Mathew [10]Gough so well sped his businesse, that priuilie in the night
he came into the castell, where he learned that the Frenchmen verie
negligentlie vsed themselues, without taking héed to their watch, as
though they had béene out of all danger: which well vnderstood, he
returned againe, and within a mile of the citie met the lord Talbot,
and the lord Scales, and opened vnto them all things, according to
his credence. The lords then, to make hast in the matter, bicause the
daie approched, with all spéed possible came to the posterne gate, and
alighting from their horsses, about six of the clocke in the morning,
they issued out of the castell, crieng, saint George, Talbot.
[10] Goche.
[Sidenote: Mans recouered.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]
[Sidenote: Traitors executed.]
The Frenchmen being thus suddenlie taken, were sore amazed, in so much
that some of them, being not out of their beds, got vp in their shirts,
and lept ouer the walles. Other ran naked out of the gates to saue
their liues, leauing all their apparell, horsses, armour, and riches
behind them, none was hurt but such as resisted. ¶ Hard shift was made
on all hands for safetie of life, and happie was he that could find a
place of refuge where to lurke vnspide and vnhurt of the enimie; who
in the execution of their vengeance were so peremptorie, that it was a
matter of great difficultie or rather impossibilitie to escape their
force. To be short, there were slaine and taken, to the number of foure
hundred gentlemen, the priuat souldiers were frankelie let go. After
this, inquisition was made of the authors of the treason, and there
were found & condemned thirtie citizens, twentie priests, and fiftéene
friers, who according to their demerits were all hanged.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 6.]
[Sidenote: Duke of Execester deceased.]
[Sidenote: 1428.]
The citie of Mans being thus recouered, the lord Talbot returned to
Alanson, and shortlie after the earle of Warwike departed into England,
to be gouernour of the yoong king, in stéed of Thomas duke of Excester,
latelie departed to God, and then was the lord Thomas Montacute earle
of Salisburie sent into France, to supplie the roome of the said earle
of Warwike, who landed at Calis with fiue thousand men, and so came to
the duke of Bedford as then lieng in Paris, where they fell in councell
togither concerning the affaires of France, and namelie the earle of
Salisburie began maruellouslie to phantasie the gaining of the citie &
countrie of Orleance.
[Sidenote: Montacute earle of Salisburie a politike and valiant man.]
This earle was the man at that time, by whose wit, strength, and
policie, the English name was much fearefull and terrible to the
French nation, which of himselfe might both appoint, command, and doo
all things in manner at his pleasure, in whose power (as it appeared
after his death) a great part of the conquest consisted: for suerlie,
he was a man both painefull, diligent, and readie to withstand all
dangerous chances that were at hand, prompt in counsell, and of courage
inuincible, so that in no one man, men put more trust; nor any singular
person wan the harts so much of all men.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: _Les grandes chroniques de Britagne._]
Herevpon, after this great enterprise had long béene debated in the
priuie councell, the earle of Salisburies deuise therein was of them
all granted and allowed, so that he being replenished with good hope of
victorie, and furnished with artillerie & munition apperteining to so
great an enterprise, accompanied with the earle of Suffolke, and the
lord Talbot, and with a valiant armie, to the number of ten thousand
men, departed from Paris, and passed through the countrie of Beausse.
There he tooke by assault the towne of Genuille, and within fiue daies
after had the castell deliuered vnto him, by them that were fled into
it for their safegard. He also tooke the towne of Baugencie, suffering
euerie man which would become subiect to the king of England, to inioie
their lands and goods. The townes of Meun vpon Loire, and Iargeaulx,
hearing of these dooings, presented to them the keies of their townes
vpon like agréement. [About Maie in this 1428, the towne of Naunts
and territories there with a fearefull earthquake were shaken, houses
castels and strong buildings in such terrour, as it was thought the end
of the world had béene come.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]
[Sidenote: Orleance besieged.]
[Sidenote: Bastard of Orleance.]
After this, in the moneth of September the earle came before the citie
of Orleance, and planted his siege on the one side of the riuer of
Loire; but before his comming, the bastard of Orleance, the bishop
of the citie, and a great number of Scots, hearing of the earles
intent, made diuerse fortifications about the towne, and destroied the
suburbes, in which were twelue parish churches, and foure orders of
friers. They cut also downe all the vines, trées, and bushes, within
fiue leagues of the citie, so that the Englishmen should haue neither
refuge nor succour.
