Chapter VII: Front Matter (7)

Some of the dauphin's forces, perceiving them running away from the duke's army set out on a pursuit after them, namely, John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel, with about six score combatants, and killed and took a good many of them. They imagined they had gained the day, and that the Burgundians were totally defeated; but in this they were mistaken, for the duke, with about five hundred combatants of the highest nobility and most able in arms, fought with determined resolution, insomuch that they overpowered the Dauphinois, and remained masters of the field of battle.

According to the report of each party, the duke behaved with the utmost coolness and courage; but he had some narrow escapes, for at the onset he was hit by two lances, one of which pierced through the front of his war saddle and grazed the armour of his right side: he was also grappled with by a very strong man, who attempted to unhorse him; but his courser, being high mettled and stout, bore him out of this danger. He therefore fought manfully, and took with his own hands two men at arms, as he was chacing the enemy along the river side. Those nearest his person in this conflict were the lord de Longueval and Guy de Rely, and some of his attendants, who, though few in number, supported him ably.

It was some time before his own men knew where he was, as they missed his banner; and when John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel returned from their pursuit of the burgundian runaways, expecting to find their companions victorious and on the field of battle, they were confounded with disappointment on seeing the contrary, and instantly fled toward St Valery, and with them the lord de Moüy, others made for d'Araines.

The duke of Burgundy, on coming back to the field of battle, collected his men, and caused the bodies of those to be carried off who had fallen in the engagement, particularly that of the lord de Viefville. Although all the nobles and great lords who had remained with the duke of Burgundy behaved most gallantly, I must especially notice the conduct of John Villain, who had that day been made a knight. He was a nobleman from Flanders, very tall and of great bodily strength, and was mounted on a good horse, holding a battle-axe in both hands. Thus he pushed into the thickest part of the battle, and, throwing the bridle on his horse's neck, gave such blows on all sides with his battle-axe that whoever was struck was instantly unhorsed and wounded past recovery.

In this way he met Poton de Saintrailles, who, after the battle was over, declared the wonders he did, and that he got out of his reach as fast as he could.

When the duke had collected his men, and had caused the dead to be inspected and stripped, he returned to Abbeville, where he was joyously received, with those of the Dauphinois who had been made prisoners,--namely, the lord de Conflans, Louis d'Offemont, sir Gilles de Gamaches, his brother Louis, sir Louis de Thiembronne, Poton de Saintrailles, the marquis de Serre, his brother de Saint-Saulieu, Sir Regnault de Fontaines, Sauvage de la Riviere, John de Proisy, governor of Guise, sir Raoul de Gaucourt, sir John de Rogan, Bernard de St Martin, John de Joigny, the lord de Mommor, John de Verselles, le bourg de la Hire, Yvon de Puys, John de Sommam, Hervé Dourdis, and others, to the amount of one hundred and six score.

There were left dead on the field, of both parties, from four to five hundred men; but it was thought only from twenty to thirty were Burgundians, and chiefly belonging to the lord de Viefville and John lord of Mailly. Those of note slain of the Dauphinois were sir Peter d'Argensy lord of Ivry, Charles de Saint-Saulieu, Galhaut d'Aarsy, Thibaut de Gerincourt, sir Corbeau de Rieux, sir Sarrasin de Beaufort, Robinet de Verseilles, Guillaume du Pont, the bastard de Moy, and many other gentlemen, to the above amount.

The prisoners made and carried off by the Dauphinois were sir Colart de Commines, sir Guillain de Halluyn, the lord de Sailly en Hernaise, Lamon de Lannoy, and some others. In this engagement, sir John de Luxembourg, from his too great eagerness at the onset, was made prisoner by a man at arms called le Mouse, and carried away to some distance, but he was rescued by a party of his own and the duke's men. He was, however, very badly wounded on the face and across his nose. In like manner was the lord de Humbercourt taken, wounded and rescued.

On the arrival of the duke of Burgundy at Abbeville, he went to the church of our Lady to offer up his prayers and thanksgivings for his great success, and thence to his lodgings at the hôtel of the Crown. His people, many of whom had been wounded in the battle, quartered themselves in the town as well as they could.

The duke now first heard that great part of his force had deserted him and fled to Picquigny, which surprised and angered him greatly, and not without cause. He would never afterward admit any of those runaways to his presence, and dismissed all of them who had been of his household: very few men of rank, however, of the latter description, had fled.

When he had remained three days in Abbeville to refresh and recover his men, and had resolved in council not to lay siege again to St Riquier, on account of the present state of his army, and for other reasons, he departed, and, passing by St Riquier, fixed his quarters at Auxi. Sir John de Luxembourg was carried thither in a litter on account of the severity of his wounds. On the morrow he advanced to Hesdin, where he made some stay; and, having ordered different garrisons to oppose that of St Riquier, he disbanded the greater part of his army. By his moderation in their ransoms, he gained over all the captains of the Dauphinois who had been made prisoners, and sent them to his castle of Lille, where they remained a considerable time.

Thenceforward this engagement was called the rencounter at Mons in Vimeu, and was not deemed a battle, because the two parties met accidentally in the manner you have heard, and without any banner displayed.

Among the principal persons who had fled, were the lord de Cohen governor of Abbeville, who was not yet recovered from the wound he had received, of which mention has been made, and which prevented him from putting on his helmet: he had been advised, on leaving Abbeville, not to engage in combat; and he was held excused on account of his wound. The others were the before named John de Rosimbos, and the whole of those attached to the duke's banner.

CHAP. LXIII.

