Béarnman ready to perform his promise; and they all entered, except a
few who were left to guard the horses. They instantly made themselves
masters of the greater part of the castle, and particularly the great
tower, which was well supplied with stores.
The earl of Arundel and many English were in bed in the castle, most
part of whom saved themselves as well as they could over the walls: the
others retired within the town, but not without leaving several killed
and wounded by the French.
When this was done, Richarville mounted his horse, and hastened back
with all speed to where he had left the marshal, and told him the
success of his enterprise, requiring him, at the same time, to advance
quickly to the support of his men, when, without doubt, the whole of
the castle would be won. But, to make short of the matter,--for all
that he could say, and notwithstanding the urgency of the case which
he stated to the commanders, he could not prevail on them to march,
although the marshal and the principal captains had most faithfully
promised to support him, if he should succeed in making a lodgement
within the castle: now he had succeeded, they would not fulfil their
engagements; and when within one league, as I have said, of Rouen, they
began to quarrel among themselves about the division of the plunder,
which had not as yet been won.
These disputes caused them to march back without proceeding further,
and leave part of their men in the utmost danger. Richarville seeing
this, and knowing that he had successfully done his duty, abused them
in the coarsest terms, which they very patiently suffered, and hastened
their departure.
They returned to Beauvais and the other places whence they had come, to
the great vexation of Richarville, who had flattered himself that he
should conquer the castle of Rouen. He remonstrated with several who
had friends and relatives within the town of Rouen, but in vain: they
marched away with the others to Beauvais.
While this was passing, the French were exerting themselves to drive
the English without the gates of the castle, which they had gained
possession of; but when day appeared, and they heard nothing of their
army, they began to fear they should not be supported, and that
they had been deceived in the promises made them. They were much
surprised and cast down; and, on the other hand, the English were
hourly increasing, and attacking them with great courage. They were
accompanied by many of the townsmen, for fear they might be suspected
of favouring the French.
The French, finding they were not in sufficient force to defend all
they had conquered, with one accord retired to the great tower, with
all the provision they could lay hands on, and determined to hold out
until death. They were, however, soon attacked on all sides, by the
cannon and engines the English brought against it, which damaged it
in many places. Those within were in a few days much straitened for
provision and other things, which forced them, having now no hopes of
relief, to surrender at discretion to king Henry and his council, after
having held out for twelve days.
Before they were conquered, they had done much mischief to the English
by the artillery they found within the tower, and that which they had
transported thither. They were all made prisoners, and put under a
good guard; and shortly after, one hundred and fifty were beheaded in
Rouen,--and Pierre Audeboeuf was quartered, and his body affixed at the
usual places.
About this period, the duke of Burgundy marched a thousand combatants
from his country of Artois to Burgundy, where he remained three days
to visit those parts that had been much harrassed by the enemy. While
there, he was waited on by the archbishop of Rheims and other notable
ambassadors from king Charles, to treat of a peace between them; but as
they could not conclude on terms, they returned to the king. When the
duke of Burgundy had ordered proper measures for the government of that
country he returned to Artois, Flanders and Brabant.
CHAP. XV.
THE FRENCH TAKE THE CASTLE OF DOMMART IN PONTHIEU, AND CARRY OFF THE
LORD DE DOMMART PRISONER.
In the month of February, a party of king Charles's men, to the amount
of fourscore combatants, under the command of a noble knight called sir
Regnault de Verseilles, collected from Beauvais, Breteuil, and other
places, crossed the river Somme in small boats near to Pequigny, and
were thence conducted to the castle of Dommart in Ponthieu, to the
walls of which, without being perceived by the guard, they fastened
their ladders and gained an entrance.
They instantly shouted, 'The castle is won!' and began to batter down
doors and windows. This noise awakened the inhabitants, and especially
the lord, sir James de Craon, who was in bed with his wife. He suddenly
arose, thinking to put an end to it, but it was in vain; for his
enemies were too powerful, and his men, who were not very numerous,
could not collect together. He and the greater part of them were made
prisoners: the rest escaped over the walls.
