CHAP. XXIV.
THE DUKES OF BEDFORD AND OF BURGUNDY ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE UP THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE DUKES OF GLOCESTER AND OF BRABANT.
ABOUT the end of October the dukes of Bedford and of Burgundy met at Paris, with their confidential ministers, according to what had been agreed on when they were last at Amiens, to discuss the differences that had arisen between the dukes of Glocester and of Brabant. The matter was most fully debated during several days before their council, notwithstanding a suit was still pending at the court of Rome. At length, the dukes of Bedford and Burgundy agreed on the terms of a pacification, according to the opinions of their counsellors, and sent them to the dukes of Glocester and of Brabant. The ambassadors who went to the duke of Glocester and his lady, at Calais, were sir Raoul le Bouteiller and the abbot Fouquans. When they showed their credentials, and the terms that had been agreed on, they had a direct negative from the duke and the lady, who declared they would not abide by them, but would march a powerful army into Hainault to take possession of that country. On receiving this answer, the ambassadors returned to Paris.
Those who had been sent to duke John of Brabant, were graciously received; and he declared, with the advice of his council, that he was very willing to accept the terms agreed on by the dukes of Bedford and Burgundy, and was well contented therewith.
On these answers being carried to the two dukes in Paris, they were much troubled that the duke of Glocester would not accept of the terms which they had settled,—more particularly the duke of Burgundy, who plainly told his brother-in-law, the duke of Bedford, that since he found his brother the duke of Glocester would not listen to any reasonable terms, he should assist his cousin, the duke of Brabant, with all his power, to enable him to preserve his honour and territories against the duke of Glocester.
The duke of Bedford was much angered against his brother at heart, for his obstinacy, and greatly feared, that from this quarrel, all connexions of the English with the duke of Burgundy would be done away, and their power in France destroyed.
The dukes of Bedford and of Burgundy kept each at his hôtel in Paris the feast of All-saints, with much solemnity; and some days afterward, the duke of Burgundy had the marriage of sir John de la Trimouille lord de Jonvelles, with the damsel of Rochebaron, sister to the lord d'Amboise, (who at that time resided with the queen of France, widow of the late king, in company with the lady of La Ferté) celebrated at his hôtel of Artois, and at his own expense.
At this marriage were present the said queen of France, the duke and duchess of Bedford, sister to the duke of Burgundy, attended by the earl and countess of Salisbury, the earl of Suffolk, the bishop of Therouenne, the lord d'Estable, and many noble knights, esquires, ladies and damsels of high degree, who were all magnificently entertained by the duke of Burgundy and his officers. There was a grand display of every costly viand and wines, followed by dancings, tiltings, and other amusements.
The dukes of Bedford and Burgundy even tilted themselves with other princes and knights. When this feast was over the duke of Burgundy returned from Paris to his residence in Burgundy, where he united himself in marriage, by an apostolical dispensation, with the widow of his uncle the count de Nevers, who had been slain at the battle of Azincourt. This lady was much renowned for her pious life: she had two children by the count de Nevers, and was sister-german to the count d'Eu, then a prisoner in England, and sister by the half blood to Charles de Bourbon count de Clermont.
At this time died John of Bavaria formerly bishop of Liége, uncle to the duke of Burgundy, and to Jacqueline of Bavaria; and because he had not had any children by his lady, he declared the duke of Burgundy his heir and successor, thus putting aside Jacquiline of Bavaria his niece.