besieged by his English, in conjunction with the lord of Isle-Adam and
the bastard de Thyan. The count d'Aumarle, the bastard d'Alençon and
other captains, assembled a large force to raise this siege. On their
march for this purpose they met the governor of Avranches, brother to
the earl of Suffolk, who, returning from an excursion, had dismissed
a part of his men. The French instantly charged and defeated his
remaining force, and made him prisoner; and supposing that Avranches
would have now but a small garrison, they pressed forward to the
attack, thinking to conquer it. They did indeed make a sharp assault;
but the townsmen defended themselves so courageously, that many were
slain and wounded, and left in the ditches. The French, having heard
that the duke of Bedford was on his march to combat them, departed with
all speed for the duchy of Touraine, but not without being closely
pursued by the English.
On the third day of October, in this year, the town of Hamme sur Somme
was taken by scalado by a party of king Charles's men, under the
command of Poton de Saintrailles, through neglect of the night-guard.
Sir John de Luxembourg was so much vexed at this event, (as that town
belonged to him) that he instantly collected a body of men at arms,
and on the third day after the capture advanced thither. He had it
suddenly attacked, and with great courage; and ordered a detachment to
cross the river with his banner, which was valiantly borne on that day
by a man at arms called Jacotin de Cambray. In short, sir John speedily
reconquered the town, and cruelly put to death the greater part of his
enemies. Poton de Saintrailles escaped as quickly as he could, and lied
to Tierrache, but was pursued by the burgundians,--and many of his men
were taken. In this attack on Hamme, two men at arms were grievously
wounded, namely, sir John de Fontenelle and Valerien de St Germain; but
this last was almost immediately beheaded, by orders from sir John de
Luxembourg.
About this time, king Charles's queen was brought to bed of a son,
who was christened Louis, dauphin of Vienne. This birth caused great
rejoicings throughout all parts under his dominion, more especially in
Tours, where bonefires were made in all the streets, carols sung, and
every sign of joy manifested.
The French gained also the castle of Beaumont sur Oise, which was,
however, soon after besieged by orders from the duke of Bedford,
reconquered and demolished.
The commonalty of Tournay again rose in rebellion, with displayed
banners, because they were suspicious of the lords de Moy and de
Conflans, who, having great weight in the town, would introduce a
garrison sufficiently strong to keep them in awe. This rebellion was
soon appeased without coming to blows; but the two above-mentioned
lords quitted the town for fear of the populace,--and the lord de Moy
fixed his residence at Liége.
About this time, the town of Compiègne was won by scalado by a party
of king Charles's men, through neglect of the watch, they amounted to
nearly three hundred combatants, under the command of Yvon du Puis,
Angerot de Laux, and Broussart, who, instantly on winning the town,
imprisoned all the English and Burgundians, with those attached to them
and seized their effects.
Shortly after, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, Lyonnel de Bornouville, the
lord de Thyan, with others, appeared before it, to reconquer it; but
they did little or nothing, although the country round suffered great
oppressions from them.
In these same days, the town of la Charite sur Loire was retaken from
king Charles, by an adventurer attached to the duke of Burgundy, called
Perrinet Crasset, who had a long time before carried on a successful
war in the country of Berry and in that neighbourhood. The French were
much grieved and vexed at this loss; for they were prevented crossing
the Loire, which would have been of great utility to them.
In this year, Arthur count of Richemont, notwithstanding his marriage
with Margaret of Burgundy, and the oaths and alliances he had made
with the late king Henry and his successors, joined king Charles,
owing, as it was said, to a quarrel between him and the duke of
Bedford. King Charles received him with the utmost joy, and instantly
made him constable of France: but very many wondered at this change,
considering how lately he had connected himself with the duke of
Burgundy.
In the month of January of this year, the dukes of Bedford and of
Burgundy, the count de Conversan, the bishop of Tournay his brother,
sir John de Luxembourg, with a number of other notable persons, the
ministers of each prince, and commissioners from the dukes of Glocester
and Brabant, assembled in the town of Amiens. Although the matter of
dispute between these two last had been frequently discussed, nothing
amicable could be concluded. The meeting was therefore broken up, and
the commissioners ordered to meet them again on Trinity-day following.
CHAP. XV.
