Chapter VI: Front Matter (6)

At the feast of the Nativity, the two kings, with their queens and households, kept open court in Paris,--the king of France, at the hôtel de St Pol, and the king of England at the Louvre; but their state was very different, for the king of France was poorly and meanly served, compared with the pomp with which he used to keep open court in former times, and attended only on that day by some old servants and persons of low degree, which must have been very disgusting to all true and loyal Frenchmen, thus to see by the chance of war this noble kingdom in the possession and under the government of its ancient enemies, to whose dominion they were forced to bend themselves.

With regard to the state of the king and queen of England on that day, it is impossible to detail its magnificence, or that of the princes who attended them. The french nobility came from all parts to do them honour, with the utmost humility; and from that day king Henry took on himself the whole government of the kingdom, appointing officers at his pleasure, and dismissing those whom the king and the late duke of Burgundy had given appointments.

He nominated the earl of Kyme, of the name of Umphraville, to the government of Melun, with a sufficient garrison of men at arms and archers. The earl of Huntingdon, his cousin-german, was made captain of Vincennes; and the duke of Exeter was ordered to remain with king Charles in Paris, with five hundred combatants.

After these appointments had been made, and the feasts concluded, king Henry set out from Paris with his queen, the dukes of Clarence, of Bedford, and others of his great barons, for the town of Rouen, where he remained a considerable time before he returned to England, and held many councils respecting the future government of the kingdom of France.

Duke Philip of Burgundy departed also from Paris, and went to attend at Beauvais the feast of enthroning master Pierre Cauchon, doctor of divinity, the new bishop of that place, who was strongly attached to the burgundian party.

When the feasts were over, the duke set out for Lille, passing through Amiens and Dourlens, and from Lille to Ghent, where his duchess resided, with whom he staid about three weeks.

The red duke of Bavaria, who, as you have heard, had come to serve his brother-in-law, king Henry, with five hundred combatants, returned in haste through Cambray to his own country; for he had received intelligence that the Bohemians, led on and encouraged by an heretical priest of that country, were risen in rebellion, not only against the catholic faith, but against the emperor of Germany, and the monarchs of Hungary and Bohemia, and were waging a murderous war on all their subjects.

CHAP. XLIX.

KING HENRY SETS OUT FROM ROUEN TO CALAIS WITH HIS QUEEN, AND THENCE TO ENGLAND, WHERE HE IS RECEIVED WITH GREAT JOY BY ALL RANKS OF PEOPLE.

When king Henry had satisfactorily arranged his affairs at Rouen, and appointed his brother the duke of Clarence, who was very prudent and renowned in arms, governor-general of all Normandy, he departed thence, accompanied by his queen, his brother the duke of Bedford, and six thousand men at arms. Having passed through Poix, he arrived at Amiens on the vigil of St Vincent's day, and was lodged in the hôtel of master Robert le Jeune, who had lately been nominated bailiff of Amiens in the room of the lord de Humbercourt.

He was very honourably received there, and many presents were made by the municipality to him and to his queen. He continued his journey through Dourlens, St Pol and Terouenne, to Calais, where he staid some days; and then crossed the channel to England, where he was received as if he had been an angel from God. He lost no time after his arrival in having his consort crowned queen of England in the city of London, the metropolis of that kingdom.

The coronation was performed with such splendid magnificence that the like had never been seen at any coronation since the time of that noble knight, Arthur, king of the English and Bretons. After this ceremony, king Henry made a progress to the principal towns of his realm, and explained to them with much eloquence what grand deeds he had performed through his prowess in France, and what yet remained to be done for the complete conquest of that kingdom,--namely, the subjugation of his adversary the dauphin of Vienne, only son to king Charles, and brother to his queen, who styled himself heir to the crown and regent of France, and who kept possession of the greater part of the country.

To complete this conquest, he said, two things were necessary, money and men; and these requests were so liberally granted that of the first he very soon collected larger sums than had ever before been seen, and they could scarcely be counted. Of the second, he enrolled all the most able youths in the country and the most expert in drawing the bow, and placing them under the command of his princes, knights and esquires, composed an army of full thirty thousand combatants, to enable him to prosecute a vigorous war against his enemy the dauphin.

Before he quitted England, that he might make all things secure, he renewed the truces with the Scots and Welsh, and consented to the deliverance of the king of Scotland, who had been long prisoner in England, on condition that he would marry his cousin-german, sister to the earl of Somerset, and niece to the cardinal of Winchester, who had been the principal negotiator in these treaties.

CHAP. L.

A QUARREL TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF BRABANT.--SHE SEPARATES HERSELF FROM HIM AND PASSES OVER INTO ENGLAND.

In these days, a great quarrel took place between duke John of Brabant and Jacquilina of Bavaria his duchess, insomuch that she left the palace of the duke. The principal reasons for her so doing were commonly reported to be, that she found him of poor understanding, and that he suffered himself to be governed by persons of low degree. The duke of Burgundy, who was equally related to both, and the countess of Hainault, her mother, vainly attempted to reconcile them; but they could never prevail on her to return to the duke. She declared, she would find means to effect a divorce, so that she might marry again to some other person who would pay attentions to her becoming her rank.

The duchess was at this time in the flower of her youth, beautiful, well made, and as fully accomplished as any lady of her age. She was much hurt at seeing her days pass in the melancholy way they had done, and for this cause returned to her hôtel with the countess her mother, who, in fact, had married her to the duke of Brabant against her inclinations.

