A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

by Barbara W. Tuchman

  49 EFFECTS ON LABOR: Perroy in EHR; Seebohm, 269, 273; Helen Robbins, 473–76; Heers, 108–11.

  50 JUBILEE YEAR: Gregorovius, 323–25. “A PONTIFF SHOULD MAKE HIS SUBJECTS HAPPY”: q. G. Mollat, Papes, 86.

  51 TREASURY OF MERIT: Jusserand, 170.

  52 A MILLION VISITORS: Meiss, 80.

  53 BEQUESTS, ST. GERMAIN: Ziegler, 78. SIENA: Bowsky, 26. FLORENCE: Meiss, 78.

  54 CARDINAL-LEGATE ATTACKED IN ROME: Gregorovlus, 325.

  55“Bene quidem”: Coulton, Black Death, 59.

  56 “WICKEDER THAN BEFORE”: Chron. Jean de Venette, 51. CLEMENT, “WHAT CAN YOU PREACH”: ibid., 55–56. LOTHAR OF SAXONY: q. Campbell, 144. 124 TRAINI’S FRESCO: Meiss, “Traini”; Supino, 73–80.

  Chapter 6—The Battle of Poitiers

  1 EXECUTION OF COMTE D’EU: This affair, generating a mass of gossip and speculation, is treated at length by all the chroniclers—Jean le Bel, Chron. J. & C., 4 Valois, Gilles li Muisis, Normande, and Froissart, with extensive notes in Luce-F, IV, and KL Biog. Index, and discussion in Cazelles, Société pol., 249–52.

  2“Ung bien hastif homs”: Chron. 4 Valois, 16–17.

  3 “A VERY CRUEL LADY”: KL, IV, 202.

  4 GIRARD D’ORLÉANS, COURT PAINTER: Dupont & Gnudi, 134. ORDINANCE OF 1351: Lot; Tourneur, Poitiers.

  5 GILLES LI MUISIS ON MONEY: q. Lewis, 58.

  6 GARTER’S HISTORIAN: Elias Ashmole, The History of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, London, 1715.

  7 ORDER OF THE STAR: Michelet, III, 294–95; Goville, 92; Contamine, 186–87; Huizinga, Men and Ideas, 204; Anquetil, 402. For the Battle of Mauron, in which the members were slaughtered, see Chron. normande, 106, and Luce-F, IV, notes.

  8 COMBAT OF THIRTY: KL, V, 514.

  9 MURDER OF CHARLES D’ESPAGNE: all the chronicles, especially Chron. 4 Valois, 25–28.

  10 RIOT AT OXFORD: Trevelyan, English Social History, London, 1949, I, 49. FRANCESCO ORDELAFFI: Emerton, 170.

  11 ENGLAND, CORONERS’ ROLLS: Coulton, Panorama, 371.

  12 VILLAGE GAMES: Origo, 42. CITIZENS OF MONS: Huizinga, Waning, 22–23.

  13 CHARLES OF NAVARRE, LETTERS TO POPE AND EDWARD III: Denifle, 99.

  14 EDWARD III, “ON THE WORD OF A KING”: “In verbo regiae veritatis dicimus et contestamur fideliter coram Deo,” q. Denifle, 103–4, from text in Secousse and Rymer.

  15 “HARRYING AND WASTING”: letter to Bishop of Winchester, q. Sedgwick, 117.

  16 HENRY OF LANCASTER: Fowler, King’s Lieutenant, 106–10.

  17 ENGUERRAND IN THE PICARDY CAMPAIGN: Chron. 4 Valois, 41. For this campaign see also Chron. Jean de Venette and Denifle.

  18 JEAN’S SEIZURE OF CHARLES OF NAVARRE AND EXECUTION OF NORMAN NOBLES: all the chronicles and summary in Delachenal, I, 140–57. 143 ff. BATTLE OF POITIERS: On the English side the chief sources are Anonimalle, Chandos Herald, Godfrey le Baker; and on the French side, Grandes Chrons., Chron. 4 Valois, Chron. normande, Froissart. Hewitt’s Black Prince is the most thorough recent account; Tourneur-Aumont devotes a whole book to it, infused with a special thesis; Delachenal, Denifle, Lot, and MacKinnon give full accounts.

