THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.
_H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London._
THE
CHRONICLES
OF
ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF
ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;
OF THE POSSESSION OF
PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;
_THEIR EXPULSION THENCE_;
AND OF OTHER
MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE,
AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
_A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE
FRENCH_,
_Beginning at the Year_ MCCCC. _where that of
Sir JOHN FROISSART finishes, and ending at the Year_
MCCCCLXVII. _and continued by others to the Year_ MDXVI.
TRANSLATED
BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.
IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES ... VOL. IX.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.
1810.
CONTENTS
OF
_THE NINTH VOLUME_.
PAGE
CHAP. I.
The king of France, being satisfied that
the English had broken the truce, declares
War against them. Verneuil is
taken by a miller, whom an Englishman
had beaten 1
CHAP. II.
The count de St Pol appears before Nogent,
which surrenders to him. The capture
of Point-audemer 7
CHAP. III.
The English invade Scotland twice, and
are as many times repulsed. The tower
of Verneuil surrenders to the king of
France. Other matters 10
CHAP. IV.
The king of France summons Mantes to
surrender, which it does, and is taken
possession of, in the name of the king,
by the count de Dunois, his lieutenant-general 17
CHAP. V.
The king of France makes his entry into
Verneuil. The reception he receives. The
seneschal of Poitou undertakes an expedition
against the castle of Loigny. It surrenders
to the king, and several English are
taken in it. Vernon surrenders to the
king 20
CHAP. VI.
The king of France comes to the town
of Evreux, where he is handsomely received,
and goes thence to Louviers.
The castle of Anjou submits to the king.
Gournay surrenders also. John Howel
yields up the castle of La Roche-Guyon
to its lord, and turns to the French 27
CHAP. VII.
The counts of Eu and of St Pol take by
storm the new castle of Nicorps. The
castle surrenders on terms. The count
de Dunois gains the castle of Harcourt 33
CHAP. VIII.
The duke of Brittany and the constable
of France enter Normandy with a great
army and lay siege to St Lo, which
surrenders to them, as do many other
small places. The town of Carentan
surrenders also 37
CHAP. IX.
The duke of Alençon conquers his town
of Alençon. The count de Foix gains
the town and castle of Mauléon. The
count de Dunois takes Argentan. The
English retire into the keep of the castle,
and, on surrendering it, march away
with only staves in their hands 42
CHAP. X.
The king of Sicily waits on the king of
France at Louviers. Fresnoy surrenders
to the duke of Alençon. Gisors capitulates.
The castle of Gallon is besieged 49
CHAP. XI.
The king of France orders the counts de
Dunois, d'Eu, and de St Pol to join
him, as he intended to march to Rouen,
whence, after remaining three days he
returns. Some of the inhabitants of
Rouen are near delivering up the city
to him. The duke of Brittany besieges
Fougeres. Condé is taken 52
CHAP. XII.
The archbishop of Rouen and others of
the citizens negotiate to surrender that
city to the king of France. The keys
are presented to the lieutenant-general,
the count de Dunois, who enters the
town with his army 60
CHAP. XIII.
The king of France besieges the duke
of Somerset, Lord Talbot, and their men,
in the government-palace of Rouen.
They surrender, on condition of being
allowed to march away on yielding up
the castle of Arques, and other places
mentioned 70
CHAP. XIV.
The king of France makes a grand entry
into Rouen. He is sumptuously received.
The English restore to the king
the castle of Arques, Caudebec, Tancarville,
Monstierville, &c. 75
CHAP. XV.
The castle of Gaillon submits to the obedience
of the king of France, Fougeres
surrenders to the duke of Brittany, and
Bellême to the duke of Alençon. A
well-fought battle takes place between
the French and English 88
CHAP. XVI.
The king of France leaves Rouen. He
sends his lieutenant-general to besiege
Harfleur, which surrenders on capitulation.
The fair Agnes is taken ill. Her
death, and her last testament 92
CHAP. XVII.
The count de Foix raises a large army to
besiege the castle of Guischen. The
English assemble to raise the siege, but
are defeated by the lord de Lautrec and
the bastard de Foix 101
CHAP. XVIII.
After the capture of Valognes by sir
Thomas Kiriel, he takes the field with
a large army of Englishmen. He is
met by the count de Clermont, who at
tacks and defeats him 108
CHAP. XIX.
The duke of Brittany besieges Avranches,
with his whole force. It surrenders to
him. He takes Tombelaine. Bayeux is
won. The constable gains Bricquebec,
Valognes, St Sauveur le Vicomte. Other
incidents 117
CHAP. XX.
The siege of Caen. The king of France,
attended by the king of Sicily and his
son, the duke of Calabria, appear before
it with a large army. The English,
after sustaining much damage from the
batteries, surrender the town and castle
of Caen 123
CHAP. XXI.
The king of France makes his entry into
Caen, and is nobly received there. The
English surrender Falaise. Poton de
Saintrailles is appointed governor of it.
Domfront is reduced to the king's
obedience 131
CHAP. XXII.
The decease of the duke of Brittany, and
of the lord Giles his brother, whom he
had cruelly put to death before his
decease. Cherbourg is besieged by sea and
land, and is taken by the French 136
CHAP. XXIII.
The author particularises the valour of
several of the nobles in the conquest of
Normandy. The king of France sends
the count de Penthievre, as his lieutenant,
into Guienne 143
CHAP. XXIV.
The lord d'Orval defeats the men of Bordeaux.
