prisoner, in order to save him and restore him to liberty; but sir John
de Cornwall took him from him, saying that he had not any right to make
him his prisoner, since he had a passport from his captain; and because
Hector would not release him at the first word, Cornwall smote him
severely on the arm with his gauntlet, which incensed Hector much,--but
he could not help himself; as the English were too numerous.
Sir Karados, the lord of Flavy, and the most part of the men at arms
were made prisoners by the English; but those taken by the Picards
were put to death by them, for they were afraid to bring them to their
quarters on account of the passports that had been granted them.
However, Harbonniers, who was prisoner to Aubellet de Folleville, was
carried to Noyon, and there beheaded.
The English, after this affair, returned with their prisoners to a
village within two leagues of Roye, where they quartered themselves.
Hector de Saveuses made what haste he could to sir John de Luxembourg,
to relate all that had passed, who was greatly enraged that his
passports should have been treated with such contempt, especially by
those of his own army and under his command. He therefore dispatched
an angry message to Anthony lord of Croy, to order him to send Butor
de Croy, his bastard-brother, and some others of his people, who had
infringed his passports, that he might punish them accordingly. He sent
a similar order to the lord de Longueval for the bastard Dunon, brother
to his wife, to be brought before him, but neither of these lords
would obey his commands.
Upon this, sir John sent word, that if they did not deliver them up
instantly, he would take them by force from their quarters. Longueval
replied, that if he attempted it, and was not the strongest, he should
not have them; and he would prefer putting them to death to yielding
them up to him. These and other expressions created a great animosity
between sir John and these two lords, which lasted a considerable time.
However, nothing further was done in the matter; for those who were
demanded to be delivered up departed secretly, and went whither they
pleased.
On the morrow, sir John de Luxembourg, attended by part of his army,
went to visit the lord Huntingdon and sir John de Cornwall at their
quarters, and recommended to their attentions sir Karados de Quesnes
and the other prisoners, who had been taken under his passports. They
nevertheless remained prisoners, and were carried to England, where
they were long detained, and did not recover their liberties until they
had paid a heavy ransom.
When sir John de Luxembourg had passed some time at the English
quarters, he returned to his own: the next day he disbanded the greater
part of his captains and their men at arms, and went himself with
Hector de Saveuses to place garrisons in the castles on the river Sere,
and on the frontiers of the Laonnois, against the Dauphinois, who were
in great force at Crespy and in the Laonnois. Hector was ordered to
remain at Nouvion le Comte, as commander in chief of these troops. Sir
John then returned to his castle of Beaurevoir, to see his wife and
children, and to make preparations to accompany the duke of Burgundy on
the journey he intended speedily to undertake.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 4: See Dugdale's 'Baronage.']
CHAP. XXXIII.
THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS BEGIN TO FORM ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE
ENGLISH--THE SIEGE OF FONTAINES-LAVAGAM.--OTHER MATTERS.
About this time, those attached to the party of the king of France
and the duke of Burgundy, began to open an intercourse in trade, and
to form acquaintance with the English on the borders of Normandy, for
peace was now established between them. At this period also, the earl
of Huntingdon and sir John de Cornwall, with three thousand combatants,
besieged the castle of Fontaines-Lavagam, which, during the war, had
held out for the Orleans party, and had never been conquered. The
garrison had, for a long time, grievously oppressed the country of
Beauvoisis, the borders of Normandy, and the districts about Amiens.
At the end of about three weeks siege, this castle was surrendered,
on condition that the lives and fortunes of the besieged should be
spared, and that they should march away in safety. When the place was
evacuated, the fortifications were completely destroyed.
On the other hand, the castle of Muyn submitted to the obedience
of the vidame of Amiens on the 19th day of January, by means of
some intelligence he had with those within it. This, as well as
Fontaines-Lavagam, had been of great annoyance to the surrounding
countries. A Norman gentleman, called Bigas, was made prisoner there,
and also the lady of the place, wife to sir Collart de Calleville, with
some others,--and much wealth was found therein.
About this time, the duke of Burgundy prepared to march with his whole
power to king Charles at Troyes in Champagne. He issued a strict
summons throughout his dominions for all who had been accustomed to
bear arms to make ready to attend him on this journey. From Ghent,
where he resided, he came with his lady the duchess to Arras, and
appointed master John de Torsy, bishop of Tournay, his chancellor.
