the flower of french chivalry, who had for a long while followed
warlike enterprises,--such as La Hire, Poton de Saintrailles, Anthony
de Chabannes, Olivier de Coetivy, the lord de Blainville, and his
brother sir Robert Blanchefort, Pennesach[107], Floquet, Joachim
Rohault, Pierre Rohault, Mathelin de l'Escouan, Dominic de Court, and
many others of renown.
On the king's arrival at Toulouse, he was informed by the lords of
Gascony, that the English were not in force sufficient to oppose him on
the day appointed for the relief of Tartas. Having called a council,
it was therefore determined to advance thither with only part of the
army, that they might more easily obtain provisions. The king marched
from Toulouse with but sixteen thousand horse,--among whom, however,
were most of the lords and captains above named. He was lodged at a
small town called Meillan[108], two leagues from Tartas, belonging to
the count d'Albreth, but in the possession of the count de Foix, and
his men were quartered round about.
On the morrow, which was the day fixed on for the surrender of Tartas
unless relieved by the king of France, the king drew up his men in
battle-array before the town, and thus remained from early morn until
ten or eleven o'clock in the forenoon,--when the lords de Coignac and
Enguerrot de Sainct Per, who had the command of the place appeared
before him, and brought with them the young Charles d'Albret, who
had remained in the town as an hostage. They surrendered the keys
of Tartas into the king's hands,--and at the same time, the lord de
Coignac did him homage, but Enguerrot retired to the city of Dax.
The lord d'Albret now entered Tartas,--and the king went to sleep at
Coignac, which is a pretty good town, about two leagues distant from
Tartas, where he remained on St John's day and the ensuing one.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 105: Helman. Lomaigne.--Du Cange.]
[Footnote 106: Chalenton. Chalencon.--Du Cange.]
[Footnote 107: Pennesach. Vennensach.--Du Cange.]
[Footnote 108: Meillan,--a small town in Gascony, near Tartas.]
CHAP. LVI.
THE KING OF FRANCE, AFTER GAINING TARTAS, COMES BEFORE SAINT SEVERE,
AND CONQUERS THAT TOWN AND CASTLE, WITH SOME OTHERS IN GASCONY.
On the Wednesday following the surrender of Tartas, the king of France
marched his army before the town of Saint Severe[109], whither, as it
was very strongly fortified with five bastions, the whole country had
withdrawn with their cattle and effects. The dauphin's men, on their
arrival, made an attack on two of these bastions with such success that
they gained them, and lodged themselves therein.
Within a few days, another was won by the king's division, who ordered
an immediate attack on the fourth: the English made a vigorous defence,
but were driven thence, and pursued as far as the gate of the principal
bastion. The French continued their attacks on this place, without
having had any orders from the king or his captains,--and they lasted
for a long time with great valour on both sides; but at length the
French gained the victory, and conquered the place by storm, putting
to death about eight hundred English, with the loss of from twenty to
thirty of their own men, but in that number was the little Blanchefort.
The town was won on the side where the constable attacked it, when on
the part of the English, sir Thomas Rampstone and a few more were made
prisoners. The king after this conquest, remained there for twelve
days, and thence marched to besiege the town of Dax, which occupied
him for the space of five weeks, as there was a strong fortification
in front of one of the gates. When the battering cannon had partly
demolished the walls of the town, orders were given for storming this
fortification which held out most obstinately for five hours, but was
at last won about nightfall. Ten or twelve English were killed and very
many of the French wounded.
The king withdrew his men after this event, with the exception of
those who had the guard of it. On the ensuing day, the townsmen of
Dax, fearing that a stronger attack would now be made on their town,
surrendered themselves to the king except the lord de Montferrand,
governor of the town for the English, and the before-mentioned
Enguerrot de St Per, who were permitted to march out in safety, but
with staves in their hands.
The lord de Montferrand also promised to surrender into the king's
hands two castles which he held near to Bourdeaux,--for the due
performance of which he gave his son in hostage. He remained a prisoner
a long time, because the lord de Montferrand, refused to keep his
promise of surrendering these two castles.