Duke Peter of Brittany does
homage to the king of France. The
duke of Burgundy attempts to lay a
tax on salt throughout Flanders 154
CHAP. XXV.
The king appoints the count de Dunois his lieutenant-general
in Guienne, who besieges
Mont-Guyon. It surrenders to him.
He lays siege to the town of Blaye, which
is taken by storm. The castle capitulates 159
CHAP. XXVI.
The greater part of the towns and castles
in the duchy of Guienne enter into
treaties for their surrender, with the exception
of Bayonne. Bordeaux surrenders 166
CHAP. XXVII.
The city of Bayonne is besieged by the
counts de Foix and de Dunois, lieutenants-general
to the king. It surrenders. The
regulations made in consequence. Pope
Nicholas marries the emperor of Germany
to the daughter of the king of
Portugal. The events that take place in
England 180
CHAP. XXVIII.
Jacques Coeur is arrested and confined.
The reasons of it. The king of France
declares war against the duke of Savoy,
but peace is made, by the mediation
of the cardinal de Touteville. Lord
Shrewsbury regains Bordeaux from the
French 196
CHAP. XXIX.
The men of Ghent besiege Oudenarde.
The duke of Burgundy sends an army
against them. The Picards conquer the
Pont d'Espieres from the Ghent men,
and kill many of them 202
CHAP. XXX.
The count d'Estampes, with the aid of
the Picards alone, raises the siege of
Oudenarde, and defeats the Ghent men,
without the knowledge of the duke of
Burgundy 205
CHAP. XXXI.
The duke of Burgundy establishes garrisons
round Ghent. He makes several inroads
into the country of Waes 210
CHAP. XXXII.
The Ghent men fortify Nineve. The
count d'Estampes defeats them there.
The men of Ghent attempt to destroy
a dyke, to drown the country of Waes,
but are again defeated by the count
de St Pol 215
CHAP. XXXIII.
The battle of Rupelmonde, where the
Ghent men are defeated by the duke of
Burgundy 218
CHAP. XXXIV.
The Ghent men who had fled to Acre
abandon the place: it is burnt by the
duke of Burgundy. The king of France
sends ambassadors to the duke in Flanders,
to restore peace to that countrys 221
CHAP. XXXV.
The cutler of Ghent is made prisoner in
battle. The Ghent men are defeated.
They are again defeated at Hulst and
Moerbeke 224
CHAP. XXXVI.
The articles proposed by the ambassadors
from France as the ground-work for a
treaty of peace between the men of Ghent
and their lord, but which are not agreed
to by those in Ghent 230
CHAP. XXXVII.
The Ghent men recommence the war
against their lord, and burn Hulst. A
French herald escapes from Ghent 234
CHAP. XXXVIII.
The duke of Burgundy raises a large army
to combat the Ghent men, who burn
Harlebeck, a large village near Courtray.
Other events of this war 238
CHAP. XXXIX.
The marshal of Burgundy burns the small
town of Eckeloo. The Ghent men are
defeated before Alost, which they intended
to besiege 243
CHAP. XL.
Mention made of different encounters
between the Picards and Ghent men.
The latter attempt to set fire to some
parts of Hainault. They are met by
the Picards soon afterward 246
CHAP. XLI.
The Ghent men send a deputation to the
count d'Estampes, to mediate a peace.
Immediately after they besiege Courtray,
but without success. They are near taking
prisoner the duchess of Burgundy, on her
road to Bruges 249
CHAP. XLII.
Pierre Moreau makes another attack on
Dendermonde. The Ghent men invade
Hainault, and commit great ravages
there 254
CHAP. XLIII.
The Ghent men would have taken Alost
by storm, had it not been well defended.
The three estates of Flanders are urgent
for peace 256
CHAP. XLIV.
The duke of Burgundy sends an army
into Luxembourg against some Germans
who, from Thionville, were wasting that
country. The duke enters Flanders
with a large force, to make war on
Ghent 259
CHAP. XLV.
The duke of Burgundy takes the castle
of Poulcres, but that flower of chivalry
sir James de Lalain is slain before it.
He besieges the castle of Gavere, takes
it, and hangs all within, before the
Ghent men advance to offer him battle.
They are defeated 262
CHAP. XLVI.
The battle of Gaveren, where the Ghent
men are completely defeated, with the
loss of upward of twenty thousand men
slain and drowned 270
CHAP. XLVII.
The duke of Burgundy, moved by pity,
sends his herald to Ghent to know if
the townsmen would submit to his will
and he would have compassion on them.
The men of Ghent send him a deputation
to beg his mercy 275
CHAP. XLVIII.
Here follow the articles of the treaty between
Philip the good, and the town of
Ghent 278
CHAP. XLIX.
The manner in which the Ghent men
humble themselves to their lord, the duke
of Burgundy 283
CHAP. L.
While the duke of Burgundy is carrying
on his warfare against the Ghent men,
the lord de Croy is very active in opposing
the Germans in the duchy of
Luxembourg, where they had done much
mischief 286
CHAP. LI.
King Charles of France conquers Bordeaux
and the Bordelois a second
time 287
CHAP. LII.
Pope Nicholas notifies to the duke of
Burgundy a croisade against the Turks.
The duke vows to undertake an expedition
to Turkey, on certain conditions 289
CHAP. LIII.
Charles count de Charolois, son to the
duke of Burgundy, is betrothed to his
cousin-germain the lady Isabella of Bourbon.
The duke goes into Germany, and
soon after his return the count marries
his cousin-german 295
CHAP. LIV.