He there assembled, by virtue of his summons, a very large body of men
at arms; and on the Saturday after the Epiphany, the truces between the
kings of France and of England were proclaimed in all the countries
under the subjection of the king and the duke of Burgundy from Paris
to Boulogne sur mer, and to Troyes in Champagne: they were to last
until the middle of March following, or until a final peace should be
concluded between the two kings.
During this time, the English, in great force, under the command of
the earl of Huntingdon and sir John de Cornwall, marched to the castle
of Clermont, which they valiantly attacked, but it was as vigorously
defended. The English, having had many killed and wounded, set fire
to and burnt the village of St Andrieu, wherein were several handsome
mansions, and substantial houses. They then overran the whole county
of Clermont, and gained much plunder, with which they returned to the
duchy of Normandy.
CHAP. XXXIV.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY DEPARTS FROM ARRAS, AND MARCHES A LARGE ARMY TO
LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF CRESPY IN THE LAONNOIS, AND THENCE TO WAIT ON
THE KING OF FRANCE AT TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.
When the duke of Burgundy had celebrated the feast of the Purification
in Arras, he departed, leaving his duchess there, for his castle of
Bapaumes, and thence he went to Oisy in the Cambresis, to visit his
aunt the countess of Hainault, with whom he had a conference, and
proceeded to Peronne. Thither many of his captains and vassals came,
and with them he marched to St Quentin, where he tarried some time, to
wait the arrival of the whole of his forces.
Ambassadors from king Henry there joined him, having with them about
five hundred combatants, under the command of the earls of Warwick and
Kyme, the lord Roos, marshal of England, and sir Louis de Robesart, a
native of Hainault, who accompanied the duke to Troyes.
There also came to him while at St Quentin a deputation from the town
of Laon, who, with the inhabitants of St Quentin, earnestly besought
the duke of Burgundy that he would besiege the town of Crespy, which
held for the dauphin, as that garrison had done very great injuries to
the whole country. The duke, in compliance with their remonstrances,
consented, and advanced to Cressy sur Serre, where he was lodged: he
thence sent forward sir John de Luxembourg, with Hector and Philip de
Saveuses, and other captains, to quarter themselves in a village near
to Crespy, by way of vanguard.
Shortly after, the duke, with his whole army, invested Crespy, in
which place might be about five hundred Dauphinois men at arms, under
the command of La Hire, Poton de Saintrailles, Dandonet, and other
adventurers, who with great courage defended the town against the
besiegers, notwithstanding they had approached very near, and had
pointed their artillery against the walls and gates.
There were with the duke many captains who had served under duke John
his father, namely, sir John de Luxembourg, the lords de l'Isle-Adam
and de Chastellus, both marshals of France, sir Robinet de Mailly
great butler of France, le veau de Bar bailiff of Auxois, the vidame
of Amiens, Anthony lord de Croy, sir Philip de Fosseux and his brother
John, the lord de Longueval, Hector and Philip de Saveuses, the lord de
Humieres, who commanded the men at arms of the lord d'Antoing, the lord
de Humbercourt, sir Mauroy de St Leger, the lord de Stenhuse sovereign
bailiff of Flanders, the lords de Comines, de Haluin, the bastard of
Harcourt, and all the vassals of his uncle sir James de Harcourt, with
numbers of other notable knights and esquires from the different parts
of the duke's dominions.
His most confidential advisers were sir Actis de Brimeu, knight, the
lord de Robais, and the bishop of Tournay, his chancellor. The duke
made vast preparations for this siege; but at the end of fifteen days a
treaty was concluded for the surrender of the town, on condition, that
the garrison should depart in safety with their baggage; but because
this was his first campaign, a few were excepted, and sent prisoners to
some of the towns under the king's obedience.
On the ratification of this treaty, the garrison marched away, under
passports from the duke; but notwithstanding this, many were plundered,
to the great indignation of the duke and his ministers, who caused
restitution to be made to all who came to complain.
The Dauphinois marched to Soissons, a town belonging to their
party, and Crespy was despoiled of every thing that was portable.