Gascony and Guienne were at this time governed, for the king of
England by the captal de Buch, the lord de Montferrand and sir Thomas
Rampstone, seneschal of Bourdeaux. In the absence of the king of
France, the English reconquered the town and castles of Saint Severe;
but the king shortly after, marched back his army thither, retook it by
storm, and put numbers of English to death. At this time, all the towns
and castles of the lord de la Rochetaillade turned, and did homage to
the king of France.
The king of France next marched to Marmonde[110], which opened its
gates to him, and thence to La Réole[111]. It was vigorously besieged
and the town was taken by storm; but the castle held out for about six
weeks, when it surrendered on the garrison being allowed to march away
in safety. Olivier de Cointiny was appointed by the king governor of
this and of other places that had been conquered in the course of the
expedition. The baron of Dax commanded in La Réole for the king of
England,--but he afterward turned to the french interest.
While these conquests were making, the English much distressed the
French particularly by encouraging their peasantry to harrass their
scouting parties, so that, from the multitudes in the french army they
frequently suffered famine. Great numbers of their horses died; a
severe loss to those adventurers who had been accustomed to keep the
field all the year round. Many of them, in consequence, quitted the
army in search of provision for themselves and horses, and advanced as
far as Navarre, where they committed all sorts of mischief on the poor
farmers.
In another quarter, the English collected a body of men, and through
friends in the town, regained the city of Dax from the French. The
governor, Regnault Guillaume le Bourguignon, was made prisoner, and
most part of his garrison put to the sword. The king of France was much
vexed at thus loosing a place, through the neglect of the governor,
which had cost him so long a time and such an expense to conquer.
When the king of France had remained for seven or eight months in
Gascony, where he had made such valuable conquests, he considered the
dreadful state of his army, and the danger it was daily exposed to from
want of provision, and resolved to direct his march toward Montauban.
He staid at Montauban about two months, whence he issued his orders
for the defence of the country, and then, by slow marches, returned to
Poitiers.
Shortly after the king had left Montauban, La Hire, who had suffered
extremely in this expedition, and was advanced in years, died in the
castle of that town. The king on hearing of his death, was much
affected, and ordered that his widow should possess the lands he had
given to him for his life.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 109: Saint Severe,--near to Coignac.]
[Footnote 110: Marmonde,--a town on the Garonne, between Bourdeaux and
Toulouse.]
[Footnote 111: La Réole,--on the road between Bourdeaux and Toulouse.]
CHAP. LVII.
PIERRE DE REGNAULT IS FORCED TO DISLODGE FROM THE CASTLE OF
MAILLY[112].
I have before noticed how Pierre de Regnault had taken possession
of the castle of Mailly, two leagues distant from Beauvais, which
he had repaired and refortified. He had with him about two hundred
determined combatants, with whom he overran the countries round,
seizing and carrying off to his fort all he could find, as well
from those dependant on the king of France as from others. He
overran, in particular, the dependances of the duke of Burgundy,
the count d'Estampes, and other great lords of that party: he even
at times crossed the river Somme, and advanced into Artois, twelve
or fifteen leagues from his castle. He acted in like manner within
the castlewicks of Peronne, Roye, and Mondidier, where he made some
capital prisoners, who paid large sums for their ransoms, just the same
as an enemy would have done in time of war, so that the country was
grievously harrassed,--and heavy complaints were made frequently to
the superior lords, who were much vexed at this conduct. The duke of
Burgundy at last sent to remonstrate with the king of France on this
destruction of his country, and to require that a remedy be applied.
The king gave a similar answer to what he had done before: that he was
much concerned at what had happened, and would be well pleased if the
duke should conquer Pierre de Regnault whenever he found him marauding
on his territories, or that he would besiege him in his castle of
Mailly, and drive him thence; that he would send positive orders to all
his captains in that part of the country not to give him the smallest
aid against the troops of the duke of Burgundy, under pain of incurring
his highest indignation.
The duke was satisfied with this answer, and began to arrange his plans
accordingly. He concluded a treaty with some of the english captains
on the frontier of Normandy, that they should give security not to
molest his men nor aid the enemy; and when he was assured that neither
French nor English would take part against him in this business, he
sent orders from Burgundy, where he then was, to the count d'Estampes,
who had the government of Picardy, to collect as many men as he could
raise, and march against the castle of Mailly. The count on this
made great diligence, and assembled in a short time twelve hundred
combatants, knights, esquires, and others, the most expert warriors
in Picardy and in the adjoining parts. In the number were Waleran
de Moreul, Guy de Roye, Jean d'Ange, the lord de Saveuses, Simon de
Lalain, Jean de Haplaincourt, Charles de Rochefort, sir Colart de
Mailly, and many more great lords and gentlemen.