The king of France goes to his castle of
Lusignan. The earl of Shrewsbury takes
Fronsac. The French besiege Chastillon.
Lord Shrewsbury assembles a large
force to raise this siege. He is there
slain 297
CHAP. LV.
After the reduction of Chastillon, the French
take St Emilion and Libourne. The king
joins his army before Bordeaux, in which
were great numbers of English. That
town surrenders on capitulation 305
CHAP. LVI.
The grand Turk besieges Constantinople
and batters the city with heavy artillery.
It is taken by storm. The cruelties committed
there. A remedy proposed to resist
the Turk 314
CHAP. LVII.
The Turk sends letters to the pope, who,
in consequence, wishes to form a croisade
against him. Le Blanc, knight-marshal
of Hungary, defeats the Turks near the
port of Sambrine 335
CHAP. LVIII.
Judgement given against Jacques Coeur
and the damsel of Mortaigne. Master
William Edelin, doctor of divinity, is
publicly reprimanded at Evreux 341
CHAP. LIX.
The king of France sends an embassy
to the king of Spain. He builds two
castles at Bordeaux to keep the inhabitants
in subjection. The duke of
York imprisons the dukes of Somerset
and Glocester. Other events 347
CHAP. LX.
The marriage of the count de Charolois
with the lady Isabella of Bourbon. The
duke of Burgundy returns from Germany,
and is most honourably received in the
towns of Lille and Arras 351
CHAP. LXI.
The duke of Burgundy lays heavy taxes
on his estates, to defray his expedition
against the Turks 353
CHAP. LXII.
The bishop of Utrecht dies. The duke
of Burgundy goes to Holland to procure
the election to the bishoprick for his
bastard son David, then bishop of Therouenne 355
CHAP. LXIII.
The count de Clermont, the lord de Lohéac
marshal of France, and other captains,
arrest the count d'Armagnac, and
deliver him up to the king. They put
the archbishop of Auch in possession of
his archbishopric. Other events 357
CHAP. LXIV.
The king of France is discontented with
the dauphin, for going to the duke of
Burgundy without his consent. Pope
Calixtus makes regulations respecting
the croisade against the Turks 360
CHAP. LXV.
The duke of Burgundy, with a large
army, escorts his bastard son into Holland,
and puts him in peaceable possession
of the bishoprick of Utrecht. He besieges
Deventer, and forces its inhabitants
to obey the new bishop, which they had
before refused 372
CHAP. LXVI.
The duke of Alençon is arrested and thrown
into prison. The Turks are miraculously
defeated in Hungary. Other events that
happened in this year of MCCCCLVI 376
CHAP. LXVII.
The Dauphin of France takes refuge with
duke Philip of Burgundy. Other events
that happened in this year 381
CHAP. LXVIII.
A quarrel takes place between duke Philip
of Burgundy and his son the count of
Charolois, but is appeased by the dauphin.
The countess of Charolois is brought to
bed of a daughter. Other events that
happened in divers parts 388
CHAP. LXIX.
An embassy from the king of Hungary
arrives at Tours, and is honourably received
by the king of France. The king
of Hungary dies. The French take the
sea-port of Sandwich by storm 392
CHAP. LXX.
Duke Philip of Burgundy carries the dauphin
to Bruges, where he is joyfully
received with many honours. Other
events mentioned and repeated 402
CHAP. LXXI.
A coolness between the duke of Burgundy
and the count of St Pol. Other
matters 406
CHAP. LXXII.
The death of Lancelot king of Hungary,
which causes great mourning at the court
of France. The deaths of John of Coimbra,
king of Cyprus, and of the duke of
Brittany, which last is succeeded by his
brother Arthur count de Richemont 414
CHAP. LXXIII.
King Charles is dangerously ill. On his
recovery, he sends to inform the duke
of Burgundy that he shall take under
his ward the estates of the youth of
Rodemac. The duke's answer. Of the
storms of wind, frost, and snow in this
season 417
CHAP. LXXIV.
The duke of Burgundy, at the request
of the town of Ghent, goes thither. A
great feast is made there 420
CHAP. LXXV.
The death of the king of Arragon. His
bastard Fernando succeeds to the throne
of Naples. Of pope Pius, and the events
that happened about that time; such as
the death of the duke of Brittany, and
the embassy from England to the duke of
Burgundy 424
CHAP. LXXVI.
The duke of Burgundy makes his entry
into Ghent, and is magnificently entertained
by the town. The king of France
sends to summon the duke of Burgundy
to attend the trial of the duke d'Alençon 427
HERE BEGINNETH
THE NINTH VOLUME
OF THE
CHRONICLES
OF
_ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET_.
CHAP. I.
THE KING OF FRANCE, BEING SATISFIED THAT THE ENGLISH HAD BROKEN THE
TRUCE, DECLARES WAR AGAINST THEM.--VERNEUIL IS TAKEN BY A MILLER, WHOM
AN ENGLISHMAN HAD BEATEN.
The king of France, having received full information of the warfare
carried on by the English against Scotland, which was included in the
truce, and of that against the Spaniards by sea, who were also included
in it, as well as that on his own subjects of Dieppe, la Rochelle, and
elsewhere, ever since the signing of the truce, without making any
restitution whatever for the damages done by them, more especially
in the capture of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, for which they
refused to make any reparation, although often summoned by the king
so to do, as well by ambassadors to king Henry as to those who had
the government of Normandy: having, therefore, maturely deliberated
on all these grievances in his council, and knowing that he had fully
acquitted himself of his duty in endeavouring to preserve peace, he
declared war against England by sea and land.
