On this Day in History ... 17th July

History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. At this time Robert Guiscard¹, a Norman by birth and Duke of Apulia, died. He had abandoned his first wife on account of kinship, by whom he had a son named Bohemond, and then, with the support of Gisulf (the brother of the maiden), he married Sichelgaita, the eldest daughter of Guaimar, Prince of Salerno, who had succeeded their father. Their younger sister, Gaitelgrima, was married to Jordan, Prince of Capua, son of Richard the Elder and father of Richard the Younger. It was the latter who founded the city called Aversa. From Sichelgaita, Robert Guiscard had three sons and five daughters. These daughters were married with such distinction that one of them became the wife of the Emperor of Constantinople.

Hac tempestate mortuus est Robertus Wiscardus, Northmannigena, dux Apuliæ. Hic, relicta priore uxore propter consanguinitatem, de qua susceperat filium nomine Boamundum, duxit primogenitam filiam Gaumarii principis Salerni, nomine Sichelgaitam, favente Gisulfo, fratre prædictæ puellæ, qui Gaumario patri successerat. Gatteclima [Gatteclinia] vero soror ejus minor nupsit Jordani principi Capuæ, filio Richardi senioris, patri vero Richardi junioris. Hujus condidit urbem nomine Aversam. Genuit autem Robertus Wiscardus ex Sichelgaita filios tres et filias quinque. Filiæ vero adeo excellentissime maritatæ sunt, ut una earum matrimonio copulata sit imperatori Constantinopolitano.

Note 1. Robert Guiscard [aged 70] died on 17th July 1085. His first wife was Alberada of Buonalbergo [aged 50], who was mother to Prince Bohemond I of Antioch [aged 31]. His second wife Sikelgaita [aged 45], sister of Prince Gisulf II of Salerno.

The Alexiad by Anna Comnena, Book 1, Chapter 10: "This Robert was Norman by descent, of insignificant origin in temper tyrannical, in mind most cunning, brave in action, very clever in attacking the wealth and substance of magnates, most obstinate in achievement, for he did not allow any obstacle to prevent his executing his desire. His stature was so lofty that he surpassed even the tallest, his complexion was ruddy, his hair flaxen, his shoulders were broad, his eyes all but emitted sparks of fire, and in frame he was well-built where nature required breadth, and was neatly and gracefully formed where less width was necessary. So from tip to toe this man was well-proportioned, as I have repeatedly heard many say. Now, Homer says of Achilles that when he shouted, his voice gave his hearers the impression of a multitude in an uproar, but this man's cry is is said to have put thousands to flight. Thus equipped by fortune, physique and character, he was naturally indomitable, and subordinate to nobody in the world. Powerful natures are ever like this, people say, even though they be of somewhat obscure descent."

The Alexiad by Anna Comnena, Book 6, Chapter 6: "Robert was overcome with fear on hearing this for by connecting Ather and the town of Jerusalem he understood that his death was imminent. For many years before some soothsayers had prophesied to him the kind of thing flatterers are wont to tell princes, As far as Ather you shall bring all countries under your sway, but from there you shall depart for Jerusalem and pay your debt to nature." Whether the fever killed him or whether he died of pleurisy, I have no means of saying for certain. At all events he died in six days. His wife Gaïta reached him just in time to see him die and his son weeping over him.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. Most reverend father in God and my most honoured lord, Since I know well that you would gladly hear news of the king my lord and of the fleet, may it please you to know that, when he had fully organized and provisioned all the ships for a force of fifteen hundred, with the intention of going toward Gascony, and had taken his course intending to pass by the Needles at the end of the Isle of Wight and thus to hold his direct course toward La Rochelle, the wind became so contrary to him that he could not, by any means, keep that course, however long he waited in hope that God would grant him favourable weather to pass. And since it did not please God that he should go that way, he turned back to land wherever God would grant him grace to arrive, and he arrived safe and in good condition, with the whole fleet, in a country called Cotentin in Normandy, on the Wednesday before the feast of Saint Margaret, that is, on the 12th day of July [1346]. And upon landing, my lord the prince was made a knight, as were Montague, Mortimer, Roos, and many others. The town of Barfleur was taken. My lord of Warwick jousted in arms against the enemies and bore himself honourably and with good success; and my lord John de Beauchamp and many other knights and squires have had engagements with the enemies in chevauchées and by other means, so that, by all appearances, there was no delay. But the men-at-arms of the region had retreated to castles and fortified towns, while the common people of the land are all coming willingly into the obedience of our lord the king. Other news, sire, I do not know to send you at this time, except that the king with his host is advancing further into the land to assert his rightful claim, according as God shall give him His grace. Written at Hogues, the 12th day of July¹.