Having remained with her mother a short time, they came together to Valenciennes, where the duchess took leave of her, and went, as she said, to amuse herself in her town of Bouchain; but on the morrow she departed thence very early in the morning, and was met on the plain by the lord d'Escaillon, a native of Hainault, but who had long been an Englishman in his heart, and with whom she had held many conferences while at Valenciennes, and had promised to accompany him to England, to seek redress from king Henry, and on the means of being finally separated from her husband.

On meeting the lord d'Escaillon, who had about sixty horsemen with him, she took the road to Calais, and rode this first day as far as Hêdin, near to St. Pol, and thence strait to Calais, whence, after some stay, she crossed over to England, where she was most honourably received by the king, who made her general promises of aid in all her concerns.

CHAP. LI.

THE DUKE OF BRITTANY IS MADE PRISONER BY THE COUNT DE PENTHIEVRE, AND DETAINED BY HIM FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME.--A WAR TAKES PLACE IN CONSEQUENCE THEREOF.

We must now speak of a wonderful event that happened this year in Brittany. It has been told by some historians, especially by master John Froissart, how the ancestors of John de Montfort, the present duke of Brittany, and those of Olivier de Bretagne, count de Penthievre, had in former times great quarrels and wars respecting the succession to the dukedom of Brittany, each of them claiming it as his right.

At length, the duchy was given up to the Montforts, by means of certain compensations that were made to the family of Penthievre, the mention of which I shall pass over, as these events are anterior to my history, and they had possessed the duchy peaceably ever since.

The present count de Penthievre, however, notwithstanding he showed great outward marks of affection to the duke of Brittany, had not forgotten these ancient quarrels, as you will soon perceive. In truth, what with the hope of regaining the duchy, and with the exhortations of his mother, who was daughter to the late sir Olivier de Clisson, constable of France, the count de Penthievre obtained a sealed order from the dauphin to arrest and imprison the duke of Brittany; although he was married to his sister; but he was ill pleased with the duke, because he and the estates of the duchy had refused to assist him in his war against the English and Burgundians.

When the count had obtained this order, he considered how he could the most easily carry it into effect, and thought his best way would be to invite the duke to dinner at Chantoceau. He went, therefore, to pay a visit to the duke at Nantes; and after some conversation, he earnestly pressed him to come and amuse himself at Chantoceau, and dine there, adding, that his mother would be delighted to see him, and would entertain him to the best of her power. The duke consented to both proposals, not imagining that any evil designs could have been devised against him, and the day fixed on was the 4th of February.

When that day was come, the duke set out from le Lorrons Bocqteriaux, where he had slept, and took the road to Chantoceau. His maitres d'hôtel and harbingers preceded him, as is customary, to have all things in readiness for him on his arrival. When they appeared before the castle, the count and all his household mounted their horses, and advanced to meet the duke so far as a bridge called the Bridge à la Tuberbe, which is thrown over a small river.

The duke crossed this bridge, accompanied by his brother Richard, and some knights and esquires of his household, followed at a distance by the rest of his attendants, for he never suspected the mischief that was intended him. When he had passed the bridge, one of the count's attendants who counterfeited being a fool, dismounted and threw the planks of the bridge into the water by way of amusement, which prevented the retinue of the duke that had remained behind from crossing it.

The duke, still unsuspecting, laughed heartily at this trick of the fool; but in the mean time, Charles lord of Avaugour, brother to the count, who had lain in ambush with about forty men at arms, sallied out against the duke, who, seeing this, said to the count, 'Fair cousin, what means this? and who are these people?' 'My lord, they are my people, and I arrest you in the name of the dauphin,' at the same time laying hands on him. The duke, greatly surprised, said, 'Ah! fair cousin, you act wickedly; for I came hither at your request, not suspecting you had any evil designs.'

Some of his people, however, drew their swords in his defence; but they soon perceived they were too inferior in numbers to do any good. At the same time, those who had been placed in ambuscade advanced on the duke with drawn swords, when one of the duke's gentlemen, called John de Beaumanoir, had his wrist cut through, and another, named Thibault Buisson was wounded in the hand. One of the count's household, called Henry l'Alemand, wanted to strike the duke with his sword; but the count defended him, and ordered his men to cease fighting, for that he should carry the duke prisoner to the dauphin.

The duke's attendants on the other side of the bridge, seeing the situation of their lord, were much distressed that they could not come to his aid, and knew not how to act. Shortly after, the count de Penthievre, his brother, and his men at arms hastily carried off the duke and his brother Richard toward Poitou, to Bressaire, and thence to Lusignan, to Bournouiau, to Châteaumur, and other places. He was thus a prisoner for six or seven months, without being confined in any prison or treated personally ill; but he was closely watched, and had only one of his domestics to wait on him. His brother Richard was detained a prisoner with him.

You may suppose, that when the knowledge of this arrest of the duke was made known to the duchess and lords of Brittany, they were highly incensed: in particular, the duchess was so grieved that it was with difficulty she could be appeased. The whole of the nobility were speedily assembled, with the duchess, in the town of Nantes, when they solemnly resolved, on oath, to proceed to the deliverance of the duke, and to make war on the count de Penthievre, and on all his friends, allies, and wellwishers. They unanimously chose the lords de Châteaubriant and de Rieux as their commanders, who instantly marched a powerful force against Lamballe, which belonged to the count. It held out for fifteen days, and then surrendered; and the castle and town, which were strongly fortified, were destroyed, and the walls razed. They thence marched to castle Andren, and to la Motte d'Ebron, which were treated in the same manner.