During the truce, the english garrisons of Mantes, Verneuil, and Laigny
had gone on the high roads between Orleans and Paris, and had robbed
and murdered all passengers and merchants that fell in their way. In
like manner did the English of Neufchâtel, Gournay, and Gerberoy, on
the roads between Paris, Abbeville, and Amiens: they also made inroads
over the country, seizing all they could lay hands on, and murdering
gentlemen in their beds, who had sworn allegiance to the king of
France; such as the lord de Maillebois, the lord de St Remy, Olivier
de Noirequerque, and several more.
On the other hand, such tradesmen and labouring farmers as had, on
the faith of the truce, returned to their occupations, houses, and
villages, were continually harrassed and put to death by the English,
who called them false Armagnac-traitors.
These were the fine exploits of the English during the existence of
the truce. They were called Vizards, from wearing masks and frightful
disguises over their other clothes, when they went on any such
expeditions, to prevent them being discovered.
To put an end to all these deceitful proceedings of the English, the
king of France assembled a large body of men at arms, as did the duke
of Brittany, on their frontiers. The garrison of Fougeres made a sally
on these last,--but they were repulsed so valiantly that they lost
upwards of six score in killed and taken.
At this time a miller in the town of Varneuil[1] was beaten by an
Englishman going the rounds. In revenge, he went to the bailiff of
Evreux, and promised, on certain conditions, to admit him and his men
into the town. In consequence of this, sir Pierre de Brésé, seneschal
of Poitou, the said bailiff of Evreux, Jacques de Clermont and others,
collected their men with all haste, and appeared before the walls of
Verneuil by break of day on the 29th day of July.
The miller was on guard this night, and dismissed the watch sooner
than usual because it was Sunday, that they might attend mass and then
breakfast. The French, by the aid of the miller, fixed their ladders to
his mill, and, by this means, entered the town without any one knowing,
or even suspecting it. Six score English were in garrison, some of whom
were killed or made prisoners, and the rest fled in haste to the castle.
On the morrow, the miller drew off most part of the water from the
ditches of the castle, which was then vigorously attacked and
defended,--but at last it was taken by storm. Many gallant deeds were
done, particularly by the seneschal, who acquired greater renown
than any other, although all fought well, for they had not any heavy
artillery,--and numbers of the English were killed, wounded, and
taken. The remainder took shelter in the _tour grise_, which was
impregnable so long as provisions did not fail, being very thick and
high, and detached from the castle, surrounded with ditches full of
water. Notwithstanding its strength, the French attacked it on all
sides,--and while they were thus engaged, the count de Dunois arrived
with the lord de Culant and many other knights and esquires. The first
had been lately appointed lieutenant-general of the armies of the king
of France,--and the lord de Culant had been made grand master of the
household.
Having had information that lord Talbot was on his march to relieve
his countrymen in the tower, and was arrived at Breteuil[2], they soon
departed, leaving sir Florent Dilliers, who remained to manage the
siege, with about eight hundred combatants.
The count de Dunois kept advancing until he met lord Talbot near to
Harcourt[3], who, when he perceived the French, fortified himself so
strongly, with stakes and the baggage-carts which carried his stores,
that they could no way injure him. At nightfall, he retreated in
haste to Harcourt. All the ensuing day the French were drawn up in
battle-array in the expectation of an engagement, but Talbot would not
quit the town.
The following knights were this day created: the lord de Herbault, sir
John de Bar lord of Baugey, and John Daulon, equerry of the king's
stables; and the French, finding that Talbot would not come out of
Harcourt, withdrew that evening to Evreux.
On the sixth day of August, in this year, the king of France advanced
toward Amboise, to cross the river Loire, and march his army into
Normandy to support the besiegers of Verneuil. The count de Dunois and
his company remained two days in Evreux.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Verneuil,--a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux.]
[Footnote 2: Breteuil,--a town in Normandy, near Conches.]
[Footnote 3: Harcourt,--a town in Normandy, election of Conches, ten
leagues from Rouen.]
CHAP. II.
THE COUNT DE ST POL APPEARS BEFORE NOGENT, WHICH SURRENDERS TO
HIM.--THE CAPTURE OF POINT-AUDEMER.
On Friday, the 8th day of August, in this year, the count de St Pol,
with about four hundred[4] horse, came before the castle of Nogent,
of whom twenty or thirty of the most valiant of the van, at the first
shock, forced their way into the lower court, and gained the barriers.
Fearing the cannon of the English, they instantly retreated, to wait
for their companions,--but not before the portcullis had been rapidly
let down, and inclosed two of their number, who were made prisoners.
On the approach of the main army, the place was courageously attacked
on the side toward the fields, when many were killed and wounded on
each side. The governor for king Henry was called Jean le Fevre, born
near to Louviers, who had with him about thirty companions in arms.
On the Saturday, the place surrendered between eleven and twelve
o'clock, on condition that the garrison should march away in safety
unarmed, except the governor, who was to wear his sword. They deposited
all their effects in the church of St Peter, whence they afterward
came to seek and carry them away whither they pleased. The conquerors,
perceiving on the Sunday that the place was not tenable, decamped, but
not before they had set fire to it, and burnt it to the ground.
