Chapter III: Part 3

On the 23d of November, in this year, the impregnable castle of Gaillon surrendered to the king's forces, after a siege of six weeks. The english garrison amounted to from one hundred to six score, and marched away on capitulation, to carry with them their effects to Harfleur, or to any other place under their subjection.

About the same time, the duke of Brittany gained the town and castle of Fougeres, after a siege of a month. He had battered the walls with his cannons and bombards so that the breaches were nearly wide enough to storm, when the English, seeing their danger, and knowing their provisions were expended, surrendered on capitulation. Their captain was sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian, having under his command from five to six hundred men,--and they were allowed to march away with their horses and arms, but each with only a small bundle before him. This sir Francis afterwards turned to the French, and took the oaths of allegiance to the king, notwithstanding that he had taken the town of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, and thus had broken the truce between the kings of France and England.

The duke of Brittany had, at that time, in his army, eight thousand combatants, lords, knights and esquires; but after the surrender of Fougeres they returned home, on account of the great mortality in the army, which carried off very great numbers, and among the rest the son of the viscount de Rohan, which was a great pity. The duke went also into Brittany, after he had placed sufficient garrisons in his conquests.

Toward the end of November, the duke of Alençon laid siege to his town and castle of Bellême, then occupied by the English contrary to his will. He had with him about three hundred lances, knights and esquires, and a body of archers, without including the peasantry from the countries of Maine and Vendôme, who were estimated at three thousand fighting men. After several skirmishes and sallies, the English, finding all resistance vain, entered on a treaty with the duke, and engaged to surrender the town and castle on the 20th day of December, unless their friends should appear on that day in sufficient force to give the duke battle and conquer him.

The duke, therefore, intrenched his army on the plain to wait the arrival of the English, who were on their march to relieve the place. Two thousand of them had advanced to Torigny[61], and, on their departure, had set it on fire, and proceeded to Thury[62], where they received certain intelligence of the exact strength of the duke's army, and in consequence marched back again. On the 20th day of December, the duke of Alençon and the lord de Saintrailles drew their army up in battle-array, and waited thus until the hour for the appearance of the enemy was passed. The captain of the english garrison in Bellême, called Matago[63], having about two hundred combatants with him, then surrendered the place, and marched away in safety with their effects, according to the terms of the capitulation, whither they pleased.

About Christmas-day, the english garrison in Vire[64], to the number of twelve score, marched out to seek adventures, but were met by a party of the constable's men in garrison at Gourey[65], near to the Croix de Vamoux, under the command of sir Geoffry de Couvran, Joachim Rouhault, and others, when a very sharp engagement took place,--but the English were discomfited, so many being killed or taken that few escaped.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 60: Bellême,--a town in Perche, 10 leagues from Alençon.]

[Footnote 61: Torigny,--a small town in Normandy.]

[Footnote 62: Thury,--a small town in Normandy.]

[Footnote 63: Matago. Q. Matthew Gough?]

[Footnote 64: Vire,--on the river Vire in Normandy, diocese of Bayeux, generality of Caen.]

[Footnote 65: Gourey. Q. if not Gournetz, a village in Normandy.]

CHAP. XVI.

THE KING OF FRANCE LEAVES ROUEN.--HE SENDS HIS LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TO BESIEGE HARFLEUR, WHICH SURRENDERS ON CAPITULATION.--THE FAIR AGNES IS TAKEN ILL.--HER DEATH, AND HER LAST TESTAMENT.

The king of France, having settled the government of Rouen to his satisfaction, marched thence clothed in a brigandine, having over it a jacket of gold tissue, accompanied by the king of Sicily, and the other princes of his blood, magnificently dressed, more especially the count de St Pol, whose horse's forehead-piece was valued at thirty thousand francs.