They proceeded to lay siege to Chantoceau, in which was the old countess de Penthievre. The governor was the lord de Bressieres, who defended it well. This siege lasted three months, without much being gained by the besiegers; for it was amply supplied with provision and stores, and well garrisoned by good men at arms.

During this siege, a treaty was made, between the count and the duke, who promised to restore all his places, as well those that had been taken as those that had been demolished, and that he would not, by himself or his friends, any way molest him for what he had done. When this treaty had been concluded, and hostages given for its performance, the count sent back the duke, escorted by the lord de l'Esgle his brother.

The first act of the duke was to raise the siege of Chantoceau; but when the barons of Brittany had again possession of their duke, they refused to comply with the treaty he had made, and insisted that the countess of Penthievre should depart from Chantoceau, and that the place should be put into the hands of the duke.

A day of conference was appointed between the two parties, to see if any terms could be thought of to put an end to these differences; and the count promised to attend in person, giving his brother William as an hostage for his keeping his promise: but he did not appear, having had sure information, that if he did come, he would never return. In truth, had he appeared, he would have been executed judicially, for it had been so determined on by the three estates of the duchy; and they told the duke, that if he meant to keep the treaty made with the count de Penthievre, they would deprive him of the dukedom, and elect his eldest son duke in his stead, so that he was obliged to comply with their wills.

The count de Penthievre, on hearing these things, was much troubled, and not without cause; for he knew that all his landed property and lordships in Brittany were confiscated and in possession of the duke, and that his brother remained as hostage in the hands of the duke, without a possibility of his deliverance.

On the other hand, he was on bad terms with the dauphin, because he would not give up to him the person of the duke of Brittany,--and was not very safe as to himself; for he found few willing to support him. To avoid greater inconveniences, he withdrew into the viscounty of Limoges, and after some consultations with his brothers, departed thence through the country of Auvergne to Lyon, and thence to Geneva and Basil, on his way to his possessions at Avesnes in Hainault. As he was travelling down the Rhine, he was arrested by the marquis of Baden, by way of reprisal for the pillaging of some of his people in Hainault, and was detained a long time prisoner. To obtain his liberty, it cost him full thirty thousand crowns; after which, he went to Avesnes in Hainault.

While he resided at Avesnes, the duke of Brittany sent some of his people thither to arrest him, and put an iron chain round his neck. They were under the conduct of the following breton gentlemen: sir Roland de Saint Pol, sir John de Lumon, Jacquet de Faulermine, and others; but they managed the matter with so little secresy that their enterprise was known, and some were imprisoned. The rest saved themselves by flight. The count was forced to surrender the prisoners to the judicial court of Mons, and none were executed.

The count de Penthievre never returned to Brittany, but remained all his days in Hainault, and married the daughter and heiress of the lord de Quievrain, by whom, at his decease, he left several children, who did not, however, live until of competent age, so that his estates descended to his brother, the lord de l'Esgle.

CHAP. LII.

THE DAUPHINOIS RETAKE VILLENEUVE-LE-ROI.--THE LORD DE CHASTILLON CONQUERS CHASTEAU-THIERRY, AND MAKES LA HIRE PRISONER.

In the month of February, the Dauphinois regained the town of Villeneuve-le-Roi; but shortly after, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, with others of the burgundian captains, quartered themselves in all the adjoining villages, by way of blockading it. They, however, only remained a certain time, and then decamped without subjecting the town to their obedience, which caused the country around to suffer much. A treaty was, however, made with the governor to allow provision to be brought unmolested to Paris, on paying certain taxes, of which he was to have his share.

At this same time, Château-Thierry, with its castle, was delivered into the hands of the lord de Châtillon, though garrisoned by the Dauphinois, by means of some of the inhabitants, in which La Hire and many of his men were made prisoners, but were set at liberty afterward on ransom.

During this period, the Dauphinois-garrisons at Meaux in Brie, at Compiègne, Pierrefons, and on the borders of the Valois, destroyed all the country round by their inroads, more especially the Beauvoisis, the Vermandois, and Santerre. In like manner did those quartered in the country of Guise to the inhabitants of Hainault, the Cambresis, and the adjacent parts.

While these troubles lasted, from the year 1415 to 1420, the money in France was greatly lowered in value, insomuch that a gold crown from the king's mint was worth twenty-nine sols in the money of the day, although it had been coined for eighteen sols parisis, which very much affected those lords whose rents were payable in money, and caused several law-suits between the parties, on account of the said diminution of the coin, when a horse-load of wheat was worth from seven to eight francs.

CHAP. LIII.

THE DAUPHIN IS SUMMONED BY THE PARLIAMENT TO APPEAR AT THE TABLE OF MARBLE.--THE DUKE OF EXETER ARRESTS THE LORD DE L'ISLE-ADAM IN PARIS.

