">[page 378]</a></span> +He wrote a pleasant letter to the town and despatched +a councillor thither, who would, he +assured them, arrange matters to their satisfaction. +But an abortive <i>coup d'état</i> on the part of the +Burgundians, which would have given them possession +of Basel, destroyed the effect of these +reassuring phrases. The burghers were warned in +time, looked to their defences, and banished from +their midst every individual suspected of Burgundian +sympathies. Every newcomer was carefully +scrutinised before he was admitted within the +walls, and the Rhine was guarded most rigidly. The +propriety of these precautions was soon proven.</p> +<p> +Charles ordered a review at Ensisheim, the +official capital of the landgraviate. Thither +marched his troops from every quarter. Those +from Säckingen, Lauffen, and Waldshut found +their shortest route over the bridge at Basel, and +there they appeared and begged to be allowed +to cross. Their sincerity was doubted, and the +least foothold on the city's territory was sternly +refused then and a week later, when the request +was renewed. The method of introducing friendly +troops into a town and then seizing it by a sudden +<i>coup de main</i> was what Charles had been suspected +of plotting for Metz, and later for Colmar, and +there seems to be no doubt that a third essay of +this rather stupid stratagem was planned, only to +fail again, and this time to be peculiarly disastrous +in its reflex action.</p> +<p> +The review took place and the strength of the<span class="page"><a name="379">[page 379]</a></span> +Burgundian mercenaries was duly displayed to +the Alsatians, but no satisfactory assurances were +given to Brisac and the other towns that their +suzerain would restrict his measures of taxation +and administration to the stipulations of the +contract of St. Omer. On the contrary, when +Charles passed on to Burgundy it was plain to all +that he had <i>not</i> restricted the powers of his lieutenant +in any respect, but rather had endorsed his +general method of procedure.</p> +<p> +One night was spent at Thann<a href="#XVIII11"><sup>11</sup></a> and then the +duke took his leave of the annexed region whose +people had hoped so much from his visit to them.<span class="page"><a name="380">[page 380]</a></span> +In mid-January he arrived at Besançon, his winter +journeying being wonderfully easy in the unprecedentedly +mild weather.</p> +<p> +Hagenbach lost no time in proceeding to the +levying of the impost now approved by the duke, +who had at the same time expressly ordered that +the people were to be treated mildly, and that +summary punishment was to check all excesses +on the part of the eight hundred Picards employed +by Hagenbach to aid the tax collector. +The governor, however, saw no further need for +gentle treatment or for respect to privileges. In +Brisac, municipal elections were arbitrarily set +aside, and officers appointed by the governor. +The corporation was curtailed of power, and the +burghers were forced to prepare to march against +Mulhouse.</p> +<p> +Having accomplished his duty to his own satisfaction, +Hagenbach proceeded to give himself +some relaxation. His own marriage took place +on January 24th, and he celebrated the occasion +with great fêtes. It is of this period in Hagenbach's +life that the stories of gross excess are told.<a href="#XVIII12"><sup>12</sup></a> +It seems as though, having once abandoned restraint +towards the city, his personal passions, +too, were permitted to run riot, and he spared +no wife nor maid to whom he took a fancy.</p> +<p> +As he had succeeded in impressing the "Bad +Penny" on the little independent landowners, he<span class="page"><a name="381">[page 381]</a></span> +tried to extend it to the territory of the Bishop +of Basel. Vehement was the opposition which +was reported to the duke, who promptly ordered +his lieutenant to restore the prisoners he had taken +and to cease his aggressions. Charles was not +ready to meet the Swiss, and was willing to defer +an issue, but he was wholly ignorant of the real +strength of the confederation. Hagenbach then +proceeded to make a stronghold of Brisac and +waited for further action.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#362">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XVIII1">De</a> Roye, p. 105.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#363">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XVIII2">He</a> also issued administrative orders. It was at this time +that he instituted a high court of justice and a chamber of +accounts at Mechlin, both designed to serve for all the Netherland +provinces. This measure was bitterly resented by the +local authorities. (Fredericq. <i>Le rôle politique et social des +ducs de Bourgogne</i>, p. 183.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#364">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XVIII3">Letters</a> are preserved in the Cologne archives. (Toutey, +p. 64.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#365">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XVIII4">Toutey</a>, p. 66. This document is in the Cologne archives.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#366">[Footnote 5:</a> <i><a name="XVIII5">See</a></i> Toutey, p. 66. These are printed in Lacomblet, +<i>Urkunden</i>, iv., 468, 470.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#368">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XVIII6">Jean</a> de Roye is the only contemporary to tell this story. +Both Toutey and Kirk reject it. (<i>See</i> Toutey, p. 76; Kirk, +ii., 271.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#369">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XVIII7">Toutey's</a> suggestion.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#371">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XVIII8">All</a> sons inherited their father's title, so that there were +many landless lords.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#372">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XVIII9">At</a> this period there were eight in the confederation, which +was a loose structure in which each member preserved her +individuality.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#374">[Footnote 10:</a> <i><a name="XVIII10">See</a></i> Toutey, p. 82, who quotes from the <i>Cartulaire de Mulhouse</i>, +iv., <i>et passim</i>. This last furnishes the details for these +passages.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#379">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XVIII11">In</a> this account Toutey's conclusions are accepted. There +are discrepancies as to dates among the various chroniclers. +The duke's itinerary as given in Comines-Lenglet (ii., 211) +does not agree with that of Knebel and others. But the +facts of the narrative are little affected by the variations. +The following is the itinerary accepted by Toutey:</p> +<table width="80%" align="center" summary=" The Duke's Itinerary"> +<tr> + <td class="note" width="60%"> +Dep. from Ensisheim <br /> +Stay at Thann <br /> +Dep. from Belfort <br /> +Besançon<br /> +Auxonne, slept<br /> +Dijon, a<br /> +Dijon, d<br /> +Auxonne, slept <br /> +Dôle<br /> +(Invested with the Franche Comté of Burgundy.)<br /> +Besançon<br /> +Vesoul and Luxeuil<br /> +Lorraine<br /> +Luxemburg<br /> +Easter fêtes<br /> +Fête of the Order of the Garter<br /> +Brussels <br /> +</td> + <td class="note"> +Jan. 8<br /> +" 9-10<br /> +" 11<br /> +" 17<br /> + " 18<br /> + " 23<br /> + Feb. 19, 1474<br /> + " 20<br /> + " 21-March 8<br /> + <br /> + March 12 or 15 <br /> +March 23-28<br /> + " 28<br /> + Apr. 4-June 9<br /> + " 10<br /> + " 23<br /> + June 27] <br /> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#380">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XVIII12">Kirk</a> considers that they are well founded and too indecent +to repeat.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="382">[page 382]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XIX">XIX</a></h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST REVERSES</h3> + +<h4>1474-1475</h4> +<p> +"Who is this that cometh, this that is glorious +in his apparel, travelling in the +greatness of his strength?" These words in +Latin, on scrolls fluttering from the hands of +living angels, met the eyes of Charles of Burgundy +at his retarded arrival in Dijon. And the +confident duke had no wish to disclaim the subtle +flattery of the implied comparison between him +and the subject of the words of the prophet.<a href="#XIX1"><sup>1</sup></a></p> +<p> +The traveller had slept at Périgny, about a +league from the capital of Burgundy, so as to +make the last stage of his journey thither in leisurely +state. Unpropitious weather on Saturday, +January 22d, the appointed day, made postponement +of the ducal parade necessary, out of consideration +for the precious hangings and costly +ecclesiastical robes that were to grace the ceremonies +of reception and investiture. Fortunately, +Sunday, January 23d, dawned fair, and heralds +rode through the city streets at an early hour,<span class="page"><a name="383">[page 383]</a></span> +proclaiming the duke's gracious intention to +make his entry on that day. Immediately, tapestries +were spread and every one was alert with the +last preparations.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="church">[plate 25]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image25church.jpg" width="400" height="284" alt="A FORTIFIED CHURCH IN BURGUNDY - XVth Century" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +Lavish was the display of biblical phrases, like +that cited, which were planted along the ducal +way and on a succession of stagings erected for +various exhibits. On the great city square, the +platform was capacious and many actors played +out divers roles. Here stood the scroll-bearing +angels on either side of a living representation of +Christ. In the background clustered three separate +groups of people representing, respectively, +the three Estates. Above their heads more inscriptions +were to be read.<a href="#XIX2"><sup>2</sup></a> "All the nations +desire to see the face of Solomon," "Behold him +desired by all races," "Master, look on us, thy +people," were among the legends.</p> +<p> +The stately pageant, in which dignitaries, lay +and ecclesiastical, from other parts of the duke's +domains participated, proceeded past all these +soothing insinuations that Charles of Burgundy +resembled Solomon in more ways than one, to +the church of St. Benigne. Here pledges of mutual +fidelity were exchanged between the Burgundians<span class="page"><a name="384">[page 384]</a></span> +and their ruler. The Abbé of Citeaux +placed the ducal ring solemnly upon Charles's +finger as a symbol, and he was invested with all +the prerogatives of his predecessors.</p> +<p> +From the church, the train wound its way to +the Ste. Chapelle, past more stages decorated +with more flowers of scriptural phrase such as "A +lion which is strongest among beasts and turneth +not away for any," "The lion hath roared, who +will not fear?" "The righteous are as bold as a +lion," etc.</p> +<p> +Two days later, the concluding ceremonies of +investiture were performed, and followed by a +banquet. Charles was arrayed in royal robes, +and his hat was in truth a crown, gorgeous with +gold, pearls, and precious stones. After a repast, +prelates, nobles, and civic deputies were convened +in a room adjoining the dining-hall, where first +they listened to a speech from the chancellor. +When he had finished, the duke himself delivered +an harangue wherein he expatiated on the splendours +of the ancient kingdom of Burgundy. +Wrongfully usurped by the French kings, it had +been belittled into a duchy, a measure much to +be regretted by the Burgundians. Then the +speaker broke off abruptly with an ambiguous +intimation "that he had in reserve certain things +that none might know but himself."<a href="#XIX3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> +<p> +What was the significance of these veiled allusions?<span class="page"><a name="385">[page 385]</a></span> +It could not have been the simple scheme +to erect a kingdom, because that was certainly +known to many. Charles had, doubtless, an +ostrich-like quality of mind which made him oblivious +to the world's vision but even he could +hardly have ignored the prevalence of the rumours +regarding the interview of Trèves, rumours flying +north, east, south, and west. Might not this suggestion +of secrets yet untold have had reference +to the ripening intentions of Edward IV. and +himself to divide France between them?</p> +<p> +When his own induction into his heritage was +accomplished, Charles was ready to pay the last +earthly tribute to his parents. A cortège had +been coming slowly from Bruges bearing the +bodies of Philip and Isabella to their final resting-place +in the tomb at Dijon, to which they were at +last consigned.<a href="#XIX4"><sup>4</sup></a></p> +<p> +A few weeks more Charles tarried in the city +of his birth, and then went to Dôle where he was +invested with the sovereignty of the Franche-Comté +and confirmed the privileges. Thus after +seven years of possession <i>de facto</i>, he first actually +completed the formalities needful for the legal +acquisition of his paternal heritage. The expansion +of that heritage had been steady for over +half a century. Every inch of territory that had +come under the shadow of the family's administration<span class="page"><a name="386">[page 386]</a></span> +had remained there, quickly losing its +ephemeral character, so that temporary holdings +were regarded in the same light as the estates actually +inherited. At least, Charles, sovereign duke, +count, overlord, mortgagee, made no distinction +in the natures of his tenures. But just as the last +link was legally riveted in his own chain of lands, he +was to learn that there were other points of view.</p> +<p> +The statement is made and repeated, that the +report of the duke's after-dinner speech at Dijon +was a fresh factor in alarming the people in Alsace +and Switzerland about his intentions, and making +them hasten to shake off every tie that connected +them with Charles and his ambitious projects of +territorial expansion.<a href="#XIX5"><sup>5</sup></a> As a matter of fact, there +had been for months constant agitation in the +councils of the Swiss Confederation and the Lower +Union as to the next action.</p> +<p> +Opposition to Sigismund had been long existent, +antipathy to Austria was so deeply rooted +that the idea of restoring that suzerainty in the +Rhine valley was slow to gain adherents. Probably +the arguments that came from France were +what carried conviction. It was a time when +Louis spared no expense to attain the end he +desired, while he posed as a benevolent neutral.<a href="#XIX6"><sup>6</sup></a> +His servants worked underground. Their open +work was very cautious. It was French envoys,<span class="page"><a name="387">[page 387]</a></span> +however, who announced to the Swiss Diet, convened +at Lucerne, that Sigismund was quite ready +to come to an understanding in regard to an alliance +and the redemption of his mortgaged lands.</p> +<p> +That was on January 21, 1474, the very day +when the mortgagee was preparing to ride into +Dijon and read the agreeable assurances of his +wisdom, strength, and puissance. Yet a month +and Sigismund's envoys were seated on the official +benches at the Basel diet, ranking with the delegates +from the cantons and the emissaries from +France. On March 27th, the diet met at Constance, +and for three days a debate went on +which resulted in the drafting of the <i>Ewige Richtung</i>, +the <i>Réglement définitif</i>, a document which +contained a definite resolution that the mortgaged +lands were to be completely withdrawn from +Burgundy, and all financial claims settled. This +resolution was subscribed to by Sigismund and +the Swiss cantons. Further, it was decided to +ignore one or two of the stipulations made at St. +Omer and to offer payment to Charles at Basel +instead of Besançon.</p> +<p> +Meantime that creditor, perfectly convinced in +his own mind that the legends of his birthplace +were correct in their rating of his character and +his qualities, again crossed Lorraine and entered +Luxemburg, where he celebrated Easter. It was +shortly after that festival, on April 17th, that +a letter from Sigismund was delivered to him announcing +in rather casual and off-hand terms<span class="page"><a name="388">[page 388]</a></span> +that he was now in a position to repay the loan of +1469, made on the security of those Rhinelands. +Therefore the Austrian would hand over at Basel +80,000 florins, 40,000 the sum received by him, +10,000 paid in his behalf to the Swiss, and 30,000 +which he understood that Charles had expended +during his temporary incumbency,<a href="#XIX7"><sup>7</sup></a> and he, Sigismund, +would resume the sovereignty in Alsace.</p> +<p> +It was all very simple, at least Sigismund's wish +was. The expressions employed in the paper +were, however, so ambiguous, the language so +involved, that Charles expended severe criticism +on his cousin's style before he proceeded to answer +his subject-matter. To that he replied that the +bargain between him and Sigismund was none of +his seeking. The latter had implored his protection +from the Swiss, had begged relief in his +financial straits. Touched by his petitions, +Charles had acceded to his prayers and the lands +had enjoyed security under Burgundian protection +as they never had under Austrian. Charles +had duly acquitted himself of his obligations, he +had done nothing to forfeit his title. The conditions +of redemption offered by Sigismund were +not those expressly stipulated. If a commission +were sent to Besançon, the duke would see to +it that the merits of the case were properly +examined.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"If, on the contrary, you shall adhere to the purpose +you have declared, in violation of the terms of the<span class="page"><a name="389"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 389]</span></a></span> +contract and of your princely word, we shall make +resistance, trusting with God's help that our ability +in defence shall not prove inferior to what we have +used to repulse the attacks of the Swiss—those attacks +from which you sought and received our protection."</p> + +<p> +Before this letter reached its destination, the +duke's deputy in the mortgaged lands had already +found his resources wholly inadequate to maintain +his master's authority. After Charles departed +from Alsace, Hagenbach's increased insolence and +abandonment of all the restraint that he had shown +while awaiting the duke's visit soon became unbearable. +The deliberations in Switzerland concerning +their return to Austrian domination also +naturally affected the Alsatians and made them +bolder in resenting Hagenbach's aggressions.</p> +<p> +Thann and Ensisheim were both firm in refusing +admission to his garrisons. Brisac was in his +hands already, and her fortifications held by mercenaries, +but an order to the citizens to work, one +and all, upon the defences, produced a sudden disturbance +with very serious results. It was at +Eastertide, and the command to desecrate a +hallowed festival, one especially cherished in the +Rhinelands, proved the final provocation to +rebellion.</p> +<p> +There is a black story in the Strasburg chronicle, +moreover, that this misuse of Easter Day was not +Hagenbach's real crime. He simply wished to get +all combatants out of the city before butchering +the inhabitants and his purpose was discovered in<span class="page"><a name="390">[page 390]</a></span> +time. That charge does not, however, seem substantiated +by other evidence. But there is no +doubt that the citizens lashed themselves into a +state of fury, fell upon the mercenaries, and killed +many of them in spite of their own unarmed +condition. Hagenbach, driven back into his lodgings, +appeared at the window and offered various +concessions, being actually humbled and intimidated +by the unexpected turning of the submissive +folk against him.</p> +<p> +But the revolutionary spirit raged beyond the +reach of conciliatory words. Some of the more +intelligent burghers endeavoured to give a show of +propriety to events, by promptly re-establishing +their own ancient council, arbitrarily abolished +by Hagenbach, while taking a new oath to the +Duke of Burgundy, according to the formula of +1469. They also despatched envoys to the duke +with explanations of their proceedings, stating +further that it was Hagenbach's misrule alone +to which protest was made; that they were not +in revolt against Charles. The latter answered, +"Send Hagenbach to me," but the provisional +government, by the time they received this order, +felt strong enough to disregard it and to continue +to act on their own initiative.</p> +<p> +Hagenbach was cast not only into prison but +into irons. All fear of and respect for his authority +was thrown to the winds, his offer of fourteen +thousand florins as ransom being sternly refused.</p> +<p> +Deputations came from the confederation to<span class="page"><a name="391">[page 391]</a></span> +congratulate the officials <i>de facto</i> and to promise +aid. The next step gave the lie direct to the +message sent to Charles upholding his authority +while protesting against his lieutenant. Sigismund +was urged to return to his own without further +delay for legal formalities with his creditor. +He assented. On April 30th, accordingly, the +Austrian duke arrived in Brisac and picked up the +reins of authority which he had joyfully dropped +four years previously.</p> +<p> +The rabble welcomed his coming with effusion, +singing a ready parody of an Easter hymn:<a href="#XIX8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + +<blockquote> + "Christ is arisen, the <i>landvogt</i> is in prison,<br /> +Let us all rejoice, Sigismund is our choice.<br /> + Kyrie Eleison!<br /> + Had he not been snared, evil had it fared,<br /> + But now that he is ta'en, his craft is all in vain.<br /> + Kyrie Eleison!"<br /> +</blockquote> +<p> +Thus it was under Sigismund's auspices that the +late governor was brought to trial. Instruments +of torture sent from Basel were employed +to make Hagenbach confess his crimes. But +there was nothing to confess. As a matter of +fact the charges against him were for well-known +deeds the character of which depended on the +point of view. What the Alsatians declared +were infringements of their rights, the duke's +deputy stoutly asserted were acts justified by the +terms of the treaty. In regard to his private<span class="page"><a name="392">[page 392]</a></span> +career the prisoner persisted in his statement that +he was no worse than other men and that all +his so-called victims had been willing and well +rewarded for their submission to him.</p> +<p> +On May 9th, the preliminaries were declared +over and the trial began before a tribunal whose +composition is not perfectly well known, but +which certainly included delegates from the +chief cities of the landgraviate, and from Strasburg, +Basel, and Berne.<a href="#XIX9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> +<p> +The trial was practically lynch law in spite of +the cloak of legality thrown over it. Charles alone +was Hagenbach's principal and he alone was +responsible for his lieutenant's acts. The intrinsic +incompetence of the court was hotly urged by +Jean Irma of Basel, Hagenbach's self-appointed +advocate, but his defence was rejected. Public +opinion insisted upon extreme measures, and the +sentence of capital punishment was promptly followed +by execution.</p> +<p> +Petitions from the prisoner that he might die by +the sword and be permitted to bequeath a portion +of his property to the church of St. Étienne at +Brisac were granted. The remainder of his wealth +was confiscated by Sigismund, who had withdrawn +to Fribourg during the progress of the trial. Even +Hagenbach's bitterest foes acknowledged that the +late governor made a dignified and Christian exit +from the life he had not graced.</p> +<p> +Charles is said to have beaten well the messenger<span class="page"><a name="393">[page 393]</a></span> +who brought him the news of this trial and execution, +in the very presence of Sigismund who +had not yet bought back his rights in the landgraviate, +where he had appointed Oswald von +Thierstein as governor, and where he was thus +presuming to use sovereign power. This was not +sufficient, however, to make the duke change his +own plans. Stephen von Hagenbach was entrusted +with the commission of punishing the +Alsatians for his brother's ignominious deposition, +and he did his task grimly. According to the +Strasburg chronicler, this Hagenbach, at the north, +and his colleague, the Count of Blamont, at the +south, did not have more than six or eight thousand +men apiece, but they left Hun-like reputations +behind them. Devastation, slaughter, pillage in +houses and churches, all in the name of the duke, +contributed to the zeal with which the Austrian's +return was ratified by popular acclamation, and +with which the contingents sent to Alsace by the +confederates were received.</p> +<p> +Sigismund's letter to Charles is casual in tone +and obscure in phraseology. A statement presented +somewhat later to the emperor by the +<i>Basse Union</i> is more precise in the justification +offered for the events and in the grievances rehearsed.<a href="#XIX10"><sup>10</sup></a> +That is, Sigismund treats the transaction +as a purely financial one, naturally completed +between him and his creditor by the offer to +liquidate his debt. The plea made by the Alsatians<span class="page"><a name="394">[page 394]</a></span> +and their friends is, that Charles had failed +to keep his solemn engagements and that his appointed +lieutenant had been peculiarly odious +and had broken the laws of God and man, and +that the mercenaries employed by him, the Burgundians, +Lombardians, and their fellows, had +pitilessly ravaged the county of Ferrette, the +Sundgau, and the diocese of Basel. The charges +are itemised.<a href="#XIX11"><sup>11</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"All this, well-known to the Duke of Burgundy, +has neither been checked nor punished by him. +In consequence, our gracious Seigneur of Austria has +been obliged to restore the land and people to his +sovereignty and that of the House of Austria, which he +has done with God's aid to prevent the complete annihilation +and total destruction of land and people."</p> + +<p> +Charles did not hasten to Alsace to settle +matters in person, but pursued his intention of +reducing Cologne to the archbishop's control, +undoubtedly thinking that the base which would +then be open to the archbishop's protector on the +lower Rhine would facilitate his operations in the +upper valleys. Meanwhile the Emperor Frederic +had emphatically declared that he alone was the +Defender of the Diocese, and that the unholy +alliance between Robert and Charles was a menace +to the empire. His letters to Charles exhorted +him to abandon the enterprise and to accept +mediation; those to the electors, princes, and cities<span class="page"><a name="395">[page 395]</a></span> +of the empire urged them to defend Cologne against +Burgundy until he himself arrived on the scene. +There was a hot correspondence between all +parties concerned, from which nothing resulted. +Charles had various reasons for delay. There +was trouble in other quarters of his domain. +Flanders was in a state of ferment at his requisitions +for money, and the Franche-Comté was on the +point of making active resistance to the imposition +of the <i>gabelle</i>.</p> +<p> +In view of all these complications, Charles decided +to prolong his truce with Louis XI., to May +1, 1475. That monarch was well pleased to continue +to pursue his own plans under cover of +neutrality. The determination of the anti-Burgundian +coalition in Germany to keep Charles +within the limits of his own estates was a pleasant +sight to the French king, and he felt that he could +afford to wait.</p> +<p> +In June an edict was sent forth from Luxemburg, +forbidding all owing allegiance to the Duke +of Burgundy to have any commercial relations +with the rebels of Cologne, or of Alsace, or with +the cities of the <i>Basse Union</i>, and declaring the +duke's intention to take the field at once, to reinstate +the archbishop in his rightful see. This was +a declaration of war and was speedily followed +by the duke's advance to Maestricht, where he +spent a few days in July, collecting a force which +finally amounted to about twenty thousand men.</p> +<p> +On the 29th he sat down before Neuss, which<span class="page"><a name="396">[page 396]</a></span> +had again emphatically refused entry to him and +his troops. Three days the duke gave himself for +the reduction of the town, but there he remained +encamped for nearly a whole year! Neuss was +resolved to resist to the last extremity, while +Bonn, Andernach, and Cologne contributed their +assistance by worrying and harassing the besiegers +to the best of their ability. It was a period when +Charles seemed to have only one sure ally, and +that was Edward of England, whose own plans +were forming for a mighty enterprise—no less +than a new invasion of France.</p> +<p> +On July 25th, the very day that Charles was +on his march up to Neuss, his envoys signed at +London a treaty wherein the duke promised +Edward six thousand men to aid him to "reconquer +his realm of France." Nothing loth to dispose +of his future chickens, Edward, in his turn, +pledged himself to cede to Charles and his heirs, +without any lien of vassalage, the duchy of Bar, +the countships of Champagne, Nevers, Rethel, Eu, +and Guise, all the towns on the Somme, and all the +estates of the Count of St. Pol. Other territories +of Charles were to be exempt from homage. Yes, +and by June 1, 1475, Edward would land in France +and set about his conquests. Nor were commercial +interests forgotten; "to the duchess his sister +(to the Flemings) is accorded permission, to take +from England wool, woollen goods, brass, lead, +and to carry thither foreign merchandise."</p> +<p> +The year when Charles was waiting before the<span class="page"><a name="397">[page 397]</a></span> +gates of Neuss was full of many abortive diplomatic +efforts on the part of both the duke and +Louis XI, and it was the latter who managed to +save something even from broken bargains. The +Swiss not only counted on his friendship, but +were constantly encouraged by his money, which +emboldened them to send a letter of open defiance +to Charles: "We declare to your most serene +highness and to all of your people, in behalf of +ourselves and our friends, an honourable and an +open war." To the herald who delivered this +document Charles answered: "O Berne, Berne!"<a href="#XIX12"><sup>12</sup></a> +He felt that he had been betrayed.</p> +<p> +This was on October 26th. The defiance was +followed by a descent of the mountaineers upon +Alsace, which Charles had not yet released from +his grasp. Stephen von Hagenbach prepared +to defend Burgundian interests at Héricourt, a +good strategic position on the tiny Luzine. Here, +the Swiss were about to besiege him, when the +Count of Blamont arrived with two bodies of +Italian mercenaries, aggregating more than twelve +thousand men, and attempted to draw off the besieging +force. His plan failed—the tables were +turned. It was the Burgundians who were fiercely +attacked and who lost the day. Hagenbach +was forced to surrender, obtaining honourable +terms, however, and Sigismund put a garrison into +Héricourt on November 16th.</p> +<p> +This was a tremendous surprise to Charles.<span class="page"><a name="398">[page 398]</a></span> +That cowherds could repulse his well-trained +troops was a thought as bitter as it was unexpected. +But he put aside all idea of punishing +them for the moment, and continued to "reduce +Neuss to the obedience of the good archbishop," +and Hermann of Hesse continued to aid the town +in its determined resistance.</p> +<p> +The opprobrious names applied to the would-be +and baffled conqueror at this time are curiously +similar to the epithets hurled at Napoleon a +few centuries later. He was compared to Anti-Christ +himself, with demoniac attributes added, +when Alexander was felt to be too mild a comparison. +There was still a terrible fear of the +duke's ambition, even though, in the face of all +Europe, the Swiss had repulsed his men, and +Neuss obstinately refused to open her gates, +while the world wondered at the duke's obstinacy +displayed in the wrong place. The belief expressed +several times by Commines that God troubled +Charles's understanding out of very pity for +France, was a current rumour.