Tres reverent piere en Dieu et mon tres honure seignur, pur ceo qe jeo sai bien qe vous orres volantiers novels de roy mon seignur et de la flete, vous pleise saver ge, com il savoit ordeingne et fait vitailer totes les nefs pur ane XV^c, en entoncoun daver ale vers Gascoun, et avoit pris son chymyn, entendant daver passe par les Agules a bout de lyle de Wyght et ensi tenuz sonn dreit cours vers la Trade, le vent ly fast si contrare qil ne peut tener cel chymyn par nulle voie, coment gil guyst longement entendant si Dieu luy vousist aver done temps de passer; et, puys qil ne pluist nent a Dieux qil alast cel chymyn, il sen returna de prendre terre la ou Dieu luy dorreit la grace, et ariva seyn et en boun poynt ove tote la flete en un pais ge lem apelle Constantin en Normandie, le Mekerdi avant la seynt Margaret, suver le xij. jour de Juyl. Et, a laryval, mon seignur le priuce fut fait chivaler, Mountague, Mortimer, Roos et tut pleyn des altres. Et est la ville de Bareflete gayne. Et mon seignur de Warewyke jousta de gere od les enemyes et porta bone journe et honourable; et mon seignur Johan de Beuchamp et tut pleyn des altres chivalers et esquiers ount ew a fairce ou les enemyes en chivache et par altre voie, si qe a fasoun de icestes ny avoit il nul areste. Mes les gents darmes de pays se ouut retret as chastels et as villes de force, et les comunecs de la terre viengnent tout pleyn al obeissaunce nostre seignur le roy. Altres novels, sire, ne vous say jeo maunder a ceste foithe, mes qe le roy ou soun hoste chivache avant en la terre pur congerer soun dreit, solom ceo qe Dieu luy dorra sa grace. Escrit a Hoghes, le XI jour de Juyle.

Note 1. The date given in the letter, 12th July, is evidently incorrect since that is the day they landed, and they took Barfleur on 14th July. The letter should probably read XVIJ rather than XIJ i.e. 17th July 1346 rather than 12th.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. "Know that on the twelfth day of July, we landed successfully at a certain port in Normandy, called Le Hoghes, near Barfleur. There, the lord king, along with many armed men, immediately disembarked; and right away, he conferred the order of knighthood upon his son the lord prince, Lord Roger de Mortimer, Lord William de Montagu, and many others. The prince himself afterwards conferred the knightly belt upon many others. Then, on multiple occasions, our very few men won repeated victories over the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, killed many, captured many, and daily continue to take considerable plunder; so much so that in the surrounding countryside, within a distance of twenty miles or more, there is no one to be found who offers resistance. We remained in the same place where we landed until the following Monday, namely the feast of Saint Kenelm. On that day, it was decided in the council of the lord king that we should set out the next day, and direct our march, with the Lord as our guide, toward the greater cities of Normandy and ultimately into France. Written at Le Hoghes, on the feast of Saint Kenelm [17th July 1346]."

Sciatis quod duodecimo die Julii applicuimus prospere in quodam portu Normanniæ, vocato le Hoghes, juxta Barflete. Ubi statim dominus rex cum multis armatis ascenderunt ad terram; ubi et statim filium suum dominum principem, dominum Rogerum de Mortuo mari, dominum Willelmum de Monte acuto, cum multis aliis, ordine militari insignivit. Ipse quoque princeps multos deinceps militie cingulo insignivit. Deinde pluribus vicibus nostri paucissimi de multitudine hostium exoessiva crebras victorias reportarunt, multos occiderunt, multos capitaverant, et prædam satis magnam ceperunt et capiunt omni die; ita quod in patria circumjacente, ad distantiam viginti milliarium et amplius, non reperitur aliquis de patria qui resistat. In eodem quoque loco ubi applicuimus morati sumus usque in diem Lunæ sequentem, videlicet diem sancti Kenelmi. Quo die, in concilio domini regis fuit dispositum ut in orastino rocedamus et versus civitates majores Normanniæ, et sic tandem in Franciam, gressus nostros, ducente Domino, dirigamus. Scriptum apud le Hoghes, die sancti Kenelmi.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. Although above I have treated at length the war that the Duke of Burgundy had against the people of Ghent, without interruption, as if no other events had taken place, so as not to mix one matter with another, nevertheless, in that same year 1453, after Charles VII, king of France, had spent all the winter making preparations to reconquer the lands of Guyenne and the Bordelais, on the 2nd day of June of that year, the king departed from the castle of Lusignan and went to Saint-Jean-d'Angély. On the 12th day of that same month, the siege was laid before Cadillac in the Bordelais by Sir Jacques de Chabannes, grand master of the king's household, and by the count of Penthièvre, lord of Saint-Sever-de-Boncat. On the 17th day following, the said Cadillac was taken by assault by the aforesaid lords and others of their company, numbering four to five hundred lances, along with archers and guisarmiers and a certain number of francs-archers. There were in the town a garrison of one hundred and sixty fighting men, of whom eighty were killed when the town was taken, and the others withdrew into a tower, where they held out for some time awaiting relief, which did not come; and so they were compelled to surrender at the king's will. They numbered eighty men, all of whom were beheaded, because they had previously sworn allegiance to the king and had then turned English. The lord of Lesparre had departed from Bordeaux, intending to come to their aid; but on the way he learned of the capture of the town, and therefore hastily turned back. In that same year 1453, on the 14th day of July, the French laid siege to the town of Castillon in Périgord, situated on the river Dordogne and held by the English. The siege was conducted by the lord of Lohéac and the lord of Jallanges, marshal of France, and several other knights and men-at-arms, to the number of sixteen to eighteen hundred men-at-arms, along with archers. Among them were the troops of the count of Maine and those of the count of Nevers, led by Sir Ferry de Francy; also the troops of the count of Castres, son of the lord of La Marche; Jean de Messignac and Guillaume de Luzarc; and the troops of the duke of Brittany, commanded by the count of Étampes, his nephew, though led in his stead by the lord of La Hunaudière and the lord of Montauban, since the count had remained with the king. There also was the king's great and small artillery, under the command of Master Jean Bureau and his brother Gaspard Bureau, master of the artillery, and they had in their company seven hundred labourers, who, by the direction of the said Jean Bureau and his brother, quickly enclosed a camp with ditches in which all the artillery was placed. Thus the siege was laid before Castillon. When this came to the knowledge of Lord Talbot, he departed immediately and in haste from the city of Bordeaux, accompanied by eight hundred to a thousand English cavalry, among whom were his son, the lord of Lisle, the lord of Molins, and several others from the kingdom of England, both knights and squires, as well as men from the Bordelais. Following them came four to five thousand English infantry, and the said Talbot arrived before the siege on Wednesday, the 17th of July, around daybreak.