THE NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL LORDS WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED AND REMAINED WITH THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY IN THE LATE RENCOUNTER.--ALSO THE NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL DAUPHINOIS.

Here follow the names of the lords and captains who supported the duke of Burgundy in the late engagement. Sir John de Luxembourg, the lord d'Antoing, sir John de la Trimuille, lord de Jonvelle, the lords de Croy, de la Viefville, de Longueval, de Genlis, de Robais and his son, d'Auxi, de Saveuses, de Crevecoeur, de Noyelle, surnamed the White Knight, de Humbercourt, sir Pierre Kieret, sir Guy de Rely, John lord of Mailly, John de Fosseux, le Moyne de Renty, sir David de Brimeu, lord of Ligny, sir Andrew de Vallines, the lord de Saint-Simon, the lord de Framensen, Regnault de Longueval, Aubiliet de Folleville, the bastard de Coussy, sir Louis de Saint-Saulieu, who was that day knighted, and on the morrow was drowned in the Somme at Abbeville, as he was giving water to a horse he had taken from the Dauphinois, John de Flavy, Andrew de Toulongeon, sir Philibert Andrenet, sir Gauvain de la Viefville, sir Florimont de Brimeu, sir Mauroy de Saint-Leger, sir Andrew d'Azincourt, the lord de Commines, his brother sir Colart de Commines, sir John d'Estenu, sir John de Hornes, sir Roland du Querque, his son sir John du Querque, sir Guillain de Haluyn, sir John and sir Andrew Vilain, sir Daviod de Poix, the lord de Moyencourt, and many other noble knights and esquires of the duke's household.

On the part of the Dauphinois were the lord de Conflans, the baron d'Ivry, the lord de Moy, the lord d'Eschin, Louis d'Offemont, sir Gilles de Gamaches, his son Louis de Gamaches, Poton de Saintrailles, sir Regnault de Fontaines, sir Charles de Saint-Saulieu, John de Proisy governor of Guise, the marquis de Scare and his brother, Pierron de Luppel, John Raulet, sir John de Rogan, sir Raoul de Gaucourt, sir Louis de Thiembronne, the lord de Mommor, Bernard de St Martin, Thibaut de Gerincourt, Galhaut d'Aarsy, sir Sarrasin de Beaufort, Robinet de Verseilles, his brother John de Joigny, Yvon du Puys, John de Sommam, Hervé and John de Dourdis and some more. They had under their command about five or six hundred men at arms, and from three to four hundred most able archers, whom they had selected from different garrisons.

CHAP. LXIV.

NEWS OF THE LATE VICTORY IS MADE PUBLIC IN DIFFERENT PARTS.--THE CAPTURE OF THE FORT OF DOUVRIER.--THE DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY FROM HESDIN.

On the morrow of this victory of the duke of Burgundy, the news was spread abroad in divers places, which gave great joy to all of his party, more particularly to the inhabitants of Montrieul and the adjacent country. Soon after, sir John de Blondel, who was but lately returned from his imprisonment in England, collected a body of the gentlemen of that neighbourhood, among whom was sir Olivier de Brimeu, a very ancient knight, and some of the inhabitants of Montrieul, and led them to the fort of Douvrier, then held by the men of Poton de Saintrailles. He addressed them so eloquently and ably that they agreed to surrender the place to him, on condition that they should be safely escorted to St Riquier, which was done; and he regarrisoned it, to make head against the Dauphinois.

When the duke of Burgundy had disposed of his troops to oppose the further progress of the enemy to his satisfaction, he left Hesdin, and went to Lille; thence he made a pilgrimage to our Lady at Halle, and returned to Flanders, where he made a considerable stay, to attend to his affairs in that country.

CHAP. LXV.

THE KING OF ENGLAND CONQUERS DREUX, AND PURSUES THE DAUPHIN, HE THEN LAYS SIEGE TO MEAUX IN BRIE,--AND OTHER MATTERS.

We will now return to the king of England, and relate how he conducted himself. When the duke of Burgundy left him at Mantes, as has been before mentioned, he marched thence his army which was very large, and daily increasing from the reinforcements that joined him from Normandy and Paris, and advanced to Dreux after the dauphin had raised the siege of Chartres.

He surrounded Dreux on all sides; but the garrison made a treaty, by which they were to surrender the place on the 20th of August, in case they were not succoured by their lord the dauphin before that day, and gave good hostages for the due performance of it. The dauphin sent them no assistance, so that king Henry obtained possession of Dreux, which he strongly regarrisoned with his own men. The Dauphinois, in number about eight hundred, retired with their baggage, after they had promised not to bear arms against the English, or their allies, for one whole year.

When this was done, the king marched toward the river Loire, in pursuit of the dauphin, whom he was very desirous to meet, to revenge the death of his brother the duke of Clarence, and the loss of the English who had fallen at the battle of Baugey. On his march, he reduced to the obedience of the king of France and of himself, the town of Beaugençy on the Loire and some other castles.

Finding that the dauphin would not wait to give him battle, he returned toward Beauce. He had noticed that for some days fifty or sixty Dauphinois, very well mounted, had followed his army to observe his motions: on their one day coming nearer to him than usual, he ordered them to be pursued, when they fled to the castle of Rougemont in Beauce, which the king commanded to be instantly attacked; and this was attended with such success that it was won, and all within taken, with the loss of only one Englishman. King Henry, however, in revenge for this death, caused them all to be drowned in the Loire.