At the request of the inhabitants of Laon, the fortifications were
demolished,--that is to say, its gates and walls, to the great sorrow
of the townsmen, and not without cause, for before the war it was
abundantly filled with all sorts of merchandize as in a place of safety.
It must not be forgotten, that there was in the company of the duke,
during this campaign, the valiant captain Tabary, and his band of
robbers, of whom mention has been made in another place,--but who only
partook of half of the expedition, and continued his former pursuits,
as shall be hereafter noticed.
CHAP. XXXV.
THE CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ON HIS MARCH TO TROYES, AND WHEN
THERE.--THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE ENGLISH AMBASSADORS WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM
THITHER.
After the surrender of the town of Crespy in the Laonnois, the duke of
Burgundy advanced to Laon, where he was most honourably received by the
magistrates and inhabitants. He thence continued his march by Rheims to
Châlons in Champagne, always accompanied by the English ambassadors,
and his escort of about one thousand combatants. From Châlons he
advanced in grand array toward Troyes, and encamped near to Vitry in
Pertois, which place and some of the adjacent forts were in possession
of the Dauphinois.
Sir John de Luxembourg, who had the command of the van guard, passed
through the town, and continued his march toward the plains, in which
were many deep and boggy springs. Sir Robinet de Mailly, grand butler
of France, riding by his side, fell into one of these bogs; and his
horse plunged so deep that, not having any mane for the knight to hold
by, the latter could not save himself, but died a miserable death,
whilst his horse escaped.
The duke of Burgundy and several other lords, particularly sir
Robinet's three brothers, who were with the duke, were sorely grieved
at his loss. These last, namely, master John de Mailly, afterward
bishop of Noyon, Collard, and Ferry de Mailly, lamented it very
bitterly: his body was dragged out of the bog, and buried hard by.
As the duke approached Troyes, very many of the French and burgundian
nobility came out to meet him, with several of the principal citizens,
and shewed him every honour and respect. In company with them, he made
his entry into Troyes, the 21st day of March, and was escorted to
his hôtel. Wherever he passed, there were great multitudes of people
assembled, who sang carols on his arrival. He shortly after waited on
the king and queen of France, and the lady Catherine, who received him
kindly, and shewed him all manner of affection.
Some days afterward, several councils were held in the presence of the
king, queen and duke of Burgundy, to consider on establishing a final
peace, and on the alliance which the king of England was desirous of
forming with the king of France, and had sent his ambassadors with full
powers to confirm the peace.
At length, after many conferences with these ambassadors, it was
concluded, by favour of the duke of Burgundy and his party, that
Charles king of France should give to Henry king of England his
youngest daughter Catherine in marriage, and, in consequence of this
alliance, should make him and his heirs successors to the crown of
France after his decease,--thus disinheriting his own son and heir
Charles duke of Touraine and dauphin, and annulling that principle of
the constitution which had been, with great deliberation, resolved on
by former kings and peers of France, namely, that the noble kingdom of
France should never be governed or inherited by a female, or by any one
descended from the female line.
The king of France also agreed, that should king Henry have no issue by
this marriage, he and his heirs were to remain successors to the crown
of France, to the prejudice of the branches of the whole royal line of
France.
All this was granted by king Charles; but to say the truth, he had not
for some time past been in his right senses, and was governed by those
about his person as they pleased, and consented to what they advised,
whether to his prejudice or not.
When the treaty had been signed, the ambassadors returned with a copy
thereof to the king of England, avoiding all the ambuscades of the
Dauphinois as well as they could. King Henry was well pleased with
their success, as he foresaw he should now gain the greater part of
his objects. He arranged his affairs in Normandy speedily, and caused
preparations to be made for marching to Troyes, to complete the
articles of the treaty. Sir Louis de Robesart had remained, by king
Henry's orders, at Troyes, to attend on the lady Catherine of France,
who was shortly to become queen of England.
CHAP. XXXVI.
SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG MAKES AN EXCURSION WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE TOWARD
ALIBAUDIERES AND THE EVENT THEREOF.
About ten days before Easter, sir John de Luxembourg was sent with five
hundred combatants to attack a fortress called Alibaudieres, adjoining
the Vermandois, six leagues from Troyes, in which was a garrison of the
Dauphinois, that much harrassed Champagne. When sir John was arrived
near to the place, he left the greater part of his men in ambuscade,
and advanced with the rest to skirmish at the barriers.