The French, after having gained possession, packed up all the moveables
they could find within the castle, such as gold and silver plate,
furs, clothes, linen, and other things, which, after having refreshed
themselves, they carried away, with their prisoners, by the way they
had come, leaving the castle in the same outward state as they had
found it.
In the mean time, the inhabitants of the town of Dommart, hearing the
noise in the castle, collected together, and sent notice of what had
passed to Pequigny and to other places. It was not long, before nearly
two hundred men of all sorts were assembled, who pursued the French
with such haste, that they overtook them at the place where they had
before passed the Somme, and instantly attacked them. They were soon
defeated: part were made prisoners or killed, and the others were
drowned in attempting to cross the river. However, sir Regnault had
crossed the Somme before they came up with them, with his prisoner sir
James de Craon, and carried him, without any opposition, to Beauvais,
whence he afterward obtained his liberty by paying a large sum of money.
CHAP. XVI.
SIR THOMAS KIRIEL, AN ENGLISHMAN, IS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF THE CASTLE
OF CLERMONT IN THE BEAUVOISIS.
This year, through the intrigues of sir John de Luxembourg, the strong
castle of Beauvoisis was given to the command of sir Thomas Kiriel, an
Englishman,--which castle had been long held by the lord de Crevecoeur,
under the duke of Burgundy. The duke had consented to this appointment,
on sir Thomas giving sir John de Luxembourg a promise, under his hand
and seal, that he would yield it up whenever required.
Sir Thomas soon collected a large company of English, whom he placed
in this castle, and carried on a severe warfare against the towns on
the French frontier, such as Creil, Beauvais, Compiègne and others. In
like manner, did they act in regard to the castlewicks of Mondidier and
other places under the obedience of the duke of Burgundy.
In truth, during these tribulations, they made many prisoners, and
even carried off women, as well noble as not, whom they kept in close
confinement until they ransomed themselves. Several of them who were
with child were brought to bed in their prison. The duke of Burgundy
was very angry at such things being done to those under his obedience,
but could not obtain redress; for when he demanded the restitution of
the castle according to sir Thomas's promise and agreement, he put
off the matter with different reasons for delay, such as soldiers
readily find, who often, on certain occasions, follow their own will.
In short, after many delays, the duke of Bedford, in compliment to his
brother-in-law the duke of Burgundy, ordered sir Thomas to deliver up
the castle of Clermont to the lord d'Auffremont.
CHAP. XVII.
THE INHABITANTS OF CHAUNY-SUR-OISE DESTROY THE CASTLE OF THEIR TOWN.
About the same time, sir Colart de Mailly, bailiff for king Henry in
the Vermandois, and sir Ferry de Mailly, resided at the castle of
Chauny sur Oise, the lawful inheritance of Charles duke of Orleans, a
prisoner in England. Sir Ferry happened to say some things not very
respectful, in regard to the townsmen, which alarmed them lest he might
introduce a stronger garrison of English into the castle by the back
gate than would be agreeable to them, and reduce them the more under
his subjection.
They, consequently, held some secret meetings of the principal
inhabitants, namely, John de Longueval, Matthew de Longueval his
brother, Pierre Piat and others, who bound themselves by a solemn oath
to gain possession of the castle, and demolish it, the first day that
sir Colart and sir Ferry de Mailly should be in the town.
Having arranged their plan, they posted some few of their accomplices
near to the gate of the castle, properly instructed how to act. When
they saw the two knights, with their attendants, quit the castle to
amuse themselves in the town, as was their usual custom, they crossed
the drawbridge, the guard having no suspicion of them, and instantly
raised it and gained possession of the place. The guard was greatly
vexed, but there was no remedy; and those in the secret within the
town, instantly on hearing what had passed, rang the alarm bell,
and, arming themselves with staves and what weapons they could find,
hastened to the castle, wherein they were instantly admitted.
Some of the principal inhabitants waited on the two knights to assure
them they needed not be under any apprehension for their persons or
property; that all their effects should be strictly restored to them,
for what they were about was for the good and security of the town. The
knights, seeing there was no alternative, replied, that since it could
not be otherwise, they would act according to their pleasure; and, much
discontented with what was passing, they retired with their friends to
a house in the town, where all their property was delivered to them.