He thence marched to besiege Villeneuve-le-Roi, which soon submitted, on the garrison being allowed to march away with their baggage. It Was regarrisoned by Englishmen. Toward the end of September, he fixed his head-quarters at Lagny-sur-Marne, and his army was dispersed in the adjoining villages. At this town, he ordered many wooden engines to be constructed, and other necessary machines to lay siege to Meaux in Brie. He dispatched in haste his uncle the duke of Exeter, with four thousand combatants, to gain possession of the suburbs of Meaux, that the inhabitants might not set them on fire.

When king Henry had completed his machines in the town of Lagny, he marched his army thence, consisting of twenty thousand combatants at the least, and on the 6th day of October encamped before Meaux. A few days after, he had his camp surrounded with strong hedges and ditches, to prevent any surprise from the enemy, and at the same time had his engines pointed to batter the walls and gates, which they continued to do with great activity.

The defence of the town of Meaux was intrusted by the dauphin to the bastard de Vaurus, captain-general of the place, Denys de Vaurus his brother, Pierron de Luppel, Guichard de Sisay, sir Philip Mallet, sir Louis Gast, the borgne de Caucun, John d'Aunay, Tromagon, Bernard de Meureville, Philip de Gamaches, and others, to the amount of one thousand picked combatants, tried in arms, without including the burghers and commonalty.

They made an obstinate defence against the attacks of the king of England, and continued it for a long time, as you shall hear.

In these days, it was enacted by the royal council at Paris, that the florettes, which were current for four deniers, should be reduced to two deniers; and that the gold crowns, current for nineteen sols, should now pass for eighteen only. These continued lowerings of the coin gave great cause of discontent among all ranks, seeing that their money-property was diminished an eighth part in value. To keep up a supply of coin, saluts[8] of gold were issued, which were current for twenty-five sols tournois the piece: two crown-pieces were also coined, one of France and the other of England. In regard to smaller money, doubles were coined that were current for two deniers tournois: these last were in the vulgar tongue called Nicquety, but were not current for more than three years.

CHAP. LXVI.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ENTERS INTO A TREATY WITH HIS PRISONERS FOR THE SURRENDER OF ST RIQUIER, TO WHICH THE LORD D'OFFEMONT, GOVERNOR OF THE PLACE, AGREES.

The duke of Burgundy was very desirous to get rid of the Dauphinois from the town of St Riquier, as they committed much mischief on the country round about; and during the month of November, he had frequent conversations on this subject with the principal prisoners whom he had made at the affair of Mons in Vimeu. At length, a treaty was concluded between the duke, on the one part, and the lord d'Offemont, governor of St Riquier, and the leaders of his garrison, on the other,--by which it was agreed, that the duke should set at liberty all prisoners whom he or his army had taken since he had first come before St Riquier, free of ransoms; and in return sir Hemon de Bomber, sir John de Blondel, Ferry de Mailly, John de Beaurevoir, John de Crevecoeur and some others, were to be delivered from their confinement, and also the town and castle of St Riquier were to be put in possession of the duke.

Not long after the conclusion of this treaty, sir Hemon de Bomber died in St Riquier of a lingering disorder, which so angered the duke that he would have violated the treaty, if his counsellors had not persuaded him to the contrary. At last, he sent his prisoners under an escort from Lille to Hesdin, and thence with passports they were conducted to the lord d'Offemont, who delivered up the prisoners he had promised, and the town and castle of St Riquier into the hands of the lords de Roubaix and de Croy, who had been commissioned for that purpose by the duke.

The lord d'Offemont, on his departure from St Riquier, crossed the Somme at Blanchetaque, and returned through Vimeu to Pierrefons, Crespy in the Valois, and to other places under his obedience. The lords de Roubaix and de Croy, after examining the town and castle, and receiving the oaths of allegiance from the inhabitants, nominated governors thereof le borgne de Fosseaux knight, master Nicholas Mailly, and his brother Ferry de Mailly, Nycaise de Boufflers, John Doncuerre, with others, and their men, to keep the field against sir James de Harcourt.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 8: Saluts,--an old French crown, of the value of five shillings sterling.--_Cotgrave._]

CHAP. LXVII.

THE BURGUNDIAN LORDS ASSEMBLE IN ARMS TO CONDUCT THITHER THEIR DUKE FROM PICARDY.--OTHER MATTERS.

About this time, in consequence of summonses from the duke and duchess dowager of Burgundy, the nobles of that duchy assembled in arms, and went to the duke in Picardy, to escort him thither, where his presence was much desired by the duchess, to consult on public affairs that were very pressing.

They amounted to six thousand horse, and began their march under the command of the prince of Orange, the lords de St George and de Château Vilain, sir John de Coquebrune marshal of Burgundy, and other lords and captains, through Champagne, to near Lille in Flanders. The principal lords left their men in the adjacent villages, and waited on the duke in Lille, who received them with joy.

As the duke was not quite ready to set out, they were requested by sir John de Luxembourg to join him, and make an attack on the lords de Moy and de Chin, who were Dauphinois, and had greatly destroyed his own estates, as well as those of his daughter-in-law the countess of Marle. They agreed to his proposal; and, as he had assembled about eight hundred combatants, they advanced to St Quentin, where they lay the first night, and then continued their march. When they approached the castle of Moy, the usual residence of the lord of that name, they were told that he was absent, but had left it well provided with men, stores and provisions: he had also burnt the lower court, and several houses of the town that joined the castle.

