Biography of Raoul Brienne II Count of Eu II Count Guînes 1315-1350

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Chapter 86. Now I wish to recount what happened in France not long after the town of Saint-Jean-d'Angély was surrendered and retaken. The Count of Eu and of Guînes (age 35), who was also Constable of France, and who was so courteous and gracious in every way, loved and esteemed by great lords, knights, ladies, and damsels, and by all people as much in England as in France, had arranged his ransom with King Edward for the sum of 60,000 écus, and had received permission to return to France to finish paying the said amount, or else to return to the king's prison on a certain day, as he had sworn on his faith to do.

When he had returned to France, he went straight to King John, of whom he believed he was greatly loved, as indeed he had been—before John became king. So he bowed and greeted him humbly, thinking he would be warmly welcomed and greatly honoured, because he had been abroad in prison for the sake of the kingdom.

King John led him alone into a chamber and said to him: "Look at this letter—have you ever seen it anywhere else but here?" The Constable was said to be greatly astonished when he saw the letter. When the king saw his reaction, he said: "Ah, wicked traitor! You have truly deserved death and you shall not escape it, by my father's soul!"

So he had him immediately seized by his guards and had him thrown into prison in the Tower of the Louvre in Paris, where the Count of Montfort had once been imprisoned, and there he died, it is said. Everyone was grieved by the fate of the noble constable who was treated in this way, for he was greatly loved, and no one could understand why the king had done this to him. The next day, the king swore, in front of the constable's close friends who pleaded for him, that he would never sleep, nor would he spare him for anyone's sake, until he had his head cut off. And so it was done that very night, in the Louvre Tower, without law or judgment, to the great sorrow and anger of all people. The king was harshly blamed and less loved because of it. No one knew for certain why it had been done, except perhaps the king's closest advisers. But some people guessed that the king had been informed of a romantic affair, which had either taken place or was rumored to exist between Madame Bonne (the queen) and the noble constable. I do not know whether there was any truth in this, but the manner of the act made many people suspicious.

Or vueil je raconter qu'il avint en France assez tost aprez ce que la ville Saint Jehan d'Angeli fut rendue et reconquise. Le conte de Eu et de Ghynes et connestable de France qui estoit si courtois et sy amiable en toutes manieres, amé el prisié de grands seigneurs, chevaliers, dames et damoiselles et de toutes gens aussy bien en Angleterre comme en France, il fit sa raenchon envers le roy Edowart parmi la somme de LX^M escus, et eut congié de venir en France pour faire la fin de laditte somme, ou de retourner en prison dudit roy par sa foy promise à certain jour.

Quant il fut venu en France, il s'en ala par devers le roy Jehan, de cui il cuidoit moult bien estre amé, ainsy qu'il estoit, ainchoys qu'il fut roy; si s'enclina et le salua humblement et cuidoit estre moult bien venu et moult bien festié pour ce qu'il avoit esté vans hors du pays en prison.

Le roy Jehan le mena seul en une chambre et luy dit : "Regardez ceste lettre, la vistes vous oncques aultre part que cy?" Le connestable fut merveilleusement esbauby quant il vit la lettre, ce dit on. Quant le roy le vit esbauby, il luy dit : "Ha mauvaiz traitre, vous avez bien mort deservi, si n'y fauldrez pas, par l'ame de mon pere."

Si le fit tantost prendre par ses machiers et le fist mettre en prison, en la tour du Louvre à Paris, où le conte de Montfort fut mis, et puis y-morut, ce dit on. Chascun fut dolent du gentil connestable qui ainsy fut mené, car moult estoit amé, et ne sçavoit nul deviser pour quoy le roy lui faisoit cela. Leroy jural'endemain, par devant les amez du connestable qui prioient pour luy, que jamais il ne dormiroit, ne ja pour ung ne pour aultre il ne le lairoit que il ne luy feist la teste copper, et ainsy fut fait la nuit mesmes en la tour du Louvre, sans loy et sans jugement, de quoy toutes gens furent dolens et couroussiez, et le roy durement blasmé et mains amé; et ne sceut on pour quoy ce fut fait fors que les plus privés du roy, mais aucunes gens adevinoient que le roy avoit esté infourmé d'aucunes amours, lesquelles avoient esté ou debvoient estre entre madame Bonne et le gentil connestable. Je ne sçay se oncques en fust rien à la verité, mais la maniere du fait en fit pluseurs gens souspeçonner.

There were there first Sir [his father] Raoul¹, Constable of Eu and Count of France; the Count of Guînes², his son; the Viscount Aimery of Narbonne; Sir Aymard of Poitiers; Sir Geoffroy de Charny³; Sir Girard de Montfaucon⁴; Sir Godemart du Fay, governor of the city of Tournai⁵; the Marshal of the King of France, Sir Robert Bertrand⁶; the Seneschal of Poitou⁷; and the Lord of Cayeu⁸. All these were noble men, counts and banneret knights, and with them was the flower of the squires of France, of Poitou, of Gascony, and of many other lands. They bore themselves most honorably, whatever hardship or shortage they endured within the city, and they very often made fine skirmishes against those of the host when they saw their opportunity.