The garrison gallantly sallied out on foot to meet him, and a sharp
skirmish began, during which sir John fell from his horse, by reason
of the girth breaking, but was soon raised up again by his men, and
instantly most courageously, and in a violent passion, attacked
the Dauphinois lance in hand: they were fewer in number than the
assailants, and therefore retreated in disorder, and closed their
bulwark.
Sir John, on this, sent for the remainder of his force, whom he had
placed in ambush, and they made so grand an attack on the bulwark, that
it was taken by storm, and set on fire,--but in this action many were
killed and wounded. Sir John then returned with his men to duke Philip
of Burgundy in Troyes, at which place great preparations were making
for the reception of king Henry of England, who was shortly expected
there to confirm the articles of the peace, and solemnise his marriage
with the lady Catherine of France.
While these things were passing, the dauphin and his council were
at Bourges in Berry. He was exceedingly uneasy when he heard of the
alliance that had been concluded with England, and anxious to form
plans of resistance against the king of England and the duke of
Burgundy, knowing that unless he could effectually oppose them, he was
in great peril of losing the kingdom and his expectations of succeeding
to the crown of France. He was not therefore negligent to provide
against the danger, and established garrisons in all the principal
places on the frontiers toward his adversaries, and appointed to the
command of them the most loyal of his party. He placed as governor at
Melun the lord de Barbasan, with a large force; at Montereau, the lord
de Guitry: sir Robert de Loire at Montargis; the bastard de Vaurus and
Pierron de Lupel at Meaux in Brie; the lord de Gamaches at Compiegne,
and so on at other towns and forts. He assembled a large body of men at
arms to be alway near his person, and ready for any event that might
happen to him.
[A.D. 1420.]
CHAP. XXXVII.
THE COUNT DE CONVERSAN, WITH HIS BROTHER SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG, THE
LORD DE CROY, AND OTHER CAPTAINS, LAY SIEGE TO ALIBAUDIERES.--THE
CONSEQUENCES THEREOF.
At the beginning of this year, the duke of Burgundy ordered Pierre de
Luxembourg count de Conversan and de Brienne, sir John de Luxembourg
his brother, and several of his captains, such as the marshal de
l'Isle-Adam, the vidame of Amiens, Anthony lord of Croy, Hector de
Saveuses, sir Mauroy de St Leger, the bastard de Thian, and a number of
others, to lay siege to the castle of Alibaudieres, mentioned in the
preceding chapter.
The garrison of this castle had repaired the bulwark which sir John de
Luxembourg had destroyed, so that it was in a better state of defence
than before. The burgundian leaders, on their arrival, ordered their
men, before they encamped, to arm themselves and prepare ladders,
thinking to win the bulwark as easily as formerly; but the attack and
defence were for a long time sharply continued, and with great courage.
Some of the ladders were placed against it, and on them Hector de
Saveuses, Henry de Chauffour, and others expert in arms, combated a
considerable time; but Henry de Chauffour, much renowned in war, while
on one of these ladders, and armed in plate armour, was pierced by a
lance through the hollow of the armour, under the ham of his leg, and
died of the wound a few days afterward.
During the attack, sir John de Luxembourg, who was very near the
bulwark, and posted between two oaks, had raised the vizor of his
helmet, to observe the countenance of the enemy; but he was perceived
from the walls, and struck near the eye with a lance, (whether pointed
or not with iron I am ignorant) and so severely wounded, that in the
end he lost his eye, and was led by his people to repose himself in his
tent. Shortly after, his banner was taken, and cut off close to the end
of the lance to which it was fastened, which still more enraged sir
John de Luxembourg. These events, and the obstinate resistance of the
besieged, put an end to the attack, but not before great numbers of the
assailants had been killed and wounded.
