Moreouer, the Englishmen approched so néere to the walles and diches of
the citie, that they brought awaie twentie thousand head of cattell,
which the citizens had gotten within the compasse of their diches; and
further sent to them within, that if they would not sent bread and
wine foorth to vittell the host, in that behalfe they would burne all
their corne: for doubt whereof, the citizens sent foorth to the host
six charets laden with as much bread and wine as they might carie. Thus
was their corne saued from destruction, and the Englishmen by soft
and easie iournies drew towards the citie of Trois, in the which was
the duke of Burgognie, with the dukes of Burbon and Bar, the earle of
Ewe, the lord Coucie, sir Iohn de Vien high admerall of France, and a
great number of others of the French nobilitie. They had made a bastide
without the towne able to receiue a thousand men of armes, but vpon the
Englishmens approch to assault it, they did forsake that strength, and
withdrew to the towne. Sir Thomas Triuet was here made a baronet. Also
there were certeine new knights made, as sir Peter Berton, sir Iohn and
sir Thomas Paulie or Paulet, sir Iohn Stiugulie, sir Thomas Dortingues,
sir Iohn Vassecoque, sir Thomas Brasie, sir Iohn Brauin, sir Henrie
Vernier, sir Iohn Coleuile, sir William Euerat, sir Nicholas Stiugulie,
and sir Hugh Lunit.
[Sidenote: The policie of the French king.]
The English host perceiuing the Frenchmen to withdrawe into the towne,
drew togither, and stood in order of battell for the space of two
houres, and then returned to their lodgings. The next day they remooued
to Maillerois le vicount neere vnto Sens, and there they remained
two daies, and after drew into Gastinois, and so into Beause. They
were coasted all the waie by a great power of men of war, as many or
more in number as they were themselues. But the French king being a
politike prince, wiselie considered what losses the realme of France
had susteined afore time, by giuing battell to the Englishmen, and
therefore was fullie resolued, that in no wise he would giue licence to
his people to fight with the earle of Buckingham; but thought better
(as he had learned by good |731| experience) to keepe his townes
close against his enimies, and so in the end to wearie them, than by
giuing battell to put things in hazard, whereas he knew they could not
take from him his countries by this kind of warre, though they sore
indamaged the same for a time.
There chanced manie small skirmishes amongst those that rode foorth
to discouer the countrie, but no notable incounter at all. For the
Englishmen in those daies were cats not to be catched without mittens
(as Iacob Meir in one place saith) & againe the French men were as
warie how they aduentured to come néere them, peraduenture for feare,
as in the reigne of king Edward the 3, as C. O. noteth, saieng,
[Sidenote: _In Angl. prælijs sub Edwardo 3_.]
Contra aciem magnam tremebundo corde Valesus
In campum adiunctum & vicina coëgerat arua,
Non tamen Angligenas aduersum est ausus aperto
Tendere Marte feris confligere fortiter armis.
[Sidenote: The death of Charles the 5 French king.]
Onelie they sought how to inclose them vp in the countrie, and to
famish them, that they might then fight with them at some great
aduantage; but still the English host passed forward, holding on
their voiage towards Britaine by Vandosme, Pont Volaine, and so ouer
the riuer of Sartre. In this meane while the French king Charles the
fift was taken with a sore sicknesse, whereof he departed this life
the same daie that the English armie passed ouer the riuer of Sartre,
which was on the six and twentith of September, his brethren the dukes
of Aniou, Berrie, Burbon, and Burgognie were at Paris with him at the
houre of his death, where as a little before they had béene abroad in
the countrie with their powers, to defend the cities and townes of
importance against the Englishmen, and meant indeed (if they could haue
espied their aduantage, and gotten licence thereto of the king) to haue
giuen their enimies battell. But now they were otherwise occupied:
howbeit they had left their men abroad in the countrie to coast the
Englishmen as they had doone before. All the French power was assembled
in the citie of Mans, vnder the leading of the duke of Bar, the lord
Coucie, and others.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsi._
The French and Spanish gallies chased from the coast of England to
Kingsale in Ireland and there vanquished.]
In this meane while that the earle of Buckingham was passing through
the realme of France, the French and Spanish gallies did much mischéefe
on the coast of England: but about the latter end of Iune, by a fléet
of Englishmen of the west countries part of them were forced to retire,
and take harbour in an hauen in Ireland called Kingsale, where being
assailed of the Englishmen and Irishmen, they were vanquished; so that
to the number of foure hundred of them were slaine, and their chéefe
capteins taken, as Gonsalue de Verse, and his brother Iohn Martin de
Motrigo, Turgo lord of Morants; also lord of Reith, Péers Martin of
Vermew, Iohn Modit of Vermew, the seneshall of Wargarie, the seneshall
of S. Andrew, Cornelis of S. Sebastiano, Paschale de Biskey, Iohn
Martinis, Sopogorge of S. Sebastiano, and diuerse other.
[Sidenote: Diuerse townes on the English costs destroied and burnt.
The abbat of Battell in rescuing Winchelsie is put to flight.