Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477Putnam, Ruth
History
Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477
Putnam, Ruth
Burgundy (France) -- History; Charles, Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477; Switzerland -- History -- 1032-1499
Louis fully appreciated the enormous advantage to himself, and was not
stinting in his reward to the plucky little town. Privileges and a
reduction of taxes were bestowed on Beauvais. An annual procession
was inaugurated in which women were to have precedence as a special
recognition of their services with boiling water and other irregular
weapons, while a special gift was bestowed on one particular girl,
Jeanne Laisné, who had wrested a Burgundian standard from a soldier
just as he was about to plant it on the wall. Not only was she endowed
from the royal purse, but she and her husband and their descendants
were declared tax free for ever.[29]
_Charles to the Duke of Brittany_
"My good brother, I recommend myself to you with good heart. I
rather hoped to be able to march through Rouen, but the whole
strength of the foe was on the frontier, where was the _grand
master, of whose loyalty I have not the least doubt_, so that the
project could not be effected. I do not know what will happen.
Realising this, I have given subject for thought elsewhere and
I have pitched my camp between Rouen and Neufchâtel, intending,
however, to return speedily. If not I will exploit the war in
another quarter more injurious to the enemy, and I will exert
myself to keep them from your route. My Burgundians and
Luxemburgers have done bravely in Champagne. I know, too, that you
have done well on your part, for which I rejoice. I have burned
the territory of Caux in a fashion so that it will not injure you,
nor us, nor others, and I will not lay down arms without you, as
I am certain you will not without me. I will pursue the work
commenced by your advice at the pleasure of Our Lord, may He give
you good and long life with a fruitful victory.
"Written at my camp near Boscise, September 4th.
"Your loyal brother,
"CHARLES."[30]
The duke's course was marked by waste and devastation from the
walls of Rouen to those of Dieppe, but nothing was gained from this
desolation. By September, keen anxiety about his territories led him
to fear staying so far from his own boundaries, and he decided to
return. Through Picardy he marched eastward burning and laying waste
as before.
Hardly had he turned towards the Netherlands, when Louis marched into
Brittany against his weakest foe. There was no fighting, but Francis
found it wise to accept a truce. Odet d'Aydie, who had ridden in hot
haste to Brittany, scattering from his saddle dire accusations of
fratricide against Louis--this same Odet became silenced and took
service with the king.[31] When reconcilations were effected, most
kind to the returning ally or servant did Louis always show himself.
On November 3d, a truce was struck between Louis and Charles, which,
later, was renewed for a year. But never again did the two men come
into actual conflict with each other, though they were on the eve of
doing so in 1475.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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