THE SIEGE OF ROUEN
Although Henry V had left the shores of France without having concluded
a treaty with his defeated foes, hostilities were practically suspended
for a space of nearly two years. But in 1416 the King entered into an
alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, who, since the fatal field of
Agincourt, had become paramount in France.
With this powerful ally Henry's chances of securing the French crown
were greatly increased, and in the month of July, 1417, he again
prepared to invade Normandy.
After two years of ease following the strenuous life in the field,
Geoffrey longed for the opportunity of buckling on his armour and again
seeking his fortune in the land of the Fleur de Lys, and great was his
delight when orders were received for the army to assemble at
Southampton.
As in the glorious expedition of 1415 Geoffrey went in attendance upon
Sir Thomas Carberry, but with this difference: he was now the senior
squire, a lad of fifteen, Walter Talbot by name, having recently been
taken into the Constable of Portchester's service as junior squire.
This time the star and mullet of the Lysles was also in evidence, but
without the waving black line, for Sir Oliver Lysle was now present in
person to lead the men of Warblington. With him went Oswald Steyning,
and though in separate companies the two comrades had ample
opportunities of enjoying each other's companionship.
Arnold Gripwell, also, had joined the army assembled at Southampton.
Sinewy as of yore the gaunt old man-at-arms looked no older than he did
on the day when he watched in vain for his master's return in the _Grâce
à Dieu_, though in truth his strength was slowly failing.
On the 1st day of August, 1417, the English army landed on the shores of
Normandy, and the march of the invaders became a veritable pageant of
martial triumph. The royal castle of Touques fell after a short siege,
and disheartened by the success of their foes and torn by internal
dissensions, the French seemed to have given up all hope of holding the
Duchy of Normandy. Damvilliers, Harcourt, Eu, Evreux, opened their gates
without resistance, and after a stubborn yet ineffectual defence Caen
was taken by escalade on the last day of August.
Shortly after this success the Duke of Brittany deserted the cause of
Charles of Valois, and swearing fealty to Henry, joined his forces to
those of the invader, with the result that the town and castle of
Falaise—so closely associated with William the Conqueror—surrendered on
the second day of January, 1417. This was the last of Henry's successes
in that year.[1]
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Footnote 1:
It must be borne in mind that at this period the New year was reckoned
from the 1st of March, and not from the 1st of January. This
peculiarity has given rise to many apparently conflicting dates in
mediæval history.
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Spring was well advanced ere the King left his quarters at Bayeux and
marched up the left bank of the Seine. Once again he had set himself a
formidable task—this time the taking of Rouen, the capital of Normandy.
The city was of immense strength, occupying a splendid natural position
on the north or right bank of the Seine. Lofty walls, powerfully mounted
with bombards and mangonels, completely encircled the town, the
battlements being pierced by six gates on the landward side, in addition
to the two water-gates that abutted on the spacious quays, where ships
of considerable burthen could moor after ascending the river from the
sea.
Its garrison consisted of twenty-five thousand men trained to the use of
arms, while the numbers of the ordinary inhabitants were largely
increased by the influx of crowds of terrified country-folk who had
sought a doubtful security behind the walls of the town.
The presence of the host of non-combatants was a source of weakness to
the besieged, since they had to be fed and could do little service in
return, while the time of year was too early for the rich harvest to be
gathered and stored within the town.
Having seized and garrisoned the Pont de l'Arche, to three leagues above
Rouen, the King was able to cut off all communications betwixt the city
and Paris. He thereupon proceeded to erect six strong forts, one
opposite each of the land-gates, connecting them by a "curtain" or line
of trenches strengthened with earthworks and palisades.
The river, too, was obstructed both above and below the town, by spiked
booms and sunken barges, while in addition to a fleet of English vessels
that had ascended the Seine and kept guard below the city, a number of
large galleys were, by dint of much manual labour, dragged overland for
a distance of nearly a league, and launched once more above the town.
Having completed his circumvallation of Rouen the King, unwilling to
risk a general assault, ordered a strict blockade to be maintained, and
in a very short time the besiegers settled down to their task, their
works assuming the appearance of a town enveloping a town. The strictest
discipline was maintained: even the wild Welsh levies and the still more
untrained Irish irregular cavalry were kept under perfect control, the
punishment of death being inflicted upon all found guilty of plundering,
and even on those who straggled beyond the lines.
On the other hand, every day found the position of the besieged becoming
more and more desperate; and it was not long ere famine began to stalk
through the congested streets of Rouen.