The Burgundians, foreseeing that the castle could not be won without a long siege, and great loss of men, concluded among themselves, notwithstanding the entreaties of sir John de Luxembourg, to return to Douay and Lille. They did great mischiefs to all the countries they passed through, as well going as returning, and during their stay, of which heavy complaints were made to the duke by churchmen and others, more particularly from Picardy: to all these clamours he replied, that he would very shortly deliver them from their oppressors, by remanding them to Burgundy.

Sir John de Luxembourg, vexed and cast down by the burgundian lords leaving him, disbanded his own forces, and retired to his castle of Beaurevoir.

On the 16th day of December, the duke and duchess of Burgundy arrived at Arras with count Philip de St Pol and a grand suite of chivalry. Soon after, sir John de Luxembourg came thither, and the burgundian lords; and on the third after his arrival the duke went to visit his aunt the countess of Hainault at Douay, and conducted her and her household to Arras, where she was honourably received by the duchess and the lords and ladies of her court. She remained there three or four days, during which many grand entertainments were made for her. Having held some conferences with her nephew, she returned to Quesnoy le Comte in Hainault, where she generally resided.

CHAP. LXVIII.

SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT MEETS A PARTY OF ENGLISH, AND IS DEFEATED WITH LOSS.--A HEAVY TAX LAID FOR A COINAGE TO SUPPLY THE TOWNS WITH CURRENT CASH.

About this period, sir James de Harcourt, making an excursion with six or seven hundred combatants, was met by a party of English, who had accidentally assembled from Harques, Neuf-châtel, and the adjoining parts, to seek adventures on their enemies the Dauphinois. An obstinate battle ensued; but in the end the English gained the victory, and sir James lost from two to three hundred men in killed and prisoners: he himself and the greater part of the knights and esquires saved themselves by the fleetness of their horses. Among the prisoners was the lord de Verduisant, at that time one of the governors of St Valery for the dauphin. The English were joyful at their success, and returned to the places they had come from with their prisoners.

At this time there was imposed through many parts of the kingdom, and rigorously exacted, especially in the bailiwick of Amiens, a heavy tax, which had been granted by the three estates, at the request of the kings of France and of England. The object of this tax was to gather as much silver as possible, that a new coinage might be issued, to afford currency to the great towns; and it was collected from persons of all ranks, churchmen, knights, esquires, ladies, damsels, burghers, and from every one who were supposed to have wherewithal, according to the discretion and pleasure of the collectors, and whether they would or not. This gained them great hatred from every one whom they forced to pay. Among others, the bailiff of Amiens was much hated in his bailiwick, from a suspicion which had gone abroad, that he was the author of this heavy impost.

CHAP. LXIX.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AND THE COUNT DE ST POL DEPART FROM ARRAS, AND WAIT ON THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND OF ENGLAND.--OTHER MATTERS.

When the duke and duchess of Burgundy had solemnly celebrated the feast of the Nativity at Arras, they separated from each other a few days after, but not without much grief at heart and many tears, especially on the part of the duchess; and they never saw each other again, as you shall hear.

The duke went to the castle of the count de St Pol at Luchen, where he lay one night, and on the morrow went to Amiens, and was lodged at the house of the bailiff. He had sent his men at arms forward to wait for him between Amiens and Beauvais.

He lay one night at Amiens, and thence departed with displayed banner and a large body of men at arms in noble array, having a van and rear guard. He was quartered that night at Franc-Châtel, and thence, taking the road to Beauvais and through Beaumont, arrived at Paris.

His lady-duchess, on quitting Arras, went with her household to Lille, and thence to Ghent. The duke entered Paris, attended by the count de St Pol and all his chivalry, and was most respectfully received by the Parisians. The king and queen of France were at that time at Vincennes, whither the duke went to visit them.

Having remained some days at Paris, he went to Lagny sur Marne, to wait on the king of England, who was employed in the siege of Meaux. He was most honourably received by the king, and they held many councils on the affairs of the realm.

The prince of Orange, and a considerable number of the burgundian lords and gentlemen, quitted the duke just before he left Paris; and the reason commonly given for this was, that they were unwilling to accompany him to Lagny, lest king Henry should require of them oaths of allegiance, as he had demanded from the lord de St George, who, a short time before, had waited on him, humbly to solicit the deliverance of his nephew, the lord de Château-vilain, who, by command of king Henry, had been long detained prisoner in Paris, but was soon after delivered, in consequence of the application of the lord de St George.

The duke returned in a few days to Paris, and thence, passing through Troyes, went to wait on his mother, the duchess-dowager, and his sisters, in Burgundy, who received him with the utmost joy. The usual oaths from his burgundian vassals were made him, and, having finished his business, he went to see his uncle in Savoy, who was much rejoiced, and, to do him the more honour, had justs and other entertainments for his amusement. When these were over, he returned to his duchy of Burgundy, where he remained a considerable time.

CHAP. LXX.

SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG WAITS ON KING HENRY, TO SOLICIT THE LIBERTY OF THE COUNT DE CONVERSAN, HIS BROTHER,--AND OTHER EVENTS.

About this time, sir John de Luxembourg, attended by a few persons, came to king Henry at the siege of Meaux, to treat for the deliverance of his brother the count de Conversan, who had been long a prisoner, and was confined in that town by Pierron de Luppel. By the assistance of the English king, he obtained his brother's liberty, on consenting to pay Pierron de Luppel a large sum of money by instalments at certain periods agreed on between them. On regaining his liberty, the count de Conversan remained in the service of king Henry during the siege of Meaux; and sir John de Luxembourg returned to Picardy, of which he was governor-general. He was accompanied by sir Hugh de Launoy, who had been lately appointed grand master of the cross-bows of France by the two kings of France and of England.

