The French king following the tract of good fortune, that guided his
sterne, marched foorth to Bruckburge, so that the vaward of his armie
came before that towne on Holie rood daie in September, vnder the
leading of the earle of Flanders, the duke of Britaine, the lord Oliuer
de Clisson high constable of France, and the lord Valeran earle of
S. Paule, the which demeaned themselues in such sort, that although
the Englishmen within valiantlie defended the Frenchmens assault; yet
the third daie after the Frenchmens comming thither, the Englishmen
by composition that they might depart with bag and bagage, yeelded vp
the towne, which on the ninetenth of September being saturdaie, as
that yeare came about, was abandoned to the French souldiers, to rifle
and spoile at their pleasure, in the which feat the Britons bare the
bell awaie, dooing more mischeefe vnto the poore inhabitants, than
with toong can be recited. The duke of Britaine holpe greatlie to make
the composition, that the Englishmen might depart in safetie: for the
which dooing he was in great hatred and obloquie of the souldiers, who
affirmed that he was not onelie a friend to the Englishmen, but an
enimie to his countrie, and a traitour to the common-wealth.
[Sidenote: Grauelin fortified by the Frenchmen for a countergarison to
Calis. _Thom. Wals._]
The Englishmen comming to Grauelin, set it on fire, and departed
streight to Calis, leauing the countrie of Flanders to the Frenchmen,
and so returned into England, where they were not greatlie commended
for their seruice, but were put so farre in blame, that sir Thomas
Triuet, & sir William Elmham were committed to prison within the tower
of London, as men suspected of euill dealing in the deliuerie of
Bruckburge and Grauelin to the Frenchmens hands: for immediatlie after
that they had left Grauelin, the Frenchmen came thither, and fortified
it for a countergarison to Calis. ¶ There be that write how the French
king offered to giue the bishop of Norwich fiftéene thousand marks to
race the towne of Grauelin, and so to leaue it vnto him, the bishop
hauing libertie with all his people and goods to depart in safetie. The
bishop required to haue libertie for certeine daies, to make herevnto a
full and deliberate answer; which was granted, and in the meane time he
sent into England to aduertise the king in what state he stood, and how
the French king laie before him with a mightie armie: and therefore if
he meant euer to trie battell with the Frenchmen, now was the time.
[Sidenote: The king & quéene in progresse.