Thereupon the governor of the town resolved upon a desperate and
pitiless expedient. Gathering together nearly fifteen thousand of the
non-belligerents, he ordered them to leave the city.
As the last of the multitude issued from beneath the battlements the
gates were shut. Thinking that they would be granted safe conduct
through the English lines the miserable wretches advanced, forgetting
their plight in their expectations of being able to find food in the
open country beyond the entrenchments that encircled the town.
But to their consternation Henry refused to allow any of the refugees to
pass. Probably he thought that by so doing the Governor of Rouen would
be compelled to re-admit them, and thus hasten the fall of the city
through famine. On the other hand the Governor was of opinion that Henry
would relent and allow the non-combatants to pass.
Neither King nor Governor would give way, and in consequence the fifteen
thousand helpless wretches were cooped up betwixt two fires, subsisting
on roots, and on the very scanty supplies with which the English
soldiers, at great risk, secretly supplied them, in spite of the King's
orders.
Some succeeded in stealing through the invaders' lines. Hundreds fell by
the hands of their own countrymen in attempting to force their way back
into the town, while, save for a very few, the rest perished miserably
of hunger.
Henry's action can only be described as barbarous. Coupled with the
massacre of prisoners at Agincourt it forms a blot upon his reputation,
and in this case there was no such imperative necessity—those
non-combatants could have done him no harm.
Fortunately the Hampshire Companies were posted on the riverside, and in
consequence Geoffrey and his companions were spared the horrors of the
scenes that followed, though they heard with feelings of shame, and
compassion of the barbarity practised upon the luckless folk.
Slowly the siege wore on. No attempt was made to sally from the city,
nor was there any on the part of the Dauphin to relieve the capital of
Normandy, and thus the blockade, though rigidly enforced, became so
tedious and irksome to the besiegers that they longed for something to
occur that might rouse them into activity.
One day in September, Sir Oliver Lysle and Sir Thomas Carberry had
ridden to another part of the English lines to confer with Sir Brocas
Scorton concerning the providing of a fresh supply of hurdles for the
entrenchments.
On this occasion neither knight saw fit to take his squire with him, and
in consequence Geoffrey, Oswald, and young Walter Talbot, together with
five or six other squires were holding a feast in one of the rooms of
Sir Oliver's quarters; it being the anniversary of Oswald's birthday.
In the midst of the festivities a mounted messenger pulled up at the
door, and knocking with the hilt of his dagger, demanded to be shown
into Sir Oliver's presence.
"He is not here," replied Oswald. "He hath gone to the lodging of Sir
Brocas Scorton."
"Then bear this letter to Sir Oliver, young sir. Methinks thy revelries
are apt to be rudely disturbed," replied the horseman, whom Geoffrey
recognized as one of the King's own heralds. "But I must away, since I
have three cartels to deliver within an hour."
Evidently the missive was one of the greatest importance; and consumed
with impatience Geoffrey and Oswald made ready to ride across to the
lodgings of the brave old Yorkshire knight, Sir Brocas Scorton.
"By St. Wilfred of Ripon, thou art most fortunate," exclaimed Sir
Brocas, as Sir Oliver read the King's order and passed it to the other
two knights.
"To our trusty and well-beloved Oliver Lysle, knight, Lord of
the Castle of Warblington, in the county of Southampton, and at
present serving with our forces before Rouen. Greeting.
"Whereas it hath come to our knowledge that our rebellious
subject Denis, Lord of Malevereux, hath caused us much trouble
by his ill-conduct; it is our pleasure that thou shouldst
proceed to the before-mentioned Castle of Malevereux with such
forces as thou mayst deem necessary and carry it by assault and
hang the said Sir Denis upon the battlements of his castle.
"(Signed) Henricus Quintus, Rex.
"Ang: et Franc."
"I' faith, 'tis plain enough," remarked Sir Thomas Carberry. "Oliver, my
right trusty friend and companion-in-arms, I pray thee that I may have a
share in this business, though, be it understood, I do not aspire to any
honour that might detract from thine advancement."
"I accept the offer of thy services, Thomas," replied Sir Oliver.
"Betwixt us we can muster eighty lances and four score and ten archers.
If we are not able to bring this recreant to boot may I never see
Warblington again. But there is no time to be lost; the King's orders
must be obeyed with promptitude, so, Sir Brocas, this matter concerning
the hurdles must needs stand over a while."
"May ye both be here to attend to it this day week," answered the
Yorkshire knight. "So fare ye well."
Ere sunset the two Hampshire knights with their squires and followers,
nearly two hundred strong, were well on their way towards the gloomy
Castle of Malevereux.