The rendezvous was in the town of Amiens, whence they marched with a
numerous train of artillery, stores, and baggage, to Beauvais. The
count and great lords were handsomely received in that town, and their
men were quartered in the villages round. The count d'Estampes lost no
time in advancing to the castle of Mailly, and posted his men as near
as he could to the gate, the strongest part of the castle, and to the
lower court, which had been newly strengthened with casks and beams of
timber. The garrison defended themselves courageously with cannons and
other engines of war, and killed many of the count's men: among the
slain was sir Matthew de Humieres. The besiegers had left the greater
part of their horses in the town of Beauvais, whence and from Orleans
they were daily supplied with provision.
When the artillery had made a breach in the walls of the lower court,
a general and very sharp assault was made, in which great prowess was
displayed on both sides; but the lord de Saveuses and his men gained
the most renown. The besieged defended themselves with such obstinacy
that the count, finding the conquest would be attended with too much
loss, ordered a retreat, leaving behind from eight to ten dead: of the
besieged, only a few were wounded.
The besieged, perceiving that they could not hold out much longer,
and that they had no great hopes of succour, capitulated with the
commissaries of the count to surrender the place, on being allowed to
march away in safety with their arms and baggage. On the surrender of
the castle, it was set on fire, and razed to the ground, and the count
marched his army during Passion-week to the places they had come from.
This siege of Mailly had lasted upwards of three weeks,--and the whole
country that had been laid under contributions by the garrison were
greatly rejoiced when it was known for certain that the castle was
demolished and the garrison driven thence.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 112: Mailly,--a town in Picardy, near Peronne.]
[A.D. 1443.]
CHAP. LVIII.
THE KING OF FRANCE ASSEMBLES A LARGE ARMY TO MARCH INTO NORMANDY.--THE
EARL OF SOMERSET[113] MAKES SOME CONQUESTS FROM THE FRENCH IN ANJOU
AND ELSEWHERE.
At the beginning of this year, the king of France assembled a numerous
body of men at arms, with the intent of marching them into Normandy the
ensuing summer to relieve Dieppe, which was hardly pressed by a very
strong blockhouse the English had raised against it. The king meant,
under escort of this succour, to revictual the town; and consequently
the men at arms conducted thither numbers of cattle and other stores,
which they drove forcibly into the town, notwithstanding the severe
skirmishes that took place, when many were killed and wounded on both
sides.
About this time, the earl of Somerset had collected a body of six
thousand combatants, or thereabout, and marched them into the province
of Anjou, committing great waste with fire and sword; after which,
he advanced toward Brittany, and took by storm La Guerche[114],
belonging to the duke of Alençon, which town was plundered by the
English. He thence advanced to Ponsay[115], where he remained upwards
of two months, but detached parties of men, who overran the countries
of Anjou, Touraine, and near to Chartres, where at times they were
attacked and defeated by peasants.
The marshal de Lohéac had the defence of this part of the kingdom
intrusted to him by king Charles, and to oppose the English with the
men of the duke of Alençon. They formed a plan to attack the English
camp by night; but the earl of Somerset, having had intelligence
thereof, advanced to meet them, and fell on them unawares. The French
were thrown into confusion, and from twenty to thirty were killed or
taken: the rest saved themselves by flight as well as they could. Among
the prisoners were the lord d'Assigny, Louis de Beuil, and many other
gentlemen.
The earl of Somerset now dislodged from before Pouencé, and took the
castle of Beaumont le Vicomte[116]. Having posted garrisons along the
frontier, he returned to Rouen.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 113: John earl of Somerset succeeded to the earldom of
Somerset in 1443: he was created duke of Somerset and earl of Kendal,
&c. in the 21st year of Henry VI. Dying without male issue, he was
succeeded by his brother Edmund, earl of Mortain, in Normandy, and
marquis of Dorset. He was slain at the battle of St Alban's.