The same Friday, the count de Dunois marched from Evreux with a
large company of knights and esquires, and two thousand five hundred
combatants. Two days after, the counts d'Eu and de St Pol, the lords de
Saveuses, de Roye, de Moy, de Rambures, and others, to the number of
three hundred lances, and from fourteen to fifteen hundred archers,
passed Pont de l'Arche, and continued their march until they formed a
junction, on the 12th before Pont Audemer, with the count de Dunois and
his army. The count de Dunois was posted on the side toward Rouen, and
the counts d'Eu and de St Pol nearer to Honfleur, on the other side of
the river Rille, which runs by the town,--and each lord drew up his men
to the attack of the place.
That part of it near to the quarters of the count de St Pol was so
courageously attacked that it was carried by storm, notwithstanding the
very gallant defence of the English. Many brilliant acts were done by
the count de Dunois' men, who entered the place at the same time with
the others, crossing the ditches with water up to their necks.
Four hundred and twenty English retreated into a strong house at the
end of the town under their captains, Montfort, treasurer of Normandy,
and Foucques Ebon, who surrendered themselves prisoners to the counts
de Dunois and de St Pol.
Twenty-two new knights were made on this occasion, such as the lord de
Moy, the son of the vidame of Amiens, the son of the lord de Rambures,
and others. Thus was Pont Audemer replaced under the obedience of the
king of France.
King Charles came to Vendôme on this day, the 12th, and remained there
until the 18th day of August, when he marched for Chartres, and arrived
there on the 22d.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 4: Four hundred. In the original it is _four thousand_,--but
this number appeared to me too great.]
CHAP. III.
THE ENGLISH INVADE SCOTLAND TWICE, AND ARE AS MANY TIMES
REPULSED[5].--THE TOWER OF VERNEUIL SURRENDERS TO THE KING OF
FRANCE.--OTHER MATTERS.
It was evident that Heaven was against the English,--and they were
deserving of it, for it is a fact that they have alway encroached
on their Christian eighbours, as well in the kingdom of France as in
Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and elsewhere. Many violences have most
unjustly been done by them, by reason of their not having the words
of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST before their eyes, 'Render unto Cæsar the
things that be Cæsar's and unto God the things that be God's.'
Among their various plans of annoyance to their neighbours, they
carried one about this time into effect, namely, an invasion of
Scotland. The earl of Salisbury sent two lords of great renown, natives
of England, sir Thomas de Hanton, knight, and the lord Percy, son to
the earl of Northumberland, to wage war against Scotland. They had with
them fifteen thousand combatants and a numerous body of peasants, and,
crossing the river Solway, entered Scotland, where they remained three
days, having advanced six miles of that country, equal to three french
leagues.
When the earl of Douglas heard of this inroad, he collected, without
delay, six thousand Scots, and attacked the English on the plain in
open day. The battle was well fought on both sides, and many were
killed and wounded; but it was won by the Scots, who kept the field,
and made many prisoners: in the number were sir Thomas de Hanton
and Percy: the rest escaped as quickly as they could, to carry the
melancholy news to lord Salisbury. He was very much grieved, and not
without cause, but not cast down; for he instantly raised a greater
army than before, consisting of sixty thousand men, thinking to destroy
the whole kingdom of Scotland.
When the earls of Murray and of Ormond heard of the English having
crossed the Solway with a large army, they, having the fear of God
before their eyes, and finding the English determined thus conjunctly
to destroy their country, took measures to oppose them; for it
is perfectly lawful that every one should fight for his country.
They soon, with the aid of other scots lords, assembled a force of
thirty-two thousand able warriors, and, falling on the english camp
unawares, put them to the rout, with great slaughter and loss in
prisoners and wounded. They were pursued as far as the Solway, wherein
many were drowned. The English lost in these two invasions from twenty
to twenty-four thousand men in killed and prisoners.
The Scots gave all the merit of this signal defeat to God, and not to
human force, for which they celebrated a thanksgiving; and, to prevent
the English from being in future so eager to invade their country,
they resolved to continue the pursuit into England. Having crossed the
Solway, they destroyed the country, full twenty leagues in length, and
six in breadth, as far as the strong town of Newcastle, without leaving
a town or house on their road unburnt. On this expedition, a knight of
great power in Scotland was slain, called sir John Vbouailles; and the
Scots then returned unmolested home.
The account of these battles was given to the writer of the Chronicles
of St Denis, at that abbey, by three scots priests of the diocese of
Dunblaine, of which church one was a canon, and affirmed it for true
before the holy shrine of St Denis, in the manner above related, and in
the presence of the monks of that abbey.
On the 12th of August, the king of France came to Vendôme, grandly
accompanied by men at arms, as well lords, knights and esquires, as
others. He remained there until the 18th; and, during this time, the
lord de Lohéac, marshal of Brittany, sir Geoffry de Couren[7], and
Joachim Rohault and others, attacked the town of St Jacques de Beuvron
with great vigour from nine in the morning until night, and, with heavy
and small artillery, kept up a continual fire on the walls. It was,
however, gallantly defended; but on the morrow; the English capitulated
for its surrender, on being allowed to march away in safety with their
effects.
On the 22d of the said month, the king of France entered Chartres; and,
on the next day, the garrison of the tower of Verneuil surrendered
themselves prisoners. They were but thirty, of whom the greater part
were renegado French,--several having escaped a little before, carrying
off all their valuables, owing to the negligence of those who had the
guard during the night. Sir Florent was very much blamed for this,
as the king had sent him orders, by one of his heralds, to be very
attentive in guarding the place. The king, on the departure of the
principal leaders, made matters easy to those who had remained, from
the consideration that the place was impregnable but from want of
provisions; and he concluded a treaty with the lords de Presigny and de
Baugey, for their paying a moderate ransom, on delivering up the tower
to the king.