COMBIEN que cy devant j'ay traictié tout au long la guerre que olt le duc de Bourgogne contre ceulx de Gand sans y entrelacher, comme n'y eust d'aultres choses advenues, adfin que j^e n'entrelache les unes matieres avec les aultres, toutesfois audit an mil iiija liij, après ce que Charles vij^e de ce nom, roy de Franche, olt tout l'hyver passé fait toutes ses preparations, pour reconquester le pays de Guyenne et de Bourdelois; le second jour de juing audit an, icelluy roy se partist du chasteau de Lusignem et alla à St Jehan d'Angely; et le douziesme jour dudit mois, fust mis le siege devant Calaix en Bourdelois, par messire Jacques de Chabanne, grand maitre d'hostel du roy, et par le comte de Penthievres, sieur de St Severe de Boncat; et le dix septiesme jour ensuivant, fust icelluy Calaix prins d'assault par les Srs dessusdits et aultres de leur compagnie, en nombre de quatre a cinq cens lanches, et les archiers et guisarmiers avecq certain nombre de francs archiers, et y avoit dedans la ville en garnison huit vingt combattants, desquels a la prinse de la ville feurent tués quatre vingt, et les aultres se retirerent en une tour ou ils feurent certain espace de temps en attendant secours, lequel ne leur vint pas, sy le convint rendre a la vollonté du roy, lesquels estoient au nombre de quatre vingt hommes, qui touts feurent descappités pour ce que auparavant avoient fait serment au roy et puis s'estoient retournés Anglois. Le Sr d'Engladres s'estoit party de Bourdaulx, les cuidant venir secourir; mais, en venant il sceut la prinse de la ville, pourquoy il s'en retourna hastivement. Audit an liij, le xiiij^e jour du mois de juillet fust mis le siege par les Franchois devant la ville de Chastillon en Perrigort, assis sur la riviere de Dordonne, occupée par les Anglois, et y fust mectre le siege le Sr de Loheur, et le Sr de Jalloinges, mareschal de Franche, et plusieurs aultres chevalliers et gens de guerre jusques au nombre de seize a dix huit cens hommes d'armes, et les archers, entre lesquels estoient les gens du comte du Maine et les gens du comte de Nevers, que conduisoit messire Ferry de Francy; aussy y estoient les gens du comte de Castres, fils du St de la Marche; Jehan de Messignac et Guillaume de Luzarc, et les gens du comte de Bretaigne, dont estoit chief le comte d'Estampes son nepveu; et pour lui le conduisoit le Sr de la Hinnaudiere et le Sr de Montauban, pour ce que ledit comte estoit demouré vers le roy. Et la estoit la grosse et menue artillerie du roy, dont avoit la charge maitre Jehan Bureau et Jaspart Bureau son frere, maitre de ladite artillerie, et avoient en leur compagnie sept cens mannouvriers, lesquels, par l'ordonnanche d'icelluy maitre Jehan Bureau et son frere, clorent hastivement un camp de fossés ou estoit toute l'artillerie: et adonc fust mis le siege devant Chastillon. Ce venu a la cognoissance du Sr Tallebot, il se partist incontinent et en haste de la ville de Bourdaulx, accompagnié de huict cens a mille Anglois de cheval, entre lesquels, estoit son fils, Sr de Lisle, le S de Molins et plusieurs aultres du royaume d'Angleterre, tant chevalliers que escuyers et aussy du pays de Bourdelois, et après venoient quatre a cinq mille Anglois de pied, et arriva icelluy Tallebot devant ledit siege, le merquerdy, xvij^e de juillet, environ le poinct du jour.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. On the seventeenth day of July, in that same year 1453, Charles, King of France, departed from the city of Angoulême to go into the region of Bordeaux, in order to support and assist his army. In his company were the Counts of Angoulême, Maine, Nevers, Étampes, Castres, Vendôme, and many other barons, knights, and squires. He arrived at the town of Libourne, while his army was before Fronsac, which was held by the English. These surrendered and departed, each with a staff in his hand. Then his army crossed the river Dordogne to bring the region of Entre-deux-Mers into obedience to the King of France. The king went to Montferrand and had a bastille constructed before Lormont, near Bordeaux, by part of his army, while the other part laid siege to the town and castle of Cadillac. Opposite them, on the other side, were the Count of Clermont, the Counts of Foix and Albret, the lord of Dorval, the lord of Sautrevillers, bailiff of Lyon, and many others, amounting to about a thousand lances. Meanwhile, the archers were stationed before Bordeaux, toward the Landes, ravaging the countryside so that those in Bordeaux could not draw supplies from it. On the eighteenth of July, the king in person, with his army, assaulted the place of Cadillac, which was taken and carried by storm. The first to enter was a squire named Gouffroy de Saint-Belin, bailiff of Chaumont in Bassigny. The English then withdrew into the castle, which was very strong and well fortified. The French laid siege to it, and it was forced to surrender in the following month of October, all becoming prisoners of the King of France. The captain of the place, named Gaillardet, was beheaded. In the bastille of Lormont were the lord of Loheac, Marshal of France, and many other lords, knights, and captains, about fifteen or sixteen lances, with missile troops and well supplied with artillery. Near this bastille were the ships of the king’s fleet by sea, coming from Brittany, Poitou, Spain, Holland, Zeeland, and Flanders, armed and provisioned. They remained in the river Gironde until the city of Bordeaux was brought into obedience to the King of France. On the English side, there were likewise ships and vessels from England; and as soon as they arrived, the lord of Camoys had chains placed across the city of Bordeaux so that they could not depart. The English also constructed a bastille opposite that of the French and above it, but it was of little use to them. Within the city, on behalf of the King of England, were important leaders: the lord of Camoys, the lord of Clifton, the bastard of Somerset, the lord of Lesparre (a Gascon), the lord of Rosan, and between three and four thousand English from England, as well as as many or more men from Gascony. One part of these forces was within the city, and the other in their bastille guarding their ships. Thus the two forces remained facing one another, each in its own bastille, guarding their fleets, from the first day of August until the seventeenth day of October following, continually harming and harassing one another in every way they could.