[Sidenote: A bulwarke at Orleance taken.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]
After the siege had continued full thrée wéekes, the bastard of
Orleance issued out of the gate of the bridge, and fought with the
Englishmen; but they receiued him with so fierce and terrible strokes,
that he was with all his companie compelled to retire and flée backe
into the citie. But the Englishmen followed so fast, in killing and
taking of their enimies, that they entered with them. ¶ The bulworke
of the bridge, with a great tower standing at the end of the same, was
taken incontinentlie by the Englishmen, who behaued themselues right
valiantlie vnder the conduct of their couragious capteine, as at this
assault, so in diuerse skirmishes against the French; partlie to kéepe
possession of that which Henrie the fift had by his magnanimitie &
puissance atchiued, as also to inlarge the same. But all helped not.
For who can hold that which will awaie: In so much that some cities by
fraudulent practises, othersome by martiall prowesse were recouered
by the French, to the great discouragement of the English and the
appalling of their spirits; whose hope was now dashed partlie by their
great losses and discomfitures (as after you shall heare) but chéeflie
by the death of the late deceassed Henrie their victorious king; as
Chr. Okland verie trulie and agréeablie to the storie noteth:
Delphinus comitésque eius fera prælia tentant,
Fraude domi capiunt alias, virtute receptæ
Sunt vrbes aliæ quædam sublapsa refertur
Anglûm spes retrò languescere pectora dicas,
Quippe erat Henricus quintus, dux strenuus olim,
Mortuus: hinc damni grauior causa atque doloris.
In this conflict, manie Frenchmen were taken, but more were slaine, and
the kéeping of the tower and bulworke was committed to William Glasdale
esquier. By the taking of this bridge the passage was stopped, that
neither men nor vittels could go or come by that waie. After this,
the earle caused certeine bulworkes to be made round about the towne,
casting trenches betwéene the one and the other, laieng ordinance in
euerie place where he saw that any batterie might be deuised. When they
within saw that they were enuironed with fortresses and ordinance,
they laid gun against gun, and fortified towers against bulworkes, and
within cast new rampiers, and fortified themselues as stronglie as
might be deuised.
The bastard of Orleance and the Hire were appointed to sée the walles
and watches kept, and the bishop saw that the inhabitants within the
citie were put in good order, and that vittels were not vainelie
spent. In the tower that was taken at the bridge end (as before you
haue heard) there was an high chamber, hauing a grate full of barres
of iron, by the which a man might looke all the length of the bridge
into the citie; at which grate manie of the chéefe capteins stood manie
times, viewing the citie, and deuising in what place it was best to
giue the assault. They within the citie well perceiued this tooting
hole, and laid a péece of ordinance directlie against the window.
[Sidenote: The earle of Salisburie slaine.]
It so chanced, that the nine and fiftith daie after the siege was laid,
the earle of Salisburie, sir Thomas Gargraue, and William Glasdale,
with diuerse other went into the said tower, and so into the high
chamber, and looked out at the grate, and within a short space, the
sonne of the maister-gunner, perceiuing men looking out at the window,
tooke his match (as his father had taught him who was gone downe to
dinner), and fired the gun; the shot whereof brake, and shiuered the
iron barres of the grate, so that one of the same bars strake the earle
so violentlie on the head, that it stroke awaie one of his eies, and
the side of his chéeke. Sir Thomas Gargraue was likewise striken, and
died within two daies.
The earle was conueied to Meun on Loire, where after eight daies he
likewise departed this world, whose bodie was conueied into England
with all funerall appointment, and buried at Bissam by his progenitors,
leauing behind him an onelie daughter named Alice, married to Richard
Neuill, sonne to Rafe earle of Westmerland, of whome more shall be said
héereafter. The damage that the realme of England receiued by the losse
of this noble man, manifestlie appeared; in that immediatlie after
his death, the prosperous good lucke, which had followed the English
nation, began to decline, and the glorie of their victories gotten in
the parties beyond the sea fell in decaie.
Though all men were sorowfull for his death, yet the duke of Bedford
was most striken with heauinesse, as he that had lost his onelie right
hand, and chéefe aid in time of necessitie. But sith that dead men
cannot helpe the chances of men that be liuing, he like a prudent
gouernour appointed the earle of Suffolke to be his lieutenant and
capteine of the siege, and ioined with him the lord Scales, the lord
Talbot, sir Iohn Fastolfe, and diuerse other right valiant capteins.