The inhabitants, with one accord, followed up the destruction of the
castle, so that within a very few days it was demolished from top to
bottom.
Shortly after, the bailiff of the Vermandois and his brother quitted
the town of Chauny,--and in their stead sir John de Luxembourg first
sent sir Hector de Flavy to govern them, and then Waleran de Moreul;
but, after what the inhabitants had done, they found them more inclined
to disobedience than before the castle was demolished.
CHAP. XVIII.
THE CITY OF CHARTRES IS CONQUERED BY KING CHARLES'S PARTY.
On the 20th day of April, in this year, was won the noble city of
Chartres by the arms of king Charles. This city had followed the party
of dukes John and Philip of Burgundy since the year 1417, when she
first attached herself to duke John, and afterward to the English party.
The taking of it was owing to two of the inhabitants, named Jean
Conseil and le Petit Guillemin, who had formerly been prisoners to
the French, with whom they had resided a long time, and had been so
well treated by them that they had turned to their side. They had made
frequent journeys, with passports from the French, to Blois, Orleans,
and other places under their obedience, with different merchandise,
bringing back to Chartres other articles in exchange.
There was also within Chartres a jacobin doctor of divinity, called
Friar Jean Sarragin, of their way of thinking, who was the principal
director of their machinations, and to whom they always had recourse.
Having formed their plan, when the day arrived for its execution, the
French collected in different parts a force amounting in the whole to
four thousand men, the principal leaders of which were the lord de
Gaucourt, the bastard of Orleans, Blanchet d'Estouteville, sir Florent
de Lers, La Hire, Girard de Felins, and other chiefs of inferior rank.
They began their march toward Chartres, and, when within a quarter
of a league, they formed an ambuscade of the greater number of their
men. Others, to the amount of forty or fifty, advanced still nearer
the town; and the two men before named, who were the plotters of this
mischief, were driving carriages laden with wine and other things,
especially a great quantity of shad fish. Some expert and determined
men at arms were dressed as drivers of these carriages, having their
arms concealed under their frocks.
So soon as the gate leading to Blois was opened, these carriages
advanced to enter, led on by Jean Conseil and Petit Guillemin. The
porters at the gate, knowing them well, asked what news. They said they
knew none but what was good,--on which the porters bade them welcome.
Then, the better to deceive them, Jean Conseil took a pair of shad,
and, giving them to the porters, said, 'There's for your dinner: accept
of them with our thanks,--for we often make you and others wait for us
to shut and open the gates and barriers.'
While this conversation was passing, those disguised as carters
suddenly armed themselves and fell on the porters, killed part of them,
and gained possession of the gate. Then making the signal that had been
agreed on, the whole army that was in ambuscade quickly advanced, and
began their march into the town in handsome order, completely armed,
and with displayed banners before them.
Those of the porters who had escaped into the town gave the alarm to
the inhabitants, who instantly, and in many places, cried 'To arms!'
The burghers and commonalty immediately assembled; but unfortunately
the said jacobin friar had been preaching to them in a very popular
strain some days before; and had requested that they would hear a
sermon of his, which would greatly profit their souls if attended to;
and he had fixed on this very morning to preach it, at a remote part of
the town, the most distant from the gate where the attempt was to be
made.
At the moment when the alarm was given, the majority of the inhabitants
were attending to the friar's sermon; but on hearing the cries, 'To
arms!' often repeated, they were greatly frightened, and hastened to
their homes as speedily as they could. Very many of them armed, and
with staves joined their bishop and their governor, who led them to
where the French were, intending to drive them out of the town; but it
was too late, for the French were much superior in numbers, well armed,
and accustomed to war. They were beside far advanced within the town
when the inhabitants met them,--and the French, the more to deceive
them, shouted out, 'Peace! peace!' as they pushed forward in handsome
array, discharging their arrows. Some shot passed on each side; but
it lasted not long, for, to complete their misfortune, William de
Villeneuve, captain of the garrison, instead of leading them to battle,
perceiving the business was so far advanced, mounted his horse, and,
with about a hundred of his men, fled in haste through the opposite
gate, and multitudes of people with him. Those who remained were soon
defeated, without offering further resistance.