At this time, or a little after, Joachim de Rohault, with these lords
who had gained St Jacques de Beuvron, took, after an attack of ten
hours, the town of Mortain[8]. The count de Dunois, with the count
de St Pol and those who had been at the capture of Pont Audemer,
marched to lay siege to the city of Lisieux; but when those within the
city observed the great force brought against it, and which it was
impossible for them to resist,--fearing also that, should it be taken
by storm, they would lose every thing,--they held several conferences
together, and, by the advice of their bishop, offered to surrender the
place to the king of France. The bishop managed so honourably and
ably that not the smallest damage was done to any individual, but each
peaceably enjoyed his property as before the surrender. Several small
places round Lisieux surrendered to the count de Dunois at the same
time.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 5: Under the years 1446, 47, 48, 49, 50, in Andrew's History
of Great Britain, &c.
'An invasion of Scotland is attempted by the English, led by the earl
of Northumberland and Magnus Reidman. They are defeated at Sark[6] by
the Scots, under the command of the lord Douglas and his brother the
earl of Ormond.'
I see from Douglas's Peerage that it ought to be Archibald earl of
Murray, (and not lord Douglas) third son to James VII. earl of Douglas.
The earl of Ormond was his next brother.
The following extract is from Hutchinson's History of Northumberland,
page 233, vol. ii.
'Henry earl of Northumberland, in the 14th Henry VI. made an
unsuccessful irruption into Scotland,--and at Piperden was defeated by
the earl of Angus, with the loss of 1500 men.
'In the 29th of the same reign he entered Scotland again, and engaged,
near the river Sark, a large body of Scots under the command of sir
William Wallace of Craigey, where he again had a defeat, and narrowly
escaped being made prisoner,--his son choosing to throw himself into
the hands of the enemy to save his father.']
[Footnote 6: Sark,--a river in Scotland formed of two branches, the
white and black, falls into the Eden four miles below Carlisle.]
[Footnote 7: De Couren. Couvren.----MS. Du Cange.]
[Footnote 8: Mortain,--a town in Normandy, on the river Lances, on the
borders of Maine.]
CHAP. IV.
THE KING OF FRANCE SUMMONS MANTES TO SURRENDER,--WHICH IT DOES, AND IS
TAKEN POSSESSION OF, IN THE NAME OF THE KING, BY THE COUNT DE DUNOIS,
HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.
On the 26th of this same month of August, and on the morrow of the
feast of St Louis, the king left Chartres with a noble company, and
fixed his quarters at Château-neuf-en-Timerais[9], and, the same
day, sent his heralds to summon the garrison of Mantes,--which town
was held and occupied against his will. While the heralds were on
their embassy, the counts de Dunois and St Pol arrived with five or
six hundred combatants, the same day, before the town of Mantes, and
summoned the inhabitants to return to their obedience to the king of
France. They at first refused, from fear of the garrison, although in
their hearts they were well inclined to obey the summons,--and the
lieutenant-general ordered preparations for an immediate attack.
The inhabitants noticed this, but were fearful that the english
garrison, amounting to two hundred and sixty men, under the command
of sir Thomas Hos[10], knight, and chancellor for the king of England
in these parts, would make a defence. He was indeed not in the town;
but his lieutenant, Thomas de Sainte Barbe, bailiff of the place,
was present, and determined on resistance as long as he could. The
inhabitants, therefore, foreseeing the ruin of their town, caused the
bailiff to be informed, that if he would not enter into a capitulation
for the surrender of the place, they should certainly do so. This
they would not have dared to say, if they had not felt themselves
the strongest; and the better to force the English to terms, they
seized the tower and gate called the Port-au-Saint, with the whole of
that quarter, and then went in a body to the lieutenant-general, and
concluded with him a treaty for the surrender of their town.
The English were desirous of making resistance, and would have opposed
the French, had not this tower and its defences been occupied by
the townsmen. A copy of the capitulation was sent them, about four
o'clock in the afternoon, by a herald accompanied by fifty men at
arms, who were received by the inhabitants, and posted in this tower,
to guard them against the English, should there be occasion. Although
the lieutenant-governor had accepted the terms for himself and his
companions the bailiffs, the count de Dunois remained with his army
in order of battle before the walls from morning to evening, when he
entered the place with a strong detachment, to guard the inhabitants
from pillage and other mischiefs, which men at arms were accustomed
to do on similar occasions,--and also to confirm the townsmen in their
loyalty and obedience toward the king.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 9: Château-neuf-en-Timerais,--a town in Perche, election of
Verneuil.]
[Footnote 10: Sir Thomas Hos. Q.]
CHAP. V.
THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO VERNEUIL.--THE RECEPTION HE
RECEIVES.--THE SENESCHAL OF POITOU UNDERTAKES AN EXPEDITION AGAINST
THE CASTLE OF LOIGNY[11].--IT SURRENDERS TO THE KING, AND SEVERAL
ENGLISH ARE TAKEN IN IT.--VERNON SURRENDERS TO THE KING.
On the 27th of August in this year, the king of France made his entry
into Verneuil, with much pomp and grandly attended. He was received
there as magnificently as possible, for the churchmen and chief
inhabitants came out in procession to meet him, dressed in their best
clothes and hoods. The populace issued out also in crowds to welcome
his arrival: they made bonfires, and strewed the streets with flowers
in the best manner they could, singing carols day and night.