These persons caused bastilles to be made round about the citie, and
left nothing vnattempted, that might aduance their purpose, which to
bring to wished effect there was not anie want, as of no cautelous
policie, so of no valiant enterprise, tending to the enimies ouerthrow.
[Sidenote: 1429.]
[Sidenote: _Enguerant._]
In the Lent season, vittels and artillerie began to waxe scant in
the English campe, wherefore the earle of Suffolke appointed sir
Iohn Fastolfe, sir Thomas Rampston, and sir Philip Hall, with their
retinues, to ride to Paris, to the lord regent, to informe him of their
lacke, who incontinentlie vpon that information prouided vittels,
artillerie, and munitions necessarie, and loded therewith manie
chariots, carts, and horsses: and for the sure conueieng of the same,
he appointed sir Simon Morhier, prouost of Paris, with the gard of the
citie, and diuerse of his owne houshold-seruants to accompanie sir
Iohn Fastolfe and his complices, to the armie lieng at the siege of
Orleance. They were in all to the number of fiftéene hundred men, of
the which there were not past fiue or six hundred Englishmen.
These departing in good order of battell out of Paris, came to Genuille
in Beausse, and in a morning earlie, in a great frost, they departed
from thence toward the siege; and when they came to a towne called
Rowraie, in the lands of Beausse, they perceiued their enimies comming
towards them, being to the number of nine or ten thousand of Frenchmen
and Scots, of whome were capteins Charles of Cleremont, sonne to the
duke of Bourbon then being prisoner in England; sir William Steward
constable of Scotland, a little before deliuered out of captiuitie,
the earle of Perdriake the lord Iohn Vandosme, the Vidame of Chartres,
the lord of Toures, the lord of Lohar, the lord of Eglere, the lord of
Beauiew, the bastard Tremoile, and manie other valiant capteins.
[Sidenote: 1500 English did slaie and väquish 10000 French.]
Wherefore sir Iohn Fastolfe set all his companie in good order of
battell, and pitched stakes before euerie archer, to breake the
force of the horssemen. At their backes they set all the wagons and
carriages, and within them they tied all their horsses. In this maner
stood they still, abiding the assault of their enimies. The Frenchmen
by reason of their great number, thinking themselues sure of the
victorie, egerlie set on the Englishmen, which with great force them
receiued, and themselues manfullie defended. At length, after long
and cruell fight, the Englishmen droue backe and vanquished the proud
Frenchmen, & compelled them to flée. In this conflict were slaine the
lord William Steward constable of Scotland, and his brother the lord
Dorualle, the lord Chateaubriam, sir Iohn Basgot, and other Frenchmen
and Scots, to the number of fiue and twentie hundred, and aboue eleuen
hundred taken prisoners, although the French writers affirme the number
lesse.
[Sidenote: The battell of herrings.]
After this fortunate victorie, sir Iohn Fastolfe and his companie
(hauing lost no one man of anie reputation) with all their cariages,
vittels, and prisoners, marched foorth and came to the English campe
before Orleance, where they were ioifullie receiued, and highlie
commended for their valiancie and worthie prowesse shewed in the
battell; the which bicause most part of the cariage was herring and
lenton stuffe, the Frenchmen called it the battell of herrings. The
earle of Suffolke being thus vittelled, continued the siege, and euerie
daie almost skirmished with the Frenchmen within, who (at length being
in despaire of all succours) offered to treat, and in conclusion, to
saue themselues and the citie from captiuitie of their enimies, they
deuised to submit the citie, themselues, and all theirs vnder the
obeisance of Philip duke of Burgognie, bicause he was extract out of
the stocke and bloud roiall of the ancient kings of France, thinking by
this means (as they did in déed) to breake or diminish the great amitie
betwéene the Englishmen and him.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
This offer was signified by them vnto the duke of Burgognie, who with
thanks certified them againe, that he would gladlie receiue them, if
the lord regent would therewith be contented. Herevpon he dispatched
messengers to the duke of Bedford, who though some counselled that it
should be verie good and necessarie for him to agrée to that maner
of yéelding; yet he and other thought it neither conuenient nor
honourable, that a citie so long besieged by the king of England,
should be deliuered vnto anie other prince, than to him, or to his
regent, for that might be a verie bad president to other townes in anie
like case. Herevpon the regent answered the Burgognian ambassadors:
that after so long a siege on his part, and obstinat a resistance
of theirs, he might not receiue rendring and conditions at their
appointment. At this answer the duke hoong the groine, as concerning
that our side should enuie his glorie, or not to be so forward in
aduancing his honour as he would haue it.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: _Ieha de Tillet._]
[Sidenote: _Les chronic. de Bretagne_: _Le Rosier_ calleth him Robert.]
