his banner on the wall, charged the French most valiantly, to
repulse those who had made good their entrance into the town. They,
however, fought well,--and great part saved themselves by leaping
into the ditches, being forced thereto by the arrows of the english
archers. Those who could not thus escape were put to death, or made
prisoners,--and the English became masters of the wall and of these two
towers. At this attack, from fifty to sixty French, including those of
the townsmen who had assisted them, were killed or taken; and several,
in attempting to escape, destroyed themselves. A few saved themselves
from the towers: others had their legs broken by their fall, and such
as remained were inhumanly slaughtered; so that it was an abomination
to see the torrents of blood that ran in streams from the two towers.
During this time, the kings of France and of Sicily arrived at
Darnetal[52]; but when they saw that the attempt had failed, and that
the citizens of Rouen were not unanimous to assist them, they returned,
on the 16th day of October, to Pont de l'Arche. The army was quartered
in the villages on the banks of the Seine, according to their former
disposition.
On the 17th day of October, sir Richard Merbury, the english knight
before mentioned, fulfilled his engagement, and delivered the town and
castle of Gisors to the lord de Gaucourt, for the king of France. In
consequence, his children were restored to him, and all the articles
agreed on fulfilled; after which, he departed. He, however, sent
away, previously to yielding up the place, an english captain called
Regnéfort[53], who had been his lieutenant in the command of the
garrison, and in the guard of the castle.
At this period, the duke of Brittany left lower Normandy, where he had
taken many places, on his return to besiege the town of Fougeres, held
by sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian.
The French, at this time, won the town of Condé sur Noireau[54] through
neglect of the guard at the gate; and therein was taken the lady of sir
Francis de Surienne, who had been driven from her lord's own residence,
and forced to shelter herself in Condé. The French plundered every
thing within the town, and also carried away the English prisoners.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 51: Neufbourg,--a town in Normandy, between the Seine and
Rille, 8 leagues from Rouen.]
[Footnote 52: Darnetal,--a town very near to Rouen.]
[Footnote 53: Regnéfort. Q. Rainford.]
[Footnote 54: Condé sur Noireau,--in the valley of Noireau, diocese of
Bayeux.]
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.
On the 18th day of October, the inhabitants of the city of Rouen, being
greatly frightened lest their town should be stormed by the French,
and of course pillaged and destroyed, and also to avoid the further
effusion of blood, assembled with one accord at the bishop's palace.
They were much enraged at the deaths of their relatives and friends;
and had they met the lord Talbot, it was generally supposed that they
would have murdered him, as he had done their fellow-citizens and
friends.
They, however, saw the duke of Somerset, and plainly told him, that it
was expedient that a treaty should be opened, with the king of France,
otherwise they would be ruined and starved,--for it was upwards of six
weeks since any corn, wood, meat or wine had entered the town. This
language was not very agreeable to the duke,--but looking round, and
seeing that he had not more than fifty or sixty Englishmen with him,
and that there were from eight hundred to a thousand of the townsmen,
without including the remainder of the inhabitants who were under arms
in the different streets, he began to be alarmed, and, addressing
himself with much humility to the archbishop and people, said, that he
was ready to do whatever the inhabitants of the town should wish. To
appease the populace, he went to the town-hall, where public meetings
are usually held,--and, after some discussion, it was resolved that
the archbishop, with some english knights and citizens, should attend
at the gate of St Ouen, to confer with the king, or with a part of his
great council, respecting the welfare and surrender of the city of
Rouen.
In consequence of this resolution, the official of the town was sent
to the king at Pont de l'Arche to obtain a safe conduct for certain
persons therein named, to treat of peace,--which being granted, the
official returned to the archbishop and the duke. The archbishop, and
some knights and esquires on the part of the duke of Somerset, together
with certain of the townsmen, were sent to Port St Ouen[55], within
a league of Pont de l'Arche, where they met, on the part of the king
of France, his lieutenant-general the count de Dunois, the chancellor
of France, the seneschal of Poitou, sir William de Cousinot, and
some others. They had a long conference, in which the deputies from
Rouen insisted on a general amnesty being granted, and that such as
chose might depart with the English, and all who preferred to stay
should have the enjoyment of their fortunes unmolested. It was also
stipulated, that the English and their party should have safe conducts
for themselves and their effects, when they marched away. All these
demands having been agreed to by the count de Dunois and the king's
counsellors, the archbishop and his associates promised to deliver up
the town to the king's obedience.