In this year, before king Henry left Paris to re-cross the sea, he caused Charles duke of Touraine and dauphin to be summoned to appear before the parliament at the table of marble, with all the usual ceremonies and solemnities to answer for himself and his accomplices to the charges made against him and them, respecting the murder of the late John duke of Burgundy. And because he neither appeared himself, nor sent any one, he was by the council and parliament publicly banished the realm, and declared incapable of succeeding to any lands or lordships, at present or in times to come,--and even to the succession of the crown of France, notwithstanding he was the true and lawful heir after the decease of his father king Charles, according to the laws and usages of the realm.

From this sentence, he made an appeal to his sword. Numbers of the Parisians were greatly pleased at his banishment, for they much feared him.

The duke of Exeter, governor of Paris, for certain reasons best known to himself, ordered the lord de l'Isle-Adam to be arrested by some of his English, which caused a thousand or more of the commonalty of Paris to rise in order to rescue him from those who were carrying him to the Bastille. But the duke of Exeter sent six score combatants, the greater part of whom were archers, to support them; and they by their arrows, and by proclaiming that what they were about was by the king's order, created so great an alarm, that the people retired to their houses, and the lord de l'Isle-Adam remained prisoner to the king of England so long as he lived. He would indeed have had him put to death, if the duke of Burgundy had not greatly interested himself in his behalf.

CHAP. LIV.

THE DUKE OF CLARENCE IS DEFEATED BY THE DAUPHINOIS NEAR TO BAUGEY.--IN THIS ENGAGEMENT, GREAT NUMBERS OF THE NOBLES AND GENTLEMEN OF EACH PARTY ARE SLAIN.

The duke of Clarence, who had been appointed governor-general of all Normandy on the departure of his brother king Henry for England, marched his army, on Easter-eve, toward the country of Anjou, to combat a large body of the Dauphinois under the command of the earl of Buchan, constable to the dauphin, the lord de la Fayette and several others. It happened, that on this day, the duke heard that his enemies were near him at a town called Baugey in Anjou; on which, being very renowned in arms, he instantly advanced thither a part of his force, particularly almost all his captains, when a very severe and bloody conflict ensued. The body of his army followed with much difficulty at a distance on account of a dangerous river they had to ford.

On the other hand, the Dauphinois, who had been advertised of their approach, fought so manfully that in the end they obtained the victory over the English. The duke of Clarence, the earl of Kyme, the lord Roos, marshal of England, and in general the flower of his chivalry and esquiredom were left dead on the field, with two or three thousand common men. The earls of Somerset and of Huntingdon, the count du Perche, with two hundred others, were made prisoners.

The Dauphinois lost from a thousand to eleven hundred men: in the number were a gallant knight called Charles le Bouteiller, sir John Yvorin, Garin des Fontaines, sir John de Passavant, sir John de Bulle, sir John Totavant, with other persons of note, amounting in the whole to the number before specified. From that time forward, the affair of this day was called the battle of Baugey.

The English were much cast down at this defeat, and particularly lamented the death of the duke of Clarence, who was much beloved by them for his valour and prudence. They, however, under the command of the earl of Salisbury, recovered the body of the duke, which was carried to Rouen, and thence transported to England, where it was buried with great solemnity.[7]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 7: This battle took place on Easter-eve 1421. The duke of Clarence's remains were recovered by his son John, bastard of Clarence, and interred in the cathedral church at Canterbury,--the duke having by his will, dated July 1417, directed that his body should be buried at the feet of that of his father, king Henry IV.

The lady Margaret Holland, daughter to Thomas Holland earl of Kent, married first to John Beaufort earl of Somerset, and secondly to Thomas duke of Clarence, had a splendid tomb erected over his body in her life time. She died in December 1440.]

[A.D. 1421.]

CHAP. LV.

THE DAUPHINOIS ADVANCE TO ALENÇON: THE ENGLISH MARCH THITHER ALSO.--THE MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF ALENÇON,--AND OTHER MATTERS.

At the beginning of this year, after the death of the duke of Clarence, the Dauphinois, elated with their victory at Baugey, assembled a large force to besiege Alençon, and in fact lodged themselves very near to the walls, combating the garrison with all their might.

The English, notwithstanding their grief at their late loss, detached parties from their different garrisons in Normandy, under the command of the earl of Salisbury, to Alençon, to offer battle to the enemy, and force them to raise the siege. But the Dauphinois having had, as before, intelligence of their motions, drew up in battle-array before their quarters, with every appearance of courage. When the English perceived how numerous they were, they retreated to the abbey of Bec, but not without losing, in killed and taken, from two to three hundred men, for they were pursued as far as the abbey. The Dauphinois, however, finding they could not gain Alençon without great loss of men, marched away, leaving every thing behind them, and returned to Anjou and Dreux.

In these days, a marriage was concluded between the duke of Alençon and the only daughter of the duke of Orleans, a prisoner in England. It was celebrated at the town of Blois, and had been chiefly brought about by the dauphin, to whom she was niece, and the duke of Brittany, uncle to the duke of Alençon.

When news of the death of the duke of Clarence reached king Henry in England, he was greatly troubled thereat, as well as at the loss of his other nobles and men, and hastened his preparations to return with an army to France, to take vengeance on the Dauphinois, who had thus grieved him at heart.

CHAP. LVI.

SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT BEGINS A WAR ON THE VASSALS AND COUNTRIES OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.--THE INCONVENIENCES THAT ARISE FROM THIS CONDUCT.