Le dix septiesme jour de juillet, en ce mesme an liij, Charles, roy de Franche, se partist de la cité d'Angoulesme, pour aller au pays de Bourdelois, pour conforter et ayder son ost, et estoient en sa compagnie le comte d'Angoulesme, du Maine, de Nevers, d'Estampes, de Castres, de Vendosme et plusieurs aultres barons, chevalliers et escuyers, et arriva en la ville de Libourne, et son ost devant Fronsac, que tenoient les Anglois, lesquels se rendirent et s'en allerent, chacun ung baston en son poingt, puis passa son ost la riviere de Dordonne, pour mectre en l'obeissance du roy de Franche le pays d'Entre-deux-Mers, et le roy alla a Montferat, et feit mectre une bastille devant Lorriant de lez Bourdeaulx, par une partie de son ost, et l'aultre partie meirent le siege devant la ville et chasteau de Cadillacq, devant laquelle estoit de l'aultre costé le comte de Cleremont, les comtes de Foix, d'Albrec, le St Dorval, le S de Sautrevillers, bailly de Lyon, et plusieurs aultres, jusques au nombre de mille lanches, et les archiers estoient devant Bourdeaulx, du costé de devers lez landes, pour mangier le pays, adfin que ceulx de Bourdeaulx ne s'en peussent ayder, et le dix huictiesme de juillet le roy, en personne, et son ost assaillirent la place de Cadillacq, laquelle fust prinse et emportée d'assault, et entra le premier dedans, ung escuyer nommé Gouffroy de St Bellin, bailly de Chaumont en Bas-signy, et lors les Anglois se retirerent au chasteau qui estoit moult fort et bien fermé autour, duquel fust meit le siege des Franchois, qu'il convint qu'ils se rendissent, au mois d'octobre ensuivant, touts prisonniers du roy de Franche: desquels le capitaine du lieu, nommé Gaillardet, fust decappité. Dedans la bastille de Lorimont estoient les Srs de Loheat, mareschal de Franche, et plusieurs aultres Sro, che-valliers et capitaines, jusques au nombre de quinze a seize lanches, avecq les gens de traict, bien guerny d'artillerie, et auprès d'icelle bastille estoient les basteaux de l'armée du roy, par mer; c'est a sçavoir: de Bretaigne, de Poitou, de l'Espaigne, de Hollande, de Zelande et de Flandres, armés et avitaillés, et la feurent dedans la riviere de Gironde, jusques a ce que la ville de Bourdeaulx fust mise en l'obeissance du roy de Franche; du party des Anglois estoient pareillement les basteaux et navires venus du pays d'Angleterre; et incontinent eulx arrivés, feit le Sr de Camus mectre cordage dedans la ville de Bourdeaulx, adfin qu'ils ne s'en peussent aller. Lesdits Anglois aussy firent faire une bastille contraire a celle des Franchois, et audessus d'icelle; mais elle leur prouffita peu. Ils estoient en la ville, de la part du roy d'Angleterre, grands gens, c'est a sçavoir: le Sr de Camus, le S de Cliton, le bastard de Sombreset, le S de Lesparre, gascon, le Sr de Rosain, et de trois a quatre mille Anglois. d'Angleterre, et autant et plus de gens du pays de Gascogne, dont l'une des parties estoit dedans icelle ville, et l'aultre dedans leur bastille pour garder leurs navires, et la feurent les deux puissances, les ungs devant les aultres et chacun en sa bastille, pour garder les navires, depuis le premier jour d'aoust jusques au dix septiesme jour d'octobre ensuivant, dommaigeant et grevant chacun jour l'ung l'aultre, en toutes les manieres qu'ils pouvoient.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. On a Friday, the 17th day of July [1459], the daughter of the Duke of Savoy and wife of Louis, eldest son of the King of France, while at the castle of Genappe in Brabant, gave birth to a son. These news were quickly brought to the Duke of Burgundy, who was then at Brussels, and he was very joyful, and gave a thousand gold lions to the one who brought him the news. He then immediately had letters written to all the principal towns of his lands, ordering them to light fires and celebrate the noble birth of the child, which was done everywhere with great honour. And on the 5th day of August, the said child was baptised at the font of the parish of Genappe, where, as was said, Godfrey of Bouillon, who had formerly conquered Jerusalem and been its king, had once been baptised and had also been born at that castle. The said Dauphin, who was at Genappe, wished that his son be named Joachim. The child was held at the font by his godparents, who were the Duke of Burgundy, the lord of Croy, first chamberlain of the duke, and the lady of Ravenstein, wife of Adolf of Cleves, nephew of the duke. To recount the honours and riches displayed on this occasion would be too long.