The king remained some time in Verneuil, and thither came the bishops
of Lisieux and Auxerre to do him homage. During this interval, the
seneschal of Poitou formed a plan to gain the castle of Loigny, held by
an esquire of Normandy, called the lord de Sainte Marie, as governor
for sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, the owner of this
castle, and who had married sir Francis's daughter. Although the
seneschal did not come before the place personally, he had practised
with the governor (who had under his command two hundred combatants
quartered in the lower court); so that when the French appeared, they
were admitted into the dungeon, without the knowledge of the men at
arms sent by sir Francis for its defence, or of his lady, who was in
the castle.
The English, when they saw the French, thought to defend themselves;
but finding they were too weak in numbers, they desisted, and were,
with their horses in the lower court, and all their effects, seized
in the name of the king of France, except the lady of sir Francis,
who departed with her baggage, much enraged at the treachery of her
son-in-law. The lord de Sainte Marie was re-appointed to the government
of the castle, on the terms he had held it before.
On the same day, the captain of Robert de Flocques, bailiff of Evreux,
was sent with a certain number of men at arms to summon the garrison
and inhabitants of Vernon to submit themselves to the king of France,
by sending to him the keys of the town. The governor, John Ormond, an
esquire, son to the earl of Ormond in Ireland, replied, that he would
willingly do so,--and, by way of derision and mockery, sent for all the
old keys he could from the locksmiths in the town, and presented them
to the pursuivant who had brought the summons; but he made answer, that
they were too old to be of use to such a place, and departed, to make
his report of what had passed to the count de Dunois, who was not far
off with the main army.
On the morrow morning, the 28th, came the lieutenant-general, attended
by the counts de St Pol and d'Eu, the lord seneschal of Poitou, and
several other captains, with a large body of franc archers, (an
institution lately established in France) attacked, and instantly
gained possession of a small island, on which they raised a battery of
cannon, although they did not fire them, but some sharp skirmishings
took place between the archers,--and the English lost the bridge, when
their governor was pierced through both his cheeks with an arrow,
to their great dismay. Seeing, therefore, the great force that was
brought against them, and that numbers of towns and castles had of late
surrendered, they, in conjunction with the inhabitants, demanded from
the count de Dunois passports for four or six persons to hold a parley
respecting the summons that had been sent them.
This was agreed to; and the following persons were selected by the
governor and inhabitants to wait on the count de Dunois, namely,
John Abaron[12], an Englishman, captain of the troops in the town,
master Guillaume d'Aguenet, a most determined partisan of the English,
Regnault de Bordeaux and others,--and d'Aguenet was appointed
spokesman. Having made the usual salutations to the lieutenant-general,
he thus addressed him,--'My lord, you have summoned us to surrender
the town of Vernon to the king your lord: tell us on what grounds you
have made this demand.' The count de Dunois, with coolness and dignity
becoming the representative of a king, answered most eloquently, (for
he was one of the most eloquent men in all France) that the said town
of Vernon, and its dependances, belonged to the king his lord by
rightful inheritance; that it had been taken from him more by violence
than otherwise, with great part of his kingdom, during the life of the
late king his father; and he then recited, in a style that would have
done credit to a doctor, a history of the war between the kings of
France and England, and the innumerable evils that had resulted from
it: that the king of France, moved by his great charity, had consented
to certain truces, in the hope that, during their continuance, means
might be found to establish a permanent peace,--but that the English
had, through their disorderly love of conquest, in the interval, gained
by force the town of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, a relative and
subject of the king, and especially named in the said truces. He then
related all the conferences that had taken place on the occasion, and
their result, which have been already mentioned.
'The king, therefore, having maturely considered this conduct with
his council, captains and allies, and witnessing the infidelity of
the English, has raised a sufficient army to regain all that legally
belongs to him, and has appointed me his lieutenant-general to carry
his intentions into execution: I therefore have summoned, and do now
summon, you to restore this town to its rightful lord, to avoid the
perils you will run into from your rebellion and disobedience, and that
you may not attribute the evils that will ensue from your refusal to
your lawful lord and mine, whose benign grace is willing to receive you
again as his subjects.'
At the close of this speech, the English and the other deputies
withdrew to consult how they should act. In the discussion, great
disputes arose; for the French, considering king Charles as their
lawful king, and feeling that what the lieutenant had said was founded
in reason, wanted to surrender, but the English would not. After much
altercation, the townsmen declared that they would surrender, whether
the English would or no, if a fair treaty were offered for the tower,
in which the English should be included if they were agreeable to it.
The English, perceiving they could not resist the will of the
inhabitants, so plainly discovered, demanded letters, under the
town-seal, declaratory that the surrender was agreed to without their
consent, which were given them.
The deputies returned to the count de Dunois, who concluded a treaty,
with the assent of the lords in his company, by which the town and
castle of Vernon were surrendered,--in which were twelve score English,
under the command of the son of the earl of Ormond. They marched away
in safety with their baggage,--and the inhabitants remained peaceably
in the town, without losing an article of their effects.
The king afterwards gave this town and castle to the count de Dunois,
for the great services he had rendered him, and in the expectation that
he would do more in conquering Normandy, or wherever else he might be
employed.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 11: Loigny,--a village in Beauce.]
[Footnote 12: John Abaron. Q.]
CHAP. VI.
THE KING OF FRANCE COMES TO THE TOWN OF EVREUX, WHERE HE IS HANDSOMELY
RECEIVED, AND GOES THENCE TO LOUVIERS.--THE CASTLE OF ANJOU SUBMITS TO
THE KING.--GOURNAY SURRENDERS ALSO.--JOHN HOWEL YIELDS UP THE CASTLE
OF LA ROCHE-GUYON TO ITS LORD, AND TURNS TO THE FRENCH.