About this time, sir James de Harcourt, who resided at Crotoy, whence, as has been said, he made war on the English, abstained from having any communication with the duke of Burgundy, or with those of his party: he even seized in the port of Estaples a vessel laden with corn, that belonged to sir Hemon de Bouberch, who was attached to the duke of Burgundy. Because he refused to restore it, on being summoned, a sudden war broke out between them, very prejudicial to the whole country of Ponthieu and the adjoining parts.

Sir Hemon, in revenge, went and made his complaints to sir William Balledo, lieutenant of Calais, who instantly collected soldiers from the county of Guines, and from his garrison, and carried them by sea to Crotoy,--when, having burnt all the vessels and boats in the harbour, he returned to Calais.

In return for this enterprise, sir James forced an entrance into many of the towns of sir Hemon, which he completely plundered, and carried away the pillage to his garrisons of Noyelle and Crotoy.

Shortly after, sir Hemon did the same to the towns of sir James de Harcourt, and the war was carried on with such bitterness that the whole of that country suffered greatly; for sir James, to strengthen himself, obtained reinforcements of men at arms from Compiègne and elsewhere. He also formed an alliance with many of the nobles of Vimeu and Ponthieu, with the lord de Rambures, Louis de Vaucourt, le bon de Saveuses, Perceval de Houdent, Pierre Quieret, governor of D'araines, and with many others.

Sir James, by this means, gained possession of several towns and castles, such as the town of St Riquier, the castle of la Ferté, and of Drugy, the island and castle of Pont de Remy, the fortresses of D'araines, Diaucourt, and Moreul: on the side of the country toward St Valery, Rambures, Gamaches, and some others, into which, by the exertions of sir James, parties of the Dauphinois gained admittance, who began to make open war on the duke of Burgundy and his adherents, to the ruin of the country. The town of St Riquier, however, did not submit to sir James, until the king Henry had crossed from England to France, as you shall hear.

CHAP. LVII.

KING HENRY OF ENGLAND RETURNS TO FRANCE WITH A POWERFUL ARMY TO COMBAT THE DAUPHIN, WHO HAD BESIEGED CHARTRES.

When king Henry had settled the government of England during his absence, and when his army was advanced to Canterbury, having received pay for eight months, he came to Dover; and thence, and at the neighbouring ports, he and his army embarked at day-break, on the feast of St Barbara, and that same day arrived in the harbour of Calais at two o'clock in the afternoon.

The king disembarked from his vessel and was lodged in the castle of Calais; the others landed also, and were quartered in the town and the adjacent parts, according to the orders of the king and his harbingers. Shortly after, when the vessels were unladen, they were discharged, and ordered back by the king to England. It was estimated by competent judges that from three to four thousand men at arms disembarked that day, and full twenty-four thousand archers.

On the morrow of the feast of St Barbara, the king sent the earl of Dorset and the lord Clifford to the assistance of his uncle the duke of Exeter and the Parisians, who were much straitened for provisions by the garrisons of the Dauphinois that surrounded Paris. They had under their command twelve hundred combatants, and, avoiding all the ambushes of the enemy, rode hastily forward to Paris, where they were joyfully received by the inhabitants, by reason of the intelligence they brought of the king of England being at Calais, to whom they had sent several messages before he left England.

The dauphin had now a considerable army, which he marched toward Chartres; and the towns of Bonneval and Galardon, with other castles, surrendered to him, which he regarrisoned, and then fixed his quarters as near to Chartres as possible, and encompassed it on all sides. It was defended by the bastard de Thian and other captains, who had been dispatched thither in haste from Paris for that purpose.

The dauphin's army was supposed to consist of from six to seven thousand having leg-armour, four thousand cross-bows and six thousand archers, and this statement was sent to the king of England by those who had seen them. The Dauphinois erected many engines to batter the walls and gates, which did some mischief; but as the inhabitants were assured of being speedily relieved by king Henry, they were not under any alarm at their attacks.

CHAP. LVIII.

THE KING OF ENGLAND MARCHES FROM CALAIS, THROUGH ABBEVILLE, TO BEAUVAIS, AND THENCE TO MANTES, WHERE THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MEETS HIM.

When king Henry had remained some days in Calais on account of business, he departed in haste; for he had received pressing solicitations from his uncle the duke of Exeter and the Parisians that he would succour Chartres. Taking his march by the sea side, he was lodged at the hôtel of the Crown in Montrieul, and his army quartered in the low lands near it. Philip duke of Burgundy had arrived there the preceding day to confer with the king; but as he was confined with a fever, and unable to mount his horse, he sent sir John de Luxembourg, with all his chivalry, to meet the king, and make his excuses for not coming himself in person.

They remained for three days in this town to confer at leisure on the present state of affairs. They departed together, and went to lodge at Douvast in Ponthieu. As they marched near to Montenay, the king of England ordered the tower, house and mill of sir James de Harcourt to be burnt.

The king was desirous of crossing the Somme at Abbeville, and the duke of Burgundy advanced to that town to negotiate the king's passage, which was obtained, but very unwillingly, on the duke promising that every expense should be fully discharged.

While the duke was absent, the king and his nobles amused themselves in hunting in the forest of Cressy, and the following day fixed their quarters at St Riquier, near to which place was a small fort called La Ferté, garrisoned by about sixty of sir James de Harcourt's men, under the command of the bastard de Bellay, who, on a formal summons, surrendered the place.