  19 TALLEYRAND DE PERIGORD: Zacour, 8, 24.

  20 SIRE DE FERTÉ-FRESNEL: Delachenal, I, 397.

  21 RUINED KNIGHTS: for documents illustrating these cases, see Moisant, 59–61; Delachenal, I, 248, n.

  22 “COMPLAINT OF THE BATTLE OF POITIERS”: Beaurepaire.

  Chapter 7—Decapitated France:

  The Bourgeois Rising and the Jacquerie

  For the physical events of this chapter, from the meeting of the Estates to the death of Marcel, the chief primary source is Chron. J. & C, vol. I, with additional material from Chron. 4 Valois, Chron. normande, Jean de Venette, Jean le Bel, and Froissart. These are supplemented by the notes of their respective editors and by the modern accounts of Delachenal, vol. I, and Coville.

  1 ROBERT LE COQ’S LIBRARY: Autrand, 1220.

  2 DAUPHIN’S BASTARD SONS: Chron. normande, 136; Delachenal, I, no, n. 2. GOSSIP ABOUT HIS PATERNITY: ibid., 68, 69, n. 2.

  3 MARCEL’S UNCLE, FATHER- AND BROTHER-IN-LAW: Cazelles, “Etienne Marcel,” 415–17.

  4 FINANCE OFFICERS “WHO TRAVEL IN POMP”: Mézières, Coopland, I, 417–18. Renart le Contrefait: q. Evans, Life, 42.

  5 TAX SURVEY OF 1292: Franklin, Vie privée, I, 12; Evans, ibid., 49–50.

  6ff. CONDITIONS OF PARIS: Franklin, Rues, Dict., Vie privée, VII, 12–13; Batifol; Hillairet; Legrand; Coulton, Panorama, 308; Coville, 427–28. 160 ENGLISH VISITOR ON BOOKSELLERS: q. Evans, ibid., 131.

  7 GRAND ORDINANCE: Coville, 119–21.

  8 FREE COMPANIES: Luce, Jacquerie, 9–28; Denifle, passim; Gray, Scalacronica, 130–31; Gregorovius, 317 ff.; Delachenal, II, 28. “WRITE SORROW ON THE BOSOM OF THE EARTH”: Shakespeare, Richard 11, act III, sc. 2.

  9 FRA MONREALE: Gregorovius, 356–66; Hale, Highfield & Smalley, 102–3; Oman, 293.

  10 Società dell’ acquisito: Lot, 397, n. 1. CERVOLE RECEIVED BY THE POPE: Luce-F, V, 95; Gregorovius, 395.

  11 KNOLLYS: DNB.

  12 EUSTACHE D’AUBRECICOURT: Luce-F, V, 160; Delachenal, II, 40–42.

  13 “TRAGIC ACCOUNT”: M. L. Delisle, Tragicum Argumentum.

  14 JEAN’S ENTRY INTO LONDON: John of Reading, 206; Brute Chron., q. Green, 197.

  15 HIS EXPENDITURES AS A CAPTIVE: Orléans, 29, 42–43; Delachenal, II, 78–79; Putnam, 312; Gazeau.

  16 MICHELET’S COMMENT: III, 360.

  17 ENGUERRAND ACCOMPANIES CHARLES OF NAVARRE: Chron. 4 Valois, 64; see also Cazelles, “Parti navarrais.” 171 ff. CONDITIONS OF THE PEASANT: H. See, 540–624; Bloch, Rural, 80–94; Perroy, “Wage Labour”; Mollat & Wolff, 19–20; Davis, 268–70; Fossier, 358–59; Horizon, 238; Helen Robbins; Turner, “Ec. Discontent”; Viollet-le-Duc, Dict., VI, 292; Bell, Old German Epics.

  18 COST OF PLOW: Fossier to author.

  19 “BATHING WAS COMMON”: Gasquet, 64. DIET: Luce, Guesclin, 57; Thrupp, 483; Contamine, 654; Horizon, 238.

  20 COMFORTABLE PEASANT OF NORMANDY: Duby, 518–19. DOWRIES: Mollat & Wolff, 17–20.

  21Merlin Merlot: Joly, 452–53. DEMONS REFUSE TO CARRY HIS SOUL: ibid., 458.