The French having advanced to the market-place, and seeing none to
oppose them, held a council, and detached parties through the streets,
to discover if any of the enemy were preparing for resistance; but
every one fled before them, and saved himself as well he could.
In consequence of this attack, about sixty or four score of the
townsmen lost their lives,--the principal person of whom was master
Jean de Festigny, a native of Burgundy, the bishop. From five to
six hundred were made prisoners: the chief was master Gilles de
l'Aubespine, who governed the town for the English.
All who were taken, churchmen or burghers, were forced to pay heavy
ransoms,--and every thing that could be turned into money was seized.
In regard to rapes and other extraordinary acts, they were committed
according to military usage on a conquered town.
On the morrow, several who had been partisans of the English were
publicly beheaded; and new magistrates were appointed in the name of
the king of France, together with a very strong garrison to defend the
frontier against the English. The commander in chief within the town,
and of this force, was the bastard of Orleans.
CHAP. XIX.
THE CARDINAL OF SANTA CROCE IS SENT BY THE POPE TO FRANCE, TO
ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THE CONTENDING PARTIES.
At this time, our holy father the pope sent to France the cardinal of
Santa Croce to appease the quarrel between the king of France on the
one part, and Henry king of England and the duke of Burgundy on the
other. The cardinal made great exertions to procure a peace, but in
vain: however, he did succeed by his diligence in establishing a truce
between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy for six years,--and
they mutually exchanged assurances of this truce under their hands and
seals, drawn up in the strongest manner.
The people fondly hoped that this truce would be lasting, and in
consequence returned to their agricultural labours, restocking their
farms with cattle and other things: but their joy did not long
continue, for within the first half year, so bitter were the parties
against each other, the war recommenced with greater fury than before.
The principal reason for this renewal of war was owing to the French
seizing some of the burgundian party with the English; and in like
manner, some poor adventurers among the Burgundians having joined the
English, and wearing a red cross, made war on the French,--so that by
these means the truce was broken. Justice was no where attended to, and
numberless plunderings were daily practised against the lower orders
of the people and the clergy; for notwithstanding they paid very large
sums to the leaders of the two parties, according to the country they
lived in, to enjoy security, and had received from them sealed papers
as assurances of not being disturbed, no attention was paid to them,
and thus they had none other resource than to offer up their prayers to
God for vengeance on their oppressors.
CHAP. XX.
THE ENGLISH CONQUER THE BULWARK AT LAGNY-SUR-MARNE.
During the month of March of this year, the duke of Bedford, in
conjunction with the council of king Henry then at Paris, ordered a
body of men at arms to march and subject to the king's obedience some
castles held by the French on the borders of the Isle of France, such
as Mongay, Gournay, and others. They were also commanded to destroy the
bridge of Lagny sur Marne.
The chief commanders of this force were the earl of Arundel, the
eldest son of the earl of Warwick, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, marshal of
France to king Henry, sir John bastard de St Pol, sir Galois d'Aunay
lord d'Orville, and others. When they left Paris, they were about
twelve hundred fighting men, having with them abundance of carts and
carriages, with cannon and other artillery. In a few days, they came
before the above mentioned castles, which were soon constrained to
submit. Some of the garrisons marched away in safety, and with part
of their baggage; while others remained at the discretion of the
English,--many of whom were executed, and others ransomed.
After these surrenders, the English took the road toward Lagny sur
Marne; and on their arrival before it, the earl of Arundel had a large
bombard pointed against the arch of the drawbridge leading to the town,
which broke it down at the first discharge, so that all communication
with the bulwark at the opposite end of the bridge was cut off.
The earl now made a fierce attack on this bulwark, and won it,
notwithstanding the few within defended it with much courage and
obstinacy. John of Luxembourg, one of the bastards of St Pol, was
killed at this attack, and others wounded. The English broke down the
bridge in many places, and, having set the bulwark on fire, retired to
their quarters.
The English having determined to make an attempt, within a few days,
on the town of Lagny on different parts at the same time, the earl
of Arundel remained with a certain number of men for that purpose.
When the day arrived, and as the marshal and the other captains were
marching to the assault, sir John de Luxembourg bastard of St Pol, who
bore for his device, and on his banner, a brilliant sun, said aloud,
in the hearing of many, that he made a vow to God, that if the sun
entered the town, he would do the same,--which expression was diversely
construed by those who heard it.
They advanced gallantly to storm the place; but by the vigilance and
intrepidity of Huçon Queue, a Scotsman, sir John Foucault, and the
other captains in the town, they were boldly received, and very many
of the assailants were killed or severely wounded. They lost also four
or five of their banners and pennons, which were, by force of arms,
drawn into the town by their two ends: one was the banner of the lord
de l'Isle-Adam, and another, having the sun on it, that of the bastard
de St Pol, who had vowed to enter the place if the sun did. They were
forced to retreat to their quarters with shame and disgrace.
At the end of three days, the greater part of the men disbanded without
leave of their captains,--saying that they were losing their time by a
longer stay, for that they ran a greater risk of loss than gain,--and
returned to the duke of Bedford at Paris. These English and Burgundians
had been eight days before Lagny, battering the walls with their
artillery, before they made this attack.
CHAP. XXI.
PHILIBERT DE VAUDRAY, GOVERNOR OF TONNERRE, AND THE LORD D'AMONT WAIT
ON THE DUKE OF BEDFORD TO SERVE HIM.
In these days, Philibert de Vaudray and the lord d'Amont left Burgundy
with about five hundred men at arms, by command of their lord the duke
of Burgundy, to aid his brother-in-law the duke of Bedford. They took
the road through Champagne to gain Picardy; but the French, hearing
of their intentions, had assembled from seven to eight hundred
combatants, on their line of march, to combat and to conquer them. They
were commanded by Yvon de Puys, the bastard de Dampierre, the borgne
de Remon, and some others, who drew themselves up in battle-array on
the approach of the Burgundians. These last immediately dismounted to
defend themselves; but when they were on the point of commencing the
engagement, the French, who for the greater part had not dismounted,
suddenly wheeled about in great confusion and fled, but not without
having some few killed and wounded.
The Burgundians now continued their route unmolested to Picardy, where
they remained for some time pillaging and devouring the country. They
thence marched to join the duke of Bedford at Paris.
About this time, the king of Cyprus, in consequence of a long illness
that had succeeded to his imprisonment by the Saracens, departed
this life, after having most devoutly received all the sacraments of
the holy church. With the unanimous consent of the estates of that
kingdom, he was succeeded by John de Lusignan, his only son by his
queen Charlotte de Bourbon, who was crowned in the cathedral church of
Nicosia.
[A.D. 1432.]
CHAP. XXII.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD MARCHES A LARGE FORCE TO LAGNY-SUR-MARNE, TO
SUPPORT THE ENGLISH AND BURGUNDIANS WHO HAD REMAINED THERE, BUT
RETIRES WITHOUT MAKING ANY CONQUEST.
At the beginning of this year, the duke of Bedford, styling himself
regent of France, collected about six thousand combatants from
different parts under his obedience, whom he marched against the town
of Lagny sur Marne, held by the supporters of king Charles. There might
be in that place from eight hundred to a thousand picked and well tried
men under the orders of a scots captain, called sir Ambrose Love, and
sir John de Foucault, who valiantly conducted those under their banners.
With the duke of Bedford were the lord de l'Isle-Adam, marshal,
sir John bastard de St Pol, the bastard d'Aunay, knight and lord of
Orville, Philibert de Vaudray, the lord d'Amont, and many others of
notable estate, who had long laid siege to the town, to reduce it to
the obedience of king Henry.
There were numerous pieces of artillery pointed against the gates and
walls, which they damaged in many places, and caused the greatest alarm
to those of the garrison,--for in addition, they were much straitened
for provisions. The duke of Bedford had them frequently summoned to
surrender, but they would never listen to it,--for they never lost
hopes of being relieved by their party, as in fact they afterward were.