A gentleman of the country, called Nycaise de Boufflers, was appointed by the king and the duke governor, who shortly after yielded it to the Dauphinois (as will be hereafter related), by whom it had before been held.

From St Riquier, king Henry came to Abbeville, where he was most honourably received, and many handsome presents were made him, in compliment to the duke of Burgundy. The army and baggage passed very peaceably through the town; and on the morrow, when all the expenses had been paid, the king took leave of the duke, on his promising that he would speedily join him with his whole force.

King Henry continued his march through Beauvais and Gisors, to the castle of Vincennes, where were the king and queen of France, whom he saluted most respectfully, and was by them received with great joy. Thither came his uncle the duke of Exeter, with several of the council of the king of France, and many conferences were held on the present state of the kingdom.

Among other things, it was ordered, that the florettes, a coin of the king, which was current for sixteen deniers, should be reduced to three deniers; but when this ordinance was proclaimed throughout the kingdom, it created great murmurings against the ministers among the commonalty of Paris, and in other places, but without obtaining any redress. Their murmurings were soon after much increased by the coin being still lowered in currency.

The king of England now assembled a very large army; and in conjunction with that he had brought with him from England, he marched toward Mantes to offer battle to the dauphin, who had been already seven weeks before Chartres. He sent to the duke of Burgundy to join him instantly with as many men as he could raise, that he might be in time for the day of battle. The duke made all haste to comply, and advanced to the town of Amiens with about three thousand combatants, and thence, marching through Beauvais and Gisors, came to the town of Mantes. He, however, left his army at a large village, and went himself, with few attendants, to wait on the king of England, who was well pleased with his diligence.

In the interim, the dauphin, when he was informed of the great army that was marching against him, broke up his siege of Chartres, and retreated to Tours.

When the king and the duke of Burgundy had held several councils on their further proceedings, it was agreed, that the duke should return to Picardy to oppose the Dauphinois, who were doing great mischief there by means of the influence of sir James de Harcourt.

CHAP. LIX.

THE LORD D'OFFEMONT ENTERS ST RIQUIER.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE LORD DE COHEN, GOVERNOR OF ABBEVILLE.--OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THESE TIMES.

During the time that the duke of Burgundy was on his march, and when he was with the king of England, the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Saintrailles collected about twelve hundred horse, and, passing through Vimeu, crossed the Somme at Blanchetaque, where they were met by sir James de Harcourt: they thence proceeded to St Riquier, and gained admittance into the town through the influence of sir James.

They treated successfully with Nycaise de Boufflers for the surrender of the castle of La Ferté, which was given up to them, as was that of Drugy, belonging to the abbot of St Riquier. When they had established themselves in these places, they overran the adjacent country, and even sailed on the river Canche, to a large village called Conchy, and completely burnt the whole, together with a very handsome church, into which the principal inhabitants had retreated with their effects, the greater part of whom were led prisoners to St Riquier.

In another part, the strong fort of Dourier proudly seated on the river Authie, was surrendered to Poton de Santrailles; and, by means of this acquisition, the town and neighbourhood of Montrieul were greatly harrassed.

The duke of Burgundy heard, on his return with his army, at a town called Croissy, that the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Santrailles had gained possession of St Riquier, and how they were proceeding. On this he assembled his council; and it was determined that men at arms should be summoned from all parts, and cross-bowmen from the towns under the dominion of the king of France, that St Riquier might be besieged. With this intent he went to Amiens, and solicited succours, which were granted to him. He thence dispatched his messengers to different towns, to make similar requests: the greater part of them promised to serve him liberally.

When the duke departed from Amiens, he went through Dourlens, to fix his quarters at Auxi, on the river Authie, within three leagues of Saint Riquier. He was there rejoined by sir John de Luxembourg, who had been detached with a certain number of combatants, through Dourmart in Ponthieu, toward St Riquier, to make inquiry as to the number and situation of the Dauphinois.

The duke remained three days at Auxi, to wait the arrival of his reinforcements. While these things were passing, the lord de Cohen, governor of the town of Abbeville, going one night after supper to visit the guard, attended by only six persons, but preceded by his servants, carrying lighted torches, was suddenly attacked by three or four persons, who were lying in wait for him, and severely wounded him in the face. They also struck an advocate, called John de Quex, who was in his company, mounted on a handsome horse: he was stunned with the blow, and, in his fright, stuck spurs into his horse, who galloped off against a chain that had been stretched across the street from two posts. One of them, by the great strength of the horse, was torn from the ground, but the shock flung the advocate with such force that he died shortly after, of the bruises. The lord de Cohen was carried home by his servants, thus wounded, and was unable at first to discover the perpetrators of this deed. They were, however, of Abbeville, and, by means of friends, escaped secretly, and went to Crotoy, to relate what they had done to sir James de Harcourt, who was well pleased thereat, and retained them in his service. Some few years afterward, however, they were taken, and executed for this and other crimes.

CHAP. LX.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES TO PONT DE SAINT REMY, AND CONQUERS IT.--THE DEEDS OF ARMS THAT WERE PERFORMED BEFORE SAINT RIQUIER.