See Collins' Peerage,--Scudamore Beaufort,--and also sir William
Paston's letters, wherein are many curious particulars relating to him.
Sir William married into that family.]
[Footnote 114: La Guerche,--a town in Brittany, near Vitré.]
[Footnote 115: Ponsay, Pouencé.--Du Cange.]
[Footnote 116: Beaumont-le-Vicomte,--a town in Maine, near Fresnay.]
CHAP. LIX.
SOME KNIGHTS AND GENTLEMEN OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY'S COURT HOLD A
TOURNAMENT NEAR TO DIJON.
During the duke of Burgundy's residence in that duchy, several
gentlemen of his household, with his permission, and for his amusement,
had it proclaimed throughout Burgundy, and in other countries, that if
there were any men of name desirous of gaining honour and renown by
deeds of arms, there were gentlemen, whose names shall be presently
declared, who offered to receive and furnish them with arms suitable
for the enterprise. The challenges shall likewise be mentioned that
were dispersed through divers countries for this purpose, by sir Pierre
de Bauffremont lord of Chargny, who was the chief of the enterprise.
CHAP. LX.
THE CHALLENGES FOR THIS TOURNAMENT AND THE NAMES OF THE CHAMPIONS.
'In honour of our Lord, and of his most glorious mother, of my lady
Sainte Anne, and of my lord St George, I, Pierre de Bauffremnont
lord of Chargny, of Monliet and of Montfort, knight, counsellor and
chamberlain, to the most high, most puissant and excellent prince
the duke of Burgundy, make known to all princes, barons, knights
and esquires, without reproach, with the exception of those of the
kingdom of France and of the countries in alliance, or subjects to my
said sovereign lord, that for the augmentation and extension of the
most noble profession and exercise of arms, my will and intention is,
in conjunction with twelve knights, esquires and gentlemen, of four
quartering, whose names follow,--Thibault lord of Rougemont and Mussy,
sir William de Bresremont lord of Sees and of Sonnegnon, William de
Brene lord of Mombis and of Gilly, John lord of Valengon, John lord of
Rap and of Tirecourt, William de Champdivers lord of Chevigny, John de
Chiron lord Rancheineres, Anthony de Vaudray, lord of Aille, William
de Vaudray lord of Collaon, James de Challant lord of Ainville, sir
Amey lord of Espirey, and John de Chavigny,--to guard and defend a pass
d'armes, situated on the great road leading from Dijon toward Exonne,
at the end of the causeway from the said town of Dijon, at a great tree
called the Hermit's Tree, in the form and manner following.
'In the first place, two shields (one black, besprinkled with tears of
gold,--the other violet, having tears of sable,) shall be suspended on
the tree of the hermit, and all those who shall, by a king at arms or
pursuivant, touch the first shield, shall be bounden to perform twelve
courses on horseback with me, or with one of my aforesaid knights or
esquires, with blunted lances.
'Item, if either of the champions, during their twelve courses, be
unhorsed by a direct blow with the lance on his armour, such person,
thus unhorsed, shall present to his adversary a diamond of whatever
value he please.
'Item, the champions may arm themselves according to their pleasure,
double or single, but without any wicked intentions, having their rest
similar to the usual custom in war.
'Item, each person shall make provision of lances,--but the rondelle,
which lies on the hands, shall be only four fingers broad, and no
more.[117]
'Item, the lances shall be all of similar length, from the point to the
rest.
'Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms on horseback, I
will supply all who may come without lances, precisely like to my own
and to those of my companions.
'Item, these deeds of arms on horseback shall be performed _à la
toille_, which shall be six feet high.'
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 117: This article I do not understand. In the original it is
_tondelle_,--altered by Du Cange to _rondelle_, which is translated
by Cotgrave, 'a small target;' but four fingers wide would be too
insignificant for any defence. I have, therefore, left it for better
antiquaries to explain.]
CHAP. LXI.
HERE FOLLOW THE ARTICLES FOR THE DEEDS OF ARMS ON FOOT.
'Those princes, barons, knights and esquires, of the rank before
mentioned, who shall rather take their pleasure in performing feats of
arms on foot, shall touch the violet shield, and shall perform fifteen
courses with battle-axes or swords, as may be most agreeable to them.
