[A.D. 1426.]
CHAP. XXXIX.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY RETURNS TO HOLLAND, AND BESIEGES THE TOWN OF ZENEUBERCHE[8], WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM.—OTHER MATTERS.
AT the beginning of this year, the duke of Burgundy assembled a great body of men at arms from his countries of Flanders, Artois and Burgundy, whom, after he had finished his preparations, he led into Holland, to the attack of a strong town called Zeneuberche, which, with its lord, had supported the party of the duchess Jacquiline of Bavaria, and, in consequence, had carried on a severe warfare by sea and land against the friends of the duke of Burgundy.
The town was surrounded on all sides, and vigorously attacked; but the lord of it had a numerous garrison, with whom he for a considerable time made a gallant defence,—but at length the lord de Zeneuberche was forced to capitulate, and on the hard terms that he should surrender the town, its inhabitants and dependancies to the duke, and also that he and all the gentlemen with him should yield themselves up to the will of the duke, on having their lives spared, and promise to remain prisoners on their parole, in any place whithersoever he might please to order them.
The whole of the stores in the town and castle were given up to the duke, as well as the shipping: the foreign soldiers were allowed to march away, on taking an oath that they would never make war on any of the territories of the duke of Burgundy. All the prisoners of the duke's party were set at liberty, among whom were the lord de Moyencourt, the damoiseau d'Ercle and others.
The burghers and inhabitants of the town took the oaths of allegiance to the duke, or to his commissioners,—and on paying a certain sum of money they remained in peace. Thus was the lord de Zeneuberche deprived of his town and fortune, and, in addition, carried to Lille.
The duke, having regarrisoned the place with his own men, marched his army back to Flanders and Artois; but the lord de Humbercourt, sir Manfroy de St Leger, and some others, died of an epidemical disorder in their march home.
The duke of Bedford, after a residence of eight months in England with his duchess, returned to Calais, escorted by three thousand combatants, and thence to Paris, where he remained some time, to regulate the affairs of France. He thence went to Lille, where he and his duchess were joyfully received by the duke of Burgundy. They had many conferences together on the subject of the dissentions between the dukes of Burgundy and Glocester; but as the regent could not any way succeed in bringing about a pacification, he returned to Paris.
In these days, the duke of Glocester, on the departure of his brother, the duke of Bedford, for France, issued his summonses for the raising a large force to succour the duchess Jacquiline in Holland, whom he called his wife. The earl of Salisbury and many other great lords had connected themselves with him, in opposition to the duke of Burgundy; but the duke of Bedford, hearing of these movements, sent in haste ambassadors to his brother of Glocester, who prevailed on him to give up his intentions, on the conclusion of a truce for a certain period, in the hope that, in the course of time, peace might be made between them. The abbot of Orcamp and master John le Duc were the ambassadors on this occasion.