About the end of August, the king departed from Verneuil, and made
his entry into the city of Evreux with great pomp. He was sumptuously
received by the inhabitants, who went out in procession to meet him,
made bonfires, sang carols, and hung all the streets with tapestry
through which he passed. He slept one night only in Evreux, and on
the morrow went to Louviers, where he was equally well received. He
was accompanied by the count du Maine, brother to the king of Sicily
and the queen of France, the count de Clermont, eldest son to the
duke of Bourbon, the viscount de Longmaigne, eldest son to the count
d'Armagnac, the count de Castres, son to the count de la Marche, the
youngest son of the house of Albreth, John lord of Lorraine, many other
great lords and barons, and knights and esquires without number.
The king had two hundred lances for his body-guard, and his usual
archers, without including four armies he had in the field,--namely,
the army of the duke of Brittany, another under the command of the
count de Dunois lieutenant-general, the army of the counts d'Eu and de
St Pol, and that of the duke d'Alençon. The king was very active in
supplying these armies with every thing they might want, as well with
money as bombards, artillery, and all kinds of stores; and couriers
were constantly passing and repassing between him and them, to convey
orders and intelligence.
During this time, William de Chance, governor of Pontoise, marched a
body of men before the castle of Anjou, and summoned Portugal, the
governor, to surrender it to the king of France. Portugal, hearing
how the whole country, with its towns and castles, was submitting
daily to king Charles, and knowing the impossibility of any effectual
resistance, capitulated for its surrender,--when de Chance was
appointed, by the king of France, the governor.
Sir Louis de Luxembourg, count de St Pol, marched, on a Sunday, from
Vernon, to lay siege to Gournay. On his march, he was met by some of
the townsmen, who came to make an offer to yield up the place, which
was under the guard of William Harper, lieutenant to William Coram,
an Englishman. The lieutenant, fearful of the event of a siege, and
knowing also how the tide of war was turned,--and that all the towns
and castles were surrendering to the French,--having also in mind that
prudent maxim, 'Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum,'--went out
with one of the inhabitants, called Raoullet Pailleavoine, and some
others, to the count de St Pol, on his arrival before the place, and
confirmed the treaty that had been made at Longueville.
It was articled that the town and castle should be surrendered to the
count de St Pol, notwithstanding that the lord de Moy and William de
Chance, ignorant of the count's enterprise, had attempted to take
it by storm, and had opened batteries against its walls. The moment
they were informed of the count's intentions, they abandoned their
enterprise,--and the king of France gave it to the count, with all its
dependances, for his life. He appointed, therefore, as governor of the
castle and town, sir George de Croix, lord of Blainsel.
While this treaty was carrying on, the count d'Eu remained at Andeli
sur Seine[13], and thence went to quarter himself and his forces at
Pont Saint Pierre[14], where he staid three days, when he crossed the
Seine to besiege Harcourt[15].
On Monday, the 29th of August, all the lords who had been at the
surrender of Vernon joined the king at Louviers, to arrange their plans
for further conquests. During their assembly, the lord de Jalognes,
marshal of France, and the lord of Roche-Guyon, marched a large body
of men at arms to conquer the castle of La Roche-Guyon[16]. To effect
this, they detached about thirty men by water, well supplied with
cannon and ammunition, who approached the place as if intending to
besiege it, making as much noise as though they had been two hundred,
and remained before it for three days, constantly skirmishing with
the garrison; but although this garrison did not consist of more than
sixteen men, the French gained no advantage over them.
On Thursday the 3d of September, the lords de Jalognes and de la
Roche-Guyon appeared before it with their forces; and when John Howel,
the english governor, saw so numerous a body that it would be vain for
him to oppose it, at the same time fearing the event of a siege, and
considering the right the king had to reconquer his kingdom, entered
into a treaty with these lords conditionally to surrender the castle,
unless he should be relieved by the king of England or his lieutenant
in Normandy, within fifteen days; and that he and his men should have
free liberty to march away with their baggage whither they pleased.
Intelligence of this was sent to the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of
Normandy, in Rouen, who tampered with the messenger to introduce four
and twenty English into the castle, and put Howel to death. On his
return, he attempted to gain over some of the garrison to his purpose,
of admitting the twenty-four Englishmen to execute his damnable design;
but knowledge of this plan coming secretly to the ears of Howel, he
sent in haste for the lord de la Roche-Guyon, who had withdrawn
himself and his forces until the fifteenth day should arrive, to whom
he surrendered the place. The garrison marched away, under passports,
with their effects; but Howel was so indignant at the plot formed
against his life that he became a Frenchman, and took the oaths of
allegiance, on condition that he should enjoy the landed property of
his wife, who was a native of France,--and the lord de la Roche-Guyon
continued him in the government of his castle.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 13: Andeli-sur-Seine,--three leagues from Mantes.]
[Footnote 14: Pont St Pierre,--four leagues from Andeli.]
[Footnote 15: Harcourt,--ten leagues from Rouen, near Brionne.]
[Footnote 16: La Roche-Guyon,--a market-town in Normandy, three leagues
from Mantes.]
CHAP. VII.
THE COUNTS OF EU AND OF ST POL TAKE BY STORM THE NEW CASTLE OF
NICORPS[17].--THE CASTLE SURRENDERS ON TERMS.--THE COUNT DE DUNOIS
GAINS THE CASTLE OF HARCOURT.