II y estoit premierement messire Raoul, connestable d'Ew et conte de France, le conte de Ghines son filz, le viconte Aymery de Nerbonne, messire Aymard de Poitiers, messire Jeffroy de Charny, messire Gerard de Montfaucon, messire Godemart du Fay, gouverneur de la cité de Tournay, le mareschal du roy de France, messire Robert Bertran, le senechal de Poytou, le sire de Kayeu. Ceulx estoient tous nobles gens, contes, chevaliers banerès, et avecq ce y estoit la flour des escuiers de France, de Poitou, de Gascongne et de tous aultres païs, qui moult honnourablement se maintindrent, quelque meschief ou deffaulte qu'ilz eussent dedens la cité, et faisoient moult souvent de belles escharmuches sur ceulx de l'ost, quant ilz veoyent leur point.

Note 1. In the manuscript the reading Baons appears by mistake. In the accounts of Barthélemy du Drach (Bibliothèque nationale, ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 140), the following entry concerning Raoul, Count of Eu, is found: "The division of my lord Raoul, Count of Eu, Constable of France, lieutenant of our lord the king on the frontiers of Flanders and Hainaut, both of the men-at-arms who served under his command before the coming of my lord the Duke of Normandy to the said frontiers, and of those who remained of his division after the arrival of the said lord duke before Thun-l’Évêque, and who were enclosed within the city of Tournai while the enemy’s siege lay before the said town, from the ninth day of March 1339 until the first day of October 1340."

1. Dans le manuscrit on a par erreur Baons. Dans les comptes de Barthélemy du Drach (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 140), on relève cette mention relative à Raoul, comte d'Eu: «La bataille de monseigneur Raoul, conte de Eu, connestable de France, lieutenant du roy nostre sire sur les frontieres de Flandres et de Haynaut, tant des gens d'armes qui servirent souz son gouvernement avant la venue monseigneur le duc de Normandie sur lesdictes frontieres, comme de ceulz qui demourerent de sa bataille après la venue dudit monseigneur le duc devant Thun-l'Evesque, et enclos dedens la ville de Tournay, le siege des annemis estant devant ladicte ville, du IX^e jour de mars CCCXXXIX jusques au premier jour d'octobre CCCXL.»

Note 2. Raoul, Count of Guînes, son of the Constable and a banneret knight, served in his father’s division with twenty-nine squires during the siege. (Ibid., fol. 140v.)

2. Raoul, comte de Guines, fils du connétable, chevalier banneret, servait dans sa bataille avec vingt-neuf écuyers pendant le siège. (Ibid., fol. 140 v^e.)

Note 3. Geoffroi de Charny, a bachelor knight, served in the division of Raoul, Count of Eu, with six squires from 27 April to 1 August, and then during the siege from 1 August to 1 October. They had come from Pierrepont-sous-Vézelay (now Pierre-Perthuis, Yonne, arrondissement of Avallon, canton of Vézelay) to Arras. They returned from Tournai to Pierre-Perthuis and received compensation for twenty-three days. (Ibid., fol. 141r.)

3. Geoffroi de Charny, chevalier bachelier, servit dans la bataille de Raoul, comte d'Eu, avec six écuyers, du 27 avril au 1^er août, puis pendant le siège, du 1^er août au 1^er octobre. Ils étaient venus de Pierrepont-sous-Vézelay (auj. Pierre-Perthuis, Yonne, arr. d'Avallon, cant. de Vézelay) à Arras. Ils retournèrent de Tournai à Pierre-Perthuis et touchèrent une indemnité de vingt-trois jours. (Ibid., fol. 141 r^o.)

Note 4. Girard de Montfaucon served under Godemar du Fay. (Ibid., fol. 66.) This folio is missing in the manuscript, and this information is known only from the table of contents.

4. Girard de Montfaucon servit sous Godemar du Fay. (Ibid., fol. 66.) Ce folio manque dans le ms., et on n'a cette indication que par la table.

Note 5. In the same manuscript, the following entries concerning Godemar du Fay are found: "Men-at-arms who served at Lille and at Tournai under the command of my lord Godemart du Fay, knight, lord of Bouthion, governor of Tournaisis, captain general in the said towns and on the frontiers of Flanders and Hainaut, from the 28th day of October 1339 until the first day of October 1340; and there is reckoned to the said men-at-arms, for the time that they were enclosed within the said town of Tournai while the enemy’s siege lay before it, that is to say, from the first day of August until the said first day of October, the wages in Paris currency which they previously received in tournois currency, by order of the king." (Ibid., fol. 54v.) During the siege, Godemar du Fay’s company consisted of five bachelor knights, thirty-seven squires, two gentlemen, and ten foot sergeants. Most of them had come from Savoy and from Franche-Comté. (Ibid., fol. 55v.)

