The Chronicles of Enguerrand De Monstrelet

Chapter CLXXIX

Ambassadors from the King of England Arrive at Arras to Attend the Conference

At this time ambassadors from the king of England arrived at Arras, to attend the convention with the duke of Burgundy. They were about two hundred knights, the principal of whom was the archbishop of York, the earl of Suffolk, the bishop of St. David's, sir John Ratcliffe1, keeper of the king's privy seal, the lord of Hungerford2, master Raoul le Saige, official to the archbishop of Canterbury, and some other theologians. They were lodged within the city of Arras, and cheerfully attended to in whatever they might be in want of by the servants of the duke of Burgundy. At the same time there came from divers nations other ambassadors and mediators. The duke of Guelders3, the count Nassau, the bishop of Chambray, the count of Vernambourgh4, the bishop of Leige, the count of Vaudemont, the count of Nevers, the count of Salines, the duke of Bar, and in general all the higher nobility of the countries of the duke of Burgundy came thither to support his claims and pretensions. They were all grandly dressed - and soon after the counts of St. Pol and Ligny arrived with a handsome retinue.

On the 28th day of July, the duke of Burgundy entered Arras: he had lain the preceding night at his town of Lens in Artois. The whole company in Arras, attached to the embassy from England, went out a league beyond the walls to meet him,- as did the attendants of the two cardinals,-and when every one was most honorably received by him. The dukes entrance was well ordered he having archers of his body-guard, all dressed in rich uniform, to precede him,- and wherever he passed, people sang carols for his arrival. In this state he went to pay his compliments to the Cardinal de Santa Croche, and then to the cardinal of Cyprus, whence he retired to his lodgings in his hotel at La Cour-le-Comte.

Notes:

1: Sir John Ratcliffe was constable of Fronsac in Aquitaine, under Henry V and seneschal of Aquitaine in 1 H. VI, knight of the garter, &c. He died before 1441 and left a son John, who succeeded him, and in 1 H. VII was summoned to Parliament as lord Fitzwater.

2: Walter, lord Hungerford of Heytesbury, treasurer of England, one of the executors of the will of Henry V. He had summonses to Parliament from 4 Hen. VI. to 26 Hen. VI. inclusive, and died in 1449, leaving Robert, lord Hungerford his son and successor, who during his father's life-time served in the wars in France with twenty-nine men-at-arms and eighty archers, and died in 1459.

3: Arnold, earl of Egmont succeeded to Gueldres on the failure of the direct line in 1423. His son Adolph (by Margeret, daughter of Adolph IV duke of Cleves) made war upon him, in consequence of which he was disinherited, and his father made over the duchy to to Charles, duke of Burgundy.

4: Vernambourg, i.e. Virnemburg or Wirnemburg, the title of a noble house in the duchy of Luxembourg, of whom Robert count of Wirnemburg governed the duchy in the name of Elizabeth of Burgundy.

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