THE TOWN OF COMPIÈGNE IS DELIVERED UP TO THE ENGLISH.--THE TOWN AND
CASTLE OF CROTOY ARE SURRENDERED TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.
About this period, the duke of Bedford went to the town of Mondidier,
where he staid five or six days: he thence gave orders for his
captains, as well burgundian as english, to lay siege to Compiègne, and
appointed the lord de Saveuses chief of the expedition. The principal
captains were the bailiff of Rouen, the governor of Gisors, called
Malberry, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Lyonnel de Bournouville, the
bastard de Thyan, the lord de Crevecoeur and Robert de Saveuses.
In obedience to these orders, they assembled their men with all speed
at the bridge of St Maixence, and thence marched in good array toward
Compiègne. The lord de Saveuses advanced with the English on the
side toward Mondidier, and fixed his quarters in a meadow near to
a town called Venvette,--while the lord de l'Isle-Adam, Lyonnel de
Bournouville and other captains, advanced on the opposite side of the
river to the abbey of Royaulieu, and then besieged the town on both
sides of the river for about three weeks.
During this time, many considerable skirmishes took place; but at
length the French, not having any hope of succour, entered into a
treaty with the English to surrender the town within three weeks from
that time, if they were not delivered by their king, and on condition
they should depart in safety with all their effects. They gave hostages
for the due performance of the above, and were likewise to deliver up
the lord de Soral, who had been made prisoner by the besieged.
On the conclusion of this treaty, every one returned to his home. On
the appointed day, no succours arrived, and the place was put into the
hands of the English by command of the duke of Bedford, who styled
himself regent of France. The lord de Montferrant, who had received the
surrender of Compiègne, nominated the lord de l'Isle-Adam governor
thereof.
About the end of February, the duke of Bedford went to Abbeville, with
a large army, to keep the appointment that had been made for him to
meet the French before Crotoy: but as the duke had received certain
assurances that the French would not appear, he sent sir Raoul le
Bouteiller to command in his stead, while he remained at Abbeville. Sir
Raoul kept the field on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March; when, about 12
o'clock on that day, sir Cloquart de Cambronne surrendered the castle
and town of Crotoy into the hands of sir Raoul, who returned him the
hostages, and gave him passports for himself and his men to join their
king, or to go whithersoever they pleased on the other side of the
Seine.
When sir Raoul le Bouteiller had made his entry, he received the
oaths of allegiance from the inhabitants of Crotoy and from such as
had remained within the town and castle. He was appointed by the
regent governor general of that place and its dependancies; but this
surrender was not very agreeable to many of the neighbouring lords and
commonalty, for they suspected that the connexion between the English
and the duke of Burgundy would not be of long duration, and that by
means of this place they would be totally ruined, notwithstanding that
many of them had been already great sufferers.
In this year died Pedro della Luna, who called himself Pope Benedict:
he had been, ever since the council of Constance, rebellious and
contumacious to the roman church, being resolved to die pope. The
cardinals of his party attempted to elect another on his decease; but
they soon returned to a proper obedience to the church, and to the holy
father pope Martin, and thus perfect union was restored to the whole
Christian church.
CHAP. XVI.
TWO MASTERS OF ARTS ARE SENT TO TOURNAY TO ADMONISH THE PEOPLE, AND TO
KEEP ALIVE THEIR AFFECTION TO KING CHARLES.
In this year, two masters of arts were sent to Tournay by king Charles,
to admonish the burghers and commonalty, and to press them to continue
in the loyalty they had for some time borne to him, promising, on the
word of a king, that should he, through the grace of God, succeed in
regaining his kingdom, he would most handsomely reward them.
These ambassadors were received by the nobles and commonalty with every
honour and respect; rich presents were made them, and their expenses
were most liberally paid by the municipality. When they had staid
some time in Tournay, one of them departed for Berry; but the other
remained behind, and made many harangues to induce the inhabitants
to keep steady to the interests of king Charles,--but at length his
establishment was lessened, and those in Tournay were cooled in their
attachment to him, and began to repent having made him such large
presents on his first arrival.
In the month of April following, sir John de Luxembourg assembled
his men at arms, and in company with sir Thomas Ramstone, an english
knight, went to lay siege to Oysi in Tierrache. Within a few days, le
Cadet, the governor, treated conditionally to surrender the place on
the 5th of May next, if he were not relieved before that day. Thus the
siege was broken up, and the surrender took effect.
