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 king ordered proclamation to be made for every one to carry
provisions to the camps of the Burgundians and Bretons,--which being
done, several merchants of Paris went thither with quantities of all
sorts, which were eagerly bought up by the army, more especially bread
and wine; for the men were almost starved, as their long lank cheeks,
hanging down through misery, showed, and that they could not have
borne it longer. The greater part were without hose or shoes, and were
covered with filth.
Among those who came to obtain food were several Lifre-lofres,[86]
Calabrians and Swiss, so famished that they seized cheeses and devoured
them unpared, and then drank marvellous draughts of wine in handsome
earthen cups. The Lord knows how joyful they were; but they had not
these things scotfree, for each paid his share handsomely. Many things
happened this day, which I pass over for brevity; but every one must
admire the inestimable resources of Paris, for the confederated army
before that town was estimated at full one hundred thousand horse,
and those within Paris at three times the number,--yet they were all
supplied with provisions for a long time from thence, and without any
rise in price. On the departure of the burgundian army, the prices of
provision were more moderate than they had ever been.
The king went to visit the count de Charolois at Conflans, with so very
small an escort that those who wished him well thought it simply done:
the Picards and others of their party, even made a mockery of it, and,
in their provincial dialect, cried out, 'Eh! do you see your king, who
is talking with our lord de Charolois? they have been more than two
hours together; and by our faith, if we wished it, we have him now
under our thumb.'
On Friday, the 4th of October, the king gave orders for the Burgundians
to be admitted into Paris by the gate of St Antoine, and so many
entered that several excesses were committed by them, which would not
have been suffered had it been known that the king would have been
angry with them. However, one Burgundian insisted on passing the gate
of St Antoine against the will of the porters, and in spite of one
of the company of the bastard du Maine, who guarded the wicket. The
Burgundian, in his passion, drew a dagger and stabbed the archer in the
belly as he was half opening the wicket: he was immediately seized, and
severely beaten and wounded: many would have killed him, but they were
prevented; and the affair was made known to the king, who ordered him
to be carried to the count de Charolois, for him to do proper justice
on him. The count, on hearing the evidence, instantly sentenced him to
be hanged on the gallows at Charenton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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