Henry VIII., king of England, in his famous expedition into France,
attacked Terouanne, a town situated on the frontiers of Picardy. This
siege is chiefly remarkable for the manner in which Fontrailles, a
French officer, contrived to bring in a supply of provisions and
ammunition. Henry and his nobles, together with the emperor Maximilian,
who was with the English army, carried on the siege so languidly,
that the town was more in danger from famine than from its foes. The
above-named officer appeared at the head of eight hundred horsemen,
each of whom carried a sack of gunpowder behind him and two quarters
of bacon. With this small force he made a sudden irruption into the
English camp, and advanced to the fosse of the town, where each
horseman threw down his burden. They immediately returned at the
gallop, and were so fortunate as again to break through the English,
and to suffer little or no loss. But the English had soon their
revenge. The famous battle of Guinegate shortly followed, in which
the French made such good use of their spurs, and in which the pride
of their chivalry, Bayard, Bussy d’Amboise, Clermont, Imbrecourt, and
others were taken prisoners. After this defeat, Henry made the mistake
of returning to the siege of so inconsiderable a town as Terouanne. The
place capitulated, and he demolished the fortifications. The army then
advanced against Tournai.
This city, by its ancient charters, was exempt from the burden of a
garrison, and when Louis XII. sent to ask them if they needed troops to
defend their city, they made this boastful and silly reply: “Tournai
est tourné, et jamais n’a tourné, et encore ne tournera. Si les Anglais
viennent, ils trouveront à qui parler”--(Tournay is turned, and never
has turned, and, still further, never will turn. If the English come,
they will find somebody to speak to). And so the burgesses undertook
the defence themselves. But the fate of Terouanne alarmed them, and
in a very short time the place was surrendered. Over its gates was
engraved this proud motto: “Tu n’as jamais perdu ta virginité.” Never
having been taken, it was what is called a maiden city; which honour it
now lost. One of our countrymen, who was always anxiously looking out
for personal advantages, derived benefit from this capture. The bishop
of Tournai was lately dead; and although a new bishop was elected, he
was not installed; so the king bestowed the administration of the see
upon his favourite, Wolsey, and put him in immediate possession of the
revenues.