The duke of Burgundy advanced his whole army from Auxi to a large village called Viurens, within a league from St Riquier. On the morrow, he marched by this last town, and quartered himself and his army at Pont de St Remy, on the night of the feast of the Magdalen. Some of his men were lodged in large houses near the bridge; but the Dauphinois, who were in the castle and island, discharged rockets into them, and set them on fire, which forced the Burgundians to retire, and fix their quarters further off.

Two days after their arrival, the cross-bows from Amiens, and a body of men at arms who escorted them, descended the Somme in twelve boats, ready to attack the castle and island. But the Dauphinois, on learning that they were near at hand, took fright, and, packing up their baggage, fled to the castle of D'airaines, leaving Pont de St Remy without any guard. Some women, who had remained in the island, lowered the drawbridge on the side where the Burgundians lay, who instantly entered the place, and plundered all that the Dauphinois had left.

This same day, by orders from the duke of Burgundy, the castle and town were burnt, wherein were many handsome houses. In like manner, on this and on the following day, were destroyed the castles of Marveil and Jaucourt, which the Dauphinois had deserted from fear of the duke.

While the duke of Burgundy was thus employed at Pont de St Remy, sir John de Luxembourg went to the town of St Riquier, under proper passports from the lord d'Offemont, with one hundred picked men at arms, as an escort to six knights, well mounted and accoutred, who were to perform a deed of arms against six champions of the Dauphinois, under the lord d'Offemont.

This combat had been previously settled by messages which had passed between the parties. The burgundian champions were Henry l'Allemant, the bastard de Robaix, Lyonnet de Bournouville and three others. The Dauphinois were the lord de Verduysant, Guillaume d'Aubigny and four others, whose names I have forgotten. On the parties meeting, the justings commenced; but, at the onset, the two Dauphinois killed the horses of their opponents: the others broke several lances gallantly enough; but from the shortness of the time two on each side could not just,--and there was no one wounded on either side. The parties took a friendly leave; and sir John de Luxembourg returned with his company to the Pont de St Remy, and the lord d'Offemont re-entered St Riquier.

Sir John de Luxembourg had been accompanied for his security, by one hundred of the most expert men at arms in the burgundian army: he had also formed an ambuscade of three hundred men in a wood to succour him, should there be occasion. When on his road to St Riquier, having placed this ambuscade, he halted on an eminence to observe if his orders were obeyed, and to his surprise saw that those in ambush were wandering about and the horses grazing. In a great rage, he seized a lance and galloped back to reduce them to proper order; but his men, perceiving him coming, mounted their horses and fled as fast as spurs could make them. Nevertheless, he overtook a man at arms, named Aloyer, whom he pierced through the thigh and unhorsed, and to many others he gave severe blows. When he had restored order, and severely reprimanded the leaders, he continued his march to witness the deed of arms already related.

CHAP. LXI.

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES FROM PONT DE ST REMY TO LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF ST RIQUIER.--HE BREAKS UP HIS SIEGE TO COMBAT THE DAUPHINOIS, WHO ARE ADVANCING TO THE RELIEF OF THAT TOWN.

After the destruction of Pont de St Remy, the duke of Burgundy departed for Abbeville with his army, a part of which was quartered in the suburbs. About the end of July, he marched to St Riquier, and fixed his quarters in the castle of la Ferté, which a little before, together with the castle of Drugy and the suburbs, had been set on fire. His men were quartered in other places near sir John de Luxembourg, at the gate of St John leading toward Auxi: the lord de Croy, some days after, was lodged near the gate of St Nicholas toward Abbeville. At the gate of the Heronhault, leading toward Crotoy, there was not any lodgement of men at arms, which gave free liberty to the garrison or inhabitants to go in and out of the town at their pleasure, on horseback or on foot.

Numerous reinforcements from the principal towns, in consequence of his summons, now joined the duke. When the quarters had been all marked out, the Burgundians made their approaches near to the walls, and began severely to annoy the garrison. The duke might have under his command, as well men at arms as archers and cross-bows, including those sent from the towns, five or six thousand combatants. The enemy, under the lord d'Offemont, Poton de Santrailles, Verduysant, Mengues, and other captains in the town, might consist of twelve or fourteen hundred men; for in addition to those they had brought thither, sir James de Harcourt had sent them some of his most expert soldiers; and they exerted themselves to the utmost to resist the attacks of the Burgundians.

It would be too long and tedious, were I to attempt to enumerate all the sallies of the garrison; but in truth, they made many in which they gained more than they lost; and in the number, was one by which they captured some of the duke's captains, the principal of whom were sir Emond de Boubers, Henry l'Allemant, John de Courcelles, John de Crevecoeur, one called Ancellet, and some other noblemen.

In the mean time, the engines which the duke had erected broke down the gates and walls, and even destroyed some of the houses within the town; and those which the besieged had pointed against the burgundian army were equally destructive, so that many lives were lost on both sides during this siege.

Sir James de Harcourt sent frequent messengers to the lord d'Offemont, to exhort him and his brother-captains to hold out with courage, for that they would shortly be succoured, as he had sent for relief from divers places in Champagne, Brie, Valois, to Compiègne and other places attached to the interest of the dauphin, and had earnestly besought them to assemble as large a force as they possibly could to join him, and offer battle to the duke of Burgundy.

In consequence of this request, the Dauphinois did assemble in force in the neighbourhood of Compiègne, whence they were to begin their march. The duke, however, continued the siege with vigour; but, hearing of the intentions of the Dauphinois to force him to raise it, and to offer him battle, he called a council to determine in this case how he should act.

