THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS SIEGE TO CORBEIL.—HE MARCHES THENCE TO CHARTRES AND INTO TOURAINE, ON THE SUMMONS OF THE QUEEN OF FRANCE, WHO ACCOMPANIES HIM ON HIS RETURN.
WHEN the duke of Burgundy had submitted to his obedience the castle of Montlehery, and re-furnished it with provision and stores, he marched his army to lay siege to Corbeil on the side toward Montlehery. He planted many cannons and other engines to batter it in vain; for the constable and the king's ministers had strongly garrisoned the place with men at arms, who made a vigorous defence against the duke, and daily slew his men by their cannon and other shot. The garrison was continually supplied, as well by land as by water, with provision, ammunition, and all other necessary articles.
In short, after the duke had remained about three weeks before Corbeil, seeing he was unable to conquer it, and that his army was much harrassed by the continued rains, and by an epidemic disorder which carried off many, he raised the siege, and departed from before Corbeil on the 28th day of October, taking the road to Chartres.
The duke left behind, in his camp, many warlike engines, and great quantities of provision which merchants had brought to his army: all of these things the besieged carried into their town, on the departure of the duke, and were highly rejoiced that their enemies had left them.
During the siege of Corbeil, sir Mauroy de St Legier was struck with a bolt from a cross-bow so severely on the leg that he was maimed, and limped all his life after.
The real cause of the duke of Burgundy's breaking up the siege of Corbeil so suddenly, was a private message which he received by a confidential servant from the queen of France, then resident at Tours in Touraine, to request he would come and release her from her state of confinement, as she thought herself in much danger. The duke, in consequence, had sent one of his secretaries called John de Drosay to make further inquiries, and to conclude a treaty with the queen.
The queen promised to accompany the duke provided he would come to fetch her; and, for a confirmation thereof she gave the secretary a golden signet to present to his lord. This signet was known by the duke, for he had often seen it; and on his arrival at Chartres, on the eve of the feast of All-saints, attended by the greater part of his nobles, and those of the men at arms best mounted and equipped, he suddenly set off, taking the road through Bonneval and Vendôme to Tours.
When he was within two leagues of that place, he sent forward the lords de Fosseux and du Vergy with eight hundred combatants, who posted themselves in ambuscade half a league distant from Tours; at the same time dispatching a trusty messenger to inform the queen of the duke's arrival.
On hearing this, she called to her master John Torel, master John Petit and master Laurens du Puy, her principal wardens, and told them she wished to hear mass at a church without the town, called Marmoutier, and that they must prepare themselves to accompany her. They exhorted her to lay such thoughts aside, but in vain, for she shortly after issued out of Tours, and carried them with her to the aforesaid church.
The lords in ambuscade almost instantly advanced in front of the church, and sent Hector de Saveuses forward to the queen with about sixty combatants. Her warders approached her as she was hearing mass, and said, 'Lady, here is a large company of Burgundians or English'; but she, like one unsuspicious of what was intended, ordered them to keep near her.
Hector de Saveuses then entered the church, and saluted her in the name of his lord the duke of Burgundy. She, in reply, asked where he was,—when he said that he would instantly be with her. After these words, she commanded Hector to lay hands on masters John Torel, Petit and Laurens du Puy: the last she hated much, for he addressed her very rudely, without raising his hand to his hood, and never bowing to her,—beside, she could not any way act without the consent of Laurens du Puy. Finding he could not escape being arrested if he remained, he flew out of the church and entered a small boat by the back-yard, to cross the river Loire, but in such haste that he fell into the water and was drowned: the others were taken prisoners.
All this passed about nine o'clock in the morning: at eleven the duke of Burgundy waited on the queen and paid her the respect that was her due, which she returned and said, 'Most dear cousin, of all men in the kingdom I ought to love you the most, for having laid aside every other thing and complying with my request to come hither and deliver me from prison, and which my dear cousin I shall never forget; for I clearly see that you have always loved my lord, his family, his kingdom, and the public welfare.'
They afterward dined together with much cheerfulness in the said church; after which, the queen sent notice to the inhabitants of Tours, that she and her cousin the duke of Burgundy would make a public entry into their town; but, by the advice of the governor, the inhabitants delayed a little in their answer: however, at last they complied with what had been demanded, when the governor retired into the castle, and the queen and the duke, with their attendants and escort, made their entry.
The duke was handsomely received and entertained in Tours; after which, the queen sent a passport and orders for the governor to come to her, whom she commanded to deliver up the castle, which he did, though much against his will. When the duke had tarried three days with the queen, he appointed Charles l'Abbé? governor of the town and castle, with two hundred combatants for its defence. He took an oath carefully to guard and defend it in the name and on behalf of the duke of Burgundy; but this oath he was very unmindful of, for in the following year he surrendered both town and castle to the dauphin, while he was continued governor, taking a similar oath.
The queen and the duke of Burgundy caused proclamation to be made through Tours, that no one was to pay any subsidies or taxes but that on salt. They then departed for Vendôme, where was issued a similar proclamation, and then continued their route through Bonneval to Chartres, where they arrived the 9th day of November. The queen was accompanied by four carriages containing twenty women. She had only one knight with her, called sir Robert le Cyne, with whose prudence and discretion she was well pleased.