PAR ung venderdy xvij^e de juillet, la fille du duc de Savoye, et femme a Loys, aisné fils du roy de Franche, ens au chasteau de Genappe en Braband, accoucha d'ung fils; lesquelles nouvelles on vint dire prestement au duc de Bourgogne, qui lors estoit a Bruxelles, dont le duc fust moult joyeulx, et donna mille lyons d'or a celluy qui lui rapporta les nouvelles, puis feit prestement escrire lettres par toutes les bonnes villes de ses pays, que ils allumassent feus et feissent joye pour la noble venue dudit enfant; ce qu'on feit par tout moult honorablement; et le ve jour d'aøust fust ledit enfant baptisé es fons de la paroisse dudit Genappe, esquels, tout comme on disoit, avoit jadis esté baptisé Godefroy de Bullon, qui jadis avoit conquesté Jherusalem, et en avoit esté roy, et sy avoit esté né audit chasteau, et vollut ledit monsieur le daulphin, qui estoit audit Genappe, que on appellat son fils Joachim; et tindrent ledit enfant sur fons, et feurent pareins et maryne le duc de Bourgogne, le St de Croy, premier chambellan du duc, et la dame de Ravestein, femme de Adolf de Clefves, nepveu du duc: de racompter les honneurs et richesses qui feurent faites, ce seroit trop longues choses.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. The King of France, as is said above, arrived and entered Corbeil on the day of the battle, at about eleven o'clock at night, where he remained until Thursday the 17th of July. On that day he departed from Corbeil and went to Paris, following the river on the side towards Saint-Denis, and entered Paris that same day with but a very small company, having no more than a hundred knights with him. When the people of Paris came out to meet him a little beyond the gate in great number, the King at that time did not rightly know what had become of all his men, but as soon as he was within Paris, his men-at-arms returned to him and gathered again in Paris, for the most part. There came back all his captains of men-at-arms, the Count of Maine, the Admiral of France, and others, and so many came that the whole city of Paris, and the country round about it beyond the river, was filled with men-at-arms. The Count of Nevers departed from Compiègne and went to the King after the battle at Paris, but he was not there long before he returned to Compiègne, and from Compiègne to Péronne, and it was not known whether he was truly for the King or not, for the King believed that he ought to assemble a great number of men-at-arms from the lands recovered, as he had done in the time when he had armed himself with the Duke of Burgundy, for most of the men of war had gone with the Count of Charolais, and many others would not take arms on either side. A few days after the King had arrived in Paris, he sent the Bishop of Paris, who was renowned as a devout person and a great clerk, to the Count of Charolais. That bishop, desiring to make peace between the King and the princes, went to the Count, who granted him audience. He told him that the King had sent him to learn what had moved him to enter his realm with so great an army, and that the King sent word that when he had gone into his father's lands, he had not gone with so great a force, but had gone simply and with a small company. The Count himself replied to the bishop that two things had moved him to enter the kingdom. The first was to keep his promise and his seal, which he and several princes of France had agreed together, that they should meet around Paris by the day of Saint John the Baptist [24th June], for the good of the realm. The second cause was to recover two men who were being held within the kingdom. As for his coming with so great an army, it was to safeguard his person, for in his own country and inheritance from his father, attempts had been made to put him to death, both by poison and by the sword, and there had also been attempts to seize him and carry him into a foreign land, and since such things had been attempted against him in his own lands, even worse might be done to him abroad, therefore he wished to be well accompanied for his own protection. And as for the King's message that he had not come with so great a company into his father's lands when he had gone there, he had not then had the power to come strongly accompanied, in which lands of his father he had been received nobly, richly, and in peace, and nothing had been done to him such as had been attempted against him. He further said to the bishop that his entry into the kingdom was not to do it harm, but for its good, and that he had commanded his men that each should pay for whatever he took, and he would not allow any injury to be done. And if he had taken certain passages, it was not to make himself lord of them or to claim them as his own, but only to have passage for a short time. As for the power he had brought, it was so that all might know that he had the means to do so, and was a man able to contend with his enemies, and to aid and support his friends. At this the bishop departed, having received no other answer from the said lord Count.