This year, Catherine queen of England was brought to bed of a son and heir to the kingdom, who, by orders from his father, was baptised Henry: his sponsors were Jacqueline duchess of Bavaria, at that time in England, and others nominated for that purpose.[9]

King Henry felt the utmost pleasure at this event, and there were greater rejoicings throughout England than had been ever seen before on the birth of any prince. During this time, the Dauphinois took the town of Avranches by storm, and killed or made prisoners from two to three hundred English, to the great vexation of their king. On receiving this intelligence, he sent off, from the siege of Meaux, a strong detachment to the earl of Salisbury, governor of Normandy, who made such good use of his reinforcement that he retook Avranches, and put to death, or made prisoners, many of the Dauphinois.

At this same time, Arthur count de Richemont was delivered by a certain treaty from his imprisonment in England, and came to the siege of Meaux with a large body of men at arms to serve king Henry, in whose service he remained during the life of that king.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 9: See for them in Rymer, &c.]

CHAP. LXXI.

THE LORD D'OFFEMONT ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MEAUX, IS MADE PRISONER BY THE ENGLISH.--THE BESIEGERS TAKE THE TOWN BY STORM.

The lord d'Offemont assembled about forty combatants, the most expert and determined he could find, and led them near to the town of Meaux, which the king of England was besieging in person, with the intent to enter it secretly, as the inhabitants had sent him frequent messages to come and be their governor, and knowing of his arrival were prepared to receive him. They had placed a ladder on the outside of the wall, by which the lord d'Offemont and his people were to gain admittance; and on the appointed day, when the lord d'Offemont approached, to accomplish his enterprise, he met a party of the English guard, whom he soon put to death. He then led his men to the bank of the ditch, and they began to ascend the ladder; but he himself, who had staid to see his men mount before him, stepping on an old plank that had been thrown over the ditch, it broke under him, and he fell, fully armed, into it, whence he could not be raised, although they gave him two spears, which remained in his hands.

In the mean time, the besiegers, hearing a noise, came in numbers to the spot, and made them prisoners. The lord d'Offemont was cruelly wounded in the face, and his men were also wounded,--and thus were they carried to the king of England, who was well pleased at the capture which his men had made. Having questioned the lord d'Offemont on many subjects, he put him under a good guard, to whom he gave strict orders to be careful of his person.

On the morrow, the besieged, sorrowful at heart for their disappointment in the loss of their looked-for governor, and thinking the town could not hold out much longer, began to carry their most valuable articles into the market-place. This was observed by the men of John de Guigny, a Savoyard, who was at the siege, and he instantly made an attack on that side of the town. The onset likewise commenced on the opposite quarter, and was continued with such vigour that the place was won with little loss to the besiegers.

The garrison then retreated into the market-place, not, however, without some being slain or taken, but in no great numbers. The king and very many of his men were lodged in the town, and, soon after, they gained a small island, on which they planted some bombards that terribly annoyed the buildings. Those who had retired into the market-place were sorely oppressed, for king Henry had caused several bulwarks to be erected against the walls, and they were hourly expecting to be stormed,--for all hopes of succour had fled, since the time appointed by the dauphin to send them aid was passed. The English, pushing matters forward, increased their distress by the capture of the corn-mill of the market-place, so that no corn could be ground without infinite danger.

CHAP. LXXII.

SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG CONQUERS, THIS CAMPAIGN, THE FORTRESSES OF QUESNOY, LOUVROY AND HERICOURT.--OTHER MATTERS.

We must now speak of what sir John de Luxembourg, with some of the picard lords, did this year, by orders from the kings of France and England. Sir Hugh de Launoy, the newly-appointed grand master of the cross-bows, the vidame of Amiens, the lord de Longueval, the lord de Saveuses, the lord de Humbercourt, and a great number of knights and esquires, mustered their forces, in the month of March, in the town of Eure. When this was done, few people knew whither sir John intended to lead them: at length he directed their march toward Amiens, to a miserable castle called le Quesnoy, belonging to John d'Arly, in which about forty pillagers of the dauphin's party had quartered themselves, and, in conjunction with those in D'araines, had greatly harrassed the whole country of Vimeu, and down the river Somme from Amiens to Abbeville.

The vidame of Amiens and the lord de Saveuses had advanced their men thither the preceding day to prevent their escape. On sir John de Luxembourg's arrival, having arranged his quarters, he caused his artillery to be pointed against the walls, which shortly made large breaches in them, and in such numbers, that the besieged, finding all resistance vain, offered to capitulate.

The following terms were soon agreed on between them and the lord de Saveuses, who had been commissioned for that purpose by sir John de Luxembourg, namely, that they should surrender the castle and every thing within it to sir John de Luxembourg; and the greater number of these pillagers were to be given up to his will. Waleran de St Germain, their leader, in fact betrayed them, giving them to understand that their lives would be spared,--but he only bargained for himself to depart freely, with sufficient passports.

On the conclusion of this treaty, the castle-gates were thrown open, and those within carried to a house in the town, when part of them were shortly after hanged, and the others sent to the bailiff of Amiens, who had them gibbetted: in the latter number was a gentleman, named Lienard de Picquigny, who said he was distantly related to the vidame of Amiens. This castle was razed to the ground, after the wood-work had been burnt.