The archbishop and his companions then departed, to make their report
to the English and the citizens of Rouen,--but as they arrived in the
night, they could not do it until the following day. On the 18th,
therefore, the archbishop and the other deputies went very early to the
town-hall, and related every thing that had passed between them and
the ministers from the king of France, which was very agreeable to the
inhabitants, but sorely displeasing to the English, who, when they saw
the strong inclinations of the townsmen to turn to the french interest,
were greatly astonished, more especially the duke of Somerset and the
lord Talbot. They therefore left the town-hall much discontented, and,
instantly arming themselves, withdrew to the government-palace, the
bridges, and portals of the castle.
The citizens, having observed their motions, began to take alarm, and
armed themselves also. They, as well as the English, kept up a strong
guard the whole of this Saturday, and likewise during the night; but
the townsmen, anxious to expel the English for refusing to accept of
the terms the deputies had agreed to, sent a messenger to Pont de
l'Arche, who arrived there on Sunday by day-break, to inform the king,
that if he would send a force to their relief, it should have free
entrance into the town.
On this same Sunday, the 19th day of October, about eight o'clock in
the morning, the whole of the inhabitants were under arms, and on their
guard against any attempts of the English,--when they attacked all of
that nation whom they found in the streets so sharply that it was with
difficulty that they could join their companions on the bridge, and in
the palace and castle. In the pursuit, from seven to eight English were
killed,--and the townsmen gained possession, in the interim, of the
principal gates of the town.
The count de Dunois lost no time in hastening to the relief of Rouen,
but instantly mounted his horse, attended by a large company of men at
arms. In the number was Flocquet, bailiff of Evreux; but in his hurry,
he forgot to put his greaves on, and was so badly kicked by one of the
horses of his troop that his leg was broken, and he was carried back to
be cured at Pont de l'Arche, after he had given the command of his men
to the lord de Maulny.
On the arrival of this force before Rouen, those within St Catherine's
were summoned to surrender the place to the king of France, who had,
during the summons, set out from Pont de l'Arche, grandly accompanied
by men at arms and archers, to appear personally before the walls of
Rouen. He had ordered his artillery to be charged, for an immediate
attack on his arrival at St Catherine's, although there was no
necessity,--for the governor of the place, having six score English
under his orders, seeing so noble a company, and knowing that the king
was on the road, fearful also of the event, if he made any resistance,
surrendered it to the count de Dunois, and he and his garrison marched
away whither they pleased. The bailiff of Evreux was appointed
governor, until the king should otherwise dispose of it. A herald was
sent with the english garrison of St Catherine's, to answer for their
safety, and to conduct them to Port St Ouen. On their march, they met
the king, who bade them take nothing from the poor people without
paying for it; but as they said they had no money, he gave them the sum
of one hundred francs to defray the expences,--and then they continued
their march with their baggage, of which, indeed, they had little, to
Honfleur, or wherever else they pleased. The king took up his quarters
that night at St Catherine's, with the intent to accomplish his
enterprise.
To gain the city of Rouen, the count de Dunois, the count de Nevers,
the lord d'Orval, the lord de Blainville and the lord de Maulny,
advanced with all their men, with the king's banners displayed, before
that gate of Rouen called Martinville, and drew up in battle-array near
to the bulwark of the gate. The citizens came out with the keys of the
gates and presented them to the count de Dunois,--at the same time
pressing him to enter the town with as many of his men as he pleased.