  22 Le Despit au Vilain: ibid., 460–61.

  23 JACQUERIE: For the outbreak and subsequent events, the major source is Luce, Jacquerie, invaluable for its documentation of royal pardons issued after the event, which, in the course of stating the circumstances in each case, gives a picture more true to life than the chronicles. In addition, Chron. Jean le Bel, II, 256; KL, VI, 44–58; Chron J. & C., I, 177–78; Chron. normande, 127–28; Chron. 4 Valois; Chron. Jean de Venette.

  24 ATTACK AT MEAUX: KL, VI, 477; Chron. J. & C, 180–84.

  25 NOBLES APPEAL TO CHARLES OF NAVARRE: Luce, Jacquerie, 147.

  26 COUCY’S PRESENCE: Chron. 4 Valois, 74. According to the terms of the subsequent Treaty of Calais in 1360, the persons who followed Charles of Navarre “during the troubles” were to receive pardons from the King of France. Coucy’s name does not appear either in the list of 300 persons who had been followers of Charles or in a second list of 300 who received pardons from King Jean: Secousse, II, 177–81, 181–85.

  27 “THEY FLUNG THEMSELVES”: Chron. Jean de Venette.

  28 “20,000” KILLED: Secousse, Mem. 239.

  29 COUCY GUARDS HIS TERRITORY: Chron. Jean le Bel, II, 277; KL, VI, 99.

  30 “DID NOT LIKE THE SAID BISHOP”: Chron. Jean le Bel, II, 260; Denifle, 224.

  Chapter 8—Hostage in England

  1 COUCY NAMED HOSTAGE IN TREATY OF LONDON: Delachenal, II, 408. “THEY SAID THE TREATY WAS DISPLEASING”: q. ibid., 87.

  2 EDWARD’S EXPEDITIONARY FORCE: Knighton, q. Locke, 53; Hewitt, Edw., 31, 51, 88; Fowler, Lanc, 198–200.

  3 “AS THE STARRES HAVE INFLUENCE TO PRODUCE”: Sir Richard Baker, Chron. of Kings of England, q. Barnie, 104.

  4 FRENCH RAID ON WINCHELSEA: Gray, Scalacronica, 152; Orléans, 50–51, Delachenal, II, 158.

  5 ENGLAND IN A
PANIC: from the Calendar of Close Rolls, q. Hewitt, Edw., 19.

  6 BLACK MONDAY, “FOUL DARK DAY”: Chron. of London, q. Thompson, 101; Knighton and Eulogium, q. Delachenal, II, 191.

  7 PDESIGNATION OF HOSTAGES: Chron. 4 Valois, 122; Chron. normande, 155, n. 190 TREATY OF BRÉTIGNY: the text occupies 33 pages in Chron. J. & C., I, 267–300. See also Duckett, 7–8. COUCY’S CONTRIBUTION TO RANSOM: Lépinois, 165.

  8 VISCONTI MARRIAGE: Chamberlin, 31–35; Cook, 49 ff. VILLANI QUOTED: ibid., 49, n. 55.

  9 PHILIP THE BOLD EARNS HIS NAME: Froissart.

  10 FROISSART SAILS WITH THE HOSTAGES: Shears, 12–13. WALTER SCOTT: Old Mortality, chap. 35.

  11 CHAUCER WITH THE HOSTAGES, and HIS RANSOM: Coulton, Chaucer, 25–26.

  12 “COUCY SHINED IN DANCING”: KL, VI, 392.

  13 GOD OF LOVE IN Roman de la Rose: lines 2140–53, 2166–72.

  14 POSTHUMOUS PORTRAIT: now in the Museum of Soissons. DUC D’ORLÉANS’ 16 SERVANTS: Coulton, Chaucer, 33.

  15 FROISSART ON THE GERMANS: Luce-F, V, 289.

  16 KING EDWARD NOT FLUENT IN ENGLISH: Coulton, Panorama, 237. ENGLISH COMPLAINT OF 1340: q. Darmesteter, 13. JOHN OF TREVISA: q. Gasquet, 234; Campbell, 177.