The count de Conversan, and the other captains encamped round the
castle, had ordered several large bombards to be pointed against the
gates and walls, to destroy them; but sir John de Luxembourg, in
consequence of his severe wound, was carried back to Troyes, where
he was attended by the most able doctors. His brother, the count de
Conversan, now remained commander in chief of the siege, and by his
engines so greatly damaged the castle that some of the towers and gates
were half battered down. This alarmed the besieged, and they demanded
a parley with the count, which was consented to; but they could not
at the first conference agree on terms,--so that, when the deputies
had re-entered the castle, the besiegers armed themselves, and made
so vigorous an attack on it that sixty men at arms gained possession
of two of its towers,--but in truth they could not proceed further
by reason of the new fortifications that had been erected during the
siege. This action was very severe indeed, and lasted nearly five
hours, during which numbers of each side were killed and wounded; but
in the end, those who had gained the two towers were driven by the
besieged from them; they even made prisoner, and dragged into the
castle, a trumpeter who had armed himself like a man at arms.
On the morrow, the besieged, fearing the attack would be renewed,
demanded another parley, when it was agreed, that they should depart
with their lives only, and on foot, with the exception of a few who
were to be allowed small horses,--and in this state they were to go to
Moynes. The castle was totally destroyed and burnt, and the effects
within were all plundered by those men at arms who could first force an
entrance, contrary to the positive orders of their captains, who soon
after led their men back to Troyes and to the adjacent villages.
CHAP. XXXVIII.
THE GREATER PART OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY'S ARMY RETURN TO THEIR OWN
COUNTRIES.--THE MARSHAL DE L'ISLE-ADAM AND THE LORD DE CROY LEAD AN
EXPEDITION TOWARD THE AUXERROIS.
When the Picards and the other men at arms were returned to Troyes,
from the siege of Alibaudieres, they demanded permission of the duke
of Burgundy to return to their homes, which was granted. About three
thousand horse departed, and the principal gentlemen were the vidame
of Amiens, the borgne de Fosseux knight, Hector de Saveuses, the lord
de Stenhuse high bailiff of Flanders, the lord de Comines and several
other captains, as well from Picardy as Flanders, who all rode together
from Troyes toward Rethel; and although the Dauphinois were in great
numbers on the watch to attack and plunder them, by activity and
diligence, they escaped all their ambushes, and arrived safely in their
own countries.
After their departure, the duke of Burgundy ordered some of the other
captains who had remained with him, such as the marshal de l'Isle-Adam,
Anthony lord of Croy, the lord de Longueval, sir Mauroy de St Leger,
Baudo de Noyelle, Robert de Saveuses, Robert de Brimeu, the bastard
de Thian, with about sixteen hundred combatants, to march to the
Auxerrois, and subdue that country, with some of its castles that held
out for the party of the dauphin, to the king's obedience.
They proceeded from Troyes by short days' marches to Toussy, a small
town attached to the dauphin, and whither the lord de la Trimouille
often resorted. They had carried with them scaling ladders, and other
implements of war, and came before the town just between day-break and
sun-rise, in the hopes of taking it by surprise and plundering it.
On their arrival, they drew up in battle-array; and Anthony lord
of Croy, his bastard brother Butor, Baudo de Noyelle, Lyonnet de
Bournouville, and some others, were created knights by the hand of the
lord de l'Isle-Adam marshal of France. Shortly after this ceremony,
they made a joint attack on several parts of the place at once, and
fixed their scaling ladders to the walls without meeting with any
opposition. However, notwithstanding that the inhabitants were at first
greatly alarmed, they recovered courage, and defended themselves so
vigorously that the assailants were repulsed, driven from the ditches,
and forced to encamp round the town.
They then employed themselves for two days in making new ladders and
iron crooks, to renew the attack. On the third, having completed
their warlike implements, they assaulted the place more fiercely than
before, and again fixed their ladders; but the besieged made a gallant
defence, and killed and wounded several at the onset: among the first
were a gentleman of arms named Ogier de St Vandrille and Tabary the
captain of robbers, who has been before spoken of, and some others. In
the end, the assailants were again repulsed, and driven in confusion to
their quarters.
The dead were carried in their armour from the ditches into the town,
and, when stripped, were put into coffins and buried in a church.
Intelligence was brought this same night to the marshal de l'Isle-Adam
and to the other captains, that the enemy was marching in force to
offer them combat; upon which they hastily mounted their horses, and
set forward, and rode all the night to meet them. On the morrow, they
learnt news of their enemies, that they were quartered in a strong
monastery called Estampes St Germain, within two leagues of Auxerre.
They then pushed forward to besiege them within this monastery, and
sent to Auxerre for provision, assistance, and warlike engines, all of
which were granted.