</p> +<p> +At the end of April an English embassy arrived +at the camp, which was kept in a marvellous state +of luxury, even though disease was not successfully +curbed in the ranks. The urgent entreaty of the +embassy was that Charles should raise this useless +siege, fruitless as it promised to be, owing to the +difficulty of cutting off the town's supplies. +Edward IV was almost ready to despatch his invading +army. He implored his dear brother to<span class="page"><a name="399">[page 399]</a></span> +send him transports and to prepare to receive him +when he landed. A letter from John Paston gives a +glimpse into the situation:<a href="#XIX13"><sup>13</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"For ffor tydyngs here ther be but ffewe saffe that +the assege lastyth stylle by the Duke off Burgoyn +affoor Nuse, and the Emperor hath besyged also not +fferr from there a castill and another town in lykewyse +wherin the Duke's men ben. And also, the +Frenshe Kynge, men seye, is comen right to the water +off Somme with 4000 spers; and sum men have that +he woll, at the daye off brekyng off trewse, or else +beffoor, sette uppon the Duks contreys heer. When +I heer moor, I shall sende yowe moor tydyngs.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"The Kyngs imbassators, Sir Thomas Mongomere +and the Master off the Rolls be comyng homwards +ffrom Nuse; and as ffor me, I thynke I sholde be sek +but iff I see it....</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"For it is so that to morrow I purpose to ryde +in to Flaundyrs to purveye me off horse and herneys +and percase I shall see the essege at Nwse er I come +ageyn."</p> + +<p> +There was more reason for Charles to be heartsick +at the sight than for John Paston, and he did +grow weary of the further waiting and anxious, for +his truce with Louis was drawing to a close. On +May 22d, there was a skirmish between his troops +and the imperial forces, wherein Charles claimed +the victory. In reality, there was none on either +side, but the semblance was sufficient to soothe +his <i>amour propre</i>, and to convince him that an<span class="page"><a name="400">[page 400]</a></span> +accommodation with Frederic would not detract +from his dignity.</p> +<p> +A large fleet of Dutch flatboats had been despatched +to help convey the English army, thirsting +for conquest, across the sea. Six thousand +men in the duke's pay, too, were to be ready to +meet Edward IV., and swell his escort as he +marched to Rheims for his coronation. Other +matters also demanded Charles's personal attention. +Months had elapsed and Héricourt was unpunished—Berne +had not been reproved.</p> +<p> +René of Lorraine was formally admitted to the +League of Constance on April 18, 1475, and was +now ready openly to abjure the "protection" he +had once accepted from Burgundy. There was a +touch of old King René's theatrical taste in his +grandson's method of despatching the herald who +rode up to the duke's gorgeous tent of red velvet +on May 10th. The man was, however, so overcome +at the first view of <i>le Téméraire</i> that he hastily +delivered up his letter, and threw down the blood-stained +gauntlet, which he carried as a gage of +war, without uttering a word. Then he fell on +his knees, imploring the duke's pardon.<a href="#XIX14"><sup>14</sup></a> Charles +was so little displeased at the signs of the impression +his presence made that, instead of being +angry with the man, he gave him twelve florins +for his good news. The terms of the declaration +of war carried by the herald were as follows:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"To thee, Charles of Burgundy, in behalf of the<span class="page"><a name="401"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 401]</span></a></span> +very high, etc., Duke of Lorraine, my seigneur, I announce +defiance with fire and blood against thee, thy +countries, thy subjects, thy allies, and other charge +further have I not."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XIX15"><sup>15</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +The reply was straightforward:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Herald, I have heard the exposition of thy charge, +whereby thou hast given me subject for joy, and, to +show you how matters are, thou shalt wear my robe +with this gift, and shalt tell thy master that I will +find myself briefly in his land, and my greatest fear +is that I may not find him. In order that thou mayst +not be afraid to return, I desire my marshal and the +king-at-arms of the Toison d'Or to convoy thee in +perfect safety, for I should be sorry if thou didst not +make thy report to thy master as befits a good and +loyal officer."</p> + +<p> +Thus was Charles pressed from the south and +lured to the north. Excellent reason for obeying +the order of the pope's legate that duke and emperor +must lay down arms under pain of excommunication +did either belligerent refuse! The +armistice accepted on May 28th was followed +by a nine months' truce signed on June 12th. It +was a truce strictly to the advantage of Frederic +and Charles. The Rhine cities, Louis XI., René +of Lorraine, were alike ignored and disappointed +in the expectations they had based on Frederic.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#382">[Footnote 1:</a> <a name="XIX1">Plancher</a>, <i>Histoire générale et particulière de Bourgogne, +avec des notes et des preuves justificatives</i>, iv., cccxxviii.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#383">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XIX2">Preparations</a> for the duke's visit to Dijon had been set on +foot almost immediately after Philip's death in 1467. One +Frère Gilles had devoted many hours to searching the Scriptures +for appropriate texts to figure in the reception. Every +phrase indicating leonine strength was noted down. The +good brother died before the anticipated event came to pass +but the result of his patient labour was preserved.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#384">[Footnote 3:</a> <i><a name="XIX3">Dit </a>qu'il avoit en soi des choses qui n'appartenoient de scavoir +à nuls que à lui</i> (Plancher, <i>Preuves</i>, iv., cccxxxiii.).]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#385">[Footnote 4:</a> <a name="XIX4">Plancher</a>, <i>Preuves</i>, iv., cccxxxiii. The document describing +this ceremony gives February 28th as the date, but that is +evidently an error and not accepted.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#386">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XIX5">Toutey</a>, p. 117.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#386">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XIX6">There</a> are many records in the<i>Bibl. nat.</i>. of the sums paid +out to the Swiss at this time.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#388">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XIX7">Chmel</a>, i., 92 et seq.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#391">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XIX8">Kirk</a>, ii., 488.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#392">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XIX9">Toutey</a>, p. 141.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#393">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XIX10">Text</a> given by Toutey, <i>Pièces justificatives</i>, p. 442.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#394">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XIX11">The</a> details are very brutal and untranslatable.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#397">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XIX12">Toutey</a>, p. 182.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#399">[Footnote 13:</a> <i><a name="XIX13">Paston</a> Letters</i>, iii., 122.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#400">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XIX14">Toutey</a>, p. 244.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#401">[Footnote 15:</a> <i><a name="XIX15">Bulletin</a> de l'acad. royale de Belgique</i>, 1887.]</p> + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="402">[page 402]</a></span> + +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XX">XX</a></h2> + +<h3>THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1475</h3> + + + +<p class="quote1"> +"Monseigneur the chancellor, I do not know what +to write to you of the English, for thus far they have +done nothing but dance at St. Omer and we are not +sure whether the King of England has landed. If he +has, it must be with so small a force that it makes +no noise, nor do the prisoners captured at Abbeville +know anything, nor do they believe that there will be +any English here in XL days. Tell the news to Monsg. +de Comminge, and recommend my interests to him +as I have confidence in him, and in Mons. de Thierry +and Mons. the vice-admiral."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX1"><sup>1</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Thus wrote Louis XI in June. Two days later +and he has heard of the truce. He seizes the +occasion to express to the Privy Council of Berne +his real opinion of the emperor: "So Frederic +has deserted us all!"<a href="#XX2"><sup>2</sup></a> Well, it was not +the first time! Thirty years previous, when +Louis was dauphin, the emperor had tried +to turn the Swiss against him. Had not God, +knowing the hearts of men, inspired the brave +mountaineers, Louis would have been a victim of +execrable treachery. The outcome had been wonderful, +for an eternal friendship had sprung<span class="page"><a name="403">[page 403]</a></span> +up between him and the Swiss which must be +preserved.</p> +<p> +Meantime, Charles has made his own definite +plan of the campaign which was to introduce +Edward into Rheims for the coronation. The +following letter from him to Edward IV. bears +no date, but it was evidently written at about the +time of the truce:<a href="#XX3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Honoured seigneur and brother, I recommend myself +to you. I have listened carefully to your declaration +through the pronotary, and understand that +you do not wish to land without my advice, for which +I thank you. I understand that some of your counsellors +think you had better land in Guienne, others +in Normandy, others again at Calais. If you choose +Guienne you will be far from my assistance but my +brother of Brittany could help you. Still it would be +a long time before we could meet before Paris. As to +Calais, you could not get enough provisions for your +people nor I for mine. Nor could the two forces make +juncture without attack, and my brother of Brittany +would be very far from both. To my mind, your best +landing is Normandy, either at the mouth of the +Seine or at La Hogue. I do not doubt that you will +soon gain possession of cities and places, and you will +be at the right hand of my brother of Brittany and +of me. Tell me how many ships you want and where +you wish me to send them and I will do it."</p> + +<p> +On hearing further rumours of the actual arrival +of the English, Louis hastened to Normandy to<span class="page"><a name="404">[page 404]</a></span> +inspect the situation for himself. There he +learned that his own naval forces stationed in the +Channel to ward off the invaders had landed on +the very day before his arrival, abandoning the +task.</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"When I heard that we took no action, I decided +that my best plan would be to turn my people loose +in Picardy and let them lay waste the country whence +they [the English] expected to get their supplies."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX4"><sup>4</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +At the same time, the rumour that was permitted +to be current in France was, that Charles +of Burgundy had been utterly defeated at Neuss, +and that there was nothing whatsoever to apprehend +from him. He, meanwhile, was continuing +his own preparations by strenuous endeavours +to levy more troops and to obtain fresh supplies. +After the signing of the convention with the emperor, +the duke proceeded to Bruges to meet the +Estates of Flanders. The answer to his demand +for subsidies was a respectful refusal to furnish +funds, on the plea that his expansion policy was +ruining his lands. Counter reproaches burst +from Charles. He accused the deputies of leaving +him in the lurch and thus causing his failure at +Neuss. Neither money, nor provisions, nor soldiers +had they sent him as loyal subjects should.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="ruhmreich">[plate 26]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image26ruhmreich.jpg" width="400" height="521" alt="KING RUHMREICH AND HIS DAUGHTER EHRENREICH - CHARACTERS REPRESENTING CHARLES AND MARY OF BURGUNDY IN WOODCUT IN EARLY EDITION OF TEMDANK. POEM BY MAXIMILIAN I." border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p class="quote"> +"For whom does your prince labour? Is it for +himself or for you, for your defence? You slumber, +he watches. You nestle in warmth, he is cold. You<span class="page"><a name="405"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 405]</span></a></span> +are snug in your houses while he is beaten by the wind +and rain. He fasts, you gorge at your ease.... +Henceforth you shall be nothing more than subjects +under a sovereign. I am and I will be master, bearding +those who oppose me."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX5"><sup>5</sup></a></span></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Then turning to the prelates he continued: +"Do you obey diligently and without poor excuses +or your temporal goods shall be confiscated." +To the nobles: "Obey or you shall lose your heads +and your fiefs." Finally, he addressed the deputies +of the third estate in a tone full of bitterness: +"And you, you eaters of good cities, if you do not +obey my orders literally as my chancellor will +explain them to you, you shall forfeit privileges, +property, and life."</p> +<p> +All the fervency of this adjuration failed to +convince the deputies of their duty, as conceived +by the orator. They declared that they had levied +troops and would levy more, for defence, but that +the four members of Flanders were agreed that +they would contribute nothing to offensive measures. +Charles must accept their decision as his +sainted father had done. The details of all the +aid they had given him, 2500 men for Neuss and +many other contributions, were recapitulated. +Flanders had been generous indeed. The concluding +phrases of their answer were as follows:</p> +<p class="quote"> +"As to your last letters, requiring that within fifteen +days every man capable of bearing arms report at Ath,<span class="page"><a name="406"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 406]</span></a></span> +these were orders impossible of execution, and unprofitable +for you yourself. Your subjects are +merchants, artisans, labourers, unfitted for arms. +Strangers would quit the land. Commerce, in which +your noble ancestors have for four hundred years +maintained the land, commerce, most redoubtable +seigneur, is irreconcilable with war."</p> + +<p> +This answer gave the true key to the situation. +The Estates of Flanders were determined to be +bled no further for schemes in which they did not +sympathise. When this memorial was presented +to Charles he broke out into fresh invective about +the base ingratitude of the Flemish: "Take back +your paper," were his last words. "Make your +own answer. <i>Talk</i> as you wish, but <i>do</i> your duty." +This was on July 12th. Charles had no further +time to waste in argument. He was still convinced +that the burghers would, in the end, yield +to his demands.</p> +<p> +With a small escort Charles left Bruges, and +reached Calais on July 14th, where he had been +preceded by the duchess, eager to greet her brother, +who had actually landed on July 4th, with the +best equipped army—about twenty-four thousand +men—that had ever left the shores of England, +and the latest inventions in besieging engines.</p> +<p> +The expedition proved a wretched failure—a +miserable disappointment to the English at home, +who had been lavish in their contributions. +Charles seems to have been put out by the place +of landing. His own plan is clear from the letter<span class="page"><a name="407">[page 407]</a></span> +quoted. He wished the two armies of Edward +and himself to sweep a large stretch of territory +as they marched toward each other. The one +thing that he objected to was a consolidation of the +two forces. Incapacity to turn an unexpected or +an unwelcome situation to account was one of the +duke's most deeply ingrained characteristics. He +showed no inventiveness or resourcefulness. He +held his own army at a distance from the English, +much to the invader's chagrin, who was forced to +march unaided over regions rendered inhospitable +by Louis's stern orders, and outside of cities ready +to hold him at bay. "If you do not put yourself +in a state of security, it will be necessary to destroy +the city, to our regret," was the king's message to +Rheims, and the most skilful of French engineers +was fully prepared to make good the words.</p> +<p> +Open hostilities were avoided. Edward camped +on the field of Agincourt, where perhaps he +dreamed of his ancestor's success, but no fresh +blaze of old English glory illumined his path. He +did not proceed to Paris, there was no coronation +at Rheims, no comfortable reception within any +gates at all, for Charles was as chary as Louis himself +of giving the English a foothold, though he +advised Edward to accept an invitation from St. +Pol to visit St. Quentin. This, however, proved +another disappointment. Just as Edward was +ready to enter, the gates opened to let out a +troop which effectually repulsed the advancing +foreigners. The Count of St. Pol had changed his<span class="page"><a name="408">[page 408]</a></span> +mind.</p> +<p> +"It is a miserable existence this of ours when +we take toil and trouble enough to shorten our +life, writing and saying things exactly opposite +to our thoughts," writes the keenest observer +of this elaborate network of pompous falsehoods<a href="#XX6"><sup>6</sup></a> +wherein every action was entangled. Louis XI +trusted no one but himself, while he played with +the trust of all, and his game was the safest. His +fear of the invaders was soon allayed. "These +English are of different metal from those whom +you used to know. They keep close, they attempt +nothing," he wrote to the veteran Dammartin.</p> +<p> +It was, indeed, a patent fact that Edward was +not a foe to be feared. Baffled and discouraged, he +readily opened his ears to his French brother, +and Louis heaped grateful recognition on every +Englishman who helped incline his sovereign +to peaceful negotiations. Velvet and coin did +their work. Edward was easily led into the path +of least resistance, and an interview between +the rival kings was appointed for August 29th. +Great preparations were made for their meeting +on a bridge at Picquigny, across which a grating +was erected. Like Pyramus and Thisbe, the two +princes kissed each other through the barriers, +and exchanged assurances of friendship. Edward +was, indeed, so easy to convince that Louis +was in absolute terror lest his English brother +would accept his invitation to show him Paris<span class="page"><a name="409">[page 409]</a></span> +before his return. No wonder Edward was deceived, +for Louis was definite in his hospitable +offers, suggesting that he would provide a confessor +willing to give absolution for pleasant sins.</p> +<p> +The duke was duly forewarned of this colloquy. +On August 18th, he was staying at Peronne, +whence he paid a visit to the English camp. It +was ended without any intimation of Edward's +change of heart towards the French king whom +he had come to depose, though his plan was then +ripe. On the 20th, Charles received a written +communication with the news which Edward +had disliked broaching orally, and was officially +informed that the king had yielded to the wishes +of his army, and was considering a treaty with +Louis XI., wherein Edward's dear brother of +Burgundy should receive honourable mention did +he desire it.</p> +<p> +On hearing these most unwelcome tidings, +Charles set off for the English camp in hot haste, +attended by a small escort, and nursing his wrath +as he rode.<a href="#XX7"><sup>7</sup></a> King Edward was rather alarmed +at the duke's aspect when the latter appeared, +and asked whether he would not like a private +interview. Charles disregarded his question. "Is +it true? Have you made peace?" he demanded. +Edward's attempt at smooth explanations was +blocked by a flood of invectives poured out +by Charles, who remembered himself sufficiently +to speak in English so that the bystanders might<span class="page"><a name="410">[page 410]</a></span> +have the full benefit of his passionate reproaches. +He spared nothing, comparing the lazy, sensual, +pleasure-loving monarch, whose easeful ways were +rapidly increasing his weight of flesh, with the +heroism of other English Edwards with whom +he was proud to claim kin. As to the offers to +remember his interests in the perfidious peace +that perfidious Albion was about to swear with +equally perfidious France, his rejection was scornful +indeed. "Negotiate for <i>me</i>! Arbitrate for +<i>me</i>! Is it I who wanted the French crown? +Leave <i>me</i> to make my own truce. I will wait +until you have been three months over sea." +Among those who witnessed the scene were several +Englishmen who sympathised with Charles—if +we may believe Commines. "The Duke of Burgundy +has said the truth," declared the Duke of +Gloucester, and many agreed with him." Having +given vent to his sentiments, Charles +hurried away from his disappointing ally and +reached Namur on the 22d, where he spent the +night.</p> +<p> +Edward troubled himself little about his brother-in-law's +summary of his character. He was tired +of camp hardships, and both he and his men +found it very refreshing to have Amiens open her +gates to them at the order of Louis XI. Food and +wine were lavished upon all alike. It was a delightful +experience for the English soldiers to see +tables groaning with good things spread in the +very streets, and to be bidden to order what they<span class="page"><a name="411">[page 411]</a></span> +would at the taverns with no consideration for the +reckoning. They enjoyed good French fare, free +of charge, until their host intimated to King Edward +that his men were very intoxicated and that +there were limits in all things. But Louis did not +spare his money or his pains until he was sure that +a bloodless victory had been won. He fully realised +the importance of extravagant expenditure +in order to reach the goal he had set himself.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"We must have the whole sum at Amiens before +Friday evening, besides what will be wanted for private +gratifications to my Lord Howard, and others +who have had part in the arrangement.... Do +not fail in this that there may be no pretext for a +rupture of what has been already settled."</p> +<p> +Though they had now no rood of land, the +English returned richer than they came, and they +eased their <i>amour propre</i> by calling the sums that +had changed hands, "tribute money."<a href="#XX8"><sup>8</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Ryght reverend and my most tender and kynd +Moodre, I recommende me to youw. Pleas it yow +to weete that blessyd be God, this vyage of the kynges +is fynnysshyd for thys tyme and alle the kynges ost is +comen to Caleys as on Mondaye last past, that is to +seye the iiij daye of Septembre, and at thys daye many +of hys host be passyd the see in to Ingland ageyn, and<span class="page"><a name="412"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 412]</span></a></span> +in especiall my Lorde off Norfolk, and my bretheryn +....I also mysselyke somewhat the heyr heer; +for by my trowte I was in goode heele whan I come +hyddre and all hooll and to my wetyng I hadde never +a better stomake in my lyffe and now in viij dayes I +am crasyd ageyn."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX9"><sup>9</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +Thus wrote one Englishman from Calais and +doubtless many others found the air more wholesome +at home.</p> +<p> +Charles of Burgundy was now ready to consider +the affairs of Lorraine. He advised René of his +intentions, in a manifesto which reached him on +September 5th. The preamble contained a long +list of the manifold benefits conferred upon Lorraine +by the House of Burgundy. Then René was +admonished to observe in every particular the +terms of his own treaty with Charles, which he, +René, had signed voluntarily, or the former would +"make him know the difference between his +friendship and his enmity."</p> +<p> +This menace was ominous to the poor Duke of +Lorraine. For on September 13th, his friend +Louis XI. had signed a fresh treaty with Charles +of Burgundy at Soleure, and Campobasso was +marching mercenaries in Burgundian pay towards +the unfortunate duchy. In other words, the +French king abandoned the young protégé whom +he had spared no pains to alienate from Burgundian +protection. It was a moment when his one<span class="page"><a name="413">[page 413]</a></span> +interest apparently was to settle accounts with +the Count of St. Pol, who had been equally treacherous +in his dealings with England, Burgundy, and +France.<a href="#XX10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> +<p> +Having rested during the summer, the Burgundian +troops were in fine trim when Charles marched +to Nancy, taking towns on the way, and sat down +before the capital in the last week of October. +From his camp he wrote to the Duke of Milan:</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"Very dear brother, I recommend myself to you. +I have just accepted a truce with the king for nine +years to come, in the form and manner contained at +length in the copy of the articles which I have given to +your ambassador, resident with me . . . . And +be sure, <i>fratello mio</i>, that nothing would have induced +me to accept the truce, had you not been comprised +therein. And, similarly, you must be satisfied +in all the pacts between the king and myself, just as +you were comprised in the convention lately made at +Neuss.</p> +<p class="quote1"> +"For the rest, I have heard from your ambassador +about the troops that can be furnished me, for which +I am well content, praying you to continue to serve me +in accordance with the promises of your ambassador. +As to the coming of your brother to me [Sforza, Duc +de Bari], I should be very glad. He has no reason now +for delay as he can travel in Lorraine as safely as in +Lombardy, as I have said to your ambassador. Pray +the Lord to give you the desires of your heart.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> + "Written in my camp at Nancy the penultimate day<span class="page"><a name="414"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 414]</span></a></span> +of October, 1475.</p> +<p class="rindent">"CHARLES."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX11"><sup>11</sup></a></span> </p> + + +<p> +Some trifling assistance was offered to René +by Strasburg and other foes to Burgundy, but it +was wholly insufficient to rescue him from his +difficulties, and he was finally obliged to order the +capitulation of Nancy on November 19th. The +magistrates desired to hold out, but were forced +by the populace to submit, and on November 30, +1475, Charles of Burgundy marched triumphantly +through the gate of Craffe into the capital of +Lorraine where he was received as the sovereign +duke.<a href="#XX12"><sup>12</sup></a></p> +<p> +This time Charles acted the role of a merciful +and diplomatic conqueror. There was no cruelty +permitted, and every evidence of conciliation was +shown. The majority of the Lorrainers accepted +the new order of things without further protest. +At the end of December, Charles convened the +Estates of Lorraine in the ducal palace, addressed +them as his subjects of Burgundy, promised to +be a good prince, demanded their attachment, +confided his plans of expansion, and announced his +intention of making Nancy the capital of his +states. Again the duke's star rose. This acquisition +seemed a sign of the reality of his dreams. +Even before the fall of Nancy, his approaching +success bore fruit, inasmuch as the emperor<span class="page"><a name="415">[page 415]</a></span> +changed the late convention into a firmer treaty +signed on November 17th. Indeed had Charles +died at that moment, there would have been little +doubt that his dreamed-of kingdom had been +simply prevented by a mere accident.</p> +<p> +The detailed story of all that had happened in +the Swiss Confederation and the Lower Union, +since their formal declaration of war against +Charles, is too complicated to relate. At the begining +of 1476, the situation was, briefly, that Sigismund +held the debated mortgaged lands, while +the Swiss allies, with Berne as the most militant +member of the league, had continued to carry +on offensive operations against the duke and his +allies, notably the Duchess of Savoy. The conquest +of Lorraine caused a panic, especially in the +face of the fresh agreements between the duke and +the emperor and the king.</p> +<p> +There was a short period of hesitation, marked +by a truce till January 1, 1476, between Charles +and the confederates, a period when the timid +among the allies urged their counsel of reconciliation +at all hazards. Charles, too, seems to have +desired an accord rather than hostilities, even +though he still bore the Swiss a bitter grudge for +Héricourt. It was probably appeals from Yolande +of Savoy that decided him to open a campaign in +midwinter.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"The prince has been so busy for a week past [wrote +the Milanese ambassador] in the reorganisation of his<span class="page"><a name="416"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 416]</span></a></span> +army according to new ordinances, and in the regulation +of his receipts and outlays that he has scarcely +given himself time to eat once in twenty-four hours. +He is importuned by the Duchess of Savoy and the +Count of Romont for aid against the Swiss who respect +no treaty, and do not cease increasing their forces. +In consequence, Duke Charles intends leaving Nancy +in six days to go towards the Jura. He expects to +take with him 2300 lances and 10,000 ordnance, which, +joined to the feudal militia of Burgundy and Savoy, +will swell his army to the number of 25,000 combatants. +His operations are so planned that he will +have more to gain than to lose."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX13"><sup>13</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +When Charles left Nancy on January 11th, he +issued one of his grandiloquent manifestoes declaring +that he was acting in behalf of all princes and +seigneurs who had suffered wrong at the hands of +the Swiss, and that he was ready to punish all who +had provoked his just wrath by ravaging his +province of Burgundy. It was rather a curious +act on his part, to let his chief mercenary captain +go off to make a pilgrimage just as he was on the +eve of a campaign, but so he did, granting Campobasso +leave of absence to visit the shrine of St. +James at Compostella, a leave possibly utilised +by the Italian to further the understanding with +Louis XI., at which he arrived later.</p> +<p> +On across the Jura marched the Burgundian +army, while the Swiss diet came to a slow and +confused decision to prepare to meet him. He<span class="page"><a name="417">[page 417]</a></span> +did not take the route generally expected, directly +towards Berne, his chief antagonist, but turned +aside and attacked the little fortress of Granson. +The castle was not over strong. Efforts to provision +it by water failed, and, finally, on February +28th, after a brief siege, the captain of the garrison, +Hans Wyler, capitulated to the duke's German +forces, who represented to them that Charles was +as generous as he was magnificent.</p> +<p> +If the Milan ambassador can be trusted, the surrender +was unconditional. Charles was soon on +the spot. The four hundred and twelve soldiers, +who had succeeded in holding the Burgundian +army at bay for ten whole days, were made to +march past his tent with bowed heads. Then he +ordered one and all to be hanged, reserving two +to help in the executions. Four hours were occupied +in fulfilling these pitiless orders. Panigarola +arrived at the camp on the 29th,—it was leap +year, 1476,—and found this accomplished and saw +the bodies hanging on the trees, but he asserts that +no word was broken.<a href="#XX14"><sup>14</sup></a> Charles was now absolutely +confident of complete success. "<i>Bellorum eventus +dubii sunt</i>," remarked the prudent Milanese, +however, and he was proved right.</p> +<p> +When the allied forces of the mountaineers +finally arrived in the duke's neighbourhood a hot +pitched battle ensued. The Burgundians, led by +the duke in person, were thrown into utter confusion. +The mercenaries, terrified by the uncouth<span class="page"><a name="418">[page 418]</a></span> +yells and battle-cries of Uri and Unterwalden, +simply lost their heads and did nothing. Charles +was pushed on as far as Jougne. It was not only +a defeat, but a complete rout. When the Swiss +came in sight of the late garrison hanged to the +trees, their rage knew no bounds. In their turn +they massacred, hanged, and drowned every +one in Burgundian pay whom they could lay +hands upon. The Burgundians saved their lives +when they could, but their valuable artillery and +their baggage, the mass of riches that Charles +carried with him were ruthlessly sacrificed, and +gathered up contemptuously as booty by the Swiss, +who cared little for the tapestries and jewels +though they prized the gold. Such was the battle +of Granson, on the 2nd of March.