The count replied, that he would act as should be most agreeable to
them, when, after some further conversation respecting the welfare of
the city, sir Pierre de Brézé, seneschal of Poitou, was ordered to
enter with one hundred lances and his archers, the lord de Maulny with
the same number of lances, and the archers of Robert de Flocques, and
one hundred lances and archers from the men of the count de Dunois.
They posted themselves as near to the English as they could, namely
the men of the count de Dunois in front of the government-palace, in
which were the duke of Somerset and lord Talbot, with twelve hundred
English,--the lord de Maulny between the palace and the castle, and
the seneschal of Poitou facing the castle. The other captains were
encamped in the fields, and posted in the villages on the side toward
the countries of Caux and Beauvoisis.
The king's army was a fine sight; for never, in the memory of man, had
the king so grand or so numerous an assembly of lords, barons, knights
and esquires, with common men, as were now under his orders.
This evening, the English surrendered the bridge, the guard of which
was given to the lord de Herunville,--and, on the morrow, the gates of
the town were thrown open, for all to enter or go out as they pleased.
The duke of Somerset was afflicted at heart to see the great army the
king had brought against him, and demanded a conference with him.
On this being told the king, he was well pleased to agree to it. In
consequence, the duke of Somerset set out, on the fifth day afterward,
from the palace, accompanied by a certain number of persons, and by
some of the king's heralds, who escorted him to St Catherine's on the
mount of Rouen, where the king received him, attended by the king of
Sicily, the count de Dunois, and others of his council and blood: the
patriarch of Antioch, the Archbishop of Rouen, and other prelates,
were likewise present. After the usual salutations, and when the duke
had paid his respects to the king, he requested that his majesty would
be pleased to allow him and lord Talbot, with the men under their
command, to march away with their baggage in safety, according to the
terms of the general amnesty which had been agreed to by the lords of
his council.
The king deliberately and prudently replied, that his request was
unreasonable, because they had refused to accept or adhere to the terms
of the amnesty; but in contempt of it had held, and now did hold, the
palace and castle contrary to his will, and had also done every thing
in their power to prevent the inhabitants of Rouen from surrendering
their town. The amnesty had, therefore, been annulled by their own
conduct; and before they were suffered to leave the palace, Honfleur,
Harfleur, and all places in the country of Caux, now in the hands of
the king of England, must be given up to him.
The duke of Somerset, on receiving this answer, took leave of the king
and returned to the palace, and saw every one, in all the streets he
passed through, wearing the white cross, which did not tend to raise
his spirits. He was escorted back by the counts of Eu and of Clermont.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 55: St Ouen. I believe there must be some mistake, for there
is no St Ouen near to Pont de l'Arche; but a St Ouen seems to be within
a league of Elbeuf, which is near to Pont de l'Arche.]
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[56], AND OTHER PLACES MENTIONED.
On Wednesday, the 22d of October the king of France commanded the
government-palace and the castle of Rouen to be besieged at the same
time. Eight hundred lances, with the archers, were ordered on this
service, who made deep trenches round the palace, as well in the town
as in the fields. Bombards and cannon were pointed against the gates
that opened to the country and town. All these preparations greatly
dismayed the duke of Somerset. Having considered that there was very
little provision or stores within the palace, and a great many
men, and that there was not a possibility of his being relieved, he
requested, on the 28th of the same month, that the king would permit
him to speak with him, which the king kindly granted. The duke left
the palace accompanied by about forty of his principal knights and
esquires: he was dressed in a long robe of blue figured velvet, lined
with sables, having on his head a crimson-velvet bonnet, trimmed also
with sables. The king's heralds escorted him through the tower to the
sallyport leading to St Catherine's, where he was met by the count de
Clermont, eldest son to the duke of Bourbon, and other knights and
esquires, who conducted him to St Catherine's where the king received
him very kindly, in an apartment most richly decorated.
The king had with him, at this audience, the king of Sicily, the counts
of Maine, of Dunois, of Nevers, of Clermont, of St Pol, of Castres, of
Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and so many great lords and
knights that it would be tiresome to name them all. When the duke
had saluted the king, he requested that his majesty would be pleased
to grant to him, and the English in the palace and castle, the same
capitulation he had granted to the town.