5. Dans le même ms., on trouve ces mentions relatives à Godemar du Fay: «Gens d'armes qui servirent à Lille et à Tournay souz le gouvernement monseigneur Godemart du Fay, chevalier, sire de Bouthion, gouverneur de Tournesis, capitainne general es dictes villes et sur les frontieres de Flandres et de Haïnnaut, du XXVIII^e jour d'octobre CCCXXXIX jusques au premier jour d'octobre CCCXL; et compte l'en ausdictes genz d'armes, tant qu'il furent enclos en la dicte ville de Tournay, le siege des anemis estant devant, c'est assavoir du premier jour d'aoust jusques audit premier jour d'octobre, les gaiges aus parisis qu'il prenoient par devant à tournois, par mandement du roy.» (Ibid., fol. 54 v^o.) La compagnie de Godemar du Fay se composait, pendant le siège, de cinq chevaliers bacheliers, trente-sept écuyers, deux gentilshommes et dix sergents de pied. La plupart étaient venus de Savoie et de Franche-Comté. (Ibid., fol. 55 v^o.)

Note 6. Here are the entries concerning Robert Bertrand found in the accounts of Barthélemy du Drach: "The division of my lord Mahieu de Trie, lord of Araines, and my lord Robert Bertram, lord of Briquebec, marshals of France, sent to the frontiers of Flanders and Hainaut in the company of my lord the Constable of France, lieutenant of our lord the king on the said frontiers, both of the men-at-arms whom they received under their command for the chevauchée of Vervins and of Marle, and to remain with them on the said frontiers before the coming of my lord the Duke of Normandy, as well as of their division after the arrival of the said lord duke, from the second day of March 1339 until the twenty-seventh day of September and the first day of October following, 1340. And there is reckoned to the said lord Marshal Bertran and to the other men-at-arms who were with him in his company, enclosed in the town of Tournai while the enemy’s siege lay before the said town, their wages in Paris currency, which they received in tournois currency." (Bibliothèque nationale, ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 160r.) The marshal had sixteen squires with him. They received an allowance for eight days for their journey "from the Cotentin region to Paris," and for eleven days for their "return from Tournai to the said region." (Ibid., fol. 161r.)

6. Voici les mentions concernant Robert Bertrand, qui se trouvent dans les comptes de Barthélemy du Drach: «La bataille de monseigneur Mahieu de Trie, sire d'Araines, et monseigneur Robert Bertram, sire de Briquebec, mareschaux de France, envoiez sur les frontières de Flandres et de Haynaut, en la compaignie monseigneur le connestable de France, lieutenant du roy nostre sire seur lesdictes frontieres, tant des gens d'armes qu'il reçurent souz leur gouvernement pour la chevauchiée de Vervin, de Malle (Marle), et pour estre avecques eulz sur lesdictes frontieres avant la venue de monseigneur le duc de Normandie comme de leur bataille après la venue dudit monseigneur le duc, du secont jour de mars CCCXXXIX jusques au XXVII^e jour de septembre et premier jour d'octobre ensuivant CCCXL. Et compte l'en, audit monseigneur le marechal Bertran et aux autres genz d'armes qui furent avec lui en sa compaignie, enclos en la ville de Tournay, le siege des anemis estant devant ladicte ville, leurs gaiges aus parisis qui prennent aus tournois.» (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 160 r^o.) Le maréchal avait seize écuyers avec lui. Ils eurent une indemnité de huit jours pour venue «du païs de Costentin à Paris» et de onze jours pour «retour de Tournay audit pays.» (Ibid., fol. 161 r^o.)

Note 7. The Seneschal of Poitou at that time was Jourdain de Loubert, a bachelor knight. He was at Tournai, with four squires, in the division of Raoul, Count of Eu. They received an allowance of twelve days for their journey "from the regions of Poitou to Tournai," and an equal allowance for their return from Tournai to the said place. (Bibliothèque nationale, ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fols. 143r and 145r.)

7. Le sénéchal de Poitou était alors Jourdain de Loubert, chevalier bachelier. Il était à Tournai, avec quatre écuyers, dans la bataille de Raoul, comte d'Eu. Ils eurent une indemnité de douze jours pour venir «des parties de Poitou à Tournay», et une indemnité égale pour leur retour de Tournai audit lieu. (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 143 r^o et 145 r^o.)

Note 8. Jean de Cayeu, a banneret knight, served with twelve squires in the division of Raoul, Count of Eu. They had come from Sénarpont (Somme, arrondissement of Amiens, canton of Oisemont) to Arras, and they returned from Tournai to Sénarpont. They received an allowance of three days both for the outward journey and for the return. (Ibid., fol. 441r.)

8. Jean de Cayeu, chevalier banneret, servit avec douze écuyers dans la bataille de Raoul, comte d'Eu. Ils étaient venus de Sénarpont (Somme, arr. d'Amiens, cant. d'Oisemont) à Arras, et ils retournèrent de Tournai à Sénarpont. Ils eurent une indemnité de trois jours tant à l'aller qu'au retour. Ibid., fol. 441 re.)