Sir John then marched his forces toward Gamaches, where he was joined by three hundred english combatants under the command of sir Raoul le Bouteiller; and he subjected to the obedience of the kings of France and of England certain fortresses in Vimeu, as Louvroy[10], Hericourt, and others. In the mean time, the men of the lord de Gamaches who were posted at Compiègne, took by storm the castle of Mortemer near Mondidier, belonging to Conherrard de Brimeu, then absent with the army of sir John de Luxembourg in Vimeu. They placed a strong garrison within it, which much oppressed the country round. In another part, a company of Dauphinois quartered at Marcoussy, to the amount of two hundred combatants, with their captain, secretly marched by night to the bridge of Meulan, to which they did great mischief. Their plan was to establish a garrison there to defend it; but the king of England sent thither the count de Conversan, with a number of men at arms, who having besieged them, they soon surrendered on having their lives and fortunes spared.

CHAP. LXXIII.

THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY RAISES THIS YEAR AN ARMY AGAINST THE HERETICS OF PRAGUE.--SIMILAR HERESIES ARE DISCOVERED NEAR TO DOUAY.--THE SIEGE OF D'AIRAINES.

In this year, the emperor of Germany assembled a large body of men at arms from all parts of Christendom, to combat and oppose the false and stinking heretics that had arisen within the city of Prague and in the adjoining country from two to three days journey around it. This armament was composed of many princes, prelates, knights, esquires, and others, as well on foot as on horseback, from parts of Germany, Liege, Holland, Zealand, Hainault and elsewhere. Their numbers were so great they could scarcely be counted; but the heretics defended themselves courageously in Prague that they could not do much harm to them, except in some skirmishes, when many were put to death. They were firmly united, and the country so strong, that the Christians were forced to retreat for want of provisions; and these accursed people were obstinate in their errors, and not afraid of any punishments which might be inflicted on them: they even armed their women, who were very devils in cruelty,--for several, dressed as men, were found among the slain in different engagements.

Similar heretics of both sexes were also discovered near to Douay, who held their meetings at the village of Sains, and were carried prisoners to the court of the bishop of Arras. Some of them recanted, and were pardoned; but the rest, having been preached to by the bishop and inquisitor, were publicly burnt at Douay, Arras and Valenciennes.

Sir John de Luxembourg returned with his captains and his whole army, on Easter-night, before the two castles of D'airaines, and surrounded them on all sides. He had his artillery pointed against the walls, which made breaches in several places; but the besieged made a good defence with their cannon, and some sallies, by which indeed they did not gain much: however, as they were well supplied with stores and provision, they held out a considerable time, in the expectation of being powerfully succoured according to the promises that had been given them by some of the dauphin's partisans.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 10: Louvroy. In du Cange's MS. notes, it is called Hornox.]

[A.D. 1422.]

CHAP. LXXIV.

THE DAUPHINOIS ASSEMBLE TO RAISE THE SIEGE OF D'AIRAINES.--THE BURGUNDIANS AND ENGLISH MARCH TO MEET THEM, AND OFFER THEM BATTLE.

At the beginning of the year, a party of the Dauphinois assembled near to Compiègne, with the intent of marching to the succour of D'airaines. Their leaders were, the lord de Gamaches, the lord de Moy and Poton de Saintrailles, and their force amounted to from eight hundred to a thousand men. They first advanced to Pierrepont, which belonged to the vidame of Amiens; and although its outworks had strong hedges, and ditches full of water, they formed a lodgement therein, and made an attack on the fortress, but it was too well defended by those on guard.

While they were thus occupied at Pierrepont, news was brought of their proceedings to sir John de Luxembourg, at the siege of D'airaines. He advised with his principal nobles, and then detached some of the captains, with a thousand combatants, to meet these Dauphinois. The commanders of the detachment were, sir Hugh de Launoy, master of the cross-bows of France, sir Raoul le Bouteiller, an Englishman, le borgne de Fosseux knight, the lord de Saveuses, and others expert in arms.

They lay the first night at Coucy, and on the morrow, very early, advanced to Moreul, where they heard that the Dauphinois were still in Pierrepont. They, in consequence, marched in very handsome array to meet them; but the Dauphinois, having heard of the near approach of their enemies, mounted their horses, and, after setting fire to their quarters, drew up in order of battle above Mondidier. The English and Burgundians traversed the town of Pierrepont as speedily as they could, but were much delayed by the fire, and formed themselves in battle-array fronting the enemy.

On this occasion many new knights were made on the part of the Burgundians, namely, le bègue de Launoy, Anthony de Reubempré, James de Brimeu, Robert Fritel, Gilles de Hardecourt, Matthew de Landas, Philip du Bos, John de Beauvoir, Waleran de Fieses, Framet de la Tramerie, and many more. Much skirmishing took place between them, in which several men at arms were unhorsed and severely wounded or slain: during this the burgundian and english infantry remained inactive, and the Dauphinois galloped away in good order toward Compiègne, forming a rear guard of their ablest men for their security.

The Burgundians, seeing this, dispatched the lord de Saveuses with a certain number of men at arms, to pursue and check them, while the main body kept advancing after them as fast as they could. The Dauphinois, however, were panic-struck, and made their escape with a trifling loss of seven or eight men, who were killed on the first onset: in the number was a gallant man at arms, called Brunet de Gamaches. On the side of the Burgundians, an old man from Auxerre, named Breton d'Ailly, who for a long time had not followed the wars, was slain, and a few others.

The English and Burgundians now returned to their quarters at Moreul and other villages, and thence to sir John de Luxembourg at the siege of D'airaines. The besieged were informed of the fate of the succour intended them, and that there was no hope of being relieved, which induced them to accede to a treaty, by which they were to surrender the castles, and to have permission to march unhurt, with their baggage, under passports from sir John de Luxembourg, to Compiègne, Crotoy, Gamaches, St Valery, or to any other places within their obedience from the river Seine to Crotoy.