Nearly at the same time, sir John de Luxembourg besieged the church of
Broissi, which some pillagers of king Charles's party had fortified,
and committed great ravages over the country. He also besieged the
tower of le Borgne; and at the capture of both places, about fourscore
of these marauders were taken, with one of their captains, called
le Gros Breton; and they were all hung on trees near to Sery les
Maizieres.
In this year, a mischievous fire burnt about six hundred houses in the
town of St Amand, with the gates of the lower court of the abbey, and
the apartments of two monks of that place: only two small houses were
saved within the gates of the town; and the poor inhabitants were in
the utmost distress and affliction.
The truces were now broken, that had subsisted for thirteen years,
between the sultan of Babylon and the king of Cyprus,--owing to
falsities told the sultan by renegado Christians, that the king of
Cyprus put to death the sultan's subjects whenever he could lay hands
on them.
On this report, the sultan, without any declaration of war, sent six
galleys full of Saracens to invade Cyprus and destroy the country with
fire and sword. They first burnt and demolished the town of Lymessa,
and many other parts. When the king of Cyprus was informed of this,
he sent one of his knights, sir Philip Prevost, with a large body of
men, to oppose them; but at the first skirmish, he was sorely wounded
by an arrow in the face, and fell from his horse,--when the Saracens,
advancing, cut off his head, and seizing his golden spurs, carried both
with them to their galleys, and made sail for Syria.
CHAP. XVII.
SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG BESIEGES THE CASTLE OF WIEGE.--HE LAYS AN
AMBUSH, IN WHICH POTON DE SAINTRAILLES AND HIS COMPANIONS ARE MADE
PRISONERS.
Sir John de Luxembourg now besieged the castle of Wiege with a numerous
army. The siege lasted for three weeks, during which he continually
battered the walls and gates with his engines. At length, the besieged,
losing all hope of relief, made a treaty with sir John to surrender the
place, on condition they should depart in safety with their effects
promising not to bear arms again on that side of the Loire, except
when in company with king Charles. On the signing of the treaty they
went away for Guise, and the castle was demolished.
One or two days after this, sir John decamped, with some of the most
trusty of his men, and formed a plan for taking Poton de Saintrailles,
as you shall hear. Sir John on the departure of the garrison, placed
an ambuscade behind a small church, on the borders of the country of
Guise, to watch the motions of the enemy, and to be prepared should
they attempt any incursions on that side.
Poton de Saintrailles, l'Estandart de Mailly, the lord de Verduisant,
with some others expert in arms, made a sally from Guise, near to where
the ambuscade had been posted. When they were far enough advanced,
sir John, profiting of his advantage, made so vigorous a charge that
they were instantly, thrown into confusion,--and Poton, the lord de
Verduisant, and a few more were taken prisoners. But l'Estandart de
Mailly, on the first shock, pointed his lance against Lyonnel de
Vandonne, unhorsed him, and gave him so violent a blow on the shoulder
that ever after the said Lyonnel was lame on that side. L'Estandart
finding, however, that prowess would avail nothing, and that numbers
were against him, wheeled about, and returned as quickly as his horse
could carry him to the town of Guise.
Sir John de Luxembourg pursued for a long time the others, who fled
different ways. On his return, he collected his men together, and,
rejoicing at his good fortune, carried the prisoners to his castle of
Beaurevoir, where he dismissed his captains until further orders.
[A.D. 1424.]
CHAP. XVIII.
A LARGE BODY OF ENGLISH ARRIVE AT CALAIS.--SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG
BESIEGES THE TOWN OF GUISE.--OTHER MATTERS BRIEFLY SPOKEN OF.
At the beginning of this year, sixteen hundred combatants, or
thereabout, were landed at Calais from England,--the greater part of
whom went to the duke of Bedford at Paris, and the rest to sir John de
Luxembourg on the borders of the country of Guise.
Sir John consented to treat with Poton de Saintrailles and the other
prisoners, on condition that they would, with their men, abandon Guise,
and cross the river Loire without harrassing the country, and promise
never to return unless in company with king Charles. By this treaty,
and a considerable sum paid down as ransom, Poton and his companions
obtained their liberty, and marched away to the country on the other
side of the Loire.