The king replied aloud, and in handsome terms, that the same
capitulation had been granted them at the conference at St Ouen, but
that neither himself nor his countrymen, like ill-advised persons,
would accept of it: his request was therefore so unreasonable that
he could not grant it. The duke then took his leave of the king and
returned, with those who had accompanied him, to the palace, escorted,
for his security, by the counts of Clermont, of Eu, and of Castres.
The king ordered the count de Dunois to push forward his approaches to
the palace with the greatest vigour, on the side toward the country as
well as on that toward the town. The lieutenant-general obeyed this
order with so much activity, valour and prudence, that the English were
completely blockaded in both the castle and the palace.
The English now demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and a
truce was concluded between them. The bailiff of Evreux, the marshal
de la Fayette, and others of the king's council were called in to the
conference, when the truce was prolonged from day to day, for the space
of twelve days, because the English would not leave the lord Talbot as
an hostage for the performance of the treaty. After many discussions,
it was at length agreed that the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of
the king of England, his lady, children, and all the English within
the palace and castle should depart in safety with their effects
whithersoever they pleased, leaving behind the prisoners and heavy
artillery. They were bound to pay the king of France the sum of fifty
thousand crowns within the twelvemonth, and to those who had concluded
this treaty six thousand. They also promised faithfully to pay every
thing they owed to the innkeepers, townsmen, tradesmen and others of
Rouen.
The duke of Somerset and his companions were besides bounden to
deliver up the castle of Arques, the town of Caudebec, the castle
of Tancarville, and L'isle-bonne, the towns of Honfleur and
Monstierville, to the king of France, or to such commissioners as
he should appoint to receive them. For the fulfilment of these
engagements, the duke of Somerset gave written promises, and also
left, as hostages for their performance, lord Talbot, the sons of lord
Abergavenny, of lord Roos, and of the duchess of Somerset, of the earl
of Ormond in Ireland, and two other english noblemen.
On the conclusion of this treaty, the duke of Somerset and the English
departed from the palace on the 4th day of November, and went strait
to the town of Harfleur,--some by water, others by land. The hostages
remained under the care of the king's commissaries in Rouen. The duke
of Somerset, before his departure, had directed sir Thomas Hou and
Fulk Hou[57] to restore to the king of France the places mentioned in
the treaty; which was done, excepting Honfleur,--for the governor,
called master Thomas Courson, refused to surrender it,--and the lord
Talbot, therefore, remained prisoner to the king. On Monday, the 10th
of November, the eve of the feast of St Martin, the count de Dunois and
the bailiff of Rouen had the king's banner displayed from the castle,
palace, and walls of the city, by one of the king's heralds, and in the
presence of the principal inhabitants.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 56: Arques,--two leagues from Dieppe.]
[Footnote 57: Sir Thomas Hou, &c. Q. Howe? Berry changes the names into
Heu and Heston. See Hollingshed, &c.]
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 ARGUES,
CAUDEBEC, TANCARVILLE, MONSTIERVILLE, &c.
While the negotiations were carrying on with the English, the king of
France celebrated the feasts of All-saints in St Catherine's with the
utmost joy on seeing his enemies fall before him,--and he returned
thanks to God for the good fortune that was daily pouring in upon him.
The count de Dunois having restored good government in the town of
Rouen, the king prepared to make his solemn entry into it.
He set out from St Catherine's on this same Monday, about one o'clock
after midday, attended by the king of Sicily, and several great
princes, as well of his blood as otherwise, with his army drawn out
in handsome array. First marched his archers, the leaders of whom
were dressed in striped jackets of red, white and green, covered with
embroidery. After these came the archers of the king of Sicily, of the
count du Maine, and of other great lords, to the number of six hundred,
well mounted, and all armed with plate armour, under jackets of various
colours, having greaves, swords, daggers and helmets, richly ornamented
with silver. The king appointed the lords de Preuilly and de Cléré, sir
Theaulde de Valperge, and a few more, to command them, who had their
horses covered with satin housings of different forms and colours.
