CHAP. XXXVII.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD PREVENTS THE COMBAT BETWEEN THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY AND GLOCESTER.—OTHER EVENTS.
IN the month of September, the duke of Bedford, who styled himself regent of France, assembled in the city of Paris many of the nobles of France, some learned men from the three estates, and the ambassadors from England, to consider on the combat that had been declared between the dukes of Burgundy and of Glocester. Having for several days discussed the origin of this quarrel, and all matters appertaining thereto in council, it was concluded, after mature deliberation, that there was no cause for a combat; and although a day had been fixed for it to take place, it was annulled; and it was declared that neither party was bound to make any satisfaction to the other.
There were present at this meeting, on the part of the duke of Burgundy, the bishop of Tournay: from the duke of Glocester, the bishop of London: each of them attended by some of their lord's council.
On the 17th of this same month, the marriage between Charles de Bourbon count de Clermont, son and heir to the duke of Bourbon, a prisoner in England, and Agnes, sister to the duke of Burgundy, was solemnly celebrated in the city of Autun. The duchess-dowager of Burgundy, sister to the duke de Bourbon, was present at the ceremony and feasts; and when they were finished she returned to Dijon, where she suddenly departed this life, and was buried in the church of the Carthusians, without the walls of Dijon, being followed to the grave by the universal sorrow and lamentations of the Burgundians, who loved her much; for she was a good and pious lady toward God and man.
In this year, an embassy was sent to the holy father in Rome from the two kingdoms of France and England, consisting of the abbot of Orcamp and two knights from France, and of the abbot of Beaulieu and two knights from England, to summon the pope, (in like manner as had been done previously to the last general council held at Constance) to convoke a council to perfect and accomplish those things that had been left unfinished at the last council, notifying to him, at the same time, that he had too long delayed this, which was hurtful to the universal church.
In this year, a great quarrel took place in England between the duke of Glocester and the cardinal of Winchester. The cause of this discord arose from the duke wishing to have the government of his nephew the young king, who had been by his father king Henry given in wardship to the cardinal.
The cardinal, overpowered by force, was constrained to take refuge, from the duke of Glocester, in the tower of London, where he remained six days, without daring to venture abroad, for eight or ten of his people had been slain. At length peace was made between them; and the parliament was assembled to take cognisance of their dispute. During its sitting, the young king Henry was frequently brought thither, and seated on the royal throne: the earl-marshal was then created a duke. This parliament lasted a considerable time, in which many weighty matters were discussed, relative to affairs in France as well as in England.
In the month of December the duke and duchess of Bedford, attended by about five hundred combatants, left Paris for Amiens, where they staid some days. While the duke was at Amiens, there were in that neighbourhood about a thousand pillagers, well mounted, under the command of one Sauvage de Fermanville, who was not in favour with the regent. Sauvage was quartered at Esclusiers, near Peronne, and hearing that the duke was to leave Amiens, for Dourlens, lightly accompanied, was in hopes of taking him by surprise, and to this effect he marched his men from Esclusiers, and hastily advanced to Beauquesne, where he halted; but the duke had passed by, and was lodged in Dourlens, and thence went to Calais, by St Pol, and Therouenne. He embarked from Calais to England, whither he went to reprimand and check his brother Humphrey of Glocester, for his conduct toward the duke of Burgundy.
When the duke of Bedford learnt the intentions of Sauvage de Fermanville he was very indignant, and so managed that some time afterward, he was severely punished, as you shall hear, for this and others of his evil deeds.