  17 “ARRAYED AS FOR WAR” and STATUTE OF 1362: Hewitt, Edw., 175.

  18 PLAGUE OF 1361: Chron. 4 Valois, 130–31; John of Reading, 150, 364; Polychronicon, 411; Saltmarsh; Carpentier, Ville; G. Mollat, Papes, 106; Coville, 160–61.

  19 PROPHECY OF JEAN DE LA ROQUETAILLADE: Chron. Jean de Venette, 61–62; Cohn, 105–6.

  20 LONDON, ONE-THIRD EMPTY, and SANITATION: Sabine.

  21 BUXEAUL: Duby, 523.

  22 DESOLATION OF CHURCHES: M. Mollat, Vie, 4, 9. UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER: Campbell, 156–57.

  23 PETRARCH’S ACCOUNT OF FRANCE: text from his Epistolae de Rebus Familiaribus in Cook, 23–24. MISSION FROM GALEAZZO AND ORATION AT COURT: Wilkins, 217–24.

  24 DAUPHIN’S SORROWS and NAVARRE’S POISON PLOT: Gr. Chrons., VI, 166, 222; Delachenal, II, 268–69.

  25 CITIZENS OF LA ROCHELLE AND CAHORS: Froissart. ST. ROMAIN DE TARN:

  26 Hewitt, Edw., 151.

  27 RINGOIS OF ABBEVILLE: Gr. Chrons., VI, 91; Delachenal, II, 178, n. 4.

  28 TREATY OF THE “LILIES” AND COUCY: Letters of King Jean naming Coucy and other correspondence in this matter are collected in Rymer, 72, 694, 700, 702; see also Lehoux, I, 171.

  29 FIGHT AT BRIGNAIS: Lot, 404–5; Cox, 164.

  30 JEAN CONSIDERS MARRYING JOANNA OF NAPLES: Orléans, H.D., Notes et documents.

  31 JEAN’S RETURN TO CAPTIVITY: KL, la, 119; Duckett, 9; Delachenal, II, 351.

  32 JEAN’S DEATH AND FUNERAL: Chron J. & C, I, 339–41; Michelet, III, 368.

  Chapter 9—Enguerrand and Isabella

  1 I SABELLA: The facts of Isabella’s life, household, possessions, and finances are in Green, 164–228, who collected them from extensive original research in the Wardrobe Accounts, Close Rolls, Pipe Rolls, and various contemporary English chronicles. On Isabella’s character, see Hardy, 168, 182.

  2 BÉRARD D’ALBRET: KL, Biog. Index, XX, 20.

  3 “ONLY FOR LOVE”: Poly chronic on, 365. JOAN OF RENT: KL, II, 243.

  4 LADIES IN MALE ATTIRE AT TOURNAMENTS: Knighton, q. J. Cammidge, The Black Prince, 1943, 108.

  5 PLUCKING EYEBROWS: La Tour Landry, 96.

  6 DUENNA’S ADVICE IN Roman de la Rose: lines 13,879–14,444, trans, in Herlihy, Med. Culture.

  7 AGNES AND MACHAUT: Machaut, xiv, xvii. CHASTITY BELT: Dingwall, 4, 76, 160. DESCHAMPS, “Suis-je belle?”: q. Cohen, Vie, 293–95.

  8 JEAN DE CONDÉ’S TALE: Hellman & O’Gorman, 24–25. OTHER fabliaux: ibid., also Brians, Bawdy Tales.

  9 VINCENT DE BEAUVAIS: q. Owst, 378.

  10 PETRARCH RENOUNCES THE FLESH: Correspondence, 62, 92, 403. “WHERESOEVER BEAUTY SHOWS”: Master Rypon, a 14th century preacher, q. Owst, 48.

  11 QUESTIONS OF SEX AND SIN: Noonan, 249, 274, 279, 283, 293–94.

  12 SODOMY “AGAINST NATURE” AND “WORST OF SINS”: Aquinas, Summa Theologica, q. Noonan, 339–40.

  13 ILLUMINATED MS. DEPICTING IRE AS A WOMAN: Mâle, 331–33. AQUINAS ON WOMAN’S PLACE: Summa Theologica, q. Jarrett, Social, 72, 74. BONET, “MAN IS NOBLER”: 194.

