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AT the beginning of this year, the good duke of Burgundy, Philip, son to king John, and brother to Charles the rich, caused himself to be carried in a litter from the town of Brussels, in Brabant, to Halle, in Hainault. That the horses which carried him might travel more safety, and he be less shaken, labourers advanced before the litter, with spades and pick-axes to repair and smooth the roads.
When at Halle, he fixed his lodgings near to the church of our Lady, at an hotel bearing the sign of the Stag; and, finding his disorder increase, he sent for his three sons, namely, John count de Nevers, Anthony and Philip. On their arrival, he entreated and commanded them to be loyal and obedient, during their lives, to king Charles of France and to his successors, and made them promise obedience on their love to him. This engagement the three princes readily granted to their lord and father, who then assigned to each such lordships and estates as they were to hold after his decease, and specified the manner in which he intended they should enjoy them. All these, and various other arrangements, were wisely ordered by the duke in a manner becoming such a prince, who had a good memory in his last .moments. When he had finished these matters, he died in this hotel. His body was then opened, and his bowels interred in the church of our Lady at Hatle; but his body being well embalmed, was placed in a leaden coffin, and carried to the towns of Douay and Arras, magnificently attended, and in a manner suitable to his rank. At Arras the corpse was placed in his chapel, where a solemn service was performed. The duchess Margaret1 there renounced her claim to his moveables, from fear of the debts being too great, by placing her girdle with her purse and keys on the coffin, as is the usual custom in such cases, and demanded that this act should be put into writing by a public notary there present. The body was afterward conveyed to Burgundy, and interred in the church of the Carthusians near Dijon, which church he had founded and ornamented at his own expense. His heart was carried to the church of Saint Denis, and placed near to his royal ancestors, from whom he was descended.
The duke, in addition to the three before mentioned sons, had three daughters, namely, the archduchess of Austria2, the countess of Holland3, wife to William count of Hainault, and the duchess of Savoy4. There were great lamentations at his death, not only by his children but generally by the greater part of the lords of France and of his own countries ; for he had prudently and ably governed the affairs of France, in con] unction with his elder brother the duke of Berry, by whom he was much regretted.
After his decease, John count of Nevers, his eldest son, took possession of the county and duchy of Burgundy: his second son, Anthony, was declared heir to the duchy of Brabant, after the death of his great aunt the duchess, who immediately resigned to him the duchy of Limbourg5 Philip, his third son, inherited the county of Nevers and barony of Draxi, but not to enjoy them during the life of his mother. The three brothers began to govern their territories with a high hand, and held many councils together, and with their most confidential advisers, on the manner in which they should conduct themselves towards the king their sovereign lord.
