The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 05 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countriesMonstrelet, Enguerrand de
History
The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 05 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries
Monstrelet, Enguerrand de
Europe -- History -- 476-1492 -- Sources; France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453
The present count de Penthievre, however, notwithstanding he showed
great outward marks of affection to the duke of Brittany, had not
forgotten these ancient quarrels, as you will soon perceive. In truth,
what with the hope of regaining the duchy, and with the exhortations
of his mother, who was daughter to the late sir Olivier de Clisson,
constable of France, the count de Penthievre obtained a sealed order
from the dauphin to arrest and imprison the duke of Brittany; although
he was married to his sister; but he was ill pleased with the duke,
because he and the estates of the duchy had refused to assist him in
his war against the English and Burgundians.
When the count had obtained this order, he considered how he could
the most easily carry it into effect, and thought his best way would
be to invite the duke to dinner at Chantoceau. He went, therefore, to
pay a visit to the duke at Nantes; and after some conversation, he
earnestly pressed him to come and amuse himself at Chantoceau, and dine
there, adding, that his mother would be delighted to see him, and would
entertain him to the best of her power. The duke consented to both
proposals, not imagining that any evil designs could have been devised
against him, and the day fixed on was the 4th of February.
When that day was come, the duke set out from le Lorrons Bocqteriaux,
where he had slept, and took the road to Chantoceau. His maitres
d'hôtel and harbingers preceded him, as is customary, to have all
things in readiness for him on his arrival. When they appeared before
the castle, the count and all his household mounted their horses, and
advanced to meet the duke so far as a bridge called the Bridge à la
Tuberbe, which is thrown over a small river.
The duke crossed this bridge, accompanied by his brother Richard, and
some knights and esquires of his household, followed at a distance
by the rest of his attendants, for he never suspected the mischief
that was intended him. When he had passed the bridge, one of the
count's attendants who counterfeited being a fool, dismounted and
threw the planks of the bridge into the water by way of amusement,
which prevented the retinue of the duke that had remained behind from
crossing it.
The duke, still unsuspecting, laughed heartily at this trick of the
fool; but in the mean time, Charles lord of Avaugour, brother to the
count, who had lain in ambush with about forty men at arms, sallied
out against the duke, who, seeing this, said to the count, 'Fair
cousin, what means this? and who are these people?' 'My lord, they
are my people, and I arrest you in the name of the dauphin,' at the
same time laying hands on him. The duke, greatly surprised, said, 'Ah!
fair cousin, you act wickedly; for I came hither at your request, not
suspecting you had any evil designs.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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