  14 DUNMOW FLITCH: For text of the oath, see Reader’s Encyclopedia, ed. W. R. Benét, New York, 1948.

  15 NUNS “LIKE DOGS CHAINED UP TOO MUCH”: q. Jarrett, Social, 82. WOMEN’S DEATH RATE: J. C. Russell, Fontana, 29.

  16 JACOBA FELICIE: Power, 422. NOVELLA D’ANDREA: Will Durant, Story of Civilization, V, 4.

  17 MARCIA ORDELAFFI: Emerton, 177–87.

  18 217CHRISTINE DE PISAN: Coville, 410–11. POEM ON WIDOWHOOD: ibid, (trans. BT).

  19 OTHER WORKS AND POEMS: Huizinga, Waning, 111–12, 123, 286.

  20 CONTROVERSY ON Roman de la Rose: Kilgour, 136; Masson, 174.

  21 ON JOAN OF ARC: Jarrett, Social, 86.

  22 MARRIAGE OF ENGUERRAND AND ISABELLA: documents in Rymer, 773, 778. A LADY’S CARRIAGE: Avenel, 49–50; Jusserand, 48–49.

  23 ENGUERRAND MADE EARL OF BEDFORD: Issue Rolls, 40 Edw. Ill, q. Green, 206; also Barnes, 667, 670.

  24 COUCY ACQUIRES SOISSONS: KL, VII, 232–34.

  Chapter 10—Sons of Iniquity

  1 ONE OF THE WORST OF THE CAPTAINS, he was Anichino Baumgarten: Cox, 138–40.

  2 PHILIP OF BURGUNDY AND ARNAUT DE CERVOLE: Zurlauben, Cervole, 162.

  3 BERTUCAT D’ALBRET: KL, XI, 228. SEGUIN DE BADEFOL: ibid., XX, 232–36. AIMERIGOT MARCEL: ibid., XIV, 164.

  4 INNOCENT vi, PASTORAL LETTER: M. Mollat, Vie, 5, 30. “IF GOD HIMSELF WERE A SOLDIER”: q: Kilgour, 26. COMPANIES DEMAND PAPAL ABSOLUTION: Denifle, 185.

  5 HAWKWOOD: Leader-Temple & Marcotti and Gaupp, passim, “NOTHING WAS MORE TERRIBLE”: q. Leader-Temple & Marcotti, 27. “Perfidi sceleratissimi”: ibid., 14. “DID NOT ROAST AND MUTILATE”: q. Stanley, 401.

  6 “AN ITALIANIZED ENGLISHMAN”: q. Gaupp, 308.

  7 CUVELIER ON DU GUESCLIN: i, 5. In the opinion of Edouard Perroy (Hundred Years, 148), Du Guesclin “enjoyed a popularity out of all proportion to his talents and exploits.… [He was] a mediocre captain, incapable of winning a battle or being successful in a siege of any scope … swollen with self-importance.” See also Michelet, IV, 4.

  8 BATTLE OF COCHEREL: Luce-F, VI, 131; Lot, 436.

  9 DU GUESCLIN AND ASTROLOGERS: Lewis, 26; Thorndike, III, 586. CHARLES V AND SAME: Campbell, 128; Pernoud, 224.

  10 THOMAS OF PISANO: Thorndike, II, 801–2; III, 611, 615.

  11 ENRIQUE ELDEST OF FATHER’S TEN BASTARDS: Chron. Jean de Venette. Notes, 304, n. 2.

  12 “THE TYRANNY OF RHYME”: Delachenal, III, 455.

  13 DU GUESCLIN, CARDINAL, ET AL. AT VILLENEUVE: Cuvelier, verses 7530–7620, trans, in D. F. Jamison, Life and Times of Bertrand du Guesclin, 1864, 260–65.

  14 BLACK PRINCE ENCOURAGED TROOPS “UNDERHAND”: Froissart, Johnes ed., I, 383. “DID SO MUCH DAMAGE”: ibid.

  15 “HE DID NOT VALUE A KNIGHT”: Cuvelier, q. Sedgwick, 195–97.