In this year La Hire, Jean Roullet, and some other of king Charles's
captains, assembled a large body of men on the borders of Champagne,
whom they led toward the Ardennes and the Rethelois, and besieged
Olivier d'Estanevelle in his castle.
About this time, sir John de Luxembourg, by orders from the dukes of
Bedford and Burgundy, made great preparations, with men and artillery,
to lay siege to the town of Guise in Tierrache. When all was ready,
he marched thither, accompanied by the lord de Picquigny, the vidame
of Amiens, the lords d'Antoing, de Saveuses, sir Colart de Mailly, his
brother Ferry de Mailly, sir Daviod de Poix, Maufroy de St Leger, sir
Lyonnel de Bournouville, the bastard de St Pol, and very many more.
Sir Thomas Ramstone and a certain number of English were also with him.
On commencing their attacks, they met with great resistance from the
garrison within the town, who, to prevent the enemy from approaching,
had set fire to the suburbs, where many handsome houses were burnt.
But this availed them nothing; for sir John instantly surrounded the
place with his men, and had his engines pointed against the walls and
gates on the side next the suburbs. Intelligence of this siege was
immediately sent to Réné duke of Bar, to the count de Guise, and to the
duke of Lorraine, his father-in-law, by John lord de Proisy governor of
Guise, who informed them of the urgent necessity there was of instant
relief being sent him.
This news was very displeasing to the two dukes, who held many councils
thereon, and assembled men at arms, in compliance with the governor's
request; but, fearful of incurring war with the young king of England
and the duke of Burgundy, they abstained from any open hostilities.
The siege continued for a considerable time without any material
occurrences, excepting that the garrison made frequent sallies to annoy
the enemy,--but it would take too much time to enter into the detail of
each.
About St John Baptist's day, in this year, the earl of Salisbury,
governor of Champagne and Brie, and very renowned in arms, besieged
a good little town called Sodune, in the county of Vertus, which was
taken by storm, by means of a mine, and the greater part of those
within were cruelly put to death, to the amount of two hundred at
least, and the rest made prisoners. Their effects were pillaged, their
women ravished, and the place demolished.
The lord de Châtillon was with the earl of Salisbury, and created a
knight by the hand of the earl within the mine. The governor of the
town was a valiant man at arms called William Marin, who was slain with
the others at the storming.
While this was passing, the duke of Bedford caused the castle of
Gaillon, a very strong place belonging to the archbishop of Rouen, to
be besieged, as it was held by the partisans of king Charles. It was
battered so effectually, that the garrison surrendered on having their
lives spared,--and the place was utterly destroyed.
In the month of June, the duke of Bedford ordered the town and castle
of Ivry to be besieged. The first was soon won; but the castle, being
strong and well garrisoned, held out for about a month, when the
garrison capitulated to deliver up the fort to the English on the night
of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, in case king Charles
should not appear before that day with a sufficient force to combat
them with success. When the treaty had been signed, and proper hostages
given for its performance, the siege was broken up.
The English and Burgundians at this time besieged many places on the
borders of Normandy. Neelle in Tardenois submitted to king Henry; and
Alardin de Monsay treated with the duke of Bedford for the castle of
La Fere, and stipulated that he would not make further war against him
if he should be suffered to keep it, unless king Charles should muster
forces enough to cross the Seine, and advance to Champagne. The French
were at this time much the weakest.
CHAP. XIX.
THE LORD DE LONGUEVAL AND MANY OTHER FRENCH LORDS TURN TO THE PARTY OF
KING CHARLES.
In this year the lord de Longueval, his brother Reginald, John Blondel,
the lord de Saint-Simon, John de Mailly, the lord de Maucourt, and
several other knights and gentlemen of the Vermandois, who had always
been attached to the Burgundy-party, assembled at Roye to consider on
the most effectual means of opposing the bodies of men at arms who
frequently despoiled their towns, and who had likewise very improperly
taken possession of their lands on their return from the expeditions of
sir John de Luxembourg to conquer the county of Guise.
On their meeting at Roye, many of them formed an alliance to resist
these intruders; but others, fearing sir John de Luxembourg, excused
themselves, and advised that the meeting should be adjourned to another
day. In the mean time, a conciliatory message was sent to sir John de
Luxembourg, to know his opinion, and whether it were with his consent
that such depredations had been committed on their lands, and if he
would order his men away.