The garrison consisted of about one hundred men at arms, and as many archers, under the command of sir Cocquart de Cambronne and John Sarpe. The two castles, when surrendered, were found full of stores and provision; but sir John de Luxembourg destroyed one of them, namely, that of the lady of D'airaines. The other he strongly regarrisoned, and appointed sir James de Lievin the governor. When the Dauphinois had marched off, sir John returned with his army to his castle of Beaurevoir, where he dismissed his captains, and the others who had followed him.

Shortly after, sir James de Harcourt made an inroad as far as Auxi on the river Authie, and to other towns and villages, whence he returned to Crotoy with many prisoners and much plunder.

CHAP. LXXV.

KING HENRY REDUCES MEAUX TO HIS OBEDIENCE.--THE EXECUTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE IN CONSEQUENCE OF ORDERS FROM HIM.

The king of England was indefatigable at the siege of Meaux, and having destroyed many parts of the walls of the market place, he summoned the garrison to surrender themselves to the king of France and himself, or he would storm the place. To this summons they replied, that it was not yet time to surrender,--on which the king ordered the place to be stormed. The assault continued for seven or eight hours in a most bloody manner: nevertheless, the besieged made an obstinate defence, in spite of the great numbers that were attacking them.

Their lances had been almost all broken; but in their stead they made use of spits, and fought with such courage, that the English were driven from the ditches, which encouraged them much. Among the besieged who behaved gallantly must be noticed Guichart de Sisay; and his courage and ability were remarked by king Henry, who, after the reduction of the place, offered him a large sum if he would take the oaths and serve him; but he would never listen to the proposal, and remained firm to the dauphin.

Many new knights were made by the English at this attack, such as John Guigny, a Savoyard, and the bastard de Thiam, who had formerly been a great captain in the free companies under duke John of Burgundy. There were also at this siege, under the king of England, the lords de Châtillon and de Genlis, with many others of the french nobility.

From the commencement of this siege until the last moment, when they had no longer any hopes of relief from the dauphin, the besieged poured torrents of abuse upon the English. Among other insults which they offered, they had an ass led on the walls of the town, and, by beating it, made it bray, and then cried out to the English, that it was their king calling out for assistance, and told them to go to him. This conduct raised the king's indignation against them.

During the siege, a young knight, son to sir John Cornwall, and cousin german to king Henry, was killed by a cannon shot, to the great sorrow of the king and the other princes; for, although he was but a youth, he was very well behaved and prudent.

Toward the end of April, the besieged, having lost all hopes of succour, and finding they could not hold out longer, offered to enter into terms of capitulation. King Henry appointed his uncle the duke of Exeter, the earl of Warwick, the count de Conversan and sir Walter Hungerford, his commissioners for this purpose. On the part of the besieged were nominated sir Phillip Mallet, Pierron de Luppel, John d'Aunay, Sinader de Gerames, le borgne de Caucun, John d'Espinach and Guillaume de Fossé. They had several conferences, and at length agreed to the following terms:

First, on the 11th day of May, the market-place, and all Meaux, was to be surrendered into the hands of the kings of France and England.

Item, sir Louis de Gast, the bastard de Vaurus, Jean de Rouvieres, Tromagon, Bernard de Meureville, and a person called Oraches, who had sounded the trumpet during the siege, were to be delivered up to justice,--and such punishment was to be inflicted on them as they might deserve.

Item, Guichart de Sisay, Pierron de Luppel, master Robert de Gerames, Philip de Gamaches and John d'Aunay, were to remain in the power of the two kings until all the forts held by them, or their allies, in the realm should be given up; and when that was done, they were to have their liberty.

Item, all the English, Welsh, Scots and Irish, subjects to the king of England who had assisted in the defence of the place, were to be delivered up to the two kings.

Item, all other persons, as well men at arms as burghers, were to have their lives spared, but to remain prisoners to the two kings.

Item, the count de Conversan was to be acquitted of all his engagements to Pierron de Luppel respecting his ransom; and the latter was to promise that he would hold him acquitted of the above, without fraud or malice.

Item, the besieged, within eight days preceding the surrender of the town, were to carry all their effects to an appointed place, without any way injuring them, and to deliver inventories thereof to commissaries named by the said kings. They were to carry all relics, ornaments, or church-furniture, to a separate place.

Item, they were to deliver up all prisoners, whether confined in the market-place or in other forts, and acquit them of their pledges.

Item, they were not to suffer any person to quit the place before the surrender of the town, and, in like manner, were not to permit any one to enter it, unless so ordered by the kings.

Item, for the due observance of these articles, the besieged were to give assurances signed with the hand and seal of one hundred of the principal townsmen, four-and-twenty of whom were to remain as hostages so long as the two kings might please.

Item, on the signing this treaty, all hostilities were to cease on each side.

Matters now remained in this state until the 10th day of May, when the substance of the above articles was put into execution by commissaries appointed by the two kings, who sent off the prisoners under a strong guard. Some of the principal were carried to Rouen, and thence to England, and others to Paris, where they were confined. The whole of the prisoners of war might be about eight hundred; and their commander in chief, the bastard de Vaurus, was, by king Henry's command, beheaded, and his body hung on a tree, without the walls of Meaux, called thenceforth Vaurus's Tree. This Vaurus had, in his time, hung many a Burgundian and Englishman: his head was fixed to a lance, and fastened on the tree over his body.