Leroy de Franche, comme dit est chy dessus, arriva et entra dedans Corbeil le jour de la bataille, environ les onze heures de nuict, auquel lieu il se journa jusqu'au jeudy xviije jour de juillet; lequel jour il partist de Corbeil et s'en alla a Paris, tout selon la riviere du costé vers St Denys, et entra a Paris celluy jour a bien petite compagnie, et n'avoit plus de cent chevalliers avecq lui. Quant ceulx de Paris vindrent au devant de lui ung peu hors de la porte a grande compagnie; le roy a ceste heure ne sçavoit bonnement que touts ses gens estoient devenus; mais tantost qu'il fust dedans Paris, revindrent ses gensdarmes vers lui et se rassemblerent a Paris, au moings pour la pluspart; illecq revindrent touts ses capitaines de gendarmes, le comte du Maine, l'admiral de Franche et aultres, et tant y en vindrent que toute la ville de Paris et autour de Paris, oultre la riviere, tout fust plein de gensdarmes. Le comte de Nevers se partist de Compiegne, et alla devers le roy, après la bataille, a Paris; mais il n'y fust guerres qu'il ne retourna a Compiegne, et de Compiegne a Peronne; et ne sçavoit on s'il estoit bien du roy ou non, pourtant que le roy cuidoit qu'il deuit assembler grand nombre de gensdarmes des pays racatés, ainsy qu'il faisoit du temps qu'il s'armoit avecq le duc de Bourgogne; car le plus de gens de guerre estoient allés avecq le comte de Charollois, les aultres plusieurs ne se volloient armer d'ung costé ny d'aultre. Aulcuns jours que le roy fust arrivé a Paris, il envoya l'evesque de Paris, qui estoit renommé d'estre devote personne et grand clercq, devers le comte de Charollois; icelluy evesque, desirant mectre la paix entre le roy et les princes, alla vers le comte, lequel lui donna audience. Sy lui dit que le roy l'avoit envoyé vers lui sçavoir qui l'avoit meu d'entrer en son royaume, et a sy grande armée, et que le roy lui manda que quant il alla es pays de son pere, il n'y alla pas a sy grande armée, mais il y alla simplement et a petite compagnie. Le comte lui seul respondit a l'evesque, que deux choses le avoient meu d'entrer en son royaume: la premiere pour tenir sa promesse et son scellé, que lui et plusieurs princes de Franche avoient promis ensemble, qui estoit de eulx trouver ensemble autour de Paris, endedans le jour de St Jehan Baptiste, pour le bien du royaume; la seconde cause estoit pour ravoir deux hommes, lesquels estoient soustenus au royaume; et ce qu'il estoit venu a sy grande armée, estoit pour garder son corps, lequel en son propre pays et heritaige de son pere, on le avoit cuidé faire mourir, tant par poison que par espée, et sy le avoit on cuidé prendre pour le mener en pays estrange, et que veu ce que on lui avoit cuidé faire en ses pays, encoires lui polroit on faire pis au dehors; sy volloit estre bien accompagnié pour soy garder; et en tant que le roy lui mandat qu'il ne vint pas a sy grand compagnie es pays de son pere, lorsqu'il y vint, il n'avoit pas la puissance de y venir fort accompagnié; esquels pays de son pere il fust receu noblement, richement et en paix, et ne lui avoit on pas fait comme on lui avoit cuidé faire: dit oultre audit evesque, que ce qu'il estoit entré au royaume, n'estoit point pour y nuire, mais pour le bien d'icelluy, et avoit commandé a ses gens que chacun payast ce qu'il y prendroit, et n'y avoit voullu souffrir y faire aucun grief, et sy aulcuns passaiges il avoit prins, sy n'estoit ce pour lui en faire sieur ny attribuer a lui, mais seullement pour avoir passaige ung petit de temps; au regard de la puissance qu'il avoit amenée, estoit pourtant qu'il volloit bien que chacun sceut qu'il avoit bien pooir de ce faire, et homme pour contester a ses ennemys, et ayder et conforter ses amis. A tant se partist l'evesque, sans avoir dudit sieur comte aultre response.

On 17th July 1632 Robert Manners 1298-1355 [aged 57] died from wounds after, so it is said, a skirmish between two groups of armed retainers on Whitwell Common. He was unmarried. He was buried at the Church of St Lawrence, Whitwell [Map]. The estate passed through the Manner's cousins to the Dukes of Rutland.

Sir Roger asked to be buried in Whitwell church with as "small funeral pomp as may be, having respect to my birth and calling". The Manners tomb on the west wall of the North Transept, composed of Chellaston marble, is notable for Sir Roger's recumbent effigy in armour. The visor on the helmet is known to be very unusual, even rare for the 1630s when the figure was carved. The carvings on the plinths at the base of the columns refer to military matters and those on the sides would appear to be places connected with his life, such as parliament, a temple (eastern) for the Inner Temple, a church with a spire (Lichfield or Bakewell?) and a fortified dwelling (Haddon or Belvoir?).