Nevertheless some among them did not intend that matters should be
carried to the lengths they were, and quietly forbore their attendance
at similar meetings. However, the lord de Longueval, his brother sir
Reginald, John Blondel, the lord de Maucourt, Pierre de Recourt, and
several more, continued the business, and in the end determined to turn
to the party of king Charles. They placed strong garrisons in many
places under their command; but as their intentions were soon made
known, they were forced to hide themselves with the utmost care,--for
all their towns, castles, and estates were put into the hands of the
king of England, and themselves publicly banished.
In consequence, they openly espoused the cause of king Charles,
carrying on a warfare night and day against king Henry and the duke
of Burgundy, which surprised very many,--for the lord de Longueval
and others of the aforesaid had long served the duke of Burgundy,
and followed his interests. They excused themselves by saying, that
they thus acted to revenge the insults they had received, and were
daily receiving, from the men of sir John de Luxembourg; and that it
was better to risk the loss of every thing than be reduced to such
subjection, which they had borne as long as they were able. Some of
them, for their conduct, were executed, as will be seen hereafter.
CHAP. XX.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD MARCHES A LARGE ARMY TO KEEP HIS APPOINTMENT
BEFORE IVRY.--THAT TOWN AND CASTLE SURRENDER TO HIM.
History relates, that about the 8th day of August in this year, the
duke of Bedford assembled a considerable force of men at arms and
archers, under the command of the earls of Salisbury and of Suffolk,
the lord Willoughby, and several other captains, as well from Normandy
as elsewhere, to the amount of eighteen hundred men at arms and eight
thousand archers. He marched them to be present at the surrender of
Ivry, of which mention has been made, and arrived before that place on
the eve of the Assumption of our Lady.
That whole day he remained, in battle-array, expecting his enemies,
who were very numerous, and but three leagues distant, and amounting
to eighteen thousand combatants, under the command of the duke
d'Alençon, the counts d'Aumale, de Ventadour, de Tonnerre, the earls of
Douglas, Buchan, and Murray, the viscount de Narbonne, the lord de la
Fayette, and many other lords and princes of great renown. They sent
off forty of their most expert and best mounted men, to reconnoitre
the enemy,--who, having observed the duke of Bedford's army in such
handsome array, hastened back, but not without being closely pursued by
the English, to relate what they had seen.
The french lords, finding they had not any way the advantage, turned
about and marched in a body to the town of Verneuil in Perche, which
was in the possession of the English, and gave the inhabitants to
understand that they had completely defeated the english army, and
forced the regent to fly with a very few attendants. On hearing this,
the garrison opened the gates of Verneuil, and shewed them all
obedience in the name of king Charles. After the surrender of the
place, passports were granted, according to the stipulations of the
treaty, to the English within it, who were sent with their baggage to
the duke of Bedford.
Gerard de la Pailliere, governor of Ivry, seeing the hour for his
relief was passed, waited on the duke, who was in the front of his
army expecting the enemy, and presented to him the keys of the castle,
demanding at the same time, in conformity to the articles, passports
for himself and his men, which were instantly granted. The duke, in the
presence of Gerard, pulled out some letters, and, shewing them to him,
said, 'I perceive that eighteen great barons attached to my lord king
Henry have this day failed in their promises of bringing me succour.'
Their seals were affixed to these letters; and immediately afterward,
four gentlemen of Gerard's friends were put in confinement as security
for them.
The duke of Bedford now ordered that the French should be pursued by a
body of men, under the command of the earl of Suffolk, to the amount of
sixteen hundred combatants. The earl marched to Damville, and thence to
Breteuil in Perche, within two leagues of Verneuil, where the whole of
the french force was. The duke went with the remainder of his army to
Evreux, whither the earl of Suffolk sent him information that the whole
of the french army was in Verneuil.
The duke, on hearing this, advanced with his force to join the earl
of Suffolk and offer them combat. Verneuil had belonged to the
English,--but, as I have before said, the French gained it by the false
information of their having defeated the English. This battle took
place on the 16th day of August, in the manner you shall now hear.
CHAP. XXI.
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD COMBATS THE FRENCH BEFORE VERNEUIL.