THE DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY WAITS ON THE KING OF FRANCE AT LAON, TO MAKE SOME REQUESTS TO HIM.—OTHER MATTERS.
IN the month of April, in this year, the duchess of Burgundy, daughter to the king of Portugal, waited on king Charles at Laon, honourably attended by knights, ladies and damsels. As her health was but indifferent, she was carried in a litter. The constable, who had married a sister of the duke of Burgundy, came out a league from Laon to meet her, and conducted her to the town, and to the king, who, as well as the dauphin and courtiers, received her with every attention.
After this ceremony, she retired to the abbey of St Martin, where she was lodged. She had several interviews with the king, respecting a general peace, and also respecting the duke of Orleans.
At this time, the castle of Montaigu was held by Villemet de Hainault, and others that had belonged to the late sir John de Luxembourg, who had boasted that they would not surrender it to the king's commissioners without the consent of the duke of Burgundy. In consequence of this refusal, a large detachment had been ordered thither to reduce it to obedience, and, if necessary, to besiege it. This had, however, been delayed, in the expectation that an accommodation would have been brought about before the duchess should leave Laon,—who indeed had made many requests to the king, but few, if any, were granted her. Nevertheless, she celebrated Easter there, kept great state, and was visited by the nobles and other persons of note in the king's household.
In like manner was the king visited while at Laon by Jeanne de Bethune, countess of Ligny and viscountess of Meaux, who did him homage for her lands. The king was well pleased at her coming, and received her most kindly. She concluded a treaty, through her commissioners, respecting the personal effects which her late husband had left her, which it was said were confiscated because he had died while an enemy to the king, and paid down for their release a sum of money: by this means she remained unmolested, and received letters patent confirming the agreement. During the time she staid at Laon, she was strongly urged to remarry with the count d'Eu,—but she excused herself from compliance. Soon after she had finished her business, she departed for her castle of Beaurevoir, and thence to Cambray.
During this time, persons came daily to do homage to the king, and to offer him their services, whom he retained, promising to be very liberal toward them,—for he was then occupied with a plan of raising a very large army, to combat his ancient enemies the English.
In this year, one of the esquires of the stables, named Dunot, was charged before the duke of Orleans with an attempt to poison him, at the instigation, as it was said, of some of the great lords of the king of France's household. He was closely examined, and severely tortured, and afterward drowned by night in the river Loire. Little, however, was made public of the reality of the charges against those who had been suspected.
About this period, eight score pillagers from the household of king Charles went to a town in Hainault, called Haussy[86], which had a fair castle, wherein they quartered themselves for three days. Many of the adjacent towns and villages, as well in Hainault as in the Cambresis, paid them protection-money to a large amount.
While this was passing, sir John de Croy, bailiff of Hainault, assembled some men at arms in Quênoy, and advanced to attack them. Part of them instantly retired within the castle, which was directly stormed,—in the doing of which, an elderly gentleman of much note, called Lordennois d'Ostern, was slain. They capitulated with the bailiff to depart, on leaving all they had received behind, and to pay a sum of money down for liberty to march away in safety. Many of them were killed, that had not taken shelter in the castle. On their march toward Laon, they were met near the bridge of Nouvion, by a party of the count de St Pol's men, who robbed them of all they had, and slew the greater part of them beside.