Sir Louis Gast, Denis de Vaurus, master John de Rouvieres, and he who had sounded the trumpet, were beheaded at Paris,--their heads fixed on lances over the market-place, and their bodies hung by the arms to a gibbet. All the wealth found in Meaux, and which was very great, was distributed according to the pleasure of king Henry. He was very proud of his victory, and entered the place in great pomp, and remained there some days with his princes to repose and solace himself, having given orders for the complete reparation of the walls that had been so much damaged by artillery at the siege.

CHAP. LXXVI.

AFTER THE REDUCTION OF MEAUX, MANY TOWNS AND CASTLES SURRENDER TO THE KING OF ENGLAND, WHO REGARRISONS THEM WITH HIS OWN MEN.

In consequence of the reduction of Meaux, many considerable towns and forts, as well in the county of Valois as in the surrounding parts, submitted to king Henry, through the intervention of the lord d'Offemont, under whose power they were. In the number were, the town of Crespy in the Valois, the castle of Pierrepont, Merlo, Offemont and others. The lord d'Offemont, however, kept possession of his own towns and forts, and was acquitted of his ransom as prisoner, on condition that he swore obedience to the terms of the peace last concluded between the two kings at Troyes, and gave sufficient securities for his so doing. The bishop of Noyon and the lord de Cauny were his sureties, who pledged their lives and fortunes in his favour.

Those who had been made prisoners in Meaux likewise submitted many towns and castles to the kings of France and England. When the leaders of the Dauphinois in the Beauvoisis heard that king Henry was proceeding so vigorously, and reducing to obedience, by various means, towns and castles that were thought impregnable, they began to be seriously alarmed, and sent ambassadors to treat with him for their safe retreat, in case they were not relieved by the dauphin on a certain day, which they would make known to him.

Among them was the lord de Gamaches, who treated for the surrender of the town of Compiègne, of which he was governor, and for the fortresses of Remy, Gournay sur Aronde, Mortemer, Neufville in Hez, Tressousart, and others in that district. He also gave hostages to deliver them up to such commissaries as the two kings should appoint, on the 18th day of June following.

Sir Louis de Thiembronne made a similar treaty for the garrison of the town of Gamaches, on condition of their having passports to retire whithersoever they pleased with their arms and baggage, and that the inhabitants were to remain in peace, on taking the oaths of allegiance.

Through the management of Pierron de Luppel, the strong castle of Montagu surrendered to the two kings, which fortress had kept a large tract of country under subjection from its strength; and its garrison had done much mischief to the towns of Rheims and Laon, and the adjacent parts.

On the other hand, those in the castle of Moy, hearing of all these conquests, and fearing lest sir John de Luxembourg and the English should unexpectedly besiege them, set fire to it, and withdrew to Guise. In like manner were the castles of Montescourt and Brissy destroyed.

CHAP. LXXVII.

THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND RETURNS TO FRANCE IN GRAND STATE.--AN ASSEMBLY OF THE THREE ESTATES IS HELD IN PARIS.--OTHER MATTERS.

On the 21st day of May in this year 1422, Catherine queen of England, who had been some time recovered of her lying-in of her first-born child Henry, arrived at Harfleur in grand state, attended by ladies without number, and escorted by a large fleet filled with men at arms and archers under the command of the duke of Bedford, brother to the king.

On landing, she went to Rouen, and thence to the castle of Vincennes, to meet the king. Queen Catherine travelled in royal state, alway accompanied by the duke of Bedford and the men at arms.

King Henry departed from Meaux with his princes to meet her, and she was received by them as if she had been an angel from heaven. Great rejoicings were made by the king and queen of France for the happy arrival of their son-in-law and their daughter; and on the 30th day of May, Whitsun-eve, the kings of France and of England, accompanied by their queens, left Vincennes, and entered Paris with much pomp. The king and queen of France were lodged at the hôtel of St Pol, and the king of England and his company at the Louvre. In each of these places, the two kings solemnly celebrated the feast of Pentecost, which fell on the day after their arrival.

On this day, the king and queen of England were seated at table gorgeously apparelled, having crowns on their heads. The English princes, dukes, knights, and prelates were partakers of the feast, each seated according to his rank, and the tables were covered with the rarest viands and choicest wines. The king and queen this day held a grand court, which was attended by all the English at Paris; and the Parisians went to the castle of the Louvre to see the king and queen at table crowned with their most precious diadems; but as no meat or drink was offered to the populace by the attendants, they went away much discontented; for in former times, when the kings of France kept open court, meat and drink was distributed abundantly to all comers by the king's servants.

King Charles had indeed been as liberal and courteous as his predecessors, but he was now seated in his hôtel of St Pol at table with his queen, deserted by the grandees and others of his subjects, as if he had been quite forgotten. The government and power of the kingdom were now transferred from his hands into those of his son-in-law king Henry; and he had so little share, that he was managed as the king of England pleased, and no attention was paid him, which created much sorrow in the hearts of all loyal Frenchmen, and not without cause.

During the king of England's residence at Paris, he ordered the tax of silver to be collected, for the coinage of new money, in the manner before described. This gave rise to great murmurings and discontent; but, from dread of king Henry, the Parisians dared not show any other signs of disobedience and rebellion than by words.

CHAP. LXXVIII.

THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND GO FROM PARIS TO SENLIS.--THE SIEGE OF SAINT VALERY.--THE REDUCTION OF COMPIEGNE.--AN EMBASSY SENT TO SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT.