hand and made several prisoners, news was brought to king Henry,
that the French were attacking his rear, and had already captured
the greater part of his baggage and sumpter-horses. This was indeed
true, for Robinet de Bournouville, Rifflart de Clamasse, Ysambart
d'Azincourt, and some other men at arms, with about six hundred
peasants, had fallen upon and taken great part of the king's baggage,
and a number of horses while the guard was occupied in the battle. This
distressed the king very much, for he saw that though the french army
had been routed they were collecting on different parts of the plain
in large bodies, and he was afraid they would renew the battle. He
therefore caused instant proclamation to be made by sound of trumpet,
that every one should put his prisoners to death, to prevent them
from aiding the enemy, should the combat be renewed. This caused an
instantaneous and general massacre of the french prisoners, occasioned
by the disgraceful conduct of Robinet de Bournouville, Ysambart
d'Azincourt, and the others, who were afterward punished for it, and
imprisoned a very long time by duke John of Burgundy, notwithstanding
they had made a present to the count de Charolois of a most precious
sword, ornamented with diamonds, that had belonged to the king of
England. They had taken this sword, with other rich jewels, from king
Henry's baggage[43],--and had made this present, that, in case they
should at any time be called to an account for what they had done, the
count might stand their friend.
The count de Marle, the count de Fauquembergh, the lords de Louvroy
and du Chin, had with some difficulty retained about six hundred men
at arms, with whom they made a gallant charge on the English; but it
availed nothing, for they were all killed or made prisoners. There were
other small bodies of French on different parts of the plain; but they
were soon routed, slain or taken.
The conclusion was a complete victory on the part of the king of
England, who only lost about sixteen hundred men of all ranks: among
the slain was the duke of York, uncle to the king. On the eve of this
battle, and the following morning, before it began, there were upwards
of five hundred knights made by the French.
When the king of England found himself master of the field of battle,
and that the French, excepting such as had been killed or taken, were
flying in all directions, he made the circuit of the plain, attended
by his princes; and while his men were employed in stripping the dead,
he called to him the french herald Montjoye king at arms, and with him
many other french and English heralds, and said to them, 'It is not we
who have made this great slaughter, but the omnipotent God, and, as we
believe, for a punishment of the sins of the French.'
He then asked Montjoye, to whom the victory belonged: to him, or to the
king of France. Montjoye replied, that the victory was his, and could
not be claimed by the king of France. The king then asked the name
of the castle he saw near him: he was told, it was called Azincourt.
'Well then,' added he, 'since all battles should bear the names of the
fortress nearest to the spot where they were fought, this battle shall
from henceforth bear the ever-durable name of Azincourt.'
The English remained a considerable time on the field, and seeing they
were delivered from their enemies, and that night was approaching,
they retreated in a body to Maisoncelles, where they had lodged the
preceding night: they again fixed their quarters there, carrying with
them many of their wounded. After they had quitted the field of battle,
several of the French, half dead and wounded, crawled away into an
adjoining wood, or to some villages, as well as they could, where many
expired.
On the morrow, very early, king Henry dislodged with his army from
Maisoncelles, and returned to the field of battle: all the French
they found there alive were put to death or made prisoners. Then,
pursuing their road toward the sea-coast, they marched away: three
parts of the army were on foot sorely fatigued with their efforts in
the late battle, and greatly distressed by famine and other wants. In
this manner did the king of England return, without any hindrance,
to Calais, rejoicing at his great victory, and leaving the French in
the utmost distress and consternation at the enormous loss they had
suffered.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 41: Tramecourt,--a village of Artois, bailiwick of St Pol.]
[Footnote 42: Hollingshed says, his throwing up his truncheon was for a
signal to the archers posted in the field at Tramecourt to commence the
battle.]
[Footnote 43: See the Foedera, where the loss of these jewels, &c, is
specified.]
CHAP. XXXII.
THE NAMES OF THE PRINCES, AND OTHER LORDS FROM DIVERS COUNTRIES,
WHO PERISHED AT THIS UNFORTUNATE BATTLE, AND OF THOSE WHO WERE MADE
PRISONERS.
Here follow the names of those lords and gentlemen who were slain at
the battle of Azincourt, on the side of the French.
We shall begin with the king's officers: the lord Charles d'Albreth,
constable of France, the marshal Boucicaut, carried a prisoner to
England, where he died, sir James de Chastillon lord de Dampierre,
admiral of France, the lord de Rambures master of the cross-bows, sir
Guichard Daulphin master of the king's household.
Of the princes were, duke Anthony of Brabant, brother to the duke of
Burgundy, Edward duke of Bar, the duke d'Alençon, the count de Nevers,
brother to the duke of Burgundy, sir Robert de Bar, count de Marle,
the count de Vaudemont, John brother to the duke of Bar, the count de
Blaumont, the count de Grand-pré, the count de Roussy, the count de
Fauquenberghe, sir Louis de Bourbon, son to the lord de Préaux.
The names of other great lords as well from Picardy as elsewhere: the
vidame of Amiens, the lord de Croy, and his son sir John de Croy,
the lords de Helly, d'Auxi, de Brimeu, de Poix, l'Estendart lord de
Crequi, the lord de Lauvroy, sir Vitart de Bours, sir Philippe d'Auxi,
lord de Dampierre bailiff of Amiens, his son the lord de Raineval, his
brother sir Allain, the lord de Mailly and his eldest son the lord
d'Inchy, sir William de Saveuses, the lord de Neufville and his son the
castellan of Lens, sir John de Moreul, sir Rogue de Poix, sir John de
Bethune lord of Moreul in Brie, sir Symon de Craon lord de Clarsy, the
lord de Rocheguyon, and his brother the vidame de Launois, the lord
de Galigny, the lord d'Aliegre in Auvergne, the lord de Bauffremont
in Champagne, sir James de Heu, the lord de Saint Bris, Philippe de
Fosseux, sir Regnault de Crequy, lord de Comptes, and his son sir
Philippe, the lord de Mannes and his brother Lancelot, Mahieu and John
de Humieres, brothers, sir Louis de Beausault, the lord de Ront, sir
Raoul de Manne, sir Oudart de Renty and two of his brothers, the lord
d'Applincourt and his son sir James, sir Louis de Guistelle, the lord
de Vaurin and his son the lord de Lidequerke, sir James de Lescuelle,
the lord de Hames, the lord de Hondescocte, the lord de Pulchres, sir
John Baleul, sir Raoul de Flandres, sir Collart de Fosseux, the lord
de Roissimbos and his brother Louis de Boussy, the lord de Thiennes,
the lord d'Azincourt and his son, sir Hustin Kieret, le bègue de Caien
and his brother Payen, the lord de Varigines, the lord d'Auffemont and
his son sir Raulequin, sir Raoul de Neele, the lord de St Crêpin, the
viscount de Quesnes, sir Pierre de Beauvoir, bailiff of the Vermandois,
sir John de Lully and his brother sir Griffon, the lord de St Symon
and his brother Gallois, Collart de la Porte, lord of Bellincourt,
sir Yvain de Cramailles, the lord de Cerny in the Laonnois, sir
Drieu d'Orgiers, lord de Bethencourt, sir Gobert de la Bove, lord de
Savoisy, the lord de Becqueville and his son sir John Marthel, the lord
d'Utrecht, the seneschal d'Eu, the lord de la Riviere de Tybouville,
the lord de Courcy, the lord de St Beuve, the lord de Beau-mainnil,
the lord de Combouchis, the lord de la Heuse, the lord Viesport, sir
Bertrand Painel, the lord Chambois, the lord de St Cler, the lord de
Montcheveul, the lord d'Ouffreville, sir Enguerrand de Fontaines and
his brother sir Charles, sir Almaury de Craon lord de Brolay, the
lord de Montejan, the lord de la Haye, the lord de l'Isle Bouchart,
sir John de Craon, lord de Montbason, the lord de Bueuil, the lord de
Laumont sur Loire, sir Anthony de Craon, lord de Beau Vergier, the
lord d'Asse, the lord de la Tour, the lord de l'Isle Gonnort, sir John
de Dreux, sir Germain de Dreux, the viscount de Tremblay, sir Robert
de Bouvay, sir Robert de Challus, sir John de Bonnebault, the lord de
Mongaugier, sir John de Valcourt, the lord de Sainteron, sir Ferry de
Sardonne, sir Peter d'Argie, sir Henry d'Ornay, the lord des Roches,
sir John de Montenay, the lord de Bethencourt, the lord de Combourt,
the viscount de la Belliere, the lord de la Tute, sir Bertrand de
Montauban, Bertrand de St Gille, seneschal of Hainault, the lord de
la Hamecte, the lord du Quesnoy, the lord de Montigny, the lord de
Quiervran, the lord de Jumont, the lord de Chin, sir Symon de Havrech,
the lord de Poctes, sir John de Gres, sir Allemand d'Estaussines, sir
Philippe de Lens and sir Henry, brothers to the bishop of Cambray, sir
Michel du Chastellier and his brother Guillaume de Vaudripont, Ernoul
de Vaudrigien, Pierre de Molin, Jean de Buait, George de Quiervran
and his brother Henry, the lord de Saures, sir Briffault his brother,
le Baudrain d'Aisne knight, sir Maillart d'Azouville, Palamedes des
Marquais, the lord de Bousincourt, the lord de Fresencourt, the lord
de Vallusant, the lord de Hectrus, Guernier de Brusquent, the lord de
Moy in the Beauvoisis, his son Gamot de Bournouville and his brother
Bertrand, Louvelet de Massinguehen and his brother, sir Collart de
Phiennes, Alain de Vendôme, Lamont de Launoy, sir Colinet de St Py,
the lord de Bos d'Ancquin, Lancelot de Fremeusent, the lord d'Aumont,
sir Robinet de Vaucoux, sir Raisse de Moncaurel, sir Lancelot de
Clary, the lord de la Rachie, sir Guerard d'Herbaines, sir Guerard de
Haucourt, sir Robert de Montigny, sir Charles de Montigny, sir Charles
de Chastillon, Philippe de Poitiers, the lord de Feuldes, the lord de
St Pierre, Guillaume Fortescu, Burel de Guerames, Robert de Potiaumes,
the son to the bailiff of Rouen, the provost to the marshals of France.
Bertrand de Belloy, Jacques de Han, the lord de Baisir and Martel du
Vauhuon his brother, Jean de Maletraicts, Raoul de Ferrieres, Raoul
de Longeul knight, Henry de la Lande, sir Ernault de Corbie, lord
d'Aniel, Jean Discoüevelle, sir Yvain de Beauval, sir Brunel Fretel,
le Baudrain de Belloy knight, sir Regnault d'Azincourt, the governor
of the county of Rethel, Ponce de Salus knight, lord of Chastel-neuf,
the lord de Marquectes, Symmonet de Morviller, Foleville, butler to the
duke of Acquitaine, Gallois de Fougiers, sir Lancelot de Rubemprè,
Lyonnet Torbis, the lord de Boissay, Anthony d'Ambrine, sir Hector de
Chartres the younger and his two brothers, Tauppinet de la Nefville,
Thibault de Fay, the lord de Beauvoir sur Autre, Hue des Autels, the
lord de Caucroy and his brother Eustace d'Aubrunes, Lancelot de Couchy,
Jean de Launoy, sir Collart de Monbertant, sir Charles Boutry, sir
Guy Gourle, with John Gourle his brother, le Bon de Sains, Anthony de
Broly, Guillaume de Villers, lord d'Urendone, Floridas du Souys, the
lord de Regnauville, Baughois de la Beuvriere, and his brother Gamart,
le Plontre de Gerboal, Pierre Aloyer, Percival de Richebourg, the lord
de Fiefes and his son the bègue de Quenoulles, Godfrey de St Marc, the
lord de Teneques, the lord de Herlin, Symon de Monchiaux, sir Maillet
de Gournay and his brother Porus, Jean de Noyelle, Pierre de Noyelle
and Lancelot de Noyelle, sir Carnel de Hangiers, Jean d'Authville lord
de Vaverans, Regnault de Guerbauval, William lord de Rin, Pierre Remy,
Sausset d'Eusne, the Lord de Haucourt in Cambresis, sir Guichard
d'Ausne, the lord de Raisse, the lord d'Espaigny, the lord de Cheppon,
Jean de Chaule lord of Bretigny, Jean de Blausel, Guillebert de
Gubauval, Haudin de Beleval, sir Guerard de Hauressis, sir Louis de
Vertain, sir Estourdy d'Ongines with his brother Bertrand, sir Henry
de Boissy lord of Caule, sir Arthur de Moy, the borgne de Noaille, sir
Floridas de Moreul, sir Tristrain de Moy, sir Bridoul de Puiveurs,
the lord de Verneul, Langhois de Guerbauval, the viscount de Dommart,
Ponchon de la Tour, Godfrey de Prouville.
In short, the numbers of persons, including princes, knights, and men
of every degree, slain that day, amounted to upward of ten thousand,
according to the estimates of heralds and other able persons.
The bodies of the greater part were carried away by their friends after
the departure of the English, and buried where it was agreeable to them.
Of these ten thousand, it was supposed only sixteen hundred were of
low degree; the rest all gentlemen; for in counting the princes, there
were one hundred and six score banners destroyed.
During the battle, the duke of Alençon most valiantly broke through the
english line, and advanced, fighting, near to the king,--insomuch that
he wounded and struck down the duke of York: king Henry, seeing this,
stepped forth to his aid; and as he was leaning down to raise him, the
duke of Alençon gave him a blow on the helmet that struck off part of
his crown. The king's guards on this surrounded him, when, seeing he
could no way escape death but by surrendering, he lifted up his arm,
and said to the king, 'I am the duke of Alençon and yield myself to
you;' but, as the king was holding out his hand to receive his pledge,
he was put to death by the guards.
At this period, the lord de Longny marshal of France, as I have said,
was hastening, with six hundred men at arms attached to the king of
Sicily, to join the French, and was within one league of them, when he
met many wounded and more running away, who bade him return, for that
the lords of France were all slain or made prisoners by the English. In
consequence, Longny, with grief at heart and in despair, went to the
king of France at Rouen.
It was supposed, that about fifteen hundred knights and gentlemen were
this day made prisoners: the names of the principal are, Charles duke
of Orleans, the duke of Bourbon, the count d'Eu, the count de Vendôme,
the count de Richemont, sir James de Harcourt, sir John de Craon
lord of Dommart, the lord de Humieres, the lord de Roye, the lord de
Cauny, sir Boors Quieret lord of Heuchin, sir Peter Quieret lord of
Hamecourt, the lord de Ligne in Hainault, the lord de Noyelle, surnamed
le Chevalier Blanc, Baudo his son, the young lord of Inchy, sir John de
Vaucourt, sir Actis de Brimeu, sir Jennet de Poix, the eldest son and
heir to the lord de Ligne, sir Gilbert de Launoy, the lord d'Ancob in
Ternois.
CHAP. XXXIII.
ON THE DEPARTURE OF THE ENGLISH, MANY FRENCHMEN VISIT THE FIELD OF
BATTLE TO SEEK THEIR FRIENDS, WHOM THEY BURY,--AND OTHER MATTERS.
When the king of England had on this Saturday begun his march toward
Calais, many of the French returned to the field of battle, where the
bodies had been turned over more than once, some to seek for their
lords, and carry them to their own countries for burial,--others to
pillage what the English had left. King Henry's army had only taken
gold, silver, rich dresses, helmets, and what was of value; for which
reason, the greater part of the armour was untouched and on the dead
bodies; but it did not long remain thus, for it was very soon stripped
off, and even the shirts, and all other parts of their dress were
carried away by the peasants of the adjoining villages.
The bodies were left exposed as naked as when they came into the world.
On the Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the corpses of
many princes were well washed and raised, namely, the dukes of Brabant,
Bar and Alençon, the counts de Nevers, de Blaumont, de Vaudemont, de
Faulquemberge the lord de Dampierre, admiral, sir Charles d'Albreth,
constable, and buried in the church of the Friars Minors at Hesdin.
Others were carried by their servants, some to their own countries, and
others to different churches. All who were recognised were taken away,
and buried in the churches of their manors.
When Philippe count de Charolois heard of the unfortunate and
melancholy disaster of the French, he was in great grief, more
especially for the death of his two uncles, the duke of Brabant and
count de Nevers. Moved by compassion, he caused all that had remained
exposed on the field of battle to be interred, and commissioned the
abbot de Roussianville and the bailiff of Aire to have it done. They
measured out a square of twenty-five yards, wherein were dug three
trenches twelve feet wide in which were buried, by an account kept,
five thousand eight hundred men. It was not known how many had been
carried away by their friends, nor what number of the wounded had died
in hospitals, towns, villages, and even in the adjacent woods; but, as
I have before said, it must have been very great.
This square was consecrated as a burying ground by the bishop of
Guines, at the command and as procurator of Louis de Luxembourg, bishop
of Therounne. It was surrounded by a strong hedge of thorns, to prevent
wolves or dogs from entering it, and tearing up and devouring the
bodies.
In consequence of this sad event, some learned clerks of the realm made
the following verses:
'A chief by dolorous mischance oppress'd,
A prince who rules by arbitrary will,
A royal house by discord sore distress'd,
A council, prejudic'd and partial still,
Subjects by prodigality brought low,
Will fill the land with beggars, well we trow.
Nobles made noble in dame Nature's spite
A tim'rous clergy fear, and truth conceal,
While humble commoners forego their right
And the harsh yoke of proud oppression feel:
Thus, while the people mourn, the public woe
Will fill the land with beggars, well we trow.
Ah feeble woe! whose impotent commands
Thy very vassals boldly dare despise:
Ah helpless monarch! whose enervate hands
And wavering counsels dare no high emprize:
Thy hapless reign will cause our tears to flow,
And fill the land with beggars, well we trow[44].'
I shall here add the names of such principal persons as escaped death
or imprisonment in consequence of this battle.
First, the count de Dampmartin, lord de la Riviere, sir Clugnet de
Brabant, styling himself admiral of France, sir Louis Bourdon, sir
Galiot de Gaules, sir John d'Engennes.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 44: I am obliged to my friend, the Rev. W. Shepherd, for the
translation of these verses.]
CHAP. XXXIV.
KING HENRY EMBARKS AT CALAIS FOR ENGLAND, WHERE HE IS JOYFULLY
RECEIVED ON HIS LATE SUCCESSES.--THE COUNT DE LA MARCHE GOES TO ITALY.
On the 6th day of November, when king Henry had refreshed his army in
Calais, and when those prisoners who at Harfleur had promised to meet
him there were arrived, he embarked for Dover. The sea on his passage
was very rough, so that two vessels full of sir John de Cornewall's men
were in great danger; and some of the fleet were driven to different
parts in Zealand, but none of them were lost.
The king of England, on his return home from such a victory, and his
conquest of Harfleur, was most joyfully received by the nobles, clergy,
and all ranks of men: he proceeded to London, accompanied by the french
princes his prisoners. A little before this unfortunate battle, sir
James de Bourbon, count de la Marche, had gone to Italy, magnificently
attended, and had married queen Johanna of Naples, and thus acquired
the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples: indeed, he for some time held quiet
possession of them. He appointed sir Lourdin de Salligny his constable;
and one of his captains was sir Here de Bruneul, lord de Thiembronne.
CHAP. XXXV.
THE KING OF FRANCE AND HIS PRINCES ARE MUCH GRIEVED ON HEARING
THE MELANCHOLY EVENT OF THE BATTLE OF AZINCOURT.--OF THE DUKE OF
BURGUNDY,--AND OTHER MATTERS.
When news was brought to Rouen of the unfortunate loss of the battle
of Azincourt, and the deaths of so many noble persons, the king of
France and the princes with him were in the utmost consternation and
grief. Nevertheless, within a very few days, at a council held in the
presence of the king, the dukes of Acquitaine, Berry, and Brittany, the
count de Ponthieu his youngest son, and some of his ministers, the
count d'Armagnac was nominated constable of France, and orders were
dispatched to him in Languedoc, for him instantly to come to the king.
Duke John of Burgundy was in that duchy when he heard of the defeat
and loss of the French. He, like the others, was much grieved thereat,
particularly for the death of his two brothers, the duke of Brabant and
the count de Nevers. Notwithstanding his sorrow, he made preparation to
march a large force of men at arms to Paris without delay; but as the
report of his intentions had reached the king at Rouen, he, with the
princes, hastened to return thither before the duke should arrive, and
came there on the eve of St Catherine's day.
In company with the duke of Burgundy were the duke of Lorraine and ten
thousand men.
The Parisians, suspecting the object of the duke in this expedition,
sent a solemn embassy to the queen of France at Melun, where she lay
dangerously ill; but, in consequence of the information she received,
she caused herself to be carried in a litter to Paris, where she was
lodged in the hôtel d'Orleans with the duchess of Acquitaine, daughter
to the duke of Burgundy.
True it is, that the Parisians, and some of the king's ministers who
had been favourable to the Orleans faction, against that of Burgundy,
were very much alarmed, because the duke had in his company many who
had been banished France, such as sir Helion de Jacqueville, sir
Robinet de Mailly, master Eustace de Lactre, master John de Troyes,
Caboche, Denisot de Chaumont, Garnot de Sanction and several more. They
therefore prevailed on the king and the duke of Acquitaine to order sir
Clugnet de Brabant, the lord de Barbasan and the lord de Bocquiaux, to
hasten to Paris with a sufficient body of men at arms for its defence,
and for the security of the duke of Acquitaine.
The count d'Armagnac was again commanded to push forward to Paris as
speedily as possible, and with as many men at arms as he could raise.
The duke of Burgundy, on his march thither, passed through Troyes
and Provins, to Meaux in Brie, where he was refused admittance by
orders from the duke of Acquitaine and the council, who had written
to the governor on no account to suffer him to enter the town, which
displeased him much. Upon this he proceeded to Lagny sur Marne, and
quartered himself in the town, and his men in the country around, which
suffered severely from them.
On the other hand, many captains had raised their forces in Picardy,
namely, sir Martelet de Mesnil, Ferry de Mailly, the brothers Hector
and Philippe de Saveuses, sir Mauroy de St Leger, sir Payen de
Beaufort, Louis de Varigines, and others. They despoiled all the
country they marched through by Pont St Mard to Lagny, whither the duke
of Burgundy had summoned them. His army was so much increased that it
now amounted to twenty thousand horse.
The king of Sicily, knowing that he was not beloved by the duke of
Burgundy for having sent back his daughter, left Paris in an ill
state of health, and went to Angers; but before his departure, he was
desirous of submitting their differences to the king and his council,
provided he should be heard in his defence. The duke of Burgundy would
not listen to his proposal, and returned for answer, to those who had
brought the offer, that for the wrongs and disgrace the king of Sicily
had done to him and his daughter, he would have his revenge when time
and opportunity should serve.