After the archers came the heralds of the king of France, the king of
Sicily, and the other princes in company with the king, all dressed in
their tabards of arms,--and with them were some pursuivants. Then came
the trumpeters and clarions, who sounded so loudly that it was very
melodious, and gave much delight to hear them: the king's trumpeters
were clothed in crimson, having their sleeves covered with embroidery.
Next came sir William Juvenal des Ursins, knight, lord of Trainel and
chancellor of France, dressed in his robes of ceremony, namely, a
robe, mantle and hood of scarlet, trimmed with minever, and on each
of his shoulders were golden ribbands, interlaced with strips of fur.
Before him walked two footmen, leading by the bridle a white hackney,
covered with a housing of blue velvet, besprinkled with flowers de luce
and gold tissue. On this housing was placed a small coffer, covered
also with blue velvet and flowers de luce in silversmith's work, in
which were the seals of the king. After him rode an equerry of the
stables, called Pierre Fonteville[58], fully armed, and mounted on a
charger covered with housings of azure velvet, having great clasps of
silver gilt: he had on his head a pointed hat, with the point trimmed
with crimson-velvet and ermine. He bore before him, in a scarf, the
royal mantle of scarlet, ornamented with purple fringes and ermine.
Next came, without any interval between him and the king, the lord de
Saintrailles, grand equerry of the royal stables, and bailiff of Berry.
He was in complete armour, mounted on a charger with similar housings
and clasps as the said Fonteville, and bore in a scarf the royal sword
of state, whose handle, cross and sheath, were covered with blue
velvet, besprinkled with flowers de luce of gold.
Then came the king, in complete armour, on a stately charger with
housings, reaching to the ground, of blue velvet, covered with flowers
de luce in embroidery. On his head was a beaver hat lined with crimson
velvet, having on the crown a tuft of gold thread. He was followed
by his pages dressed in crimson,--their sleeves covered with silver
plates, the armour of their horses' heads was of fine gold, variously
ornamented, and with plumes of ostrich feathers of divers colours. On
the right of the king rode the king of Sicily, and on the left his
brother the count of Maine, both in full armour, their horses richly
ornamented, with similar housings, having white crosses, and their
devices intermixed with tufts of gold thread. Their pages' horses had
the like housings,--but their head-armour was of fine gold with their
devices.
After them came the counts de Nevers, de St Pol, and de Clermont. The
first was mounted, fully armed, on a charger covered with green velvet
embroidered with gold, and followed by three pages dressed in violet
and black: he was also accompanied by twelve gentlemen completely
armed, mounted on horses covered with violet-coloured satin: each
housing bore a white cross, except one whose housing was of green
satin. The count de St Pol was likewise in full armour, mounted on a
charger having a housing of black satin covered with silversmith's
work and embroidery. His five pages were clothed in black satin,
slashed below, which slashes were covered with silversmith's work:
the housings of their horses were the same. One of them bore a lance
covered with crimson-velvet, another a lance covered with figured
gold tissue, and the third bore on his head an helmet of fine gold
richly ornamented; and behind these pages was his groom handsomely
dressed, with the housings of his horse similar to the others, leading
a handsome charger in hand. The count de Clermont was also completely
armed, mounted on his charger covered with housings of his livery, as
were his pages.
The lord de Culant, grand master of the king's household, (having the
command of a battalion of six hundred lances, each having a pennoncel
of crimson satin with a golden sun in the center,) followed the pages
of the king, in complete armour, a hat on his head, and mounted on a
charger covered with a housing of blue and red velvet in stripes, each
stripe having a large golden or silver leaf: the armour of his horse
was similarly ornamented. He wore round his neck a baldrick of pure
gold, that hung down below the crupper of his horse. With the lord de
Culant was an esquire called Rogerin Blosset, equerry of the stables
to the king, who bore the royal standard of crimson satin, having the
figure of St Michael in the center, and besprinkled with leaves of gold.