'Item, if, during these courses, any champion shall touch the ground
with his hand or knees, he shall be bounden to present his adversary
with a ruby of whatever value he please.
'Item, each champion shall be armed with the accustomed armour for
combating in lists.
'Item, should any person be unprovided with battle-axe or sword, I
will furnish him with the same, similar to my own or to those of
my companions. These axes and swords are not to have any thing
extraordinary in their make, but such as are usual in these kind of
combats.
'Item, he that shall have engaged himself to fight with me, or either
of us, and shall throw the other to the ground, the person so thrown
shall be obliged to surrender himself a prisoner whithersoever the
conqueror shall order him.
'Item, the person thus made prisoner shall pay for his immediate
ransom, to whomsoever the conqueror shall direct, any sum above five
hundred crowns.
'Item, foreigners need not seek for particulars from me, or from my
companions, for they will find persons ready to deliver such at the
usual hours and places.
'Item, no stranger will be permitted to enter the lists with me or with
any one of my companions, for more than one course at arms, namely,
once on horseback and once on foot,--and no one can require more of any
of us during the present undertaking.
'Item, the aforesaid feats of arms, on horseback and on foot, shall
be performed on the following days: those on horseback on Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays,--those on foot, Thursdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays.
'Item, this pass d'armes shall commence on the first-day of July, in
the year 1443, and shall last forty days, exclusive of feast-days and
Sundays, and the feasts commanded to be kept by the court of Rome.
'Item, no prince, baron, knight or esquire shall pass within a quarter
of a league of the spot assigned for these combats without entering the
lists and taking part, or otherwise leaving as pledges his sword or
spurs according to his pleasure.
'Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms, as well on
horseback as on foot, according to the articles above specified, I
have most humbly supplicated and entreated my aforesaid sovereign
lord, that he would grant me his licence and permission to perform
them, which he has most benignantly assented to. He has likewise most
graciously appointed, as judge of the lists, that puissant prince and
my most redoubted lord the count of Nevers and of Rethel,--and, in his
absence, the lord marshal count of Fribourg and of Neufchâtel.
'In order that this my intention of performing these deeds of arms in
the manner before specified may be more fully declared, I have affixed
my seal to these presents, and signed them with my own hand, this 8th
day of March, in the year 1442.
'Item, I beseech all princes, barons, knights and esquires, not to
construe this my intention as proceeding from any presumption on my
part; for my sole motive is to exalt the noble profession of arms, and
to extend the exercise of it,--and also to make acquaintance by arms
with such renowned and valiant princes and nobles as may be pleased to
honour me with their company.
'Item, all noble foreigners shall have sure and loyal passports from my
aforesaid sovereign lord, or, in his absence, from his marshal.'
CHAP. LXII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS THE COUNT D'ESTAMPES, WITH A LARGE BODY OF
MEN AT ARMS, INTO THE DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG.
At this period, the duchess of Luxembourg, widow to duke Anthony of
Brabant and to John of Bavaria (both of them uncles to the duke of
Burgundy, one by the father's the other by the mother's side), made
heavy complaints to the duke of Burgundy that the greater part of
her subjects and vassals in the duchy of Luxembourg had refused to
obey her, or pay her the rents that were her due. The inhabitants of
Luxembourg and Thionville were particularly rebellious, with those of
other places in their neighbourhood, by driving out of their towns her
officers. She most humbly requested of him, from his love to God, and
in honour to his two uncles, whom she had married, and to whom she had
always behaved most honourably, that he would take compassion on her
case, and afford her such succour as should replace her with honour in
her duchy, otherwise she should be reduced to live in great poverty and
misery.
The duke made her a very kind answer, saying that he would heartily
assist her against her rebellious subjects with every means in his
power,--for which she gratefully thanked him. In consequence, he
lost no time to assemble his council, for them to deliberate on the
matter and determine on the most efficacious method of performing
his engagement.--It was resolved at this council, that the duke of
Burgundy should send a solemn message to the inhabitants of Luxembourg,
to require of them to perform their duties to the duchess and to her
officers, as they were bounden to do,--and that, should they refuse,
he, the duke, would support her with all his power, to restore to her
her rights.