</p> +<p> +The fatal mistake committed by Charles was +that he despised his enemy and underestimated +his quality as well as his strength. Just before +engaging in battle, the whole Swiss army fell +upon their knees in prayer that the issue might be +successful. This action deceived Charles into +thinking that they were cowardly and his opinion +was shared by his men. A contemptuous laugh +broke out from the Burgundian ranks.<a href="#XX15"><sup>15</sup></a></p> +<p> +Olivier de la Marche ends a meagre account of<span class="page"><a name="419">[page 419]</a></span> +Granson with the following rather barren words:<a href="#XX16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"In short the Duke of Burgundy lost the day and +was pushed back as far as Jougne, where he stopped, +and it is meet that I tell how the duke's bodyguard +saved themselves ... and reached Salins where I +saw them arrive for I was not present at the battle +on account of a malady I suffered. From Jougne the +duke went to Noseret, and you can understand that +he was very sad and melancholy at having lost the +battle, where his rich baggage was stolen and his +army shattered."</p> +<p> +On March 21, 1476, Sir John Paston writes to +Margaret Paston from Calais:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"As ffor tydyngs heer we her ffrom alle the worlde. + ... Item, the Duke of Burgoyne hath conqueryd +Lorreyn and Queen Margreet shall nott nowe be lykelyhod +have it; wherffer the Frenshe kynge cheryssheth +hyr butt easelye; but afftr thys conquest off Loreyn +the Duke toke grete corage to goo upon the londe off +the Swechys [Swiss] to conquer them butt the berded +hym att an onsett place and hathe dystrussyd hym +and hathe slayne the most part of his vanwarde and +wonne all hys ordynnaunce and artylrye and mor ovyr +all stuffe thatt he hade in hys ost with hym; exceppte +men and horse ffledde nott but they roode that +nyght xx myle; and so the ryche saletts, heulmetts +garters, nowchys<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX17"><sup>17</sup></a></span> gelt and all is goone with tente +pavylons and all and soo men deme hys pryde is +abatyd. Men tolde hym that they were ffrowarde<span class="page"><a name="420"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 420]</span></a></span> +karlys butte he wolde nott beleve it and yitt men +seye that he woll to them ageyn. Gode spede them +bothe."</p> +<p> +Many of the rumours that were current represented +Charles as completely prostrated by his +disaster. This was only half true. His efforts +to retrieve himself were immediate but, physically, +he certainly showed the effects of this campaign. +He was attacked by a low fever, his stomach +rejected food, insomnia afflicted his nights, and +dropsical swellings appeared on his legs. This condition +was attributed to his fatigues and exposure +in a hard climate, and to his habit of drinking +warm barley-water in the morning. He was +urged to use a soft feather-bed instead of his hard +couch, while Yolande's own physician and one +Angelo Catto watched anxiously over him. The +latter claimed the credit of saving his life. Charles +was not, however, fully recovered when he resumed +his activities and held a review on May 9th. +With all his efforts exerted in every quarter likely +to yield results, the whole number of troops was +but twenty thousand men. Every onlooker felt +that the duke was now trying to accomplish +something quite beyond his resources.</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"Illustrious prince [wrote the King of Hungary<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX18"><sup>18</sup></a></span>], +we cannot sufficiently wonder that you should have +been so gravely deceived and that, after having once +found that you were lured into loss and disgrace,<span class="page"><a name="421"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 421]</span></a></span> +again you let yourself be snared in a labyrinth +from which you will either never escape, or escape +only with damage and shame.... Without risk to +himself [your foe] has precipitated you into an abyss +and tied you where you are exposed to the loss of your +possessions and your life.... We exhort you to +pause before incurring heavier losses and greater +dangers. If fortune smiles upon you in your attack +on that people, you will have the whole empire against +you. In the opposite event—which God avert—it +will be turned into a common tale how a mighty +prince was overcome by rustics whom there would +have been no honour in conquering, while to be +conquered by them would be an eternal disgrace."</p> +<p> +This plain-spoken epistle failed to reach its destination +until after the prophecy had been fulfilled. +Its warning would probably have been futile had +Charles read it before he marched on towards +Berne, on June 8th. On the road that he chose +lay the town of Morat, which had made ready for +his approach. A few days to reduce it, and then +on to Berne was his plan. His force succeeded +in holding the ground and cutting off communication +with Berne for three days. On the 14th, a +messenger made his way through from the beleaguered +city to Berne, and all the allies were +then urged to do their best. The result was encouraging. +"There are three times as many as at +Granson, but let no one be dismayed, with God's +help we will kill them all," wrote a leader of Berne.</p> +<p> +The encounter came on June 23d. The force +was really a formidable one. René of Lorraine<span class="page"><a name="422">[page 422]</a></span> +was among the commanders on the side of the +Swiss. It was a tremendous fight, brief as it was +savage; at two o'clock the assault was made and +within an hour Charles was repulsed. Almost +all the infantry perished. The slain is estimated +variously from ten to twenty-two thousand. +Charles did not keep his vow to perish if defeated. +To his assured allies he clung closely, and none +had more reason to be faithful to him than Yolande +of Savoy. After Granson he hastened to give +the duchess his own view of the disaster:</p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"It has given me a singular pleasure to hear of +your calmness and constancy of soul; for the +thought of your affliction weighed more heavily +upon me than what has befallen me ... every day +diminishes the inconvenience and proves that the loss +in men is less than we thought. <i>Such as it is it came +from a mere skirmish</i>. The bulk of the armies did +not engage, to my great displeasure. Had they +fought the victory would have been mine. There +has been none on either side. God, I trust, reserves +it for you and for me ... the hope you have placed +in me shall not be vain."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX19"><sup>19</sup></a></span></p> +<p> +Thus he wrote on March 7th to encourage his anxious +protégée.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="battlemorat">[plate 27]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image27largebattlemorat.jpg" width="600" height="409" alt="A PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF MORAT" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +After the second defeat it was to her that the +duke turned again. In the very early morning +after the battle of Morat, Charles paused at Morges +on the Lake of Geneva, having ridden hard +through the night. There he heard mass, breakfasted,<span class="page"><a name="423">[page 423]</a></span> +rested awhile, and then rode on, reaching +the castle of Gex at six o'clock in the evening, +where Yolande of Savoy was awaiting his coming +in full knowledge of the second disaster he had +suffered.</p> +<p> +At the foot of the staircase, attended by her +ladies, Yolande was waiting to greet her disappointed +friend. Charles dismounted and kissed each +member of the family in order of precedence, the +little duke, his brother, then the duchess, her daughter, +and the ladies in waiting. Yolande had had time +to move out of her own suite of apartments and +have them prepared for her guest's use, and there +the two talked together confidentially, while their +attendants waited patiently just out of earshot.</p> +<p> +Then Charles formally escorted his hostess to +her son's room, returning to his own, showing +signs of extreme fatigue. Panigarola was absent, +but another Milanese was among her suite, and +he pressed forward as the duke re-entered the +apartment, offering to carry any message to the +Duke of Milan, to be cut short with, "It is well. +That is enough." Shortly afterwards, Olivier de +la Marche and the Sire de Givry, commander of +the Burgundians dedicated to Yolande's service, +were summoned and had a long conference with +Charles.</p> +<p> +Yolande was, apparently, more communicative +to the Milanese Appiano than to Charles, but he +saw that she was not frank with him. "She +must throw herself on the protection of France<span class="page"><a name="424">[page 424]</a></span> +or of Milan," he wrote to his master.<a href="#XX20"><sup>20</sup></a> She was, +however, clear in her own mind that she would +not accept Sforza's protection any more than +that of Charles. She absolutely refused to +identify her fortunes with the latter. She was +determined to go to Geneva, but no farther. +The duke remained at Gex until the 27th, and +renewed his arguments to persuade her to cross +the Jura with him. She was firm in adhering +to her own plan. The two parties set out from +the castle together, their roads lying in opposite +directions, but Charles escorted his hostess +about half-way to Geneva, riding beside her carriage, +and continuing his persuasions in a low +voice. At last he drew up his rein, gave her a +farewell kiss, and rode off. He was much displeased +at her determination, and he speedily +resolved upon other methods of making sure of her +fidelity to him. La Marche thus relates the story:<a href="#XX21"><sup>21</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote"> +"After the duke had been discomfited the second +time by the Swiss before Morat, believing that he +could do the thing secretly, he made a plan to kidnap +Mme. of Savoy and her children and take them +to Burgundy, and he ordered me, I being at Geneva, +on my head to capture Mme. of Savoy and her children +and bring them to him. In order to obey my prince +and master I did his behest quite against my heart, and +I took madame and her children near the gate of +Geneva. But the Duke of Savoy was stolen away +from me (for it was two o'clock in the night) by the<span class="page"><a name="425"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 425]</span></a></span> +means of some of our own company who were subjects +of the Duke of Savoy, and, assuredly, they did no more +than their duty. What I did was simply to save my +life, for the duke, my master, was the kind that insisted +on having his will done under penalty of losing +one's head. So I took my way, and carried Mme. of +Savoy behind me, and her two daughters followed and +two or three of her maids, and we took the road over +the mountain to reach St. Claude. I was well assured +of the second son, and had him carried by a gentleman. +I thought I was assured of the Duke of Savoy, +but he was stolen from me as I said. As soon as we +were at a distance, the people of the duchess, and especially +the seigneur de Manton, had torches brought +and took the duke back to Geneva, in which they had +great joy. And I with Mme. of Savoy and the little +boy (who was not the duke), crossed the mountain in +the black night and came to a place called Mijoux, and +thence to St. Claude.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"You must know that the duke gave very bad cheer +to the company, and chiefly to me. I was in danger +of my life because I had not brought the Duke of Savoy. +Then the duke went on to Salins without speaking to +me or giving me any orders. However, I escorted +Mme. of Savoy after him, and he ordered me to take +her to the castle of Rochefort. Thence she was taken +to Rouvre in Burgundy. After that I had nothing +more to do with her or her affairs."</p> + +<p> +This queer story is undoubtedly true, and the +tone in which La Marche relates it indicates that +he, too, was alienated by the duke's manner, and +might have been more willing to lend an ear to +Louis's suggestions than he had been five years<span class="page"><a name="426">[page 426]</a></span> +previously.</p> +<p> +It is not evident that he played his master false +or that he was cognisant of the recapture of the +little duke, but he says himself that he thought +the attendants were absolutely justified in it.</p> +<p> +It is after this incident that the astute Panigarola +returns and joins the duke's suite at Salins. +He finds Charles a changed man, indulging in +strange fits of hilarity, expressing the wish that a +couple of thousand more of his troops had been +killed, "French at heart" as they were. He +refused to see Yolande, after thus forcibly obtaining +the means of so doing, and sent her to the castle +of the Sire of Rochefort for safe-keeping. Abstemious +as he had been all his life, never taking +wine without water, the strong Burgundy in which +he now suddenly indulged went to his head.</p> +<p> +Rumours went abroad that his mental balance +was shaken. That does not seem to have been +true to the extent of insanity. He was only infinitely +chagrined but he certainly put on a brave +front and retained his self-confidence and declared</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"They are wrong if they believe me defeated. +Providence has provided me with so many people +and estates with such abundant resources, that +many such defeats would be needed to ruin them. +At the moment when the world imagines that I am +annihilated, I will reopen the campaign with an army +of 150,000 men."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XX22"><sup>22</sup></a></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#402">[Footnote 1:</a> <i><a name="XX1">Lettres</a> de Louis XI</i>., v., 368.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#402">[Footnote 2:</a> <i><a name="XX2">Nos</a> omnes relinquens, Ibid</i>., 371.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#403">[Footnote 3:</a> <a name="XX3">Commynes</a>-Dupont, i., 336.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#404">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="XX4">Lettres</a></i>, v., 363. Louis to Dammartin.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#405">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XX5">Gachard</a>, <i>Doc. inéd</i>., i., 249.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#408">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XX6">Commines</a>, iv., ch. vi.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#409">[Footnote 7:</a> <a name="XX7">Commines</a>, iv., ch. viii.: Comines-Lenglet, ii., 217.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#411">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XX8">The</a> terms of the treaty provided for a seven years' truce, +with international free trade and mutual assistance in civil +or foreign wars of either monarch. Louis's complaisance +went so far that he did not insist on Edward's renouncing +the title of King of England and France.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#412">[Footnote 9:</a> <i><a name="XX9">The</a> Paston Letters</i>. Sir John Paston to his mother, Sept. +11, 1475.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#413">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XX10">The</a> story must be omitted here. The constable was +finally apprehended, tried, and executed at Paris.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#414">[Footnote 11:</a> <i><a name="XX11">Dépêches</a> Milanaises</i>, i., 253. The copy only is at Milan +and there is no seal.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#414">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XX12">Toutey</a>, p. 380.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#416">[Footnote 13:</a> <i><a name="XX13">Dép</a>. Milan</i>., i., 266.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#417">[Footnote 14:</a> <i><a name="XX14">Dép</a>. Milan</i>., i., 300.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#418">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XX15">Jomini</a> lays the defeat to a tactical error. "Charles had +committed the fault of encamping with one wing of his army +resting on the lake, the other ill-secured at the foot of a wooded +mountain. Nothing is more dangerous for an army than to +have one of its wings resting on an unbridged stream, on a lake, or on +the sea." Charles explained to Europe that he had +been surprised, and his defeat was a mere bagatelle.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#419">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="XX16">III</a>., 216.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#419">[Footnote 17:</a> <a name="XX17"></a> ornaments.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#420">[Footnote l8:</a> <i><a name="XX18">Dép</a>. Milan.</i>, ii., 126.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#422">[Footnote 19:</a> <i><a name="XX19">Dép</a>. Milan.</i>, ii., 335.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#424">[Footnote 20:</a> <i><a name="XX20">Dep</a>. Milan</i>., ii., 295.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#424">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XX21">III</a>., 234.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#426">[Footnote 22:</a> <i><a name="XX22">Dep</a>. Milan</i>, ii., 339.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="427">[page 427]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2>CHAPTER <a name="XXI">XXI</a></h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF NANCY</h3> + +<h4>1477</h4> +<p> +It was manifestly impossible for Charles to +attempt to retrieve his fortunes without +having large sums of ready money at his command. +He therefore proceeded to appeal to the +guardians of each and every treasury in his various +states. Flanders and Burgundy were, however, +the only quarters whence succour was in the least +probable. The Estates of the latter duchy met, +deliberated, and resolved to make no pretence nor +to "yield anything contrary to the duty which +every one owes to his country."<a href="#XXI1"><sup>1</sup></a> A certain Sieur +de Jarville, accompanied by other true Burgundians, +undertook to report the proceedings to +Charles,—a duty usually falling to the share of the +presiding officer of the ecclesiastical chamber. +The message which he carried was laconic but +sturdy:</p> +<p> +"Tell Monsieur that we are humble and brave +subjects and servitors, but as to what is asked in +his behalf, it never has been done, it cannot be +done, it never will be done."</p> +<p> +"Small people would never dare use such language," +is the comment of the Burgundian chronicler,<span class="page"><a name="428">[page 428]</a></span> +proud of the temerity of his fellow countrymen.</p> +<p> +In the Netherlands, the individual Estates were +equally emphatic in their refusal to meet the +duke's wishes. Charles, therefore, resolved to call +together a general assembly of deputies in the hope +of finding them, collectively, more amenable. +Writs of summons were issued very widely and +a "States-general" was formally convened at +Ghent on Friday, April 26, 1476.<a href="#XXI2"><sup>2</sup></a> At the last +assembly of this nature, in 1473, the duke had expressly +promised, in consideration of an annual +grant of 500,000 crowns for six years then accorded +to him, to refrain from further demands, and there +was a spirit of sullen resentment in the air when +this session, whose purpose was plain, was opened +by Chancellor Hugonet. He set forth three points +for consideration. Monseigneur wished his daughter +Mary, "that most precious jewel," to join him +in Burgundy. A suitable escort was necessary to +ensure her safe journey and that the duke requested +the States to provide. Secondly he desired +the States to endorse a levy of fresh troops to<span class="page"><a name="429">[page 429]</a></span> +meet his immediate requirements. Further, he +requested each town to equip a specified number +of horses at its own expense; he demanded the +service of his tenants, fief and arrière-fief; and, in +addition, he required that all other men, no matter +what their condition, able to bear arms, should +enlist or provide a substitute. A portion of the +troops should be set to guard the frontier, and +the rest should be sent to the duke in Burgundy.</p> +<p> +It was a demand pure and simple for a universal +call to arms, a national levy. The duke's paternal +desire to see his daughter was the flimsiest of excuses +that deceived no one for a moment.</p> +<p> +After the chancellor's exposition there was +probably adjournment for discussion. The pensionary +of Brussels, Gort Roelants, then acted as +spokesman to present the following report, as the +result of their deliberations, to the duchess-regent.</p> +<p> +As for Mlle. of Burgundy, the deputies would +ascertain the wishes of their principals, but the +second request did not call for a referendum. +The representatives were fully capable of settling +the matter at once. Considering the heavy burdens +laid on the people, and taking into account the +promises made to them in 1473, that no further +demands should be made on the public purse, the +three Estates concurred in humbly petitioning +Monseigneur to excuse them from granting his<span class="page"><a name="430">[page 430]</a></span> +request.</p> +<p> +It was on a Sunday after dinner (April 28th) +when this decision was communicated to the +duchess in her own hotel. After a private colloquy +between her and Hugonet, the chancellor +told the messenger that it was quite right for the +deputies to consult their principals before the +heiress was permitted to leave the guardianship +of her faithful subjects. That was a grave matter, +but surely there was no reason why her "escort" +could not be determined upon at once. In regard +to the levies, Madame was not empowered to +take any excuse. It was beyond her province. +Since the opening of the assembly, fresh letters +had arrived from the duke urging the speedy execution +of his previous instructions. The chancellor +then appointed a committee to meet a committee +from the States at 8 A.M. on the morrow at the +convent of the Augustines.</p> +<p> +This was not satisfactory. Hugonet was speedily +notified that the States did not feel empowered +to appoint a committee. The most they +could do was to resolve themselves into a committee +of the whole. The objection to this was +that a small conference was far better suited to +free discussion. It was easy for unqualified persons +to enter the session of a large body. The +States, however, were tenacious in their opinion +that their writs did not qualify them to appoint +committees. Every point must be threshed out +in the presence of every deputy. <i>Potestas delegata +non deleganda est</i>.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="philibert">[plate 28]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image28philibert.jpg" width="400" height="604" alt="PHILIBERT, DUKE OF SAVOY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<span class="page"><a name="431">[page 431]</a></span> +<p> +There was further negotiation, and it was not +until Monday afternoon that Hugonet's commissioner +brought a conciliatory message that if +the gentlemen were so bent on it, he would, in +spite of the difficulty of discussion in an open +meeting, talk over both points with them in full +assembly. Again the States objected. They had +no instructions whatsoever in regard to Mademoiselle, +and could not discuss her movements either +in public or in private session. As to levies, they +repeated in detail all previous arguments, and expressed +a fervent hope that Monseigneur would +withdraw the request. It would, in the end, be +more to Monseigneur's advantage, etc. Back and +forth travelled the commissioner between States +and duchess. The latter simply reiterated her +dictum that Mary must certainly set forth to visit +her father in May, with an adequate escort, in +whose ranks must appear three prelates, three or +four barons, fifty knights, and notable men from +the "good towns," well armed.</p> +<p> +The States were then resolved into a committee +of the whole, for a private deliberation, an action +that probably enabled them to exclude the embarrassing +spectators. In preparation for this, +the diligent commissioner called apart one deputy +from each contingent, and expatiated on the +duke's need of proof of sturdy loyalty. Seven to +eight thousand combatants, besides Mademoiselle's +escort and the fiefs and arrière-fiefs, Monseigneur<span class="page"><a name="432">[page 432]</a></span> +could manage to make suffice for the present, and +these must be provided. These confidences were +at once reported to the assembly, which then adjourned +to think over the matter during the +night.<a href="#XXI3"><sup>3</sup></a></p> +<p> +When they met again on April 30th, the chancellor +was ready with a new message from Madame: +"Go home now, consult your principals, and return +on May 15th." On the motion of some deputy, +this date was changed to May 24th. Precautions +were taken to prevent any binding action in the +interim. Moreover, the exact phrasing of the +reports to the separate groups of constituents was +also agreed upon by the majority of the deputies. +In this, Hainaut refused to participate, as in that +province there was a reluctance to deny the +obligations of the fiefs.</p> +<p> +When the deputies reassembled a month later, +Hugonet tried to weaken the effect of their answer +by a suggestion that it had better not be considered +the final decision, but a mere informal +expression of opinion. "There were so many +strangers present," etc. The States determinedly +refused to be trifled with. "Madame must not be +displeased if they gave the result of their deliberations +in the presence of the whole assembly, not +by way of opinion, but as a formal and conclusive +report." Their charge was restricted to this manner +of procedure. The chancellor, interrupting +them, asked, since their charge was thus restricted,<span class="page"><a name="433">[page 433]</a></span> +whether they had also been limited in the number +of times they might drink on their way.<a href="#XXI4"><sup>4</sup></a> The +answer was: "Chancellor, come now, say what +you wish. The answer shall be given as it was +meant to be given."</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="battlenancy">[plate 29]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image29battlenancy.jpg" width="400" height="692" alt="PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF NANCY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +The communication was so long that its delivery +took from 3 to 8 P.M. It was nothing more than +a detailed apology for refusing the sovereign's +demands. Several days more were consumed in +unsuccessful efforts to cajole or browbeat the +deputies into a more genial mood. The only +concessions offered were insignificant, and to their +resolution the deputies held firmly. "According +to current rumour [concludes Gort Roelants's +story] the ducal council would gladly have accepted +a notable sum in lieu of the service of +towns and of the fiefholders, but the States made +no such offer."</p> +<p> +There was evidently a hope that better results +might be obtained from a new assembly,<a href="#XXI5"><sup>5</sup></a> but +none was held and the most earnest endeavours +of the duke's wife and daughter failed to arouse +enthusiasm for his plans. Moreover, when there +seemed a prospect that the Netherlands might be +attacked from France, the sympathy of even the +duchess and council for offensive operations was +chilled. Not only did Margaret fail to send her<span class="page"><a name="434">[page 434]</a></span> +husband the extra supplies demanded, but she +decided to appropriate the three months' subsidy, +the chief item of regular ducal revenue, for protection +of the Flemish frontier—an action that made +Charles very angry. Defences at home! Yes, +indeed, they were necessary, but the people must +provide them. The subsidy was lawfully his and +he needed every penny of it. His army had not +been destroyed. He was simply obliged to +strengthen it. Burgundy was helping him. Flanders +must do her part. They were deaf to this +appeal, although a generous message was sent +saying that if he were hard pressed they would +go in person to rescue him from danger.</p> +<p> +The story of the assembly of the Estates of the +two Burgundies is equally interesting as a picture +of the clash between sovereign will and popular +unreadiness to open the carefully guarded money-boxes.<a href="#XXI6"><sup>6</sup></a> +The deputies convened at Salins on July +8th, in the presence of the duke himself. The session +was opened by Jean de Grey, the president +of the <i>parlement</i> of the duchy, with a brief statement +of the sovereign's needs. Then Charles took +the floor, and delivered a tremendous harangue +with a marvellous command of language. Panigarola +declared that his allusions to parallel +crises in ancient times were so apt and so fluent +that it seemed as though the book of history lay +opened before him and that he read from its +pages.<a href="#XXI7"><sup>7</sup></a> The impression he made was plain to<span class="page"><a name="435">[page 435]</a></span> +see.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="battlenancy2">[plate 30]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image30battlenancy2.jpg" width="400" height="499" alt="PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF NANCY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> + +<p> +His demands for aid to retrieve the Swiss disasters +were open and aboveboard this time. There +was no such pretence put forward as the escort +of Mary. The argument was that any ruler, +backed by his people unanimous in their willingness +to give their last jewel for public purposes, +must inevitably succeed in his righteous wars, etc.</p> +<p> +His learned and able discourse was well received, +according to other reporters besides the Milanese, +but there was no hearty yielding to sentiment in +the reply. Four days were consumed in deliberation +before that was ready on July 12th. They +had certainly considered that the grant of 100,000 +florins annually for six years, accorded two years +previously, was their share. But in view of the +duke's appeal, they would endeavour to aid him. +Let him stipulate which cities he wished fortified +and they would assume charge of the work. Two +favours they begged—that Charles should not +rashly expose his person "for he was the sole prince +of his glorious House," and that he should be +ready to receive overtures of peace. "We will +give life and property for defence, but we implore +you to take no offensive step." Charles did not, +perhaps, feel the distrust of his military skill and +of his judgment that these words implied.</p> +<p> +Financial stress was not the duke's only difficulty +in 1476. The defection of his allies continued,<span class="page"><a name="436">[page 436]</a></span> +Yolande—that former good friend of his—was now +a fervent suppliant to Louis XI., begging him to +restore her to freedom and to her son's estates. +Not that her restraint was in itself hard to bear. +At Rouvre, whither she had been removed from +Rochefort, she was free to do what she wished, +except to depart. Couriers, too, were at her service +apparently, who carried uninspected letters +to Milan, Geneva, Nice, Turin, and to Louis XI. +Commines says that she hesitated to take refuge +with the last lest he should promptly return +her to Burgundian "protection." Yet her +brother's hatred to Charles seemed a fairly strong +assurance against such action. Louis XI. was +never so genial as when hearing some ill of Charles. +"From what I have learned, I believe his Turk, +his devil in this world, the person he loathes most +intensely, is the Duke of Burgundy, with whom he +can never live in amity." These words were sent +by Petrasanta to the Duke of Milan,<a href="#XXI8"><sup>8</sup></a> who was +also turning slowly, with some periods of hesitation, +to an alliance with Louis, now engaged in "following +the hare with a cart."<a href="#XXI9"><sup>9</sup></a></p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="monumentnancy">[plate 31]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image31monumentnancy.jpg" width="400" height="509" alt="A MONUMENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD AT NANCY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +On his side the king declared that he had no +intention of troubling further about his obligations +to the Duke of Burgundy. "He has himself +broken the truce repeatedly. I can begin a +war when I please. But I have thought it best<span class="page"><a name="437">[page 437]</a></span> +to temporise."</p> + +<p> +In the succeeding weeks Louis plunged deeper +and deeper into negotiations with any and every +one whom he could turn against Charles. In +October, Sire de Chamont, governor of Champagne, +—the territory that Edward IV. had failed to +consign to the duke's sovereignty,—made a descent +on Rouvre and rescued Yolande of Savoy. +There was no attempt to stay her departure, and +she was scrupulous, so it is said, in leaving money +behind to pay for the Burgundian property carried +off in her train—though it were nothing but +an old crossbow. "Welcome, Madame the Burgundian," +was the fraternal salutation which she +received on her arrival at her brother's court. +She replied that she was a good French woman +and quite ready to obey his majesty's commands.<a href="#XXI10"><sup>10</sup></a></p> +<p> +During the summer, Charles remained at La +Rivière exerting every effort to levy an army. It +was no easy task, and the review held on July 27th +showed a meagre return for his exertions. But +he did not slacken his efforts. Lists were immediately +drawn up showing the vacancies in each +company, and his money stress did not prevent his +offering increased pay as an extra inducement to +recruits. "An excellent means of encouragement," +comments Panigarola.</p> +<p> +The necessity for his preparations was evident. +An opportune legacy inherited by René of Lorraine +enabled that dispossessed prince to work<span class="page"><a name="438">[page 438]</a></span> +to better advantage than he had been able to do +since Charles had convened the Estates of Lorraine +at Nancy. Moreover, on the very day of +the review of the deficient Burgundian troops, a +Swiss diet at Fribourg adopted resolutions regarding, +a closer alliance with René.<a href="#XXI11"><sup>11</sup></a> Louis XI. ostensibly +maintained his truce with Charles but +he had intimated that a French army would wait +in Dauphiné ready "to help adjust the affairs of +Savoy," and, at about the same time when Yolande +was at court, he gave a gracious reception to a Swiss +embassy, so that René did not feel himself without +support as he advanced to recover his city.</p> +<p> +The mercenaries left by Charles at Nancy were +weak and indifferent—a brief siege, and the capital +of Lorraine capitulated to Duke René. Charles +was too late to prevent this mortifying loss. His +forces, too, were a mere shadow. Three to four +thousand men rallied round him in the Franche-Comté, +a few hundred joined him in Burgundy, +and as he skirted the frontier of Champagne he +received slight reinforcements from Luxemburg. +Then came Campobasso and his mercenary troops, +and the Count of Chimay with such Flemish fiefs +as had, individually, respected the duke's appeal. +In all, the forces at Charles's disposition amounted +to about ten thousand, far fewer than those at +Neuss or at Granson.</p> +<p> +At a diet of October 17th, the compact between<span class="page"><a name="439">[page 439]</a></span> +René and the Swiss was confirmed, and the former +was assured of efficient aid to help him repulse +Charles in his advance into Lorraine. There was +need. The city of Toul refused admission to both +dukes, but furnished provision for Charles's troops, +so that for the moment he was the better off of +the two. René then proceeded to provision +Nancy and to prepare it for a siege, while he himself +proceeded to Pont-à-Mousson, and for several +days the two adversaries were only separated by +the Moselle. Charles's army was augmented +daily by slight accessions from Flanders, and England, +and by fragments of the garrisons of the +towns in Lorraine that had yielded to +René and the latter fell back, little by little. +Charles in his turn held Pont-à-Mousson, and +proceeded along the road to Nancy, not deterred +by the Lorrainers.</p> +<p> +It was on October 22nd, that Charles of Burgundy +laid siege for the second time to Nancy. +In thus entering into active hostilities, he was +ignoring the advice of his councillors who were +unanimous in begging him to devote the winter +months to refitting his army in Luxemburg or +Flanders. His position was really very dangerous. +He had no base on which to rest as he had recovered +no towns except Pont-à-Mousson. But he +ignored the patent obstacles and tried assault +after assault upon Nancy—all most valiantly +repulsed. Within the walls, there was an amazing<span class="page"><a name="440">[page 440]</a></span> +display of courage, energy, and good humour. As +a matter of fact, the duke's reputation had waned, +while the fear of his cruelty emboldened the +burghers to hold out to the last ditch. Any fate +would be better than falling into his hands, was +the general opinion.</p> +<p> +Throughout Lorraine, the captains of the garrisons +seized every occasion to harry the Burgundians. +Familiar with the lay of the land, with +every cross-road and by-path, they were able to +lie in wait for the foragers and to do much damage. +Four hundred cavaliers, coming up from Burgundy, +were attacked by one Malhortie de Rozière, and +literally cut to pieces, while their horses changed +sides with ease. Only a few escaped to report the +fate of the others to Charles. Not long after, Malhortie, +encouraged by this success, crept up to +the Burgundian camp, fell upon the sleepers, and +captured a goodly number of horses.</p> +<p> +The troops on which Charles counted most confidently +were Campobasso's. Several attempts +were made to warn him that treachery was possible +in that quarter if the commander were too +much exasperated by delays in payment, too +much tried by the ill-temper of his employer. +But the duke persisted in being oblivious to what +was passing under his eyes. Thus, while awaiting +the moment for his final defection, the Italian +found it possible to enter into communication with +René and to retard the operations of the siege so +as to give time for the advance of the army of<span class="page"><a name="441">[page 441]</a></span> +relief.</p> +<p> +The weather of this year was a marked contrast +to the mild season of 1473. The winter set in +early and the cold became very severe, almost at +once. Their sufferings made the burghers very +impatient for the relief of whose coming they +could get no certain assurance. The Burgundian +lines were held so rigidly that the interchange +of messages between the city and her friends was +rendered very difficult.<a href="#XXI12"><sup>12</sup></a> One Suffren de Baschi +tried to slip through to Nancy, to tell the besieged +that René was levying troops in Switzerland and +would soon be with them. Baschi fell into the +duke's hands and was immediately hanged. One +story says that Campobasso was among the interceders +for his life and received a box on the ear for +his pains, an insult that proved the last straw in +his allegiance to Charles. Commines, however, +declares that the Italian urged the death of the +captive, fearful of the premature betrayal of his +own intended treachery.</p> +<p> +This execution was one of those arbitrary acts +condemned by public opinion as contrary to the +code of warfare. Intense indignation among the +Lorrainers and the Swiss forced René to retaliatory +measures, and he ordered the execution of +all the Burgundian prisoners. One hundred and +twenty bodies hung on the gibbets, each bearing +an inscription to the effect that their death was +the work of <i>le téméraire</i>. The rancour of the<span class="page"><a name="442">[page 442]</a></span> +proceedings became terrible. No quarter was +given in any engagements. Slaughter was the +only thought on either side.</p> +<p> +Towards the end of December, one Thierry, a +draper of Mirecourt, proved more successful than +Baschi in reaching Nancy. His information, that +René's army would leave Basel on December 26th, +put heart into the beseiged and the bells rang out +joyfully.</p> +<p> +Just at this epoch, there was an attempt at +mediation between the combatants. The King of +Portugal,<a href="#XXI13"><sup>13</sup></a> nephew of Isabella, appeared at his +cousin's camp and implored him to put an end to +the carnage, and in the name of humanity to stop +a war that was horrible to all the world. In spite +of his own stress, Charles managed to give his +kinsman a splendid reception, but he waved +aside his petition, and simply invited him to join +him in his campaign.</p> +<p> +A week sufficed for the Swiss contingent to +march from Basel to Nancy, across the plains of +Alsace. Meantime René had rallied about four +thousand men under Lorraine captains, and to +this was added an Alsatian force which had joined +him by way of St.-Nicolas-du-Port. They were +a rude, pitiless crowd, as they soon evinced by<span class="page"><a name="443">[page 443]</a></span> +routing a few Burgundians out of the houses +where they had hidden, and massacring them +publicly. A reconnaissance, sent out by Charles, +was easily put to flight.</p> +<p> +On January 4th, Charles learned that fresh +troops had reached St. Nicolas. He showed assurance, +arrogance, and negligence. His belief +in his star was fully restored. He actually did +not take the trouble to try once more to ascertain +the exact strength of the enemy. He had commissioned +the Bishop of Forli to negotiate for him +at Basel, and refused to credit the statement that +the Swiss were throwing in their fortunes with +René. He thought that "the Child," as he contemptuously +termed his adversary, had simply +gone right and left to hire mercenaries, and he +rather ridiculed the idea of taking such <i>canaille</i> +seriously, saying that it was a host unworthy of +a gentleman. Still he resolved to meet and finish +them once for all.<a href="#XXI14"><sup>14</sup></a></p> +<p> +It is a fact that the Swiss reinforcements were +a different and far less efficient body than the +volunteers of Granson and Morat had been. +French gold, scattered freely, had done its work +in exciting the cupidity of every man who could +bear arms. There were some staunch leaders, +like Waldemar of Zurich and Rudolph de Stein, +but their kind was in the minority. Berne aided +with money rather than with men, but she was not +a generous ally as she insisted on having hostages<span class="page"><a name="444">[page 444]</a></span> +to ensure her repayment. A venal spirit was +evident in every quarter. As the troops made +their way over the Jura their behaviour showed +that the late splendid booty had affected them. +Plunder was their aim. When René reviewed +these fresh arrivals from Basel, one of his attending +officers was Oswald von Thierstein, late governor +of Alsace.<a href="#XXI15"><sup>15</sup></a> Disgraced by Sigismund he had passed +over to the Duke of Lorraine, who appointed him +marshal.</p> +<p> +On that January 4th, a Saturday, Charles held +a council meeting. The opinion of the wisest, +already given on previous occasions, was urged +again:</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Do not risk battle. René is poor. If there are +no immediate engagements, his mercenaries will abandon +him for lack of pay. Raise the siege and depart +for Flanders and Luxemburg. The army can rest and +be increased. Then at the approach of spring it will +be easy to fall upon René deprived of his troops."</p> + +<p> +Charles was absolutely deaf to these arguments. +He was determined on facing the issue at once. +Leaving a small force to sustain the siege, he +ordered the camp to be broken on the evening of +the 4th and a movement made towards St.-Nicolas. +He selected a ground favourable for the +manipulation of a large body, and placed his +artillery on a plateau situated between Jarville<span class="page"><a name="445">[page 445]</a></span> +and Neuville. It was not a good position, being +hedged in on the right and in front by woods which +could conceal the movements of a foe without +impeding them. Only one way of retreat was +open—towards Metz, whose bishop was Charles's +last ally. But to reach Metz, it was necessary to +cross several small streams and deceptive marshes, +half frozen as they were, besides the river Meurthe, +a serious obstacle with the garrison of Nancy on the +flank. In short, there was ample reason to dread +surprise, while in case of defeat a terrible catastrophe +was more than possible. Curiously, the +precise kind of difficulties which beset the field of +Morat were repeated here—proof that Charles had +not the qualities of a general who could learn by +experience.<a href="#XXI16"><sup>16</sup></a></p> +<p> +The exact force at his disposal on this occasion +has been variously estimated. Considering the +ravages of the sanguinary skirmishes during the +siege, and of the cold, it is probable that the actual +combatants did not number more than ten thousand, +all told. And only half of these were of any +value—two thousand men under Galeotto, and +three thousand Burgundians commanded by +Charles and his immediate lieutenants. The remainder +were unreliable mercenaries and the still +more unreliable troops of Campobasso already +pledged to the foe. La Marche estimates René's +force at twelve thousand and adds: "The Duke of +Burgundy was far behind, for, on my conscience,<span class="page"><a name="446">[page 446]</a></span> +he had not two thousand fighting men."<a href="#XXI17"><sup>17</sup></a></p> +<p> +The allies adopted a plan of battle proposed by +a Lorrainer, Vautrin Wuisse. The first manoeuvre +was to divert the foe and turn him towards the +woods, and then to attack his centre, which would +at the same time be pressed at the front by the +Lorraine forces, headed by René himself. The +plan succeeded in every point. Surprised that +they dared take the offensive, Charles was alert +to the harsh cries of the "bull" of Uri and the +"cow" of Unterwalden, which were heard across +the woods. A sudden presentiment saddened +him. Putting on his helmet, he accidentally +knocked off the lion bearing the legend <i>Hoc est +signum Dei</i>. He replaced it and plunged into the +mêlée.</p> +<p> +The onslaught was terrific. Galeotto's troops +and the duke's were the only ones to make sturdy +resistance. The right wing of the army gave way +under the fierce assault of the Swiss. The cry, +"<i>Sauve qui pent</i>!" raised possibly by Campobasso's +traitors, produced a terrible rout. Three quarters +of the troops were in flight, while the duke still +fought on with superhuman ferocity.</p> +<p> +Galeotto, seeing that the day was lost, protected +his own mercenaries as best he could, while Campobasso +completed the treason that he had plotted +with René, which had been partially accomplished +four days previously, and calmly took up his position +on the bridge of Bouxières on the Meurthe,<span class="page"><a name="447">[page 447]</a></span> +to make prisoners for the sake of ransom. Then +the besieged made a sudden sortie which increased +the disorder. The battle proper was of short duration, +with little bloodshed, but the pursuit was +sanguinary in the extreme, because the Burgundian +army had left no loophole open for retreat.</p> +<p> +The Swiss pursued the fugitives hotly as far as +Bouxières and inflicted carnage right and left on +the route. It was easy work. The morasses were +traps and the Burgundians, encumbered with their +arms, found it impossible to free themselves, when +they once were entangled. They fell like flies +before the fury of the mountaineers. The Lorrainers +and Alsatians were more humane or more +mercenary, for they took prisoners instead of killing +indiscriminately. Charles fought desperately to +the very end. There is no doubt that he plunged +into the thick of the fight and risked his life in a +reckless manner, but there is absolute uncertainty +as to how he met his death. It is generally accepted +that the last person to see him alive was one +Baptista Colonna, a page in the service of a Neapolitan +captain. This lad, with an extra helmet +swung over his shoulder, found himself close to +the duke. He saw him surrounded by troops, +noticed his horse stumble, was sure that the rider +fell. The next moment, Colonna's attention was +diverted to himself. He was taken prisoner and +knew no more of the day's events. The figure of +Charles of Burgundy disappears from the view of +man. A curtain woven of vague rumour hides the<span class="page"><a name="448">[page 448]</a></span> +closing scenes of his life.</p> +<p> +At seven o'clock the victorious Duke of Lorraine +rode into the rescued city and re-entered his palace. +At the gates was heaped up a ghastly memorial +of the steadfastness of the burghers in their devotion +to his cause. This was a pile of the bones +of the foul animals they had consumed when other +food was exhausted, rather than capitulate to +their liege's foe. To ascertain the fate of that foe +now became René's chief anxiety, and he despatched +messengers to Metz and elsewhere to +find out where Charles had taken refuge. The +reports were all negative. The first positive assurance +that the duke was dead came from young +Baptista Colonna, whom Campobasso himself +introduced into René's presence on Monday +evening. The page told his tale and declared that +he could point out the precise place where he had +seen the Duke of Burgundy fall. Accordingly, on +Tuesday morning, January 7th, a party went +forth from Nancy to the desolate battlefield and +were guided by Colonna to the edge of a pool +which he asserted confidently was the very spot +where he had seen Charles. Circumstantial evidence +went to give corroboration to his word, for +the dozen or more bodies that lay strewn along +the ground in the immediate vicinity of the pool +were close friends and followers of the duke, men +who would, in all probability, have stayed faithfully +by their master's person, a volunteer bodyguard +as long as they drew breath. These bodies<span class="page"><a name="449">[page 449]</a></span> +were all stripped naked. Harpies had already +gathered what plunder they could find, and no +apparel or accoutrements were left to show the +difference in rank between noble and page. But +the faces were recognisable and they were identified +as well-known nobles of the Burgundian court. +Separated from this group by a little space at the +very edge of the pool, was another naked body in +still more doleful plight. The face was disfigured +beyond all semblance of what it might have been +in life. One cheek was bitten by wolves, one +was imbedded in the frozen slime. Yet there was +evidence on the poor forsaken remains that +convinced the searchers that this was indeed the +mortal part of the great duke. Two wounds from +a pick and a blow above the ear—inflicted by "one +named Humbert"—showed how death had been +caused. The missing teeth corresponded to those +lost by Charles, there was a scar just where he had +received his wound at Montl'héry, the finger nails +were long like his, a wound on the shoulder, a fistula +on the groin, and an ingrowing nail were additional +marks of identification,—six definite +proofs in all. Among those who gazed at this +wretched sight, on that January morning, were +men intimately acquainted with the duke's person.</p> +<p class="quote"> +"There were his physician, a Portuguese named +Mathieu, and his valets, besides Olivier de la +Marche<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XXI18"><sup>18</sup></a></span> and Denys his chaplain who were taken +thither and there was no doubt that he was dead. It<span class="page"><a name="450"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 450]</span></a></span> +has not yet been decided where he will be buried, and +to know it better it [the body] has been bathed in +warm water and good wine and cleansed. In that +state it was recognisable by all who had previously +seen and known him. The page who had given the +information was taken to the king. Had it not been +for him it would never have been known what had +become of him considering the state and the place +where he was found."<span style="font-size:1.1em"><a href="#XXI19"><sup>19</sup></a></span></p> + +<p> +Before the body could be freed from the ice in +which it was imbedded, implements had to be +brought from Nancy. Four Lorraine nobles +hastened to the spot, when they heard the tidings, +to show honour to the man who had been their +accepted lord for a brief period, and they acted as +escort as the burden was carried into the town and +placed in a suitable chamber in the home of one +George Marquiez. There seems to have been no +insult offered to the fallen man, no lack of deference +in the proceedings. The very spot where the +bier rested for a moment was marked with a little +black cross.</p> +<p> +As the corpse was bathed, three wounds became<span class="page"><a name="451">[page 451]</a></span> +evident—a deep cut from a halberd in the +head, spear thrusts through the thighs and abdomen—proofs +of the closeness of the last struggle. +When all the dignity possible had been given +to the miserable human fragment and the chamber +hung with conventional mourning, René came +thither clad in black garments. Kneeling by the +bier, he said: "Would to God, fair cousin, that +your misfortunes and mine had not reduced you +to the condition in which I see you."</p> +<p> +For five days the body lay in state before the +high altar of the church of St. George, and the +obsequies that followed were attended by René +and his nobles, and the coffin was honourably +placed among the ducal dead.</p> +<p> +Yet doubt of the man's existence was not buried +with the bones to which his name was given. +When the Swiss turned their way homeward, +their farewell words to René were: "If the Duke +of Burgundy has escaped and should reopen war, +tell us." "If he has assured his safety," René +answered, "we will fight again when summer +comes." There was no delay, however, in the +division of the spoils. The Burgundian treasure +was distributed among René's allies, and the ignorant +soldiers received articles worth many times +their pay, which they, in many cases, disposed of +for an infinitesimal part of their value.</p> +<p> +As late as January 28th, Margaret of York and +Mary of Burgundy wrote to Louis XI. from Ghent:</p> +<p> +"We are still hoping that Monseigneur is alive in<span class="page"><a name="452">[page 452]</a></span> +the hands of his enemies." Other rumours continued +to be current, not only for weeks but for +years. In 1482, it was gravely recounted that +the vanished duke had retired to Brucsal in +Swabia, where he led an austere life, <i>genus vitae +horridum atque asperum</i>. Bets were made, too, +on the chances of his return.<a href="#XXI20"><sup>20</sup></a></p> +<p> +Louis XI. was a very pleasant person when +news was brought him that he liked to hear. +Commines and Bouchage together had told him +about the defeat of Morat and had each received +two hundred silver marks. It was a Seigneur de +Lude who had the good luck to bring him letters +from Craon recounting the battle of Nancy. It +was "really difficult for the king to keep his countenance +so surprised was he with joy."<a href="#XXI21"><sup>21</sup></a> His +letter to Craon was written on January 9th and +ran as follows.<a href="#XXI22"><sup>22</sup></a></p> + +<p class="quote1"> +"M. the Count, my friend, I have received your letter +and heard the good news that you impart to me, for +which I thank you as much as I can. Now is the time +to use all your five natural senses to deliver the duchy +and county of Burgundy into my hands. If the +duke be dead, do you and the governor of Champagne +take your troops and put yourselves within the land, +and, if you love me, keep as good order among your +men as if you were in Paris, and prove that I mean to +treat them [the Burgundians] better than any one in<span class="page"><a name="453"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 453]</span></a></span> +my realm."</p> + +<p> +The "five natural senses" of the king's lieutenant +were employed most loyally to his master's service. +The duchy of Burgundy returned to the +French crown. Before Easter, the Estates were +convened by Louis XI, and there was no longer +any duke in Burgundy to be an over powerful +peer in France.</p> +<p> +With the exception of Guelders the lands acquired +by Charles fell away, but the remainder as +inherited by him passed under the rule of his +daughter Mary, who carried her heritage into the +House of Austria, through which it passed finally +to the King of Spain.</p> +<p> +On that fatal fifth of January, Charles of Burgundy +had only just passed middle life. He was +forty-four years, one month, and twenty-six days +old, an age when a man has the right to look forward +to new achievements. Every circumstance +of the dreary and premature death was in glaring +contrast to his prospects at his birth in 1433, in +insolent contradiction to his own estimation of the +obligations assumed by Fate in his behalf. In +certain details of the catastrophe there are, of +course, accidents. No one could have predicted +that the duke whose chief title was a synonym for +magnificence, that this cherished heir to his House, +who had been bathed in all the luxury known to his +epoch, should have thus lain in death, many hours +long, unattended and uncared-for, naked and<span class="page"><a name="454">[page 454]</a></span> +frozen on a bed of congealed mud, with a winter +sky as canopy. The actual adversity as it overwhelmed +him was too appalling for any foresight. +But the great dream of the man's life that vanished +with his vitality owed its annihilation to no mere +chance of warfare. Had it not been rudely ended +by the battle of Nancy, other means of destruction, +inevitable and sure, would have appeared. +The projected erection of a solidified kingdom +stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland and +possibly to the Mediterranean, one that could hold +the balance of power between France and Germany, +contained elements of disintegration, latent +at its foundation. It is clear, from a consideration +of the Duke of Burgundy and his position +in the Europe of his time, that the materials +which he expected to mould into a realm were a +collection of sentient units. Each separate one +was instinct with individual life, individual desires, +conscious of its own minute past, capable of +directing its own contracted future. That the +hereditary title of overlord to each political unity +had lodged upon a head already dignified by a +plurality of similar titles, was a mere chance and +viewed by the burghers in a wholly different light +from that in which this same overlord regarded it. +The fishers in Holland, the manufacturers in Brabant, +the merchants in Flanders, the vintners in +Burgundy, cared nothing for being the wings of an +imperial idea. They wanted safe fishing grounds, +unmolested highways of commerce, vineyards free<span class="page"><a name="455">[page 455]</a></span> +from the tramp of armies. And with their desires +fixed on these as needful, their attitude towards +the political centralisation planned by their +common ruler, often betrayed both ignorance and +inconsistency. At various epochs some degree of +imperialism for the Netherland group had been +quite to popular taste. In Holland, Zealand and +Hainaut, it had been conceded that Jacqueline of +Bavaria was less efficient to maintain desirable +conditions than her cousin of Burgundy, and the +exchange of sovereigns had been effected in spite +of the manifest injustice involved in the transaction. +But while there was willingness to accept +any advantages that might accrue to a people from +the reputation of a local overlord, it was never forgotten +for an instant that his relation to his subjects +was as their own count and strictly limited +by conditions that had long existed within each +petty territory. While Charles seemed to be on +the straight road towards his goal, the people +within each body politic of his inherited states +were profoundly preoccupied with their own local +concerns, and only alive to his schemes when they +feared demands upon their internal revenues for +external purposes.</p> +<p> +It does not seem probable, however, that the +abstract question of the projected kingdom was +ever taken very seriously among those to be +directly affected by the proposed change. The +bars interposed by his own subjects in the duke's +progress towards royalty were obstructions to his<span class="page"><a name="456">[page 456]</a></span> +successive steps rather than to his theory. Indeed, +strenuous opposition to details was allied +to a vague and passive acceptance of the whole. +Moreover when the idea was phrased it was distinctly +as a revival, not as a novelty. The previous +existence of a kingdom of Burgundy was undoubtedly +a potent factor in the degree of progress +made by Charles towards conjuring into new life +a reincarnation of that ancient realm. Yet it +was a factor clothed with a shadow rather than +with the substance of truth. Geographically +there was very little in common between the +dominion projected more or less definitely in 1473 +and any one of the kingdoms of Burgundy as they +had successively existed. That of Charles corresponded +very nearly to the ancient kingdom of +Lorraine. Franche-Comté was the only ground +common to the territories actually held by the +duke and to the latest kingdom of Burgundy. His +possessions in Picardy and Alsace lay wholly beyond +the limits of either Burgundy or Lorraine. +But the old name survived in his ducal title, and +it was that name that lent a semblance of reality +to this fifteenth-century dream of a middle kingdom +as outlined in the duke's mind more or less +definitely or as bounded by his ambition.</p> +<p> +In retrospect it is clear that more was requisite +for the realisation of the vision of the +wished-for nation, than imperial investiture of +a crowned monarch with sovereignty over a group +of lands. A modern writer has pointed out how<span class="page"><a name="457">[page 457]</a></span> +infinitely subtle is the vital principle of a nation, +one not even to be created by common interests. +A <i>Zollverein</i> is no <i>patria</i>. An element of sentiment +is needful, and an element of growth.<a href="#XXI23"><sup>23</sup></a> The nation +like the individual is the result of what has gone +before. An heroic past, great men, glory that can +command respect at home and abroad—that is +the capital on which is based a national idea. +To have wrought in common, to wish to accomplish +more in the future, are essential conditions +to be a people. "The existence of a nation is a +plebiscite of every day, just as the existence of +the individual is a perpetual affirmation of +life."</p> +<p> +Now it is evident, in summing up the salient +features of this failure, that a vital principle was +not germinating in the inchoate mass. Charles +himself never attained the rank of a national hero. +More than that, with all his individual states, he +never had any nation, great or small, at his back. +Personally he was a man without a country. His +father, Philip, was French, pure and simple, quite +as French as his grandfather, Philip the Hardy, +the first Duke of Burgundy out of the House of +Valois, even though Philip the Good had extended +his sway to many non-French-speaking peoples and +was able to use the Flemish speech if it suited his +whim. But that was as a condescension and as +something extraneous. The chief of French peers +remained his proudest title; his ability to influence<span class="page"><a name="458">[page 458]</a></span> +French affairs, the task he liked best.</p> +<p> +His son was quite different in his attitude +towards France. He minimised his degree of +French blood royal. More than once he boasted +of his kinship with Portuguese, with English stock. +He had certain characteristics of an immigrant, +who has abandoned family traditions and is +proudly confident that his bequest to posterity is +to outshine what he has inherited. Charles was +not exactly a stupid man, but he certainly was +dazzled by his early surroundings into an overestimate +of himself, into a conceit that was a tremendous +stumbling-block in his path. He had +not the kind of intelligence that would have enabled +him to take at their worth the rhetorical +phrases of adulation heaped upon him on festal +occasions. Yet this same conceit, this very self-confidence, +gave him a high conception of his +duties. At his accession, he showed a sense of his +responsibilities, a definite theory of conduct which +he fully intended to act upon. His very belief +in his own powers gave him an intrinsic honesty of +purpose. He was convinced that he could maintain +law, order, justice in his domain, and he +fully intended to do so in a paternal way, but he +left out of consideration the rights of the people, +rights older than his dynasty. In his military career, +too, at the outset, he evinced the strongest bent +towards preserving the best conditions possible +amid the brutalities of warfare. He curbed the +soldiers' passions, he protected women, and was as<span class="page"><a name="459">[page 459]</a></span> +relentless towards miscreants in his ranks as +towards his foe. In civil matters he exerted himself +to secure impartial equity for all alike. When +he gave a promise, he fully intended to make his +words good. It was only in the face of repeated +deceptions of the cleverer and more unscrupulous +Louis XI. that Charles changed for the worse. +Exasperated by the knowledge that the king's +solemn pledges were given repeatedly with no intention +of fulfilment, he attempted to adopt +a similar policy and was singularly infelicitous in +his imitation. His political methods degenerated +into mere barefaced lying, softened by no graces, +illumined by no clever intuition of where to draw +the line. From 1472 on, the duke's word was +worth no more than the king's, and words were +assuredly at a discount just then. A perusal of +the international correspondence of the period +leaves the reader marvelling why time was +wasted in covering paper, with flimsy, insincere +phrases, mendacious sign-posts which gave no +true indication of the road to be travelled. There +are, however, differences in the art of dissimulation +and Charles never attained a mastery of the science.</p> +<p> +The adjective which has attached itself to his +name in English in an inaccurate rendering of <i>le +téméraire</i> which belongs to him in French. There +were other terms too applied to Charles at different +periods of his career. He was Charles the Hardy +in his early youth, Charles the Terrible in those +last months when he tried to fortify himself with<span class="page"><a name="460">[page 460]</a></span> +wine unsuited to his constitution, but at all +times he might have been called Charles the self-absorbed, +Charles the solitary. There have been +many men more passionate, more uncontrolled, +than Charles of Burgundy, whose personal magnetism +yet enabled them to win friends and to keep +them, as the duke was powerless to do. The failure +to command personal devotion, unquestioning +loyalty, was one of his chief personal misfortunes. +Philip, magnificent, lavish, debonair, found many +lenient apologists for his crimes, while his son received +criticism for his faults even from the faithful +among his servitors. How a reflection of his +bearing glows out from the mirror turned casually +upon him by Commines' skilful hand! Take the +glimpse of Louis XI. as he lures on St. Pol's messenger +to imitate Charles. The Sire de Créville +inspired by the royal interest in his narration about +an incident at the court of Burgundy, puffs out his +cheeks, stamps his feet in a dictatorial manner, +and swears by St. George as he quotes the duke's +words. Behind a screen are hidden Commines, +and a Burgundian envoy aghast at hearing his +liege lord so mocked. It is a time when St. Pol is +trying to ride three horses at once and the French +king takes this method to have Charles informed +of his duplicity. "Speak louder" he says, "I +grow a little deaf," and the flattered envoy repeats +his dramatic performance in a way to engrave it +on the memory of the duke's retainer.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="charlestomb">[plate 32]</a></span> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image32charlestomb.jpg" width="600" height="452" alt="THE TOMB OF CHARLES OF BURGUNDY" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /> +<p> +In thus touching on the traits of his former<span class="page"><a name="461">[page 461]</a></span> +master, Commines does not show malice or even +a dislike for the duke. He is much more severe +about Louis—only he found the latter easier to +serve.</p> +<p> +In his family life, too, Charles does not seem to +have found any companionship that affected his +life. He is lauded as a faithful husband to Isabella +of Bourbon but her death seemed to make +little difference. Neither she nor Margaret of York +had the actual significance enjoyed by Isabella +of Portugal as consort to Philip the Good with +his notoriously roving fancy.</p> +<p> +Thus at home as well as abroad the last Duke of +Burgundy tried to stand alone. Perhaps his chief +happiness in life was that he never knew how +insufficient for his desired task he was and how +the new art of printing, the birth of Erasmus of +Rotterdam, were the really great events of his +brief decade of sovereignty. It was his good fortune +that he never knew that no splendid +achievement gave significance to his device: +"I have undertaken it"—<i>Je lay emprins</i>.</p> + +<hr /> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#427">[Footnote 1:</a> <i><a name="XXI1">Mém</a>. de la soc. bourg. de géog. et d' hist</i>. Article by A. +Cornereau, vi., 229.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#428">[Footnote 2:</a> <a name="XXI2">Les</a> états de Gand en 1476. (Gachard, <i>Études et notices +hist,. des Pays-Bas</i>, i., I.)</p> +<p class="footnote"> +This is a study of the report made by Gort Roelants, pensionary +of Brussels, one of the deputies to the assembly of +1476. This so-called "States-general" was by no means a +legislative assembly. When Philip the Good convened deputies +from the various states at Bruges in 1463, it was to save +himself the trouble of going to the separate capitals to ask +for <i>aides</i>. Assemblies of similar nature occurred several times +before 1477, when Mary of Burgundy granted the privilege of +self-convention and when a constitutional rôle was assured +to the body; though not used for many years (<i>See</i> Pirenne, +ii., 379.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#432">[Footnote 3:</a> <i><a name="XXI3">Pour</a> y penser la nuit jusques aw lendemain</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#433">[Footnote 4:</a> <i><a name="XXI4">S'ils n'avaient point</a> charge limitée quantefois ils devaient +boire en chemin</i>.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#433">[Footnote 5:</a> <a name="XXI5">Compte</a>-rendu par Antoine Rolin, Sr. d' Aymeries, Oct. 1, +1475-Sept. 30, 1476. In the archives of Hainaut there are +proofs that another assembly was confidently expected.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#434">[Footnote 6:</a> <a name="XXI6">Gingins</a> la Sarra, ii., 354.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#435">[Footnote 7:</a> <i><a name="XXI7">Ibid</a></i>., 359. Scorende queste cose come avesse il libro +avanti, parse ad ogniuno imprimesse bene questo suo intento.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#436">[Footnote 8:</a> <a name="XXI8">Petrasanta</a> to the Duke of Milan Aug. 12th. Quoted in +Kirk, iii., 487.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#436">[Footnote 9:</a> <a name="XXI9">An</a> Italian phrase signifying to run down his game slowly.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#437">[Footnote 10:</a> <a name="XXI10">Commines</a>, v., ch. iv.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#438">[Footnote 11:</a> <a name="XXI11">Toutey</a> calls the diet at Fribourg a veritable congress of +central Europe, the first of international congresses.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#441">[Footnote 12:</a> <a name="XXI12">Huguénin</a> Jeune, <i>Hist. de la guerre de Lorraine</i>, p. 217.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#442">[Footnote 13:</a> <a name="XXI13">This</a> monarch, Alphonse V., called the African, asking +Louis XI. for assistance against Ferdinand of Castile, was +refused on the score that Charles the Bold was menacing +the safety of the French frontier. Alphonse's prayer for +peace might have been instigated by thoughts of his own +needs as well as those of humanity. (Toutey, p. 386.)]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#443">[Footnote 14:</a> <a name="XXI14">Toutey</a>, p. 387.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#444">[Footnote 15:</a> <a name="XXI15">See</a> Scott's <i>Anne of Geierstein</i>. This is the man whom +the author makes the appointed instrument of the <i>Vehmgericht</i> +to slay Charles.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#445">[Footnote 16:</a> <a name="XXI16">Toutey</a>, p. 388.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#446">[Footnote 17:</a> <i><a name="XXI17">Mémoires</a></i>, iii., 239.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#449">[Footnote 18:</a> <a name="XXI18">It</a> is strange that La Marche does not make more of this +scene if he were really there. His sole statement is: "The +duke remained dead on the field of battle, stretched out like +the poorest man in the world and I was taken and others." +iii., 240.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#450">[Footnote 19:</a> <i><a name="XXI19">La</a> déconfiture de Monseigneur de Bourgogne faite par +Monseigneur de Lorraine</i>. Comines-Lenglet, iii., 493.</p> +<p class="footnote"> +This brief account was drawn up evidently before the +duke's burial was known by the writer. It may have been +written solely to please Louis XI. Still there is a simplicity +about it that holds the attention, in spite of the fact that +the story is not accepted by critical historians.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#452">[Footnote 20:</a> <a name="XXI20">La</a> Marche, iii., 240.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#452">[Footnote 21:</a> <a name="XXI21">Comines</a> v., ch. x.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#452">[Footnote 22:</a> <i><a name="XXI22">Lettres</a></i> vi., p. 111.]</p> +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#457">[Footnote 23:</a> <a name="XXI23">Renan</a>, <i>Qu'est ce qu'une nation</i>.]</p> + +<hr /> +<span class="page"><a name="462">[page 462]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page"><a name="463">[page 463]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2><a name="BIBLIO">BIBLIOGRAPHY</a></h2> +<p class="quote"> +There is an enormous mass of literature bearing upon the +later years of Philip of Burgundy and the brief career of +Charles the Bold. Fairly adequate bibliographies can be +found in Pirenne and Molinier (see list). The following list +contains the full titles of the chief works to which direct reference +is made in the text but falls far short of a complete +description of the matter, contemporaneous or critical, which +has coloured the treatment of the subject.</p> +<p class="quote"> +When extracts have been taken from matter quoted by +other writers the reference is to the later books only.</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Archives curieuses de l'histoire de France</i>. Vol. i. (Paris, +1834.) Contains <i>Le cabinet du roy Louis XI.; Discours du +siège de Beauvais, en</i> 1472, etc.</p> +<p class="quote"> +BARANTE, M. DE. <i>Histoire des ducs de Bourgogne de +la maison de Valois. Avec des remarques par le baron de +Reiffenberg.</i> 6th ed. 10 vols. (Brussels, 1835.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BASIN, THOMAS, 1412-1491. <i>Histoire des règnes de Charles +VII. et de Louis XI.</i> (Latin text). Ed. J.E.J. Quicherat. +2 vols. (Paris, 1855.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BEAUCOURT, G. DU FRESNE, MARQUIS DE. <i>Histoire de +Charles VII</i> . 6 vols. (Paris, 1890.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BLOK, P.J. <i>Eene Hollandsche stad onder de Bourgondisch-Oostenrijksche +Heerschappij.</i> (The Hague, 1884.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BRANTÔME, PIERRE DE BOURDEILLE, SEIGNEUR DE. <i>Œuvres +complètes de</i>. Ed. Ludovic Lalanne. (Paris, 1876.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BUDT, ADRIAN DE. <i>Chronicon Flandriæ. De Smet +Corpus chron. Flandr. I</i>. (Brussels, 1837-65.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +BUSSIÈRE, BARON MARIE-THÉODORE DE. <i>Histoire de +la ligue formée contre Charles le téméraire</i>. (Paris, 1846.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Cent nouvelles nouvelles, Les</i>. Édition revue sur les +textes originaux, etc., par A.J.V. Le Roux de Lincy. (Paris, +1841.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CHABEUF, H. <i>Deux portraits bourguignons du XV<span class="super">e</span> +siècle</i>. (Dijon, 1893.) (Mémoires de la société bourguignonne +de géographie et d'histoire. Vol. ix.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CHASTELLAIN, GEORGES, 1404-1475. <i>Œuvres.</i> (Ed. Kervyn<span class="page"><a name="464"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 464]</span></a></span> +de Lettenhove.) 8 vols. (Brussels, 1863-66.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CHMEL, JOSEPH. <i>Geschichte Kaiser Friedrichs IV.</i> 2 vols. +(Hamburg, 1843.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CHMEL, JOSEPH. <i>Urkunden zur Geschichte von Österreich, +Steiermark,</i> etc. [Monumenta Habsburgica.] 2 vols. (Vienna, +1849.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CLÉMART, PIERRE. <i>Jacques Cœur et Charles VII</i>. (Paris, +1873.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Collection de documents inédits sur l'histoire de France</i>. +"Mélanges." (Ed. M. Champollion-Figeac.) (Paris, 1843.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +COMMINES, PHILIP DE. <i>The Historie of</i>, Englished by +Thomas Dannett. Anno 1596. With an introduction by +Charles Whibley. (London, 1897.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Mémoires de Philippe de Comines,</i> 1447-1511. Nouvelle +édition par Messieurs Godefroy, augmentée par M. +l'Abbé Lenglet du Fresnoy. 4 vols. Ref. (Comines-Lenglet.) +(Paris, 1747.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +This edition contains many letters, documents, etc., +collected by M. Lenglet du Fresnoy. Their accuracy +has been impugned in many instances. Those cited +have been taken with a view to the later criticism upon +them.</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Mémoires de Philippe de Commynes</i>. Nouvelle édition +publiée avec une introduction et des notes par Bernard +de Mandrot. 2 vols. Ref. (Commynes-Mandrot.) +(Paris, 1901.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Mémoires de Philippe de Commynes</i>. Nouvelle édition, +revue sur les manuscrits de la bibliotheque royale, +etc., par Mlle. Dupont. 3 vols. Ref. (Commynes-Dupont.) +(Paris, 1840.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +CORNEREAU, A. <i>Le palais des états de Bourgogne à +Dijon</i>. (Dijon, 1890.) (Mémoires de la soc. bourguignonne +de géog. et d'hist., v.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +COURTÉPÉE, M. <i>Description, générale et particulière du +duché de Bourgogne</i>. 4 vols. (Dijon, 1847.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +DESCHAMPS, EUSTACHE. <i>Œuvres complètes</i>. (Paris, 1878- +1904.) (Soc. des anciens textes français.) 11 vols.</p> +<p class="quote"> +DES MAREZ, G. <i>L'organisation du travail à Bruxelles +au XV<span class="super">e</span> siècle</i>. (Bruxelles, 1903-04.) (Mémoires couronnés +de l'acad. royale de Belgique. Vol. lxv.-lxvi.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +DEWEZ, M. <i>Histoire particulière des provinces belgiques</i><span class="page"><a name="465"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 465]</span></a></span> +<i>sous le gouvernement des ducs et des comtes, pour servir de +complément à l'histoire générale</i>. 3 vols. (Brussels, 1834.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +DU CLERCQ, JACQUES, 1420-1501. <i>Mémoires</i>. (Ed. Baron +F. de Reiffenberg.) 4 vols. (Brussels, 1823.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +DUCLOS, CHARLES P. <i>(Œuvres complètes de</i>. Nouvelle +édition. 9 vols. (Paris, 1820.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +ESCOUCHY, MATHIEU D'(DE COUCY). <i>Chronique</i>. (1420?-1482 ++.) (Ed. G. du Fresne de Beaucourt.) 3 vols. (Paris, +1863.) (Soc. de l'hist. de France.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +FREDERICQ, PAUL. <i>Le rôle politique et social des ducs +de Bourgogne</i>. (Brussels, 1875.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +FREEMAN, EDWARD A. <i>The Historical Geography of +Europe.</i> 2 vols. 3d edition, edited by G. B. Berry. (London, 1903.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +GACHARD, L. P. <i>Analectes belgiques ou recueil de pièces +inédites,</i> etc. Vol. i. (Brussels, 1830.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +GACHARD, L. P., Ed. <i>Collection des voyages des souverains +des Pays-Bas.</i> 4 vols. (Brussels, 1830.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +GACHARD, L. P., Ed. <i>Documents inédits concernant +l'histoire de la Belgique</i>. 3 vols. (Brussels, 1833.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +GACHARD, L. P. <i>Études et notices historiques concernant +l'histoire des Pays-Bas.</i> 3 vols. (Brussels, 1890.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Gesta Episcoporum Leodiensium</i>. (Marténe Coll. Vol. iv.) +(Paris, 1729.).</p> +<p class="quote"> +GINGINS LA SARRA, LE BARON DE FRÉDERIC DE, Ed. +<i>Dépêches des ambassadeurs milanais sur les campagnes de +Charles le Hardi</i>, 1474-1477. 2 vols. (Paris, 1858.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +GOLLUT, M. LOYS. <i>Les mémoires historiques de la république +séquanoise et des princes de la Franche-Comté de +Bourgogne.</i> (Arbois, 1846.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +JEUNE, HUGUÉNIN. <i>Histoire de la guerre de Lorraine +et du siège de Nancy, par Charles le Téméraire, duc de +Bourgogne,</i> 1473-1477. (Metz, 1837.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +KERVYN DE LETTENHOVE, LE BARON. [Ed. of works of +Chastellain, Budt, etc.]; see article in <i>Bullétin de l'académie +royale de Belgique</i>, 1887, etc.</p> +<p class="quote"> +KERVYN DE LETTENHOVE. <i>Histoire de Flandre</i>. 5 vols. +(Brussels, 1853-54.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +KIRK, JOHN FOSTER. <i>History of Charles the Bold, Duke +of Burgundy</i>. 3 vols. (Philadelphia, 1864-1868.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +LABORDE (L.E.S.J.), COMTE DE. <i>Les ducs de Bourgogne:</i><span class="page"><a name="466"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 466]</span></a></span> +<i>Études sur les lettres, les arts et l'industrie pendant le +XV<span class="super">e</span> siècle</i>, etc. "Preuves." 3 vols. (Paris, 1849-52.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +LACOMBLET, TH. J. <i>Urkundenbuch für die Geschichte des +Niederrheins.</i> 4 vols. (Düsseldorf, 1848.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +LA MARCHE, OLIVIER DE, 1422-1502. <i>Mémoires.</i> (1435-1488.) +Paris, 1883-84. (Ed. Beaune et d'Arbaumont.) 3 vols.</p> +<p class="quote"> +LAVISSE, ERNEST. <i>Histoire de France depuis les origines +jusqu'à la révolution</i>. Publiée avec la collaboration de MM. +Bayet, Block, Carré, Kleinclausz, Langlois, Lemonnier, Luchaire, +Mariéjol, Petit-Dutaillis, etc. (Paris, 1893-.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +The volume covering periods of Charles VII. and Louis XI. +is written by Ch. Petit-Dutaillis, Professor at the University +of Lille. (Reference used, Lavisse, IV<span class="super">II</span>.) (Paris, 1902.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +LE FÉVRE, JEAN, SEIGNEUR DE ST. RÉMY. (<i>Toison d'or.</i>) +(1395-1463.) <i>Chronique.</i> 2 vols. (Paris, 1876.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +LE ROUX DE LINCY, A.J.V. <i>Chants historiques sur les +règnes de Charles VII. et de Louis XI</i>.</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Lettres de Louis XI</i>. (Paris, 1883-.) (Eds., Joseph Vaesen, +et Étienne Charavay.</p> +<p class="quote"> +LOOMIS, LOUISE ROPES. <i>Medieval Hellenism</i>. (Columbia +University, 1906.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +MARTÉNE, EDMUND. <i>Veterum Scriptorum et Monumentorum, +Historicorum, Dogmaticorum, Moralium, Amplissium +Collectio</i>. Vol. iv. (Paris, 1729.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Mémoires et documents publiés par la société d'histoire +de la suisse romande</i>. Vol. viii. "Mélanges." (Lausanne, +1849.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +MEYER, J. <i>Commentarii sive annales rerum Flandricarum</i>. +(Antwerp, 1561.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +MOLINET, JEAN. <i>Chronique</i> (1474-1506.) (Paris, 1824-29.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +This is a continuation of Chastellain and is interesting +especially for the siege of Neuss.</p> +<p class="quote"> +MONSTRELET, ENGUERRAND DE (d. 1453). <i>La Chronique</i>. +(Paris, 1861.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +MOLINIER, AUGUSTE. <i>Les sources de l'histoire de France +des origines aux guerres d'Italie</i>. Vols. iv., v., 1461-1494. +(Paris, 1904.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +<i>Neues Archiv der Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde</i>. +Vol. xxv. (Leipzig, 1900.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +OMAN, CHARLES W.C. <i>Warwick the Kingmaker</i>. 1890.<span class="page"><a name="467"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 467]</span></a></span> +ONUFRIUS DE SANCTA CROCE, Bishop of Tricaria. <i>Mémoire +sur les affaires de Liege</i> (1468). (Ed., S. Bormans.) (Brussels, +1885.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +OUDENBOSCH. <i>Veterum scriptorum et monumentorum, historicorum</i>, +etc. <i>Rerum Leodiensius. Opus Adriani de vetere +Buseo</i>, 1343. See Marténe.</p> +<p class="quote"> +PICQUÉ, CAMILLE. <i>Mémoire sur Philippe de Commines</i>. +(Brussels, 1864.) Mém. couronnés par 1'acad. royale de +Belgique, vol. xvi.</p> +<p class="quote"> +PIOT, G.J.C., Ed. <i>Chronycke van Nederlandt</i>—1565. +<i>Vlaamsche Kronijk</i>—1598. <i>Collection des chroniques belges</i>. +(Brussels, 1836-.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +PIRENNE, HENRI. <i>Histoire de Belgique</i>. 2 vols. (Brussels, +1903.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +PIRENNE, HENRI. <i>Bibliographie de l'histoire de Belgique: +catalogue méthodique et chronologique des sources et des ouvrages +principaux relatifs à l'histoire de tous les Pays-Bas jusqu' +en 1598</i>. (Brussels, 1902.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +PLANCHER, URBAIN. <i>Histoire générale et particulière de +Bourgogne avec des notes et les preuves justificatives</i>, etc. 4 vols. +(Dijon, 1739.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +POICTIERS, ALIENOR DE. <i>Les honneurs de la cour</i>. (In +Sainte-Palaye, <i>Mémoires sur l'ancienne chevalerie</i>, vol. 2, +pp. 171-267.) (Paris, 1781.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +POLAIN, M.L. <i>Récits historiques sur l'ancien pays de +Liège.</i> 4th ed. (Brussels, 1866.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +PUTNAM, RUTH. <i>A Medieval Princess</i>. (New York, 1904.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +RAM, P.F.X. DE. <i>Documents relatifs aux troubles du +pays de Liège sous les princes-évêques Louis de Bourbon et +Jean de Horne</i>, I vol. (Brussels, 1844.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +RAMSAY, SIR JAMES H. <i>Lancaster and York, a Century +of English History</i> (A.D., 1399-1485). 2 vols. (Oxford, 1892.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +REIFFENBERG, BARON F.A. DE. <i>Essai sur les enfants +naturels de Philippe de Bourgogne</i>.</p> +<p class="quote"> +REIFFENBERG, BARON F.A. DE. <i>Histoire de l'Ordre de la +Toison d'Or</i>. (Brussels, 1830.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +REIFFENBERG, BARON F.A. DE. <i>Mémoire sur le sejour de +Louis XI. aux Pays-Bas</i>. Nouveaux mém. de l'acad. +royale. 1829.</p> +<p class="quote"> +REIFFENBERG, BARON F.A. DE. <i>De l'état de la population</i>, +etc., <i>dans les Pays-Bas pendant le XV<span class="super">e</span> et le XVI<span class="super">e</span> siècle</i>.<span class="page"><a name="468"><span style="font-size:1.1em">[page 468]</span></a></span> +Mem. de l'acad. royale in 4°. (Brussels, 1822.) +[Also editor of various works.]</p> +<p class="quote"> +RODT, EMANUEL VON. <i>Die Feldzüge Karls des Kühnen</i>. +2 vols. (Schaffhausen, 1843.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +ROLAND, P. AUBERT. <i>La guerre de René II. contre Charles +le Hardi</i>. (Luxembourg, 1742.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +ROYE, JEAN DE. <i>Chronique scandaleuse</i>. [A journal of +the years 1460-1483.] (Ed. Bernard de Mandrot.) 2 vols. +(Paris, 1894-96.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +RUHL, GUSTAVE. <i>L'expedition des Franchimontoir en +1468</i>. Soc. d'art et d'histoire de Liège, ix. (Liege, 1895.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +RYMER, THOMAS. <i>Fœdera, conventiones, litteræ et cujuscumque +generis acta publica inter reges Angliæ et alios quosvis +reges</i>, etc. 20 vols. Vol. xi. (London, 1704-1716.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +SCHELLHASE, K. "Zur Trierer Zusammenkunft im Jahre +1473." In <i>Deutsche Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft</i>. +Band VI. (Freiburg, 1891.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +SELDEN, JOHN. <i>Titles of Honor</i>. 3d ed. (London, 1672.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +SNOY, RENIER (Snoyus Reinerus). <i>De rebus Batavicis</i>. +(Frankfurt, 1620.) In fol.</p> +<p class="quote"> +STEIN, H. "<i>Olivier de la Marche historien, poete et diplomate +Bourgogne</i>." In mén couronné etc., par l'acad. royale vol. +xlix. (Brussels, 1888.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +STOUFF, Louis. <i>Les comtes de Bourgogne et leurs villes +domaniales</i>. (Paris, 1899.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +STOUFF, LOUIS. "Les possessions bourguignonnes dans +la vallée du Rhin sous Charles le téméraire." <i>Annales de +l'est</i>. Vols. xvii.-xviii. (Paris, 1903.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +TOUTEY, E. <i>Charles le téméraire et la ligue de Constance.</i> +(Paris, 1902.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +VANDER MAELEN, PH. <i>Dictionnaire géographique de la +province de Liège</i>. (Brussels, 1831.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +WAGENAAR, JAN. <i>Vaderlandsche Historie</i>. 21 vols. (Amsterdam, +1749-1759.)</p> +<p class="quote"> +WAVRIN, JEHAN DE (living 1465-1471). <i>Anchiennes +croniques de Engleterre</i>. (Ed. Mlle. Dupont.) 3 vols. (Paris, +1858-63.)</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<span class="page"><a name="469">[page 469]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<h2><a name="INDEX">INDEX</a></h2> + +<p class="center"> +<a href="#A">A</a> | <a href="#B">B</a> | <a href="#C">C</a> | <a href="#D">D</a> | +<a href="#E">E</a> | <a href="#F">F</a> | <a href="#G">G</a> | <a href="#H">H</a> | +<a href="#In">I</a> | <a href="#J">J</a> | <a href="#K">K</a> | <a href="#L">L</a> | +<a href="#M">M</a> | <a href="#N">N</a> | <a href="#O">O</a> | <a href="#P">P</a> | +<a href="#Q">Q</a> | <a href="#R">R</a> | <a href="#S">S</a> | <a href="#T">T</a> | +<a href="#U">U</a> | <a href="#Va">V</a> | <a href="#W">W</a> | <a href="#Xa">X</a> | +<a href="#Y">Y</a> | <a href="#Z">Z</a><br /><br /> + +(Note: The Page number is the link to the reference.<br /> +Page<sup>x</sup> indicates that the reference is in <span class="note">[Footnote x:]</span> at the end of the chapter.<br /> +</p> + + + <ul class="index"> +<li><b><a name="A">A</a></b><br /><br /></li> +<li>Abbeville, <a href="#106">106</a>, <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#143">143</a></li> +<li>Agincourt, battle of, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#407">407</a></li> +<li>Aire, <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#271">271</a></li> +<li>Aix, <a href="#357">357</a></li> +<li>Alkmaar, <a href="#71">71</a>, <a href="#285">285</a></li> +<li>Alsace, <a href="#239">239</a><sup>15</sup>, <a href="#260">260</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#370">370</a>, + <a href="#374">374</a>-376, <a href="#386">386</a>-391, <a href="#393">393</a>-395, <a href="#397">397</a>, + <a href="#442">442</a>, <a href="#444">444</a>, <a href="#456">456</a></li> +<li>Alsace, Upper, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#254">254</a></li> +<li>Amboise, <a href="#106">106</a>, <a href="#274">274</a><sup>14</sup>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#306">306</a></li> +<li>Amiens, <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#121">121</a>, <a href="#289">289</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#294">294</a>, + <a href="#298">298</a><sup>13</sup>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#311">311</a>, <a href="#321">321</a>, <a href="#410">410</a>-411</li> +<li>Amont, <a href="#43">43</a>, <a href="#258">258</a>, <a href="#259">259</a></li> +<li>Andernach, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Angers, <a href="#280">280</a>, <a href="#305">305</a>, <a href="#307">307</a></li> +<li>Anjou, duchy of, <a href="#118">118</a></li> +<li>Anjou, Margaret of, Queen of England, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#155">155</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#264">264</a>, + <a href="#265">265</a>, <a href="#274">274</a>, <a href="#279">279</a>-80, <a href="#284">284</a>, <a href="#290">290</a></li> +<li>Anjou, René, King of, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#332">332</a>, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#400">400</a></li> +<li>Anjou, Yolande of, <i>see</i> Vaudemont</li> +<li>Antwerp, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#180">180</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, <a href="#337">337</a></li> +<li>Appiano, Antoine d' (Antonius de Aplano), Milanese ambassador, <a href="#423">423</a></li> +<li>Aragon, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#295">295</a>-296</li> +<li>Argau, <a href="#248">248</a></li> +<li>Armagnac, <a href="#223">223</a></li> +<li>Arras, Bishop of, <a href="#70">70</a></li> +<li>Arras, treaty of, <a href="#11">11</a>-13, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#36">36</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#110">110</a>, + <a href="#221">221</a></li> +<li>Arson, Jehan d', <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#284">284</a></li> +<li>Arthur, King, <a href="#225">225</a></li> +<li>Artois, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Artois, Bonne of, Duchess of Burgundy, <i>see</i> Burgundy</li> +<li>Atclyff, William, <a href="#325">325</a></li> +<li>Ath, <a href="#406">406</a></li> +<li>Augsburg, Diet of, <a href="#349">349</a></li> +<li>Austria, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>-257, + <a href="#259">259</a>, <a href="#386">386</a>, <a href="#288">388</a></li> +<li>Austria, House of, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#394">394</a>, <a href="#453">453</a></li> +<li>Austria, Maximilian, Archduke of, <i>see</i> Maximilian</li> +<li>Austria, Sigismund of (Count of Tyrol), <a href="#248">248</a>; +<ul class="index1"> +<li>mortgages lands to Charles of Burgundy, <a href="#250">250</a>-256, <a href="#329">329</a>-331, + <a href="#371">371</a>, <a href="#374">374</a>;</li> +<li>resumes sovereignty of mortgaged lands, <a href="#387">387</a>-394, <a href="#415">415</a>, + <a href="#444">444</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Auvergne, Marshal d', <a href="#108">108</a></li> +<li>Auxonne, <a href="#379">379</a></li> +<li>Auxy, Jehan, Seigneur d', <a href="#9">9</a>, <a href="#17">17</a>-18, <a href="#26">26</a>, <a href="#29">29</a></li> +<li>Avesnes, <a href="#102">102</a>, <a href="#103">103</a></li> +<li>Avranches, Bishop of, <a href="#206">206</a></li> +<li>Aydie, Odet d', <a href="#98">98</a>, <a href="#305">305</a><sup>21</sup>, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup>, <a href="#314">314</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> +<li><b><a name="B">B</a></b><br /><br /></li> +<li>"Bad Penny," the, tax, <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>, <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#380">380</a>, <a href="#381">381</a></li> +<li>Balue, Cardinal, <a href="#206">206</a>, <a href="#207">207</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#283">283</a></li> +<li>Bar, duchy of, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Barante, cited, <a href="#10">10</a><sup>15</sup>, <a href="#10">10</a><sup>17</sup>, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#68">68</a><sup>3</sup>, <a href="#314">314</a><sup>30</sup></li> +<li>Bari, Duc de (Sforza), <a href="#413">413</a></li> +<li>Barnet, battle of, <a href="#289">289</a></li> +<li>Barre, Corneille de la, <a href="#103">103</a></li> +<li>Barrois, <a href="#156">156</a></li> +<li>Baschi, Suffren de, <a href="#441">441</a>, <a href="#442">442</a></li> +<li>Basel, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#248">248</a><sup>5</sup>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>, <a href="#375">375</a>, + <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#387">387</a>-388, <a href="#391">391</a>-392, <a href="#394">394</a>, <a href="#442">442</a>-444</li> +<li>Basel, Bishop of, <a href="#381">381</a></li> +<li>Basin, Thomas, cited, <a href="#355">355</a></li> +<li><i>Basse-Union</i>, the, <a href="#375">375</a>, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#381">381</a>, <a href="#386">386</a>, + <a href="#393">393</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#415">415</a></li> +<li>Baume-les-Dames, <a href="#43">43</a></li> +<li>Bavaria, elector of, <a href="#247">247</a></li> +<li>Bavaria, Stephen of, <a href="#69">69</a></li> +<li>Beaujeu, Lord of, <a href="#16">16</a></li> +<li>Beaumont, château of, <a href="#291">291</a>, <a href="#317">317</a><sup>37</sup></li> +<li>Beauvais, siege of, <a href="#311">311</a>-313</li> +<li>Bedford, John, Duke of, death of, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#72">72</a></li> +<li>Begars, Abbé de, <a href="#299">299</a></li> +<li>Belfort, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup></li> +<li>Bellière, Vicomte de la, <a href="#304">304</a><sup>19</sup></li> +<li>Berne, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#249">249</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#376">376</a>, + <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#392">392</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#402">402</a>, + <a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#417">417</a>, <a href="#442">442</a>, <a href="#443">443</a></li> +<li>Berry, Bailiff of, <a href="#61">61</a>-64</li> +<li>Berry, Charles of France, Duke of (Normandy and Guienne), heads League of Public Weal, <a href="#121">121</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>character of, <a href="#125">125</a>, <a href="#126">126</a>;</li> + <li>Normandy given to, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#197">197</a>-200, + <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#217">217</a>;</li> +<li>won over by Louis, <a href="#205">205</a>, <a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>;</li> + <li>Guienne given to, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#294">294</a>;</li> + <li>proposed marriage of, <a href="#294">294</a>-298, <a href="#333">333</a>;</li> + <li>suspicious death of, <a href="#302">302</a>-304, <a href="#307">307</a>-310, <a href="#314">314</a>-316, + <a href="#334">334</a>, <a href="#344">344</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Besançon, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#252">252</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>, <a href="#379">379</a>, <a href="#380">380</a>, + <a href="#387">387</a>, <a href="#388">388</a></li> +<li>Biche, Guillaume de, <a href="#89">89</a><sup>5</sup>, <a href="#105">105</a>, <a href="#206">206</a>, <a href="#211">211</a></li> +<li>Biscay, Bay of, <a href="#282">282</a></li> +<li>Black Forest, the, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#254">254</a></li> +<li>Bladet, <a href="#291">291</a></li> +<li>Blamont, Count of, <a href="#393">393</a>, <a href="#397">397</a></li> +<li>Blaumont, Seigneur de, Marshal of Burgundy, <a href="#79">79</a>, <a href="#81">81</a></li> +<li>Boccaccio, <a href="#93">93</a></li> +<li>Bohemia, <a href="#245">245</a>-247, <a href="#348">348</a></li> +<li>Bonn, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Borselen, Adrian van, Seigneur of Breda, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Borselen, Frank van (Count of Ostrevant), <a href="#9">9</a><sup>14</sup>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup></li></ul></li> +<li>Borselen, Henry van, <a href="#323">323</a></li> +<li>Boscise, <a href="#314">314</a></li> +<li>Bouchage, Monseigneur du, <a href="#223">223</a>, <a href="#295">295</a>-297, <a href="#319">319</a>, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Boudault, Jehan, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#60">60</a></li> +<li>Boulogne, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#286">286</a></li> +<li>Bourbon, Catharine of, <i>see</i> Guelders</li> +<li>Bourbon, Duchess of, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#61">61</a></li> +<li>Bourbon, duchy of, <a href="#118">118</a></li> +<li>Bourbon, Duke of, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#61">61</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>, <a href="#206">206</a>, + <a href="#217">217</a></li> +<li>Bourbon, Isabella of (Countess of Charolais), <i>see</i> Charolais</li> +<li>Bourbon, Louis of, Bishop of Liege, <a href="#137">137</a>-140, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#146">146</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>-214, + <a href="#218">218</a>-221</li> +<li>Bourges, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#98">98</a></li> +<li>Bouvignes, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#148">148</a>, <a href="#154">154</a></li> +<li>Bouxières, <a href="#447">447</a></li> +<li>Brabant, Anthony, Duke of, <a href="#14">14</a></li> +<li>Brabant, duchy of, <a href="#13">13</a>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#253">253</a>, + <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#454">454</a></li> +<li>Brabant, Duke of, <a href="#181">181</a></li> +<li>Brandenburg, Albert, elector of, <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#351">351</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#352">352</a></li> +<li>Brandenburg, Margrave of, <a href="#247">247</a></li> +<li>Brantôme, Pierre de Bourdeille, Seigneur de, cited, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup></li> +<li>Breda, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Brederode, Gijsbrecht of, <a href="#69">69</a>-71</li> +<li>Breisgau, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#374">374</a></li> +<li>Bresse, Philip de, <a href="#208">208</a>, <a href="#209">209</a></li> +<li>Brie, <a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#281">281</a></li> +<li>Brisac (Breisach), <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>, <a href="#377">377</a>, + <a href="#379">379</a>-381, <a href="#389">389</a>, <a href="#391">391</a></li> +<li>Brittany, Duchess of, <a href="#295">295</a><sup>8</sup>, <a href="#296">296</a></li> +<li>Brittany, duchy of, <a href="#160">160</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Brittany, Francis, Duke of, joins League of Public Weal, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#115">115</a>, <a href="#118">118</a>-120, + <a href="#124">124</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>ally of Charles of Burgundy, <a href="#197">197</a>, <a href="#295">295</a><sup>8</sup>, <a href="#296">296</a>, + <a href="#298">298</a><sup>13</sup>, <a href="#312">312</a>-314;</li> + <li>is reconciled to Louis XI., <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#210">210</a>, <a href="#314">314</a>, + <a href="#315">315</a>, <a href="#334">334</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Broeck, M. van der, <a href="#198">198</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Bruchsal, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Bruges, <a href="#2">2</a>, <a href="#18">18</a>-23, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#113">113</a>, <a href="#154">154</a>, + <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#179">179</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#190">190</a>-196, + <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>, <a href="#268">268</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>, <a href="#404">404</a>, + <a href="#406">406</a>, <a href="#428">428</a></li> +<li><i>Brunette</i>, the, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#272">272</a></li> +<li>Brussels, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#29">29</a>, <a href="#39">39</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, + <a href="#180">180</a>, <a href="#184">184</a>, <a href="#186">186</a><sup>4</sup>, <a href="#243">243</a>-245, <a href="#325">325</a>, + <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#429">429</a></li> +<li>Bureau, Jehan, <a href="#98">98</a></li> +<li>Buren, castle of, <a href="#320">320</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, duchy of, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#257">257</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>, + <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#384">384</a>, <a href="#453">453</a>, <a href="#454">454</a>, <a href="#456">456</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>Estates of, <a href="#427">427</a>, <a href="#434">434</a>, <a href="#435">435</a>, <a href="#453">453</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, Franche-Comté of, <a href="#14">14</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, Anthony, Grand Bastard of, <a href="#5">5</a>, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#123">123</a>, <a href="#150">150</a>, + <a href="#159">159</a>-161, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#195">195</a>, <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Burgundy, Baldwin, Bastard of, <a href="#282">282</a>-284</li> +<li>Burgundy, Charles the Bold, (Count of Charolais), Duke of; + <ul class="index1"><li>birth of, <a href="#5">5</a>, <a href="#7">7</a>;</li> + <li>elected knight of the Golden Fleece, <a href="#5">5</a>-7;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#30">30</a>, <a href="#165">165</a>, <a href="#166">166</a>, + <a href="#339">339</a>-341;</li> + <li>ancestry of, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#269">269</a>, <a href="#270">270</a>, + <a href="#277">277</a>, <a href="#278">278</a>, <a href="#291">291</a>, <a href="#292">292</a>, <a href="#410">410</a>, + <a href="#457">457</a>, <a href="#458">458</a>;</li> + <li>imperial ambitions of, <a href="#10">10</a>, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#158">158</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, + <a href="#247">247</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#328">328</a>-337, <a href="#347">347</a>-361, + <a href="#384">384</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>, + <a href="#454">454</a>-457;</li> + <li>education of, <a href="#9">9</a>-11, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#28">28</a>-30;</li> + <li>weds Catherine of France, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#17">17</a>;</li> + <li>takes official part in public affairs, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#23">23</a>, <a href="#24">24</a>, + <a href="#26">26</a>;</li> + <li>character of, <a href="#30">30</a>, <a href="#67">67</a>, <a href="#158">158</a>, <a href="#166">166</a>-168, + <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#277">277</a>, <a href="#301">301</a>-303, <a href="#310">310</a>, + <a href="#334">334</a>, <a href="#340">340</a>, <a href="#359">359</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, <a href="#407">407</a>, + <a href="#426">426</a>, <a href="#440">440</a>, <a href="#443">443</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#458">458</a>-460;</li> + <li>first campaign of, <a href="#37">37</a>-42;</li> + <li>entrusted with regency of Holland, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#67">67</a>, + <a href="#68">68</a>, <a href="#87">87</a>;</li> + <li>English sympathies of, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#167">167</a>, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, + <a href="#264">264</a>-267, <a href="#271">271</a>-274, <a href="#277">277</a>, <a href="#278">278</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, + <a href="#288">288</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>;</li> + <li>weds Isabella of Bourbon, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#60">60</a>-65;</li> + <li>judicial methods of, <a href="#68">68</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>-263;</li> + <li>rejoices over birth of daughter, <a href="#83">83</a>, <a href="#86">86</a>;</li> + <li>strained relations with his father, <a href="#86">86</a>-89, <a href="#96">96</a>-99, <a href="#111">111</a>, + <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#119">119</a>;</li> + <li>enmity between Louis and, <a href="#86">86</a>-93, <a href="#96">96</a>, <a href="#113">113</a>-117, + <a href="#119">119</a>, <a href="#205">205</a>, <a href="#271">271</a>-274, <a href="#282">282</a>-284, <a href="#303">303</a>, + <a href="#308">308</a>, <a href="#309">309</a>, <a href="#314">314</a>, <a href="#320">320</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, <i>et passim;</i></li> + <li>at coronation of Louis XI., <a href="#104">104</a>, <a href="#105">105</a>, <a href="#109">109</a>;</li> + <li>fears plots against his life, <a href="#112">112</a>-117, <a href="#282">282</a>-284;</li> + <li>joins League of Public Weal, <a href="#114">114</a>-119, <a href="#121">121</a>;</li> + <li>allies of, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#119">119</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>-126, <a href="#188">188</a>, + <a href="#197">197</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, + <a href="#285">285</a>, <a href="#289">289</a>, <a href="#292">292</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, + <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#410">410</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>-415, + <a href="#422">422</a>, <a href="#423">423</a>;</li> + <li>letters of, to cities, <a href="#121">121</a>, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#242">242</a>, + <a href="#243">243</a>, <a href="#272">272</a>-274, <a href="#278">278</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#363">363</a>, + <a href="#364">364</a>; + <ul class="index2"><li>to Louis, <a href="#143">143</a>-144, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#205">205</a>;</li> + <li>to Duchess Isabella, <a href="#271">271</a>-272;</li> + <li>to French council, <a href="#274">274</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>;</li> + <li>to Duke of Brittany, <a href="#313">313</a>-314;</li> + <li>to Sigismund, <a href="#388">388</a>-389;</li> + <li>to Edward IV., <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#407">407</a>;</li> + <li>to Duke of Milan, <a href="#413">413</a>-414;</li> + <li>at battle of Montl'héry, <a href="#122">122</a>-124, <a href="#449">449</a>;</li></ul></li> + <li>armies of, <a href="#122">122</a>, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#268">268</a>, <a href="#404">404</a>, + <a href="#405">405</a>, <a href="#420">420</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>-439, <a href="#445">445</a>;</li> + <li>dictates terms of treaty of Conflans, <a href="#127">127</a>-129;</li> + <li>marches against Liege, <a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#130">130</a>, <a href="#140">140</a>-142, + <a href="#182">182</a>;</li> + <li>destroys Dinant, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>-153;</li> + <li>underestimates character and strength of enemies, <a href="#158">158</a>, <a href="#226">226</a>, + <a href="#334">334</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, <a href="#370">370</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, <a href="#418">418</a>, + <a href="#443">443</a>;</li> + <li>accedes to the dukedom, <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#170">170</a>;</li> + <li>invested with titles, <a href="#170">170</a>-172, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, + <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#244">244</a>, <a href="#263">263</a>, <a href="#382">382</a>-387;</li> + <li>unpopularity of, <a href="#169">169</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#184">184</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>, + <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#243">243</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#269">269</a>-271, <a href="#278">278</a>, + <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#316">316</a>-318, <a href="#369">369</a>, <a href="#370">370</a>;</li> + <li>punishes Ghent, <a href="#170">170</a>-180, <a href="#182">182</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>-187, + <a href="#244">244</a>-246;</li> + <li>reforms of, <a href="#183">183</a>-185, <a href="#258">258</a>;</li> + <li>weds Margaret of York, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>-194, <a href="#201">201</a>, + <a href="#265">265</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>;</li> + <li>ducal state of, <a href="#184">184</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>, <a href="#276">276</a>, <a href="#278">278</a>, + <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#342">342</a>-344, <a href="#346">346</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>;</li> + <li>demands <i>aides</i>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#268">268</a>-271, + <a href="#404">404</a>-406, <a href="#427">427</a>-434;</li> + <li>receives Louis at Peronne, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#205">205</a>-221;</li> + <li>crushes revolt of Liege, <a href="#213">213</a>-219, <a href="#227">227</a>-234, <a href="#238">238</a>, + <a href="#241">241</a>-244;</li> + <li>makes treaty of Peronne, <a href="#219">219</a>-221, <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#235">235</a>, + <a href="#236">236</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>;</li> + <li>proposed sons-in-law for, <a href="#250">250</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#329">329</a>-333, + <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#359">359</a>, <a href="#360">360</a>;</li> + <li>signs treaty of St. Omer, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#377">377</a>;</li> + <li>takes lands from Sigismund, <a href="#251">251</a>-261, <a href="#387">387</a>, <a href="#388">388</a>, + <a href="#393">393</a>;</li> + <li>relations of, with Swiss, <a href="#253">253</a>;</li> + <li>invested with Order of the Garter, <a href="#267">267</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>;</li> + <li><i>Remonstrance</i> presented to, <a href="#269">269</a>;</li> + <li>embassies to, <a href="#276">276</a>-279, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#360">360</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>-363, + <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>;</li> + <li>truces of, with Louis XI., <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#298">298</a>-300, + <a href="#301">301</a>, <a href="#306">306</a>,<a href="#307"> 307</a>, <a href="#315">315</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, + <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>;</li> + <li>besieges Beauvais, <a href="#311">311</a>, <a href="#312">312</a>;</li> + <li>reverses of, <a href="#312">312</a>-315, <a href="#427">427</a>;</li> + <li>acquires duchy of Guelders, <a href="#320">320</a>-328, <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, + <a href="#350">350</a>, <a href="#351">351</a>, <a href="#364">364</a>;</li> + <li>negotiations between Emperor Frederic and, <a href="#328">328</a>-334;</li> + <li>interview of, with emperor at Trèves, <a href="#337">337</a>-353, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>;</li> + <li>becomes "protector" of Lorraine, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#360">360</a>, <a href="#367">367</a>-370, + <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>;</li> + <li>interferes in Cologne affairs, <a href="#365">365</a>, <a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#394">394</a>, + <a href="#395">395</a>;</li> + <li>visits Alsace, <a href="#375">375</a>-380;</li> + <li>troubles with Alsace, <a href="#389">389</a>-394;</li> + <li>besieges Neuss, <a href="#396">396</a>-399;</li> + <li>war declared against, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, + <a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>;</li> + <li>makes truce with Frederic, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>;</li> + <li>defeated at Héricourt, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>;</li> + <li>besieges Nancy, <a href="#413">413</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>, <a href="#439">439</a>-444;</li> + <li>allies desert, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>;</li> + <li>defeated at Granson, <a href="#417">417</a>-420;</li> + <li>at Morat, <a href="#421">421</a>-423, <a href="#435">435</a>;</li> + <li>convenes states-general, <a href="#429">429</a>-435;</li> + <li>last battle of, <a href="#444">444</a>-448;</li> + <li>death and burial of, <a href="#448">448</a>-454.</li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, Cornelius, Bastard of, <a href="#5">5</a>, <a href="#38">38</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, David of, Bishop of Utrecht, <a href="#69">69</a>-71</li> +<li>Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of, <a href="#2">2</a>, <a href="#4">4</a>, <a href="#9">9</a>, <a href="#17">17</a>, + <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#81">81</a>-83, + <a href="#88">88</a>-90, <a href="#189">189</a>, <a href="#190">190</a>, <a href="#193">193</a>, <a href="#271">271</a>, + <a href="#322">322</a>, <a href="#442">442</a>, <a href="#461">461</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>ancestry of, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#183">183</a>;</li> + <li>English sympathies of, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#62">62</a>;</li> + <li>retires to convent, <a href="#90">90</a>, <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#139">139</a>, + <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#147">147</a>;</li> + <li>burial of, <a href="#385">385</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, John the Fearless, Duke of, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#155">155</a>, <a href="#156">156</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, Margaret, Bastard of, <a href="#56">56</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, Margaret of York, Duchess of, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>-195, <a href="#224">224</a>, + <a href="#265">265</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, + <a href="#328">328</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#406">406</a>, <a href="#430">430</a>-434, <a href="#451">451</a>, + <a href="#461">461</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, Mary of (Duchess of Austria), + <ul class="index1"><li>birth of, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#83">83</a>;</li> +<li>godfather of, <a href="#83">83</a>, <a href="#84">84</a>, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#90">90</a>, + <a href="#298">298</a>; <a href="#180">180</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, <a href="#428">428</a>, <a href="#429">429</a>, + <a href="#431">431</a>, <a href="#435">435</a>, <a href="#451">451</a>;</li> + <li>proposed marriages for, <a href="#250">250</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#296">296</a>, + <a href="#297">297</a>, <a href="#299">299</a>, <a href="#329">329</a>-333, <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, + <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#359">359</a>, <a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#453">453</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, Philip the Good, Duke of, marriages of, <a href="#2">2</a>, <a href="#8">8</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>institutes Order of Golden Fleece, <a href="#2">2</a>-4;</li> + <li>children of, <a href="#5">5</a>, <a href="#8">8</a>, <a href="#18">18</a>, <a href="#38">38</a>, + <a href="#51">51</a>, <a href="#56">56</a>, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#69">69</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>;</li> + <li>alliance of, with England, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#264">264</a>, + <a href="#265">265</a>;</li> + <li>signs treaty of Arras, <a href="#11">11</a>-13, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>;</li> + <li>territories acquired by, <a href="#13">13</a>-15, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#157">157</a>;</li> + <li>suppresses revolt in Bruges, <a href="#18">18</a>-23;</li> + <li>wealth and magnificence of, <a href="#30">30</a>, <a href="#31">31</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, + <a href="#104">104</a>-106, <a href="#108">108</a>, <a href="#158">158</a>, <a href="#160">160</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>, + <a href="#166">166</a>, <a href="#179">179</a>, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#184">184</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>;</li> + <li>crushes rebellion of Ghent, <a href="#33">33</a>-44, <a href="#67">67</a>, <a href="#94">94</a>-96;</li> + <li>gives Feast of the Pheasant, <a href="#46">46</a>-56;</li> + <li>plans crusade, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#48">48</a>, <a href="#51">51</a>-60, <a href="#65">65</a>, + <a href="#66">66</a>, <a href="#68">68</a>-70;</li> + <li>chooses second wife for Charles, <a href="#57">57</a>, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#60">60</a>-65;</li> + <li>character of, <a href="#68">68</a>, <a href="#88">88</a>, <a href="#115">115</a>, <a href="#163">163</a>-165, + <a href="#171">171</a>, <a href="#405">405</a>, <a href="#428">428</a>, <a href="#457">457</a>;</li> + <li>interferes in affairs of Utrecht, of Liege, and of Cologne, <a href="#69">69</a>-71, <a href="#81">81</a>, + <a href="#136">136</a>-138;</li> + <li>hospitality of, to dauphin, <a href="#79">79</a>, <a href="#80">80</a>, <a href="#82">82</a>-85, + <a href="#87">87</a>-94, <a href="#99">99</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#102">102</a>, <a href="#104">104</a>, + <a href="#105">105</a>, <a href="#157">157</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#339">339</a>, <a href="#344">344</a>;</li> + <li>influenced by the Croys, <a href="#87">87</a>, <a href="#97">97</a>, <a href="#98">98</a>, + <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#119">119</a>;</li> + <li>attends coronation of Louis XI., <a href="#103">103</a>-106;</li> + <li>illnesses of, <a href="#109">109</a>-111, <a href="#148">148</a>, <a href="#152">152</a>, + <a href="#154">154</a>;</li> + <li>witnesses punishment of Dinant, <a href="#148">148</a>-152, <a href="#154">154</a>;</li> + <li>death and burial of, <a href="#154">154</a>, <a href="#155">155</a>, <a href="#157">157</a>-161, + <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#381">381</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>;</li> + <li>epitaph of, <a href="#156">156</a>-157;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#162">162-163</a>;</li> + <li>popularity of, <a href="#163">163</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#243">243</a>, <a href="#460">460</a>, + <a href="#461">461</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Burgundy, Philip the Hardy, Duke of, <a href="#457">457</a></li> +<li>Burgundy, Yolande, Bastard of, <a href="#51">51</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> +<li><b><a name="C">C</a></b><br /><br /></li> +<li>Cagnola, <a href="#107">107</a></li> +<li>Calabria, Duke of, <i>see</i> Lorraine</li> +<li>Calais, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#266">266</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, + <a href="#278">278</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#287">287</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#406">406</a>, + <a href="#411">411</a>, <a href="#412">412</a></li> +<li>Calixtus III., Pope, <a href="#70">70</a></li> +<li>Cambray, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Campobasso, Antonello de, mercenary captain, <a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>treachery of, <a href="#440">440</a>-447</li></ul></li> +<li>Canterbury, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#325">325</a></li> +<li>Casanova, Abbé de, <a href="#335">335</a></li> +<li>Castile, Ferdinand, King of, <a href="#75">75</a>, <a href="#442">442</a></li> +<li>Castile, Henry IV., King of, <a href="#295">295</a></li> +<li>Castile, Jeanne of, <a href="#295">295</a></li> +<li>Cat, Gilles le, <a href="#49">49</a></li> +<li>Catto, Angelo, <a href="#420">420</a></li> +<li>Caux, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#314">314</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>Bailiff of, <a href="#160">160</a></li></ul></li> +<li><i>Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, les</i>, <a href="#93">93</a></li> +<li><i>Cento Novelle</i>, by Boccaccio, <a href="#93">93</a></li> +<li>Cesner, Balthasar, <a href="#356">356</a></li> +<li>Chambéry, <a href="#74">74</a></li> +<li>Chambes, Helen de, <a href="#317">317</a></li> +<li>Chamont, Sire de, <a href="#437">437</a></li> +<li>Champagne, <a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#313">313</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>, + <a href="#438">438</a>, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Channel, the, <a href="#264">264</a>, <a href="#266">266</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>, <a href="#404">404</a></li> +<li>Charenton, <a href="#125">125</a>, <a href="#127">127</a></li> +<li>Charlemagne, <a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#225">225</a></li> +<li>Charles IV., Emperor, <a href="#248">248</a><sup>5</sup></li> +<li>Charles (V.) the Wise, King of France, <a href="#199">199</a></li> +<li>Charles VII., King of France, +<ul class="index1"><li>reconciliation of, with Philip of Burgundy, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#15">15</a>-17, + <a href="#36">36</a>, <a href="#110">110</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>;</li> + <li>character of, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#77">77</a>, <a href="#78">78</a>;</li> + <li>letters of, <a href="#61">61</a>-62, <a href="#96">96</a>;</li> + <li>refuses to join crusade, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#66">66</a>;</li> + <li>breach between dauphin and, <a href="#73">73</a>-79, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#84">84</a>-86, + <a href="#89">89</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>, <a href="#99">99</a>, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#102">102</a>;</li> + <li>illness and death of, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#102">102</a></li> + <li>institutes standing army, <a href="#117">117</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Charles VIII., King of France, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#297">297</a>, <a href="#298">298</a></li> +<li>Charles the Simple, King of France, <a href="#210">210</a></li> +<li>Charmes, <a href="#369">369</a></li> +<li>Charny, Count de, <a href="#190">190</a></li> +<li>Charny, Countess de, <a href="#190">190</a></li> +<li>Charolais, Catherine of France, Countess of, <a href="#2">2</a><sup>1</sup>, <a href="#16">16</a>-18, <a href="#23">23</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>death and burial of, <a href="#17">17</a>, <a href="#26">26</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Charolais, Count of, <i>see</i> Charles of Burgundy</li> +<li>Charolais, Isabella of Bourbon, Countess of, <a href="#58">58</a>, <a href="#60">60</a>-65, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#83">83</a>, + <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#88">88</a>, <a href="#89">89</a>, <a href="#103">103</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#461">461</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Chassa, Jehan de, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#284">284</a></li> +<li>Chastellain, cited, <a href="#38">38</a><sup>15</sup>, <a href="#39">39</a><sup>16</sup> + <a href="#40">40</a><sup>18</sup>, <a href="#42">42</a><sup>19</sup> + <a href="#102">102</a>, <a href="#103">103</a><sup>20</sup>, <a href="#119">119</a><sup>8</sup> + <a href="#162">162</a>-169, <a href="#174">174</a>-178, <a href="#184">184</a>-186, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, + <a href="#224">224</a><sup>21</sup>, <a href="#277">277</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#169">169</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Château-Chinon, <a href="#61">61</a></li> +<li>Châtenois, <a href="#377">377</a></li> +<li>Chauny, <a href="#205">205</a></li> +<li>Chesny, Guiot du, <a href="#295">295</a></li> +<li>Chevelast, Louis de, <a href="#53">53</a></li> +<li>Chimay, Count of, <a href="#438">438</a></li> +<li>Citeaux, Abbé of, <a href="#384">384</a></li> +<li>Clarence, Duke of, <a href="#265">265</a>, <a href="#267">267</a>, <a href="#272">272</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, + <a href="#285">285</a></li> +<li>Cléry, <a href="#319">319</a></li> +<li>Cleves, Adolph, Duke of, <a href="#45">45</a>, <a href="#48">48</a>, <a href="#151">151</a>, <a href="#191">191</a>, <a href="#326">326</a></li> +<li>Cleves, duchy of, <a href="#348">348</a></li> +<li>Cleves, Marie of, Duchess of Orleans, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#23">23</a></li> +<li>Cods, the (party name), <a href="#9">9</a><sup>14</sup></li> +<li>Colmar, <a href="#375">375</a>-378</li> +<li>Cologne, <a href="#138">138</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>, <a href="#356">356</a>, <a href="#357">357</a>, <a href="#394">394</a>, + <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Cologne, Robert, Archbishop of, <a href="#362">362</a>-366, <a href="#394">394</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#398">398</a></li> +<li>Colonna, Baptista, <a href="#447">447</a>, <a href="#448">448</a></li> +<li>Commines (Commynes, Comines), Philip de, + <ul class="index1"><li>enters service of Duke of Burgundy, <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#113">113</a>, <a href="#229">229</a>, + <a href="#230">230</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, <a href="#286">286</a><sup>28</sup></li> + <li>defection of, <a href="#302">302</a>, <a href="#316">316</a>-319, <a href="#333">333</a>, + <a href="#334">334</a>, <a href="#461">461</a>;</li> + <li>cited, <a href="#115">115</a><sup>6</sup>, <a href="#117">117</a>, <a href="#120">120</a>, <a href="#126">126</a>, + <a href="#127">127</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#214">214</a>-219, <a href="#231">231</a>, <a href="#232">232</a>, + <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#284">284</a>, <a href="#286">286</a><sup>28</sup>-288, + <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#291">291</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>-303, <a href="#307">307</a>, <a href="#308">308</a>, + <a href="#333">333</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, <a href="#408">408</a><sup>6</sup> + <a href="#409">409</a><sup>7</sup>, <a href="#436">436</a>, + <a href="#441">441</a>, <a href="#452">452</a>, <a href="#460">460</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Compiègne, <a href="#80">80</a>, <a href="#96">96</a>, <a href="#218">218</a>, <a href="#311">311</a></li> +<li>Compostella, <a href="#416">416</a></li> +<li>Conflans, treaty of, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#129">129</a>, <a href="#138">138</a>, <a href="#139">139</a>, + <a href="#197">197</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#204">204</a>, <a href="#219">219</a></li> +<li>Constance, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#387">387</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>League of, <a href="#400">400</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Constantinople, <a href="#46">46</a>, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#52">52</a>, <a href="#55">55</a></li> +<li>Cordes, Monsieur de, <a href="#235">235</a></li> +<li>Corguilleray, <a href="#296">296</a></li> +<li>Cornwallis, Lord, <a href="#20">20</a></li> +<li>Corvinus, Matthias, King of Hungary, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#247">247</a></li> +<li>Cosmo, <a href="#131">131</a></li> +<li>Court, Jehan de la, <a href="#27">27</a></li> +<li>Coutault, Monsieur, <a href="#258">258</a>, <a href="#259">259</a></li> +<li>Craon, Seigneur de, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#301">301</a>, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Cret, Dion du, <a href="#48">48</a></li> +<li>Crèvecœur, Philip of, <a href="#206">206</a></li> +<li>Crèvecœur, Seigneur of, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#271">271</a></li> +<li>Créville, Sire de, <a href="#460">460</a></li> +<li>Croy, A. de, <a href="#159">159</a></li> +<li>Croy, J. de, <a href="#159">159</a></li> +<li>Croy, Philip de, <a href="#17">17</a>, <a href="#87">87</a>, <a href="#99">99</a>, <a href="#100">100</a></li> +<li>Croy family, the, <a href="#7">7</a>, <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#119">119</a>, <a href="#291">291</a>, + <a href="#317">317</a><sup>37</sup>, <a href="#345">345</a></li> +<li><i>Cueillotte</i>, the (tax), <a href="#172">172</a>, <a href="#177">177</a>, <a href="#178">178</a></li> +<li>Cyprus, <a href="#245">245</a></li> + </ul> + +<br /> +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="D">D</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Damian, <a href="#131">131</a></li> +<li>Dammartin, Count of, <a href="#76">76</a>,<a href="#77">77</a>, <a href="#98">98</a>, <a href="#227">227</a>, <a href="#311">311</a>; +<ul class="index1"><li>letters of Louis to, <a href="#221">221</a><sup>18</sup>-224, + <a href="#304">304</a><sup>20</sup>-307, <a href="#404">404</a><sup>4</sup></li></ul></li> +<li>Damme, <a href="#191">191</a>, <a href="#194">194</a></li> +<li>Dauphiné, <a href="#75">75</a>, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>, <a href="#438">438</a></li> +<li>Dauxonne, Jacquemin, <a href="#6">6</a><sup>7</sup></li> +<li>De Bussière, cited, <a href="#340">340</a><sup>1</sup></li> +<li>Décapole, Alsatian, the, <a href="#248">248</a></li> +<li>De la Loere, secretary, <a href="#234">234</a></li> +<li>Dendermonde, <a href="#89">89</a></li> +<li>Denmark, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Denys, Chaplain, <a href="#449">449</a></li> +<li>Deschamps, Eustache, <i>Lay de Vaillance</i> by, <a href="#7">7</a></li> +<li>Deventer, <a href="#71">71</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#79">79</a></li> +<li>Dieppe, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#314">314</a></li> +<li>Diesbach, Ludwig von, <a href="#209">209</a><sup>9</sup>, <a href="#236">236</a></li> +<li>Dijon, <a href="#1">1</a>-7, <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#215">215</a>, <a href="#258">258</a>, <a href="#260">260</a>, + <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#382">382</a>-387</li> +<li>Dinant, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>-147; +<ul class="index1"><li>destruction of, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>-153, <a href="#241">241</a>, <a href="#312">312</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Dôle, <a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#385">385</a></li> +<li>Dombourc, Jehan de, <a href="#25">25</a></li> +<li>Dompaire, <a href="#369">369</a></li> +<li>Dordrecht, <a href="#202">202</a><sup>4</sup></li> +<li>Du Clercq, cited, <a href="#40">40</a><sup>17</sup>, <a href="#68">68</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#77">77</a>, + <a href="#149">149</a>, <a href="#152">152</a>, <a href="#153">153</a></li> +<li>Duclos, cited, <a href="#296">296</a><sup>10</sup></li> +<li>Dunois, Count, <a href="#16">16</a></li> +<li>Dunois, François, <a href="#223">223</a></li> +<li>Du Plessis, Seigneur, <a href="#275">275</a>, <a href="#280">280</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="E">E</a></b><br /><br /></li> +<li>Easterlings, the, <a href="#289">289</a></li> +<li>l'Écluse, <a href="#95">95</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>-191</li> +<li>Edward IV., King of England, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#157">157</a>, <a href="#159">159</a>, +<a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#264">264</a>-267, <a href="#273">273</a>-275, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, +<a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>aided by Charles of Burgundy, <a href="#285">285</a>-291, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>;</li> + <li>plans conquest of France, <a href="#385">385</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>-400, <a href="#402">402</a>-404, + <a href="#406">406</a>-408;</li> + <li>character of, <a href="#408">408</a>, <a href="#410">410</a>;</li> + <li>makes peace with Louis XI., <a href="#408">408</a>-411</li></ul></li> +<li>Edward of Lancaster, Prince of Wales, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#290">290</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Émeries, Antoine Raulin, Sire d' (Aymeries), <a href="#87">87</a>, <a href="#235">235</a>, <a href="#433">433</a><sup>5</sup></li> +<li>Engelburg, the, <a href="#372">372</a></li> +<li>England alliance of, + <ul class="index1"><li>with Burgundy, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#288">288</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, <a href="#363">363</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>;</li> + <li>with France, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#408">408</a>-411;</li> + <li>French possessions of, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, + <a href="#198">198</a>, <a href="#287">287</a>;</li> + <li>commercial relations of, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#288">288</a>, <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>;</li> + <li>wars of the Roses in, <a href="#263">263</a>-267, <a href="#272">272</a>-274, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>, + <a href="#284">284</a>-292</li></ul></li> +<li>Ensisheim, <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#378">379</a>, <a href="#389">389</a></li> +<li>Épinal, <a href="#369">369</a></li> +<li>Erasmus, <a href="#461">461</a></li> +<li>Escalles, Seigneur d', <a href="#190">190</a></li> +<li>Escouchy, Mathieu d,' + <ul class="index1"><li>cited, <a href="#48">48</a>, <a href="#54">54</a><sup>8</sup>, <a href="#56">56</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, + <a href="#84">84</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Estampes, Count d', <a href="#29">29</a>, <a href="#80">80</a>, <a href="#81">81</a></li> +<li>Étampes, <a href="#124">124</a></li> +<li>Eu, <a href="#316">316</a>, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Eu, Count d', <a href="#115">115</a></li> +<li><i>Ewige Richtung</i>, the, <a href="#387">387</a></li> +<li>Exeter, Duke of, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#288">288</a></li> +<li>Eyb, Ludwig von, <a href="#349">349</a><sup>9</sup></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="F">F</a></b><br /><br /></li> +<li>Faret (or Farrel), Guillaume <a href="#340">340</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Favre, Jourdain, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup></li> +<li>Ferrara, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Ferrette, county of, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#394">394</a> <i>et passim</i></li> +<li>Flanders, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#33">33</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>, + <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#427">427</a>, <a href="#434">434</a>, <a href="#439">439</a>, + <a href="#444">444</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>Estates of, <a href="#268">268</a>-271, <a href="#404">404</a>-406, <a href="#428">428</a>, + <a href="#429">429</a>;</li> + <li>commerce of, <a href="#288">288</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#454">454</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Flanders, Count of, <a href="#170">170</a>, <a href="#171">171</a>, <a href="#176">176</a></li> +<li>Florence <a href="#23">23</a>, <a href="#192">192</a>, <a href="#224">224</a><sup>21</sup></li> +<li>Foix, Count de, <a href="#234">234</a>, <a href="#295">295</a>, <a href="#296">296</a></li> +<li>Foix, Eleanor de, <a href="#296">296</a></li> +<li>Foix, Gaston de, <a href="#121">121</a></li> +<li>Forli, Bishop of, <a href="#443">443</a></li> +<li>Fossombrone, Bishop of, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#365">365</a></li> +<li>Fou, Ivon du, <a href="#280">280</a></li> +<li>France, alliance of, with Burgundy, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, +<a href="#325">325</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>waning power of England in, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, + <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>;</li> + <li>changed conditions in, <a href="#13">13</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#73">73</a>, <a href="#264">264</a>, + <a href="#269">269</a>;</li> + <li>assembly of states-general of, <a href="#198">198</a>-200, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>;</li> + <li>invasion of, <a href="#294">294</a>, etc.</li></ul></li> +<li>France, Admiral of, the, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#273">273</a></li> +<li>France, Catherine, Daughter of, <i>see</i> Charolais</li> +<li>France, Charles of, Duke of Berry, <i>see</i> Berry</li> +<li>France, Jeanne of, <a href="#61">61</a></li> +<li>France, Michelle of, <i>see</i> Burgundy</li> +<li>Franche-Comté, the, <a href="#43">43</a>, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#379">379</a>, <a href="#385">385</a>, +<a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>, <a href="#456">456</a></li> +<li>Franchimont, <a href="#229">229</a>, <a href="#242">242</a></li> +<li>Frankfort, <a href="#60">60</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#356">356</a>, <a href="#357">357</a></li> +<li>Frederic, elector palatine, <a href="#247">247</a></li> +<li>Frederic III., Emperor, <a href="#15">15</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>-248, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#393">393</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>character of, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, <a href="#351">351</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>, + <a href="#359">359</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, <a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#402">402</a>;</li> + <li>negotiations of, with Charles of Burgundy, <a href="#328">328</a>-336, <a href="#345">345</a>-349, <a href="#394">394</a>, + <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>;</li> + <li>meets Charles at Trèves, <a href="#336">336</a>-357, <a href="#360">360</a>, <a href="#364">364</a>;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#341">341</a>, <a href="#342">342</a>, <a href="#345">345</a>;</li> + <li>signs treaty with Charles, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#415">415</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Fribourg, <a href="#392">392</a>, <a href="#438">438</a></li> +<li>Friesland, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#69">69</a><sup>4</sup>, <a href="#358">358</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>title of Lord of, <a href="#263">263</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Friesland, West, <a href="#202">202</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> +<li><b><a name="G">G</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li><i>Gabelle</i>, the, <a href="#33">33</a>, <a href="#34">34</a>, <a href="#44">44</a>, <a href="#243">243</a>, +<a href="#395">395</a></li> +<li>Gachard, cited, <a href="#36">36</a><i>et passim</i></li> +<li>Galeotto, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#446">446</a></li> +<li>Garter, Order of the, <a href="#2">2</a>, <a href="#159">159</a>, <a href="#267">267</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, +<a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup></li> +<li>Gauthier, Dan, <a href="#239">239</a></li> +<li>Gautier, cited, <a href="#7">7</a><sup>12</sup></li> +<li>Gaveren, <a href="#37">37</a>, <a href="#41">41</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>battle of, <a href="#39">39</a>, <a href="#42">42</a>, <a href="#43">43</a>;</li> + <li>treaty of, <a href="#179">179</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Gelthauss, Johannes, <a href="#356">356</a></li> +<li>Genappe, <a href="#88">88</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>-94, <a href="#99">99</a></li> +<li>Geneva, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Geneva, Lake of, <a href="#422">422</a></li> +<li>Genoa, <a href="#23">23</a>, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Gex, <a href="#423">423</a>, <a href="#424">424</a></li> +<li>Ghent, <a href="#26">26</a>, <a href="#31">31</a>, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>, <a href="#267">267</a>, +<a href="#268">268</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, <a href="#428">428</a>, <a href="#451">451</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>rebellion of, <a href="#33">33</a>-39, <a href="#55">55</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>;</li> + <li>submission of, <a href="#40">40</a>-44, <a href="#46">46</a>, <a href="#94">94</a>-96;</li> + <li>insurrection in, <a href="#170">170</a>, <a href="#172">172</a>-182;</li> + <li>humiliation of, <a href="#182">182</a>, <a href="#185">185</a>, <a href="#186">186</a>, <a href="#244">244</a>-246</li></ul></li> +<li>Gilles, Frère, <a href="#383">383</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Givry, Sire de, <a href="#423">423</a></li> +<li>Gloucester, Duke of, <a href="#410">410</a></li> +<li>Gloucester, Humphrey, Duke of, <a href="#19">19</a></li> +<li>Golden Fleece, Order of the, instituted, <a href="#2">2</a>-4, <a href="#157">157</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>assemblies of, <a href="#2">2</a>-7, <a href="#26">26</a>, <a href="#31">31</a>, <a href="#55">55</a>, + <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#187">187</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#190">190</a>, <a href="#193">193</a>, + <a href="#322">322</a>-324;</li> + <li>knights of, <a href="#5">5</a>-7, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, + <a href="#322">322</a>, <a href="#323">323</a>, <a href="#342">342</a>, <a href="#401">401</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Gorcum, <a href="#113">113</a><sup>5</sup></li> +<li>Görlitz, Elizabeth of, <a href="#14">14</a></li> +<li>Granson, battle of, <a href="#417">417</a>-419, <a href="#421">421</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>, <a href="#443">443</a></li> +<li>Grave, <a href="#320">320</a></li> +<li>Grenoble, <a href="#101">101</a></li> +<li>Grey, Jean de, <a href="#434">434</a></li> +<li>Groothuse, Louis de la, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#272">272</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>, <a href="#286">286</a></li> +<li>Groothuse, Mathys de la, <a href="#171">171</a>, <a href="#174">174</a>-179</li> +<li>Guelders, Adolf, Duke of, <a href="#320">320</a>, <a href="#323">323</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>imprisonment of, <a href="#322">322</a>-325</li></ul></li> +<li>Guelders, Arnold, Duke of, <a href="#69">69</a>, <a href="#320">320</a>-324; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#324">324</a>, <a href="#327">327</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Guelders, Catharine of Bourbon, Duchess of, <a href="#322">322</a></li> +<li>Guelders, Charles of, <a href="#324">324</a>, <a href="#326">326</a>, <a href="#328">328</a>, <a href="#367">367</a></li> +<li>Guelders, duchy of, <a href="#320">320</a>-326, <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, <a href="#350">350</a>, +<a href="#351">351</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#453">453</a></li> +<li>Guelders, Philippa of, <a href="#326">326</a>, <a href="#328">328</a></li> +<li>Guérin, Jean de, <a href="#150">150</a></li> +<li>Guienne, Charles of France, Duke of, <i>see</i> Berry</li> +<li>Guienne, duchy of, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, +<a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#403">403</a></li> +<li>Guise, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Guisnes, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#287">287</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="H">H</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Haarlem, <a href="#202">202</a></li> +<li>Hagenbach, Peter von, <a href="#110">110</a><sup>1</sup>, <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#336">336</a>, +<a href="#354">354</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>Governor of Alsace, <a href="#239">239</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#257">257</a>, + <a href="#260">260</a>, <a href="#370">370</a>-381, <a href="#389">389</a>, <a href="#390">390</a>, <a href="#394">394</a>;</li> + <li>trial and execution of, <a href="#390">390</a>-392</li></ul></li> +<li>Hagenbach, Stephen von, <a href="#393">393</a>, <a href="#397">397</a></li> +<li>Hague, The, <a href="#9">9</a>, <a href="#113">113</a><sup>5</sup>, <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#263">263</a></li> +<li>Hainaut, <a href="#13">13</a><sup>20</sup>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#235">235</a>, +<a href="#239">239</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#433">433</a><sup>5</sup>, <a href="#455">455</a></li> +<li>Ham, <a href="#206">206</a></li> +<li>Hanseatic League, the, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#285">285</a></li> +<li>Heers, Raes de la Rivière, Lord of, <a href="#138">138</a></li> +<li>Heinsberg, John of, Bishop of Liege, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#139">139</a></li> +<li>Henry IV., of Castile, <a href="#295">295</a><sup>9</sup></li> +<li>Henry V., King of England, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#155">155</a></li> +<li>Henry VI., King of England, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#99">99</a>, +<a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>, <a href="#288">288</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>character of, <a href="#155">155</a>, <a href="#264">264</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#291">291</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Henry VII., King of England, <a href="#264">264</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Héricourt, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#415">415</a></li> +<li>Hermite, Tristan l', <a href="#79">79</a></li> +<li>Hesdin, <a href="#115">115</a>, <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>-284, <a href="#330">330</a></li> +<li>Hesse, Hermann of, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#398">398</a></li> +<li>Holland, <a href="#13">13</a><sup>20</sup>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#69">69</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, +<a href="#261">261</a>, <a href="#263">263</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#454">454</a>, +<a href="#455">455</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>title of Count of, <a href="#201">201</a>-203, <a href="#263">263</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Holland, Jacqueline of Bavaria, Countess of, <a href="#9">9</a><sup>14</sup>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>, +<a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="#455">455</a></li> +<li>Holland, South, <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#203">203</a></li> +<li>Holland, William VI., Count of, <a href="#8">8</a></li> +<li>Honfleur, <a href="#273">273</a></li> +<li>Hooks, the (party name), <a href="#9">9</a><sup>14</sup></li> +<li>Houthem, <a href="#170">170</a></li> +<li>Howard, Lord, <a href="#411">411</a></li> +<li>Hugonet, Chancellor, <a href="#276">276</a>, <a href="#291">291</a>, <a href="#350">350</a><sup>10</sup>, <a href="#428">428</a>-433</li> +<li>Humbercourt, Seigneur de, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>, <a href="#214">214</a>, <a href="#291">291</a></li> +<li>Hungary, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#363">363</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>King of, <a href="#351">351</a>, <a href="#420">420</a>-421</li></ul></li> +<li>Huy, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#243">243</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="In">I</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Innsbruck, <a href="#248">248</a></li> +<li>Irma, Jean, <a href="#392">392</a></li> +<li>Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, <i>see</i> Burgundy</li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="J">J</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Jarville, <a href="#445">445</a></li> +<li>Jarville, Sieur de, <a href="#427">427</a></li> +<li>Jerusalem, <a href="#161">161</a></li> +<li>Joan of Arc, <a href="#11">11</a></li> +<li>Joinville, castle of, <a href="#368">368</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>treaty of, <a href="#369">369</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Jomini, <a href="#418">418</a><sup>15</sup></li> +<li>Jougne, <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#419">419</a></li> +<li>Jouvençal, Chancellor, <a href="#198">198</a></li> +<li>Juliers, Duke of, <a href="#326">326</a></li> +<li>Jura, the, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#444">444</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="K">K</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Kaisersberg, <a href="#376">376</a></li> +<li>Kennemerland, <a href="#71">71</a></li> +<li>Kervyn de Lettenhove, Baron, cited, <a href="#218">218</a><sup>15</sup>, +<a href="#224">224</a><sup>21</sup></li> +<li>Knebel, Johannes R., <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="L">L</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>La Hogue, <a href="#403">403</a></li> +<li>Laisné, Jeanne (Fouquet), <i>La Hachette</i>, <a href="#313">313</a></li> +<li>Lalaing, Jacques de, prowess of, <a href="#27">27</a>-29; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#39">39</a></li></ul></li> +<li>La Marche, Olivier de, cited, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#17">17</a>, <a href="#25">25</a>, <a href="#26">26</a>, +<a href="#29">29</a>, <a href="#30">30</a>, <a href="#40">40</a><sup>17</sup>, <a href="#42">42</a>, <a href="#47">47</a>-50, <a href="#54">54</a>-56, +<a href="#68">68</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, <a href="#84">84</a>, <a href="#113">113</a>-116, <a href="#120">120</a>, +<a href="#159">159</a>-162, <a href="#189">189</a>-194, <a href="#232">232</a>, <a href="#419">419</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>, +<a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#449">449</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>knighted, <a href="#120">120</a>, <a href="#123">123</a>;</li> + <li>loyalty and zeal of, <a href="#159">159</a>-161, <a href="#183">183</a>, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#318">318</a>, + <a href="#319">319</a>, <a href="#327">327</a>, <a href="#328">328</a>, <a href="#423">423</a>, <a href="#425">425</a>, + <a href="#426">426</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Lambert, Bishop of Tongres, <a href="#131">131</a>, <a href="#132">132</a>, <a href="#134">134</a></li> +<li>Lancaster, House of, <a href="#264">264</a>, <a href="#278">278</a>, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#289">289</a>, +<a href="#291">291</a></li> +<li>Lannoy, Jehan, Seigneur de, <a href="#47">47</a></li> +<li>Lanternier, Jehan, <a href="#4">4</a><sup>5</sup></li> +<li>Laon, <a href="#223">223</a></li> +<li>La Rivière, <a href="#437">437</a></li> +<li>La Rochelle, <a href="#281">281</a><sup>22</sup></li> +<li>Lauffen, <a href="#378">378</a></li> +<li>Lauffenberg, <a href="#251">251</a></li> +<li>Laurentian Library, the, <a href="#224">224</a><sup>21</sup></li> +<li>Lausanne, <a href="#375">375</a></li> +<li>Lavin, Étienne de, <a href="#365">365</a></li> +<li>Lavisse, Ernest, <a href="#466">466</a></li> +<li>League of Constance, <a href="#400">400</a></li> +<li>League of Public Weal, <a href="#118">118</a>-129, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#188">188</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>, +<a href="#204">204</a></li> +<li>Le Grand, Abbé, <a href="#238">238</a></li> +<li>Le Gros, Jehan, <a href="#283">283</a>, <a href="#284">284</a></li> +<li>Le Quesnoy, <a href="#96">96</a>-98</li> +<li>Lescun, Seigneur de, <a href="#295">295</a>, <a href="#296">296</a>, <a href="#305">305</a><sup>21</sup></li> +<li>Liege, description of, <a href="#130">130</a>-132, <a href="#136">136</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>, <a href="#227">227</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>government of, <a href="#131">131</a>-135;</li> + <li>bishop-princes of, <a href="#131">131</a>-133, <a href="#135">135</a>, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>-214, + <a href="#218">218</a>-221;</li> + <li>rebellion of, <a href="#138">138</a>-140, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#182">182</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>, + <a href="#214">214</a>, <a href="#219">219</a>-221, <a href="#363">363</a>;</li> + <li>aided by Louis XI., <a href="#138">138</a>, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>-213;</li> + <li>punishment of, <a href="#141">141</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#148">148</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, + <a href="#182">182</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>, <a href="#223">223</a>, <a href="#228">228</a>-234, + <a href="#237">237</a>-241, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#312">312</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Liege, bishopric of, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Lille, <a href="#45">45</a>, <a href="#47">47</a>-56, <a href="#63">63</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#112">112</a>, +<a href="#264">264</a>, <a href="#268">268</a>, <a href="#270">270</a></li> +<li>Limbourg, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Livornia, <a href="#245">245</a></li> +<li>Loches, <a href="#208">208</a></li> +<li>Loisey, Anthony de, <a href="#238">238</a></li> +<li>Lombardy, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#413">413</a></li> +<li>London, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Longjumeau, <a href="#122">122</a></li> +<li>Longueval, Hugues de, <a href="#53">53</a></li> +<li>Loreille, Thomas de, <a href="#160">160</a></li> +<li>Lorraine, duchy of, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#237">237</a>-239, <a href="#337">337</a>, <a href="#338">338</a>, +<a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#357">357</a><sup>18</sup>, +<a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#387">387</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>, +<a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#419">419</a>, <a href="#456">456</a></li> +<li>Lorraine, Estates of, the, <a href="#414">414</a>, <a href="#438">438</a></li> +<li>Lorraine, Duke of, <a href="#124">124</a></li> +<li>Lorraine, Nicholas of Anjou, Duke of (Calabria), <a href="#126">126</a>, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#332">332</a>, +<a href="#333">333</a>, <a href="#366">366</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#337">337</a>, <a href="#357">357</a><sup>18</sup>, <a href="#366">366</a>, <a href="#367">367</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Lorraine, René, Duke of, accepts Burgundian protection, <a href="#367">367</a>-370, <a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>, +<a href="#444">444</a>, <a href="#446">446</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>joins league against Charles, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#401">401</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>-414, + <a href="#422">422</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>-443, <a href="#451">451</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Louis XI., King of France, <a href="#17">17</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>rebels against Charles VII., <a href="#73">73</a>-76;</li> + <li>marries Charlotte of Savoy, <a href="#74">74</a>, <a href="#75">75</a>;</li> + <li>letters of, to Charles VII., <a href="#78">78</a>, <a href="#79">79</a>; + <ul class="index2"><li>to Dammartin, <a href="#221">221</a>-224, <a href="#304">304</a>-307, <a href="#408">408</a>;</li> + <li>to envoys, <a href="#295">295</a>-301, <a href="#452">452</a>;</li> + <li>to Count de Foix, <a href="#234">234</a>;</li> + <li>to Lorenzo de' Medici, <a href="#297">297</a>;</li> + <li>to Duke of Milan, <a href="#237">237</a>, <a href="#306">306</a>;</li> + <li>to Amiens, <a href="#300">300</a>;</li> + <li>to chancellor, <a href="#402">402</a>;</li></ul></li> + <li>flees to Duke of Burgundy, <a href="#76">76</a>-79;</li> + <li>generosity of Duke Philip to, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#82">82</a>, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>-94, + <a href="#96">96</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#157">157</a>, <a href="#161">161</a>, <a href="#339">339</a>;</li> + <li>is godfather of Mary of Burgundy, <a href="#83">83</a>, <a href="#84">84</a>, <a href="#86">86</a>, <a href="#90">90</a>, + <a href="#298">298</a>;</li> + <li>tastes of, <a href="#91">91</a>, <a href="#92">92</a>, <a href="#107">107</a>, <a href="#108">108</a>;</li> + <li>duplicity of, <a href="#92">92</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#101">101</a>, <a href="#105">105</a>, + <a href="#138">138</a>-140, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#208">208</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#228">228</a>, + <a href="#231">231</a>, <a href="#233">233</a>-236, <a href="#271">271</a>-279, <a href="#281">281</a>-283, + <a href="#298">298</a>-300, <a href="#346">346</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#459">459</a>, <a href="#460">460</a>;</li> + <li>accession of, <a href="#102">102</a>-104, <a href="#170">170</a>;</li> + <li>ingratitude of, <a href="#102">102</a>-105, <a href="#109">109</a>, <a href="#116">116</a>; </li> + <li>character of, <a href="#106">106</a>-109, <a href="#115">115</a>, <a href="#408">408</a>;</li> + <li>enmity between Charles and, <a href="#114">114</a>-117, <a href="#333">333</a>-335, <a href="#344">344</a>, + <a href="#346">346</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#436">436</a>;</li> + <li>nobles in league against, <a href="#114">114</a>-125, <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#312">312</a>-315;</li> + <li>policy of, <a href="#118">118</a>-121, <a href="#125">125</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>-201,<a href="#203">203</a>;</li> + <li>signs treaty of Conflans, <a href="#127">127</a>-129;</li> + <li>incites opposition to Charles of Burgundy, <a href="#146">146</a>-148, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#189">189</a>, + <a href="#204">204</a>, <a href="#205">205</a>, <a href="#211">211</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>, <a href="#215">215</a>, + <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#386">386</a>, <a href="#387">387</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>, + <a href="#426">426</a>, <a href="#437">437</a>, <a href="#443">443</a>;</li> + <li>breaks treaties, <a href="#197">197</a>-201, <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>-284;</li> + <li>makes visit to Peronne, <a href="#204">204</a>-210, <a href="#213">213</a>-219, <a href="#244">244</a>;</li> + <li>signs treaty at Peronne, <a href="#219">219</a>-221, <a href="#223">223</a>, <a href="#235">235</a>, <a href="#236">236</a>, + <a href="#283">283</a>;</li> + <li>ally of the Swiss, <a href="#249">249</a>, <a href="#250">250</a>, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>, + <a href="#402">402</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>;</li> + <li>makes nucleus of standing army, <a href="#268">268</a>;</li> + <li>aids Earl of Warwick and Margaret of Anjou, <a href="#274">274</a>-276, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>;</li> + <li>birth of son of, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#298">298</a>;</li> + <li>makes truce with Charles, <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#305">305</a>, + <a href="#306">306</a>, <a href="#315">315</a>, <a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#412">412</a>, + <a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>;</li> + <li>suspected of death of brother, <a href="#307">307</a>-310, <a href="#314">314</a>, <a href="#344">344</a>;</li> + <li>rewards Beauvais, <a href="#313">313</a>;</li> + <li>wins over Edward IV., <a href="#408">408</a>-411;</li> + <li>rejoices in death of Charles, <a href="#452">452</a>, <a href="#453">453</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Louvain, <a href="#79">79</a>, <a href="#91">91</a>, <a href="#92">92</a>, <a href="#145">145</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>, + <a href="#243">243</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>University of, <a href="#137">137</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Lower Union, the, <i>see</i> Basse-Union</li> +<li>Lucerne, <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#387">387</a></li> +<li>Lude, Seigneur de, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Luxemburg, duchy of, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#156">156</a>, +<a href="#337">337</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#387">387</a>, +<a href="#395">395</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>, <a href="#439">439</a>, <a href="#444">444</a></li> +<li>Luxemburg, John of, <a href="#191">191</a></li> +<li>Luxeuil, <a href="#379">379</a><sup>11</sup></li> +<li>Luzine River, the, <a href="#397">397</a></li> +<li>Lyme, <a href="#285">285</a></li> +<li>Lyons, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#80">80</a></li> + + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> +<li><b><a name="M">M</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Maestricht, <a href="#212">212</a>, <a href="#395">395</a></li> +<li>Maine, <a href="#12">12</a></li> +<li>Malhortie, <a href="#369">369</a></li> +<li>Mandrot, Bernard Édouard, + <ul class="index1"><li>editor of Commynes' <i>Mémoires, Jean de Roye</i>, etc.,</li> + <li>cited, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup></li></ul></li> +<li>Manton, Seigneur de, <a href="#425">425</a></li> +<li>Marchant, Ythier, <a href="#299">299</a></li> +<li>Marck, Adolph de la, <a href="#86">86</a><sup>1</sup></li> +<li>Marne River, the, <a href="#122">122</a></li> +<li>Marquiez, George, <a href="#450">450</a></li> +<li>Mas, Gilles du, <a href="#189">189</a></li> +<li>Mathieu, <a href="#449">449</a></li> +<li>Maximilian, Archduke of Austria, <a href="#247">247</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>proposed marriage of, <a href="#250">250</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#329">329</a>-331, + <a href="#335">335</a>, <a href="#341">341</a>, <a href="#342">342</a>, <a href="#347">347</a>, <a href="#349">349</a>, + <a href="#369">369</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Mayence, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#349">349</a></li> +<li>Mayence, Archbishop of, <a href="#247">247</a>, <a href="#343">343</a>, <a href="#344">344</a></li> +<li>Mazilles, Jehan de, <a href="#239">239</a>-242</li> +<li>Mechlin, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#180">180</a>, <a href="#181">181</a>, <a href="#363">363</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Medici, Lorenzo de', <a href="#297">297</a></li> +<li>Metz, <a href="#336">336</a>-338, <a href="#378">378</a>, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#448">448</a></li> +<li>Metz, Bishop of, <a href="#445">445</a></li> +<li>Meurin, secretary to Louis XI., <a href="#222">222</a></li> +<li>Meurthe River, the, <a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#447">447</a></li> +<li>Meuse River, the, <a href="#148">148</a>, <a href="#151">151</a>, <a href="#152">152</a>, <a href="#227">227</a>, +<a href="#228">228</a>, <a href="#238">238</a></li> +<li>Meyer, J., cited, <a href="#34">34</a>, <a href="#218">218</a><sup>15</sup>, +<a href="#261">261</a><sup>1</sup></li> +<li>Michel, the Rhetorician, cited, <a href="#58">58</a></li> +<li>Middelburg, <a href="#25">25</a>, <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>, <a href="#272">272</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#274">274</a></li> +<li>Milan, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#414">414</a><sup>11</sup>, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Milan, Duke of, <a href="#99">99</a>, <a href="#237">237</a>, <a href="#305">305</a>, <a href="#306">306</a><sup>23</sup>, +<a href="#413">413</a>, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Mirecourt, <a href="#442">442</a></li> +<li>Mongleive, <a href="#225">225</a></li> +<li>Mons, <a href="#55">55</a>, <a href="#318">318</a>, <a href="#333">333</a></li> +<li>Montbazon, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#300">300</a></li> +<li>Montereau, bridge of, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#155">155</a></li> +<li>Montfort, Ulrich von, <a href="#360">360</a></li> +<li>Montgomery, Sir Thomas (Mongomere), <a href="#399">399</a></li> +<li>Montl'héry, battle of, <a href="#120">120</a>, <a href="#122">122</a>-124, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#149">149</a>, +<a href="#449">449</a></li> +<li>Monulphe, Bishop of Tongres, <a href="#130">130</a>, <a href="#131">131</a></li> +<li>Morat, battle of, <a href="#421">421</a>, <a href="#422">422</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#443">443</a>, +<a href="#445">445</a>, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Morges, <a href="#422">422</a></li> +<li>Morvilliers, Chancellor, <a href="#112">112</a>-117</li> +<li>Moselle River, the, <a href="#339">339</a>, <a href="#354">354</a>, <a href="#355">355</a>, <a href="#362">362</a>, +<a href="#369">369</a>, <a href="#439">439</a></li> +<li>Moutils-lès-Tours, <a href="#304">304</a></li> +<li>Mulhouse, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#254">254</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>-380</li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="N">N</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Namur, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#144">144</a>, <a href="#152">152</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, <a href="#224">224</a>, +<a href="#227">227</a>, <a href="#322">322</a>, <a href="#323">323</a>, <a href="#410">410</a></li> +<li>Namur, county of, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, <a href="#139">139</a>, <a href="#145">145</a>, +<a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Nancy, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#369">369</a>, <a href="#448">448</a>, <a href="#450">450</a>, <a href="#452">452</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>sieges of, <a href="#413">413</a>, <a href="#414">414</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>-444;</li> + <li>battle of, <a href="#448">448</a>-452, <a href="#454">454</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Naples, <a href="#245">245</a></li> +<li>Naples, King of, <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Napoleon, <a href="#398">398</a></li> +<li>Narbonne, Archbishop of, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#117">117</a>-128</li> +<li>Nassau, Engelbert of, <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="#342">342</a></li> +<li>Nassau, John of, <a href="#191">191</a></li> +<li><i>Nations</i>, the, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#113">113</a>, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Nesle, <a href="#306">306</a>, <a href="#308">308</a>-311</li> +<li>Netherlands, the, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#132">132</a>, <a href="#192">192</a>, <a href="#269">269</a>, +<a href="#314">314</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>states-general of, <a href="#428">428</a>-434</li></ul></li> +<li>Neufchâtel, <a href="#313">313</a></li> +<li>Neufchâtel, Isabelle of, <a href="#51">51</a></li> +<li>Neuss, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>-399, <a href="#404">404</a>, <a href="#405">405</a>, <a href="#413">413</a>, +<a href="#438">438</a></li> +<li>Neuville, <a href="#445">445</a></li> +<li>Nevers, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Nevers, Charles, Count of, <a href="#7">7</a>, <a href="#112">112</a>, <a href="#181">181</a></li> +<li>Neville, Anne, <a href="#280">280</a></li> +<li>Nice, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Nimwegen, <a href="#326">326</a>-328</li> +<li>Norfolk, Duchess of, <a href="#192">192</a>, <a href="#194">194</a>, <a href="#412">412</a></li> +<li>Normandy, Charles of France, Duke of, <i>see</i> Berry</li> +<li>Normandy, duchy of, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#72">72</a>, <a href="#109">109</a>, <a href="#125">125</a>, +<a href="#198">198</a>, <a href="#200">200</a>, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>, <a href="#275">275</a>, +<a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#311">311</a>, <a href="#312">312</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, <a href="#404">404</a></li> +<li>Norway, <a href="#245">245</a></li> +<li>Noseret, <a href="#419">419</a></li> +<li>Noyon, <a href="#205">205</a></li> +<li>Nuremberg, <a href="#86">86</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="O">O</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Obernai, <a href="#376">376</a></li> +<li>Oise River, the, <a href="#122">122</a></li> +<li>Onofrio de Santa Croce, <a href="#212">212</a>, <a href="#213">213</a></li> +<li>Orange, Prince of, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#79">79</a>, <a href="#228">228</a></li> +<li>Oriole, Pierre d,' <a href="#298">298</a></li> +<li>Orleans, <a href="#298">298</a>, <a href="#316">316</a></li> +<li>Orleans, duchy of, <a href="#118">118</a></li> +<li>Orleans, Duke of, <a href="#19">19</a>-23</li> +<li>Osterlings, the, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Ostrevant, Count of, <i>see</i> Borselen</li> +<li>Oudenarde, <a href="#38">38</a></li> +<li>Ourré, Gerard, <a href="#97">97</a></li> +<li>Oxford, <a href="#266">266</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="P">P</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Palatinate, the, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Palatine, Count, the, <a href="#254">254</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>the elector, <a href="#363">363</a>, <a href="#364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Frederic, elector, <a href="#247">247</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Panigarola, Johannes Petrus, Milanese ambassador, cited, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#417">417</a>, <a href="#423">423</a>, +<a href="#426">426</a>, <a href="#434">434</a>, <a href="#435">435</a>, <a href="#437">437</a></li> +<li>Paris, <a href="#11">11</a>, <a href="#105">105</a>, <a href="#110">110</a>, <a href="#124">124</a>-128, <a href="#197">197</a>, +<a href="#219">219</a>, <a href="#237">237</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>, <a href="#293">293</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, +<a href="#407">407</a>, <a href="#409">409</a></li> +<li>Paris, University of, <a href="#103">103</a>, <a href="#125">125</a>, <a href="#368">368</a></li> +<li>Paston, Sir John, letters of, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#325">325</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>, <a href="#411">411</a>, +<a href="#412">412</a>, <a href="#419">419</a>-420</li> +<li>Paston, John, the younger (brother of above), letter of, <a href="#194">194</a>-196</li> +<li>Paston, Margaret, <a href="#194">194</a>, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#411">411</a>-412, +<a href="#419">419</a></li> +<li>Pavia, <a href="#237">237</a></li> +<li>Pellet, Jean, <a href="#254">254</a><sup>9</sup>, <a href="#258">258</a></li> +<li>Pepin, <a href="#131">131</a></li> +<li>Perdriel, Henry, <a href="#237">237</a></li> +<li>Périgny, <a href="#382">382</a></li> +<li>Périgord, <a href="#281">281</a><sup>22</sup></li> +<li>Peronne, interview of Louis XI. and Charles at, <a href="#203">203</a>-226, <a href="#283">283</a>, <a href="#409">409</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>treaty of, <a href="#219">219</a>-221, <a href="#223">223</a>, <a href="#237">237</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>-283</li></ul></li> +<li>"Peronne, the Peace of," <a href="#224">224</a>-226</li> +<li>Perrenet, <a href="#80">80</a></li> +<li>Petit-Dutaillis, Ch., author of Vol. IV<span class="super">II</span>, Lavisse, <i>Hist. de France, see</i> Lavisse.</li> +<li>Petitpas, Jean, <a href="#178">178</a></li> +<li>Petrasanta, Franciscus, Milanese ambassador, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Pheasant, Feast of the, <a href="#46">46</a>-56</li> +<li>Picardy, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#284">284</a>, <a href="#314">314</a>, <a href="#404">404</a>, <a href="#456">456</a></li> +<li>Picquigny, <a href="#408">408</a></li> +<li>Plessis-les-Tours, <a href="#106">106</a></li> +<li>Pleume, <a href="#160">160</a></li> +<li>Podiebrad, George, ex-king of Bohemia, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#247">247</a>, <a href="#251">251</a></li> +<li>Poictiers, Alienor de, cited, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#84">84</a></li> +<li>Poinsot, Jean, <a href="#254">254</a><sup>9</sup>, <a href="#258">258</a></li> +<li>Poitiers, <a href="#293">293</a></li> +<li>Poland, <a href="#245">245</a>, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Pont-à-Mousson, <a href="#439">439</a></li> +<li>Pont de Cé, <a href="#316">316</a></li> +<li>Porcupine, Order of the, <a href="#20">20</a>, <a href="#22">22</a></li> +<li>Portinari, Thomas, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Portugal, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#270">270</a>, <a href="#277">277</a></li> +<li>Portugal, Alphonse V., King of, <a href="#442">442</a></li> +<li>Portugal, Isabella of, Duchess of Burgundy, <i>see</i> Burgundy</li> +<li>Pot, Philip de, <a href="#53">53</a>, <a href="#63">63</a>, <a href="#64">64</a></li> +<li>Poucque, castle of, <a href="#37">37</a></li> +<li>Prussia, <a href="#245">245</a></li> +<li>Public Weal, War of, <i>see</i> League</li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="Q">Q</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Quaux River, the, <a href="#42">42</a></li> +<li>Quercy, <a href="#281">281</a><sup>22</sup></li> +<li>Quiévrain, Seigneur de, <a href="#317">317</a></li> +<li>Quingey, Simon de, <a href="#301">301</a>, <a href="#302">302</a>, <a href="#307">307</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="R">R</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Rampart, Jean, <a href="#9">9</a></li> +<li>Ratellois, <a href="#239">239</a></li> +<li>Ratisbon, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#60">60</a></li> +<li>Ravestein, Madame de, <a href="#81">81</a></li> +<li>Ravestein, Monseigneur de, <a href="#89">89</a><sup>4</sup></li> +<li>Renty, Monseigneur de, <a href="#240">240</a></li> +<li>Rethel, <a href="#396">396</a></li> +<li>Rheims, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#104">104</a>, <a href="#170">170</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#403">403</a>, +<a href="#407">407</a></li> +<li>Rheims, Archbishop of, <a href="#16">16</a></li> +<li>Rheinfelden, <a href="#251">251</a></li> +<li>Rhine, the, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#355">355</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>Valley, <a href="#257">257</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Rhinelands, the, <a href="#388">388</a>, <a href="#389">389</a></li> +<li>Rhodes, <a href="#161">161</a></li> +<li>Rivers, Earl, <a href="#266">266</a></li> +<li>Roche, Henri de la, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup></li> +<li>Rochefort, <a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#426">426</a>, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Rochefort, Sire of, <a href="#426">426</a></li> +<li>Rochefoucauld, <a href="#224">224</a></li> +<li>Roelants, Gort, <a href="#428">428</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="#429">429</a>, <a href="#433">433</a></li> +<li>Romans, King of the, <a href="#329">329</a>-332</li> +<li>Rome, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, <a href="#364">364</a></li> +<li>Romont, Count of, <a href="#416">416</a></li> +<li>Romorantin, <a href="#62">62</a></li> +<li>Roses, Wars of the, <a href="#263">263</a>-267, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>, <a href="#285">285</a>-292</li> +<li>Rossillon, <a href="#225">225</a></li> +<li>Rottelin, Marquise Hugues de, <a href="#18">18</a></li> +<li>Rotterdam, <a href="#461">461</a></li> +<li>Rouen, <a href="#143">143</a>, <a href="#273">273</a>, <a href="#275">275</a><sup>16</sup>, <a href="#313">313</a>, <a href="#314">314</a></li> +<li>Rousillon, <a href="#304">304</a></li> +<li>Rouvre, <a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#436">436</a>, <a href="#437">437</a></li> +<li>Roye, <a href="#311">311</a></li> +<li>Rozière, Malhortie de, <a href="#440">440</a></li> +<li>Rubempré, the bastard of, <a href="#113">113</a>-116</li> +<li>Rubempré, Jehan de, <a href="#190">190</a></li> +<li>Ruple, G., <a href="#220">220</a></li> +<li>Russia, <a href="#245">245</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="S">S</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Saeckingen, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#378">378</a></li> +<li>St. Bavon, Abbot of, <a href="#41">41</a></li> +<li>Ste. Beuve, cited, <a href="#218">218</a><sup>15</sup></li> +<li>St. Blaise, Abbé of, <a href="#254">254</a></li> +<li>St. Claude, <a href="#76">76</a>, <a href="#78">78</a>, <a href="#425">425</a></li> +<li>St. Cloud, <a href="#122">122</a></li> +<li>St. Denis, <a href="#122">122</a></li> +<li>St. Lievin, feast of, <a href="#170">170</a>-179</li> +<li>St. Michel-sur-Loire, <a href="#297">297</a></li> +<li>St. Nicolas-du-Port, <a href="#442">442</a>-444</li> +<li>St. Omer, <a href="#16">16</a>, <a href="#19">19</a>, <a href="#21">21</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>, +<a href="#270">270</a>, <a href="#276">276</a>, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#282">282</a>, <a href="#402">402</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>treaty of, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#253">253</a>, <a href="#329">329</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>, + <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#379">379</a>, <a href="#387">387</a></li></ul></li> +<li>St. Pol, Count of, <a href="#54">54</a><sup>8</sup>, <a href="#97">97</a>-99, <a href="#122">122</a>, <a href="#127">127</a>, + <ul class="index1"><li>made constable of France, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#151">151</a>, <a href="#153">153</a>, + <a href="#203">203</a>, <a href="#204">204</a>, <a href="#206">206</a>, <a href="#218">218</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>;</li> + <li>treachery of, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#407">407</a>, <a href="#408">408</a>, <a href="#413">413</a>, + <a href="#460">460</a>;</li> + <li>execution of, <a href="#413">413</a><sup>10</sup></li></ul></li> +<li>St. Quentin, <a href="#289">289</a>, <a href="#298">298</a><sup>13</sup>, <a href="#407">407</a></li> +<li>St. Remy, Jean le Févre, Seigneur de, <a href="#6">6</a></li> +<li>St. Thierry, <a href="#104">104</a></li> +<li>St. Trond, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#142">142</a>, <a href="#153">153</a></li> +<li>Sale, Anthony de la, <a href="#93">93</a></li> +<li>Salesart, <a href="#239">239</a></li> +<li>Salins, <a href="#419">419</a>, <a href="#425">425</a>, <a href="#426">426</a>, <a href="#434">434</a></li> +<li>Salisbury, Bishop of, <a href="#190">190</a>, <a href="#191">191</a></li> +<li>Savoy, Charlotte of, marries the dauphin, <a href="#74">74</a>, <a href="#75">75</a>, <a href="#91">91</a></li> +<li>Savoy, duchy of, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#357">357</a>, <a href="#358">358</a></li> +<li>Savoy, dukes of, <a href="#74">74</a>, <a href="#75">75</a>, <a href="#100">100</a>, <a href="#424">424</a>, <a href="#425">425</a></li> +<li>Savoy, Yolande, Duchess of, <a href="#208">208</a>, <a href="#295">295</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>ally of Charles the Bold, <a href="#415">415</a>, <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#420">420</a>, + <a href="#423">423</a>;</li> + <li>kidnapped, <a href="#424">424</a>-426, <a href="#436">436</a>;</li> + <li>rescued, <a href="#437">437</a>, <a href="#438">438</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Saxony, Duke of, <a href="#351">351</a><sup>11</sup></li> +<li>Saxony, elector of, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#247">247</a></li> +<li>Schellhass, Karl, <a href="#357">357</a><sup>16</sup></li> +<li>Schiedam, <a href="#202">202</a></li> +<li>Schlestadt, <a href="#375">375</a>, <a href="#376">376</a></li> +<li>Scotland, Eleanor of, wife of Sigismund of Austria, <a href="#248">248</a></li> +<li>Scotland, Margaret of, wife of Louis, the dauphin, <a href="#74">74</a></li> +<li>Seine River, the, <a href="#122">122</a>, <a href="#127">127</a>, <a href="#403">403</a></li> +<li>Sforza, Galeazzo-Maria, Duke of Milan, <a href="#423">423</a>, <a href="#424">424</a></li> +<li>Sicily, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#245">245</a></li> +<li>Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, <i>see</i> Austria</li> +<li>Sigismund, Emperor, <a href="#13">13</a><sup>20</sup>, <a href="#15">15</a></li> +<li>Sluis, <a href="#202">202</a></li> +<li>Snoy, Renier, cited, <a href="#357">357</a>, <a href="#358">358</a><sup>20</sup></li> +<li>Soleure, <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#412">412</a></li> +<li>Somerset, Duke of, <a href="#196">196</a>, <a href="#286">286</a>, <a href="#288">288</a></li> +<li>Somme, towns on the river, ceded to Duke of Burgundy, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#128">128</a>, <a href="#143">143</a>, +<a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#281">281</a>, <a href="#396">396</a>, <a href="#399">399</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>redemption of towns on the, <a href="#110">110</a>, <a href="#111">111</a>, <a href="#117">117</a>, + <a href="#119">119</a>, <a href="#294">294</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#303">303</a>, <a href="#309">309</a>, + <a href="#334">334</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Sorel, Agnes, <a href="#76">76</a>-78, <a href="#81">81</a></li> +<li>Soulz, Rudolf de, <a href="#335">335</a></li> +<li>Spain, <a href="#38">38</a>, <a href="#192">192</a></li> +<li>Spain, King of, <a href="#453">453</a></li> +<li>Stein, Hertnid von, <a href="#247">247</a>, <a href="#349">349</a><sup>9</sup></li> +<li>Stein, Rudolph de, <a href="#443">443</a></li> +<li>Stephen, Martin, <a href="#239">239</a></li> +<li>Strasburg, <a href="#248">248</a><sup>5</sup>, <a href="#376">376</a>, <a href="#377">377</a>, <a href="#392">392</a>, <a href="#393">393</a>, +<a href="#414">414</a></li> +<li>Strasburg, Bishop of, <a href="#254">254</a></li> +<li>Stuttgart, <a href="#60">60</a></li> +<li>Sundgau, the, <a href="#374">374</a>, <a href="#394">394</a></li> +<li>Swabia, <a href="#452">452</a></li> +<li>Swiss, the, valour of, <a href="#249">249</a>-251, <a href="#256">256</a>, <a href="#381">381</a>, <a href="#398">398</a>, +<a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#421">421</a>, <a href="#422">422</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>victories of, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#417">417</a>-422, <a href="#435">435</a>;</li> + <li>allies of Louis XI., <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#402">402</a>, <a href="#403">403</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Swiss Cantons, the, <a href="#248">248</a>, <a href="#352">352</a>, <a href="#371">371</a>, <a href="#372">372</a>, +<a href="#375">375</a>, <a href="#386">386</a>, <a href="#387">387</a>, <a href="#389">389</a> + <ul class="index1"><li>declare war against Charles the Bold, <a href="#397">397</a>, <a href="#400">400</a>, <a href="#415">415</a>, + <a href="#416">416</a>, <a href="#438">438</a>-448, <a href="#451">451</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Swynaerde, <a href="#170">170</a></li> +<li>Sylvius, Æneas, <a href="#59">59</a></li> + + </ul> <!--Checked to Here--> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="T">T</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Talmont, Prince of, <a href="#317">317</a><sup>35</sup></li> +<li>Tewkesbury, battle of, <a href="#290">290</a>, <a href="#293">293</a></li> +<li>Texel, island of, <a href="#202">202</a></li> +<li>Thann, <a href="#252">252</a>, <a href="#372">372</a>, <a href="#379">379</a>, <a href="#389">389</a></li> +<li>Thérain, the, <a href="#311">311</a></li> +<li>Thérouanne, Bishop of, <a href="#69">69</a></li> +<li>Thierry, <a href="#442">442</a></li> +<li>Thierry, Monsieur de, <a href="#402">402</a></li> +<li>Thierstein, Oswald von, <a href="#393">393</a>, <a href="#444">444</a></li> +<li>Thionville, <a href="#362">362</a>, <a href="#365">365</a>, <a href="#369">369</a></li> +<li>Thouan, Mme. de, <a href="#308">308</a><sup>25</sup></li> +<li>Thouars, Guillaume de, <a href="#319">319</a></li> +<li>Thurgau, <a href="#248">248</a></li> +<li>Tilhart, secretary to Louis XI., <a href="#297">297</a></li> +<li>Tongres, <a href="#140">140</a>, <a href="#213">213</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>bishops of, <a href="#130">130</a>, <a href="#131">131</a>, <a href="#213">213</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Tonnerre, Count of, <a href="#16">16</a></li> +<li>Toul, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#439">439</a></li> +<li>Touraine, <a href="#106">106</a></li> +<li>Tournay, <a href="#198">198</a><sup>2</sup></li> +<li>Tournay, Bishop of, <a href="#104">104</a></li> +<li>Tournehem, <a href="#287">287</a></li> +<li>Tours, <a href="#114">114</a>, <a href="#198">198</a>, <a href="#212">212</a>, <a href="#283">283</a>, <a href="#284">284</a>, +<a href="#316">316</a></li> +<li>Toustain, Aloysius (Toussaint), <a href="#224">224</a>, <a href="#237">237</a></li> +<li>Toustain, Guillaume, <a href="#237">237</a></li> +<li>Toutey, E., cited, <a href="#438">438</a><sup>11</sup>, <i>et passim</i></li> +<li>Trausch, cited, <a href="#340">340</a><sup>1</sup></li> +<li>Tree of Gold, jousts of the, <a href="#193">193</a></li> +<li>Trémoille, Jehan de la, <a href="#17">17</a></li> +<li>Trèves, <a href="#336">336</a>-354, <a href="#364">364</a>, <a href="#369">369</a>, <a href="#373">373</a>, <a href="#385">385</a></li> +<li>Trèves, Archbishop of, <a href="#246">246</a>, <a href="#349">349</a>, <a href="#351">351</a></li> +<li>Tuin, <a href="#153">153</a></li> +<li>Turin, <a href="#436">436</a></li> +<li>Turks, the, capture Constantinople, <a href="#46">46</a>, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#55">55</a>; + <ul class="index1"><li>proposed crusade against, <a href="#47">47</a>, <a href="#48">48</a>, <a href="#51">51</a>-53, + <a href="#56">56</a>, <a href="#65">65</a>, <a href="#66">66</a>, <a href="#70">70</a>, <a href="#78">78</a>, <a href="#79">79</a>, + <a href="#345">345</a>, <a href="#346">346</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, <a href="#350">350</a></li></ul></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="U">U</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Unterwalden, <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#446">446</a></li> +<li>Uri, <a href="#418">418</a>, <a href="#446">446</a></li> +<li>Ursé, Seigneur d', <a href="#295">295</a>, <a href="#300">300</a>, <a href="#301">301</a></li> +<li>Utenhove, Richard, <a href="#178">178</a></li> +<li>Utrecht, <a href="#69">69</a>-71, <a href="#81">81</a>, <a href="#137">137</a>, <a href="#263">263</a>, <a href="#348">348</a>, +<a href="#352">352</a>-358, <a href="#363">363</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="Va">V</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Vaesen, Joseph Frederic Louis (editor of <i>Lettres de Louis XI</i>.), <a href="#295">295</a><sup>9</sup>, +<a href="#296">296</a><sup>10</sup></li> +<li>Valenciennes, <a href="#323">323</a></li> +<li>Valois, House of, <a href="#9">9</a>, <a href="#12">12</a>, <a href="#457">457</a></li> +<li>Vaudemont, Yolande of Anjou, Duchess of, <a href="#367">367</a>, <a href="#368">368</a></li> +<li>Vendôme, Count of, <a href="#16">16</a></li> +<li>Venice, <a href="#23">23</a>, <a href="#192">192</a>, <a href="#353">353</a>, <a href="#363">363</a></li> +<li>Verard, Antoine, <a href="#93">93</a></li> +<li>Verdun, <a href="#348">348</a></li> +<li>Vere, <a href="#289">289</a></li> +<li>Vermandois, <a href="#308">308</a></li> +<li>Vermandois, Count de, <a href="#214">214</a></li> +<li>Vesoul, <a href="#258">258</a>, <a href="#259">259</a>, <a href="#379">379</a></li> +<li>Villeclerc, Demoiselle de, <a href="#77">77</a></li> +<li>Virnenbourg, Count of, <a href="#6">6</a></li> +<li>Visen, Charles de, <a href="#215">215</a></li> +<li>Vosges, the, <a href="#252">252</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="W">W</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Wailly, <a href="#322">322</a></li> +<li>Waldemar of Zürich, <a href="#443">443</a></li> +<li>Waldshut, <a href="#249">249</a>, <a href="#251">251</a>, <a href="#252">252</a>, <a href="#378">378</a></li> +<li>Walloon language, the, <a href="#136">136</a></li> +<li>Warwick, Earl of, <a href="#265">265</a>-267, <a href="#271">271</a>-276, <a href="#279">279</a>, <a href="#280">280</a>, +<a href="#284">284</a>-290, <a href="#323">323</a><sup>2</sup>; + <ul class="index1"><li>death of, <a href="#289">289</a>, <a href="#290">290</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Wavrin, Philip de, <a href="#17">17</a></li> +<li>Wellington, Duke of, <a href="#210">210</a><sup>10</sup></li> +<li>Wenlock, governor of Calais, <a href="#275">275</a></li> +<li>Weymouth, <a href="#290">290</a></li> +<li>Wieringen, island of, <a href="#202">202</a></li> +<li>Woodville, Elizabeth, <a href="#266">266</a></li> +<li>Wuisse, Vautrin, <a href="#446">446</a></li> +<li>Wyler, Hans, <a href="#417">417</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="Xa">X</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Xaintes, <a href="#305">305</a></li> + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="Y">Y</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>York, House of, <a href="#264">264</a>, <a href="#289">289</a></li> +<li>York, Margaret of, Duchess of Burgundy, <i>see</i> Burgundy</li> +<li>Ypres, <a href="#207">207</a><sup>7</sup>, <a href="#220">220</a>, <a href="#269">269</a><sup>9</sup>, <a href="#271">271</a>, <a href="#272">272</a></li> + + </ul> +<br /> + +<ul class="index"> + <li><b><a name="Z">Z</a></b><br /><br /></li> + +<li>Zealand, <a href="#13">13</a><sup>20</sup>, <a href="#14">14</a>, <a href="#24">24</a>, <a href="#32">32</a>, +<a href="#69">69</a><sup>4</sup>, <a href="#156">156</a>, <a href="#201">201</a>, <a href="#202">202</a>, <a href="#261">261</a>, +<a href="#262">262</a>, <a href="#274">274</a>, <a href="#289">289</a>, <a href="#358">358</a>, <a href="#455">455</a></li> +<li>Zürich, <a href="#59">59</a>, <a href="#376">376</a></li> +<li>Zutphen, <a href="#323">323</a>, <a href="#324">324</a></li> + + </ul> + + <hr /> +<br /><br /> + + + + + + + + + + + +<br /><br /> +<span class="page1"><a name="largemap">[plate 33]</a></span> +<p class="center">Click <a href="#map"><b>HERE</b></a> to Return<br /><br /></p> +<p class="center"><img src="cbimages/image18largemap2.jpg" width="525" height="861" alt="MAP OF ALSACE AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES" border="0" /></p> + +<br /><br /> + + + + + +<!-- +<p> + <a href="http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=referer"><img + src="http://www.w3.org/Icons/valid-xhtml10" + alt="Valid XHTML 1.0!" height="31" width="88" /></a> + </p> +--> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Charles the Bold, by Ruth Putnam + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLES THE BOLD *** + +***** This file should be named 14496-h.htm or 14496-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/4/9/14496/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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