[Sidenote: _Ione de Arc Pusell de dieu._]
[Sidenote: _In vita Bundvicæ._]
[Sidenote: _Grand Chro._ 4.]
In time of this siege at Orleance (French stories saie) the first wéeke
of March 1428, vnto Charles the Dolphin, at Chinon as he was in verie
great care and studie how to wrestle against the English nation, by one
Peter Badricourt capteine of Vacouleur, (made after marshall of France
by the Dolphins creation) was caried a yoong wench of an eightéene
yéeres old, called Ione Arc, by name of hir father (a sorie shéepheard)
Iames of Arc, and Isabell hir mother, brought vp poorelie in their
trade of kéeping cattell, borne at Domprin (therefore reported by Bale,
Ione Domprin) vpon Meuse in Loraine within the diocesse of Thoule.
Of fauour was she counted likesome, of person stronglie made and
manlie, of courage great, hardie, and stout withall, an vnderstander
of counsels though she were not at them, great semblance of chastitie
both of bodie and behauiour, the name of Iesus in hir mouth about all
hir businesses, humble, obedient, and fasting diuerse daies in the
wéeke. A person (as their bookes make hir) raised vp by power diuine,
onelie for succour to the French estate then déepelie in distresse,
in whome, for planting a credit the rather, first the companie that
toward the Dolphin did conduct hir, through places all dangerous, as
holden by the English, where she neuer was afore, all the waie and by
nightertale safelie did she lead; then at the Dolphins sending by hir
assignement, from saint Katharins church of Fierbois in Touraine (where
she neuer had béene and knew not) in a secret place there among old
iron, appointed she hir sword to be sought out and brought hir, that
with fiue floure delices was grauen on both sides, wherewith she fought
& did manie slaughters by hir owne hands. On warfar rode she in armour
[11] cap a pie & mustered as a man, before hir an ensigne all white,
wherin was Iesus Christ painted with a floure delice in his hand.
[11] From head to foot.
[Sidenote: This salutation appeareth after héere.]
[Sidenote: _Les grand chronic._]
Vnto the Dolphin into his gallerie when first she was brought, and
he shadowing himselfe behind, setting other gaie lords before him to
trie hir cunning from all the companie, with a salutation (that indéed
marz all the matter) she pickt him out alone, who therevpon had hir
to the end of the gallerie, where she held him an houre in secret and
priuate talke, that of his priuie chamber was thought verie long, and
therefore would haue broken it off; but he made them a sign to let hir
saie on. In which (among other) as likelie it was, she set out vnto him
the singular feats (forsooth) giuen her to vnderstand by reuelation
diuine, that in vertue of that sword shée should atchiue, which were,
how with honor and victorie shée would raise the siege at Orleance,
set him in state of the crowne of France, and driue the English out of
the countrie, thereby he to inioie the kingdome alone. Héerevpon he
hartened at full, appointed hir a sufficient armie with absolute power
to lead them, and they obedientlie to doo as she bad them. Then fell
she to worke, and first defeated indéed the siege at Orleance, by and
by incouraged him to crowne himselfe king of France at Reims, that a
little before from the English she had woone. Thus after pursued she
manie bold enterprises to our great displeasure a two yeare togither,
for the time she kept in state vntill she were taken and for heresie
and witcherie burned: as in particularities hereafter followeth. But in
hir prime time she armed at all points (like a iolie capteine) roade
from Poictiers to Blois, and there found men of warre, vittels, and
munition, ready to be conueied to Orleance.