It was resolved, that the duke should break up the siege, and advance to fight the Dauphinois before they could effect a junction with sir James de Harcourt and the others. In conformity to this resolution, on the 29th of August, the duke dispatched Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecoeur, at night-fall, from the camp with six score combatants, to cross the Somme at Abbeville, whence they were to advance into Vimeu, to inquire diligently into the state and condition of the Dauphinois, he earnestly entreated and commanded them to attend particularly to his orders, and to send him as soon as possible a true statement of what the Dauphinois were intending, adding, that his whole army should very speedily follow them.

These two captains rode during the night to Abbeville, where having refreshed their horses a little, they advanced into Vimeu. In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy secretly made his preparations for breaking up the siege by packing up his tents, baggage and stores, and, having set fire to his camp, marched strait for Abbeville. On his arrival there, those of his army who chose to eat or to drink were obliged to do so on horseback; for he would not suffer any one to dismount, as he was every moment expecting intelligence of the enemy from Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecoeur.

When they had entered Vimeu, they observed about sun-rise, toward Oisemont, the Dauphinois in handsome array, briskly pushing forward, and making for the ford of Blanchetaque. They were so near, that some of the Dauphinois were taken by them; and by their means they acquired full knowledge of their intentions. They sent them instantly to the duke, who, as I have said, was at Abbeville, that he might hasten his march to meet them before they could cross the river.

The duke, on receiving this intelligence, was much rejoiced, and immediately quitted the town, and pressed his march as much as he could, leaving behind at Abbeville his archers and cross-bows. The Dauphinois saw the duke's army was pursuing them, and consequently, made all haste to gain the ford of Blanchetaque, and cross the Somme to Sir James de Harcourt, who was waiting for them on the opposite side near to Saint Riquier. During this time, repeated messengers were sent to hasten the march of the duke, who, on his side, was equally eager to come up with the enemy; and his forces pushed forward as fast as their horses could carry them.

The Dauphinois were in the act of passing the river Somme, when, perceiving the Burgundians, they deliberately changed their purpose, and returned to the plain, where they drew up in battle-array, and advanced with every appearance of giving battle to the duke, although they were very inferior in numbers to his army. Poton de Santrailles had joined them that night, with twelve others from St Riquier, in order to be present at the battle.

The two parties were now advanced near enough to observe exactly the numbers on either side; and because some of the duke's men were behind, several heralds and poursuivants were sent to hasten them forward.

Thus the two armies moved on for a considerable space, approaching each other; but sir James de Harcourt who, as has been said, was posted on the other side of the river, seeing the two parties ready to engage, never attempted to cross the ford to the assistance of his friends, notwithstanding he himself had sent for them, but returned to Crotoy, whence he had come that morning.

CHAP. LXII.

THE BURGUNDIANS AND THE DAUPHINOIS DRAW UP IN BATTLE ARRAY AGAINST EACH OTHER ON THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST.--THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOWED.

On Saturday, the 31st of August, the two armies kept advancing with much courage, and halted about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at three bow-shots distance from each other.

During this short halt, many new knights were hastily created on both sides. In the number was the duke of Burgundy, by the hand of sir John de Luxembourg, when the duke did the same to Philip de Saveuses; and there were knighted of his party Collart de Commines, John d'Estenu, John de Robais, Andrew and John Villain, Philebert Andrenet, Daviod de Poix, Guerrard d'Acties, the lord de Moyencourt, Le Moyne de Renty, Colinet de Brimeu, Jacques Pot, Louis de Saint-Saulieu, Guillain de Halluin, Derre de Cauroy and others.

On the part of the Dauphinois were, in like manner, created knights, Gilles de Gamaches, Regnault de Fontaines, Colinet de Villequier, the Marquis de Serre, John Rogan, John d'Espaigny, Corbeau de Rieux, and Sarrasin de Beaufort.

When this ceremony was over, the duke sent the banner of Philip de Saveuses, with six score combatants, under the command of sir Mauroy de Saint-Leger and the bastard de Roussy, across the plain to fall on the flank of the Dauphinois. Both armies were eager for the combat; and these last advanced with a great noise, and fell on the division of the duke with all the strength of their horses' speed. The Burgundians received them well; and at this onset there was a grand clattering of arms, and horses thrown to the ground in a most horrible manner on each side. Both parties now began to wound and kill, and the affair became very murderous; but during this first shock of arms one half of the duke's forces were panic-struck and fled to Abbeville, where being refused admittance they galloped on for Picquigny.

The duke's banner was carried away with them; for, in the alarm, the varlet who had usually borne it forgot to give it to some other person, and in his flight had thrown it on the ground, where it was found, and raised by a gentleman called John de Rosimbos, who rallied about it many of the runaways, who had until that day been reputed men of courage and expert in arms. They had, however, deserted the duke of Burgundy, their lord, in this danger, and were, ever after, greatly blamed for their conduct.

Some pretended to excuse themselves by saying, that seeing the banner, they thought the duke was with it. It was also declared, on the authority of Flanders king at arms, that to his knowledge the duke was either killed or made prisoner, which made matters worse; for those who were most frightened continued their flight across the Somme at Picquigny, to their homes, whence they did not return.