The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 10 [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. 10 [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 said d'Alençon confessed, that some time afterwards, he had
also sent thither Thomas Gillet, the priest before mentioned, and
had charged him to acquaint the duke of York or Richard Woodville
(having previously made the signal with the thumb) with the state of
our kingdom, and the discontent of the people, and to press them to
make the invasion as soon as they could, and with as large a force
as possible,--to tell them, that they were very thoughtless in not
having before attempted it, for they could never have so fair an
opportunity of recovering what they had lost; and if they would land
twenty thousand men, they would regain the greater part of the country
before we could provide any effectual resistance; for we were at a
distance, in Berry, on an expedition against our son the dauphin: that
there were no forces in that part of the kingdom: that the people were
exceedingly discontented, and that now or never was the time for
reconquering Normandy. Thomas Gillet said, that the duke d'Alençon was
much surprised he had not heard from them, nor from the herald; that
they should send him back with intelligence of their intentions; and he
told them frankly, that unless they showed more vigour and activity,
the enterprise had better be dropped. He spoke to them likewise of the
twenty thousand crowns that had been stated as necessary, by the said
d'Alençon, to Huntingdon; and the said d'Alençon had bidden him assure
the duke of York, that he was the most beloved of all his family in
Normandy, and that the people of the country would do more for him than
for any one else.
'Thomas Gillet was also charged to tell the English, on their
landing, not to forget to issue the proclamations he had mentioned to
Huntingdon; and if he were spoken to concerning the marriage of his
daughter with the eldest son of the duke of York, to say all he knew
and all he had seen of her. The said d'Alençon gave to Gillet letters
of the following tenour, to deliver to the duke of York. 'Sir,' &c. 'I
commend myself to you, and entreat that you will instantly let me hear
from you, and have me in your thoughts. For God's sake, use diligence
in his designs: it is time: and acquit yourself manfully, for who waits
becomes displeased. Hasten to send me money, for your service has cost
me much, and may God grant all your desires.' Written as above, and
at the bottom 'always yours, N.' adding a postscript, to say, that a
little before Christmas, he would send a person, called Pierre Fortin,
to Calais, and would instruct him to make the signal of the thumb, that
he might converse with James Hay or Richard Woodville, and know from
them if they had any intelligence to give him from the herald or Thomas
Gillet.
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