Héere was it knowne that the Englishmen kept not so diligent watch
as they had béene accustomed to doo, and therefore this maid (with
other French capteins) comming forward in the dead time of the night,
and in a great raine and thunder entred into the citie with all their
vittels, artillerie, and other necessarie prouisions. The next daie
the Englishmen boldlie assaulted the towne, but the Frenchmen defended
the walles so, as no great feat worthie of memorie chanced that daie
betwixt them, though the Frenchmen were amazed at the valiant attempt
of the Englishmen, whervpon the bastard of Orleance gaue knowledge to
the duke of Alanson, in what danger the towne stood without his present
helpe, who comming within two leagues of the citie, gaue knowledge to
them within, that they should be readie the next daie to receiue him.
This accordinglie was accomplished: for the Englishmen willinglie
suffered him and his armie also to enter, supposing that it should
be for their aduantage to haue so great a multitude to enter the
citie, whereby their vittels (whereof they within had great scarsitie)
might the sooner be consumed. On the next daie in the morning, the
Frenchmen altogither issued out of the towne, woone by assault the
bastile of saint Lou, and set it on fire. And after they likewise
assaulted the tower at the bridge foot, which was manfullie defended.
But the Frenchmen (more in number) at length tooke it, yer the lord
Talbot could come to the succours, in the which William Gladesdale the
capteine was slaine, with the lord Moolins, and lord Poinings also.
The Frenchmen puffed vp with this good lucke, fetched a compasse about,
and in good order of battell marched toward the bastile, which was in
the kéeping of the lord Talbot: the which vpon the enimies approch,
like a capteine without all feare or dread of that great multitude,
issued foorth againt them, and gaue them so sharpe an incounter, that
they not able to withstand his puissance, fled (like shéepe before
the woolfe) againe into the citie, with great losse of men and small
artillerie. Of Englishmen were lost in the two Bastiles, to the number
of six hundred persons, or thereabout, though the French writers
multiplie this number of hundreds to thousands, as their maner is.
[Sidenote: The siege of Orleance broken vp.]
The earle of Suffolke, the lord Talbot, the lord Scales, and other
capteins assembled togither in councell, and after causes shewed to
and fro, it was amongst them determined to leaue their fortresses and
bastiles, and to assemble in the plaine field, and there to abide all
the daie to sée if the Frenchmen would issue foorth to fight with them.
This conclusion taken was accordinglie executed: but when the Frenchmen
durst not once come foorth to shew their heads, the Englishmen set fire
of their lodgings, and departed in good order of Battell from Orleance.
The next daie, which was the eight daie of Maie, the earle of Suffolke
rode to Iargeaux with foure hundred Englishmen, and the lord Talbot
with an other companie returned to Mehun. And after he had fortified
that towne, he went to the towne of Lauall, and woone it, togither with
the castell, sore punishing the townsmen for their cankered obstinacie
against them.
Thus when the Englishmen had seuered themselues into garrisons, the
duke of Alanson, the bastard of Orleance, Ione le Pusell, the lord
Gawcourt, and diuerse other capteins of the Frenchmen, came the twelfe
daie of Iune, before the towne of Iargeaux, where the earle of Suffolke
and his two brethren soiourned, & gaue to the towne so fierce an
assault on thrée parts, that Poiton de Sentrailes, perceiuing an other
part void of defendants, scaled the wals on that side, and without
difficultie tooke the towne, and slue sir Alexander Poole, brother
to the erle, and manie other, to the number of two hundred. But the
Frenchmen gained not much thereby, for they lost thrée hundred good men
and more. Of the Englishmen fortie were taken, with the earle and his
other brother named Iohn.
[Sidenote: Prisoners slaine by the French as they were taken.]
The Frenchmen, as they returned to Orleance, fell at variance for
their prisoners, and slue them all, sauing the earle and his brother.
Shortlie after, the same French armie came to Mehun, where they tooke
the tower at the bridge foot, and put therein a garrison. From thence
they remooued to Baugencie, and constreined them that were within the
towne to yéeld, vpon condition they might depart with bag and baggage.
At the same place there came to the duke of Alanson, the new constable
Arthur of Britaine, and with him the lord Dalbret, and other. Also
after this the earle of Vandosme came to them, so that by the dailie
repaire of such as assembled togither to strengthen the French part,
they were in all to the number betwéene twentie and thrée and twentie
thousand men.
[Sidenote: _Nichol. Giles._]
[Sidenote: Fiue thous[=a]d saith _Hall_.]