  Chapter 11—The Gilded Shroud

  1 COUCY’S CHARTER OF LIBERTIES: text in Melleville, 103–6.

  2 CHTEAU OF HESDIN, MECHANICAL JOKES: Vaughan, 205.

  3 SWAN FESTIVAL OF PICARDY: Le Grand d’Aussy, II, 23.

  4 FORKS, listed in an inventory of Charles V’s household in 1379: Le Grand d’Aussy, III, 179.

  5 TROUSSEAU OF BLANCHE DE BOURBON: Evans, Flowering, 174.

  6 “BUSYING THEMSELVES WITH OTHER THINGS”: q. Coulton, Life, I, 204. COMMUNION WAFERS’ MAGICAL POWERS: Lea, I, 50.

  7 COMMUNION AND CONFESSION ONCE A YEAR: M. Mollat, Vie, 72. “THIS I

  8 KNEW NOT”: Jacques de Vitry, q. Coulton, Life, I, 57. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE IN NORTHERN FRANCE: M. Mollat, Vie, 72–73. CHARLES v: Christine de Pisan, Charles V, passim; Coville, 183–85. TAILLEVENT: Evans, Flowering, 172

  9 47 JEWELED CROWNS: Vaughan.

  10 PCHARLES v’s ILLNESSES AND ABSCESS: KL, IX, 280–82; Delac
henal, I, 14; II, 306–11. Froissart’s account, according to Delachenal, V, 389, is a “tissue of fables.”

  11 PCHARLES v’s LIBRARY: Christine de Pisan, Charles V, II, 13; Coville, 189.

  12 CLARENCE’S RETINUE: Cook (a study in detail of the entire affair), CLARENCE IN PARIS: Chron. J. & C., II, 41; Rymer, 845. VISITED BY COUCY: Green, 208.

  13 AMADEUS’ PURCHASES: Cordey, 184–85.

  14 VISCONTI FAMILY: Chamberlin, 15–30, 67–70; also Cook, 16, 18; Muir, 70.

  15 CASTLE OF PAVÍA: Corio, Storia di Milano, q. Chamberlin, 119. “FINEST DWELLING”: J. A. Symonds, Age of Despots, q. Cook, 43. PETRARCH: Correspondence, 323–25.

  16 MILAN: Mesquita, 2–3; Chamberlin, 13–15; Molho, 30.

  17 WEDDING: Cook; Chamberlin, 42–43. For presence of Froissart and Chaucer, see Jarrett, Charles IV, 5, and Coulton, Chaucer, 48, 50.

  18 KING EDWARD’S OFFER TO PLEDGE CALAIS: Vaughan, 5.

  19 COUCY SELLS BURGUNDY PEARL NECKLACE: Luce, Cent ans, I, 96.

  20 PHILIP OF BURGUNDY’S HABITS: Luce, Cent ans, II, 206; Petit, Itinéraires,

  21 Vaughan, 6, 197.

  22 COUCY “FINEST SHOWING”: Luce-F, VII, 130.

  23 PETRARCH TO BOCCACCIO: Correspondence, 213–14.

  Chapter 12—Double Allegiance

  1 CHARLES CONSULTS UNIVERSITIES: Chaplais, 55.

  2 “SORE TROUBLED IN THEIR MYNDES”: Froissart. BONET ON DOUBLE ALLEGIANCE: 167–68.

  3 COUCY’S HAPSBURG INHERITANCE: Duplessis, 119–20; Zurlauben, Enguerrand VII, 170–73, has collected the evidence; also Lacaille, thèse, 17–20.

  4 COUCY’S SEAL OF 1369: AN, Service des sceaux; No. 308 in Demay, Flandre, attached to a document of 14 November 1369 stamped Sigillum Engueranni filii ducisse Austrie domini de Couciaco et comitis Suessionensis et Bedfordis. Bears the device Semper. A similar seal of 1376 (No. 8644 in Demay, Clairembault) bears the device Sans plus and shows a shield quartered 1 and 4 vairé and 2 and 3 fascé. Anselme, 542, gives a further description of Coucy’s seals with the upright figure.

  5 CONTRACT WITH MONTBÉLIARD, and MANIFESTO TO STRASBOURG AND COLMAR: KL, VIII, cxxx, n. 3; Bardy, 13–14.