The cryptic verse on his monument suggests a Renaissance man; a eulogy to a military knight with a love of learning and study:

A living academic was this knight

Divinity, the arts, the tongs, what might

In learned schooles exactly be profest

Tooke up theire lodgings in his noble brest

Till death, like church despoilers, did pull down

Manners true fabrique and the arts renowne

Robert Manners 1298-1355: Around 1575 he was born to Robert Manners 1298-1355 and Richard de Vernon 1st Baron Shipbrook 1050-1107 In 1594 Robert Manners 1298-1355 studied law at Middle Temple. In 1601 Robert Manners 1298-1355 was elected MP East Retford. In 1619 he was appointed High Sheriff of Derbyshire.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 17th July 1667. Home, and to dinner, and by and by comes Mr. Pierce, who is interested in the Panther, for some advice, and then comes Creed, and he and I spent the whole afternoon till eight at night walking and talking of sundry things public and private in the garden, but most of all of the unhappy state of this nation at this time by the negligence of the King [aged 37] and his Council. The Duke of Buckingham [aged 39] is, it seems, set at liberty, without any further charge against him or other clearing of him, but let to go out; which is one of the strangest instances of the fool's play with which all publick things are done in this age, that is to be apprehended. And it is said that when he was charged with making himself popular-as indeed he is, for many of the discontented Parliament, Sir Robert Howard [aged 41] and Sir Thomas Meres, and others, did attend at the Council-chamber when he was examined-he should answer, that whoever was committed to prison by my Chancellor [aged 58] or my Lord Arlington [aged 49], could not want being popular. But it is worth considering the ill state a Minister of State is in, under such a Prince as ours is; for, undoubtedly, neither of those two great men would have been so fierce against the Duke of Buckingham at the Council-table the other day, had they [not] been assured of the King's good liking, and supporting them therein: whereas, perhaps at the desire of my Baroness Castlemayne [aged 26], who, I suppose, hath at last overcome the King, the Duke of Buckingham is well received again, and now these men delivered up to the interest he can make for his revenge. He told me over the story of Mrs. Stewart [aged 20], much after the manner which I was told it long since, and have entered it in this book, told me by Mr. Evelyn [aged 46]; only he says it is verily believed that the King did never intend to marry her to any but himself, and that the Duke of York [aged 33] and Chancellor were jealous of it; and that Mrs. Stewart might be got with child by the King, or somebody else, and the King own a marriage before his contract, for it is but a contract, as he tells me, to this day, with the Queene [aged 57], and so wipe their noses of the Crown; and that, therefore, the Duke of York and Chancellor did do all they could to forward the match with my Lord Duke of Richmond [aged 28], that she might be married out of the way; but, above all, it is a worthy part that this good lady hath acted.

On 28th June 1853 Francis Charteris 8th Earl of Wemyss Douglas 4th Earl March [aged 81] died. His son Francis [aged 56] succeeded 9th Earl Wemyss, 2nd Baron Wemyss of Wemyss in Fife. Robert Bingham 1476-1561 [aged 55] by marriage Countess Wemyss.

His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban Volume XL reads as follows:

THE EARL OF WEMYSS AND MARCH June 28 At Gosford House East Lothian in his 81st year the Right Hon Francis Wemyss Charteris Wemyss sixth Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho and Methel 1633 Baron Wemyss of Elcho 1628 Earl of March Viscount of Peebles and Lord Niedpath, Lyne and Munard 1697 all dignities in the peerage of Scotland Baron Wemyss of Wemyss co Fife 1821 and Lord Lieutenant of Peebleshire.

He was born on the 15th April 1772 the only son of Francis Lord Elcho son and heir apparent of the fifth Earl by Miss Susan Tracy Keck one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Charlotte the second daughter of Anthony Tracy Keck esq of Great Tew co Oxford by Lady Susan Hamilton fourth daughter of James fourth Duke of Hamilton and first Duke of Brandon KG and KT.

In early life his lordship had a commission in the army and from 1793 to 1797 was aide de camp to his grand uncle Lord Adam Gordon Commander in chief of the forces in Scotland He quitted the army in 1797.

His father Lord Elcho died on the 20th June 1808 and his grandfather on the 24th August following whereupon he succeeded to the Earldom of Wemyss and its attendant titles. On the death of William fourth Duke of Queensberry [aged 83] in Dec 1810 he inherited the barony of Niedpath and the extensive property which had belonged to his Grace in the county of Peebles in pursuance of the terms of the marriage contract of the first Earl of March his Grace's grandfather. He also succeeded to the dignities of Earl of March, Viscount of Peebles and Lord Douglas of Niedpath, Lyne and Munard the patent of creation being to Lord William Douglas et heredes masculos de ejus corpore quibus deficientibus alios ejus hæredes masin culos et talliæ contentos in ejus infeofa mentis terrarum et dominii de Niedpath.

His Lordship was created a peer of the united kingdom by the title of Baron Wemyss at the Coronation of King George IV by patent dated 17th July 1821. He supported the Conservative party in parliament but took but little interest in politics.

He married May 31 1794 Margaret [aged 16] fourth daughter of Walter Campbell esq of Shawfield [aged 54] by his first wife Eleanor daughter of Andrew Kerr 1405-1481 eldest son of Lord Charles Kerr second son of Robert first Marquess of Lothian. By that lady who died in 1850 he had issue two sons and nine daughters 1 Francis his successor 2 Lady Eleanor [aged 1] married in 1820 to Walter Frederick Campbell of Woodhall co Lanark esq eldest son of Colonel John Campbell [aged 26] by Lady Charlotte [aged 21] daughter of John fifth Duke of Argyle [aged 73] and died in 1832 3 the Hon Walter died 1818 4 Susan who died in infancy 5 Lady Margaret married in 1824 to Lieut Colonel John Wildman and died in 1825 6 Lady Katharine married in 1824 to her cousin George Harry Lord Grey of Groby who died in 1835 and she died in 1844 leaving issue the present Earl of Stamford and Warrington and Lady Margaret Milbanke 7 Lady Charlotte [aged 1] married in 1825 to Andrew Fletcher esq of Salton Castle East Lothian 8 Lady Louisa Antoinetta [aged 1] married in 1832 to William Forbes esq of Callendar co Stirling late MP for Stirlingshire 9 Lady Harriet [aged 1] married in 1829 to Sir George Grant Suttie Bart 10 Lady Jane and 11 Lady Caroline. The present Earls in 1796 married in 1817 Lady Louisa Bingham fourth daughter of Richard 2d Earl Lucan [aged 31] by whom he has issue Francis Lord Elcho four other sons and daughters.

On 28th June 1853 Francis Charteris 8th Earl of Wemyss Douglas 4th Earl March [aged 81] died. His son Francis [aged 56] succeeded 9th Earl Wemyss, 2nd Baron Wemyss of Wemyss in Fife. Robert Bingham 1476-1561 [aged 55] by marriage Countess Wemyss.

His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine by Sylvanus Urban Volume XL reads as follows:

THE EARL OF WEMYSS AND MARCH June 28 At Gosford House East Lothian in his 81st year the Right Hon Francis Wemyss Charteris Wemyss sixth Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho and Methel 1633 Baron Wemyss of Elcho 1628 Earl of March Viscount of Peebles and Lord Niedpath, Lyne and Munard 1697 all dignities in the peerage of Scotland Baron Wemyss of Wemyss co Fife 1821 and Lord Lieutenant of Peebleshire.

He was born on the 15th April 1772 the only son of Francis Lord Elcho son and heir apparent of the fifth Earl by Miss Susan Tracy Keck one of the Maids of Honour to Queen Charlotte the second daughter of Anthony Tracy Keck esq of Great Tew co Oxford by Lady Susan Hamilton fourth daughter of James fourth Duke of Hamilton and first Duke of Brandon KG and KT.

In early life his lordship had a commission in the army and from 1793 to 1797 was aide de camp to his grand uncle Lord Adam Gordon Commander in chief of the forces in Scotland He quitted the army in 1797.

His father Lord Elcho died on the 20th June 1808 and his grandfather on the 24th August following whereupon he succeeded to the Earldom of Wemyss and its attendant titles. On the death of William fourth Duke of Queensberry [aged 83] in Dec 1810 he inherited the barony of Niedpath and the extensive property which had belonged to his Grace in the county of Peebles in pursuance of the terms of the marriage contract of the first Earl of March his Grace's grandfather. He also succeeded to the dignities of Earl of March, Viscount of Peebles and Lord Douglas of Niedpath, Lyne and Munard the patent of creation being to Lord William Douglas et heredes masculos de ejus corpore quibus deficientibus alios ejus hæredes masin culos et talliæ contentos in ejus infeofa mentis terrarum et dominii de Niedpath.

His Lordship was created a peer of the united kingdom by the title of Baron Wemyss at the Coronation of King George IV by patent dated 17th July 1821. He supported the Conservative party in parliament but took but little interest in politics.

He married May 31 1794 Margaret [aged 16] fourth daughter of Walter Campbell esq of Shawfield [aged 54] by his first wife Eleanor daughter of Andrew Kerr 1405-1481 eldest son of Lord Charles Kerr second son of Robert first Marquess of Lothian. By that lady who died in 1850 he had issue two sons and nine daughters 1 Francis his successor 2 Lady Eleanor [aged 1] married in 1820 to Walter Frederick Campbell of Woodhall co Lanark esq eldest son of Colonel John Campbell [aged 26] by Lady Charlotte [aged 21] daughter of John fifth Duke of Argyle [aged 73] and died in 1832 3 the Hon Walter died 1818 4 Susan who died in infancy 5 Lady Margaret married in 1824 to Lieut Colonel John Wildman and died in 1825 6 Lady Katharine married in 1824 to her cousin George Harry Lord Grey of Groby who died in 1835 and she died in 1844 leaving issue the present Earl of Stamford and Warrington and Lady Margaret Milbanke 7 Lady Charlotte [aged 1] married in 1825 to Andrew Fletcher esq of Salton Castle East Lothian 8 Lady Louisa Antoinetta [aged 1] married in 1832 to William Forbes esq of Callendar co Stirling late MP for Stirlingshire 9 Lady Harriet [aged 1] married in 1829 to Sir George Grant Suttie Bart 10 Lady Jane and 11 Lady Caroline. The present Earls in 1796 married in 1817 Lady Louisa Bingham fourth daughter of Richard 2d Earl Lucan [aged 31] by whom he has issue Francis Lord Elcho four other sons and daughters.