Thus attended, the king rode to Caudebec,--in which town it was resolved to lay siege to Harfleur; and in consequence, he advanced to Montivilliers, which is but half a league distant from Harfleur, and thence detached his lieutenant-general, the count de Dunois, to open the trenches. The count had with him the counts d'Eu, de Clermont, de Nevers, de Castres, with many men at arms, archers and franc archers, so that his force was estimated at six thousand men, without including the franc archers, who amounted to three thousand, or the cannoneers, labourers, and followers, or the mariners who blockaded the place with twenty-five large vessels, or those who had besieged the abbey of Graville, amounting, in the whole, to more than a thousand men.

The siege was commenced on the 8th day of December, with many difficulties,--for there were neither houses nor trees near at hand, and the weather was more severe, by reason of frosts and inundations, than had been experienced for some time. The besiegers suffered also greatly from the sea, which at times destroyed their huts, which were composed only of earth covered with juniper branches.

Sixteen large bombards were pointed against the walls, which the king came frequently from Montivilliers to see fired. Deep trenches of communication were formed, wherein the king often exposed his person, armed only with a light helmet and covering shield, to witness the effect of this battery against the walls. Covered trenches were carried to the very walls of Harfleur; and these mines and trenches were formed under the directions of master John Bureau, treasurer to the king, in conjunction with his brother Jasper, grand master of the royal artillery, both very expert and able in the sciences.

Thomas Aurmagan[66], governor of Harfleur, and the English with him, to the amount of sixteen hundred, receiving pay, witnessing the great preparations of the king of France, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois, on the eve of Christmas-day, for the surrender of the place. On the morrow, the capitulation was signed,--and they were to march away with their baggage, and were allowed to transport their effects by land or sea, the term for so doing being limited to the first day of the year. Eight english gentlemen were given as hostages for the due performance of the treaty, who were sent under an escort to Montivilliers. On the first day of January, they were brought back to Harfleur, for the accomplishment of the treaty. About vespers, Thomas Aurmagan, the governor, presented the keys of the gates and towers to the count de Dunois, with much reverence and kneeling, in the presence of all the English, and even before master Sanice[67], who had brought a reinforcement of five hundred English just before the siege.

The lieutenant-general, on receiving the keys, sent a party to take possession of the towers, and to lower the english standard, of a red cross on a white field, that was flying on one of them. He afterwards ordered two heralds to replace it with the standard of France, which was done with the shouts and rejoicings of the populace. The count also posted a party of his men in the towers on the side toward Rouen. This day, the greater part of the English departed; but as all could not be ready by the return of the tide, the lieutenant-general listened to their humble supplications, and permitted those who remained to tarry there until the Friday and Saturday at midday, and appointed a guard over them that they might not be ill treated. When the English were all gone, the king gave the government of Harfleur to the count de Dunois, who appointed the lord de Moy his lieutenant, with one hundred lances and a proportionate number of archers for its defence, and for that of the country around.

Jacques de Clermont, esquire, was made governor of Montivilliers,--and he had likewise one hundred spears and archers for its guard, and for the defence of other forts in the neighbourhood. The king, having made these appointments, left Montivilliers on the 5th day of January: he ordered detachments of his army to march through Rouen, Caudebec and Tancarville, to besiege Honfleur, and went himself to the abbey of Jamieges[68], on the Seine, five leagues below Rouen, where he remained for some time, while preparations were making for the siege of Honfleur.

At this abbey, the king met the fair Agnes, who had come thither (as she said) to give the king information that some of his officers intended to deliver him up to his enemies the English. The king, however, paid no attention to the intelligence, but laughed at it. This fair Agnes had been five years in the service of the queen, during which she had enjoyed all the pleasures of life, in wearing rich clothes, furred robes, golden chains, and precious stones; and it was commonly reported that the king often visited her, and maintained her in a state of concubinage,--for the people are more inclined to speak ill than well of their superiors.

The affection the king showed her was as much for her gaiety of temper, pleasing manners, and agreeable conversation, as for her beauty. She was so beautiful that she was called the Fairest of the Fair, and the Lady of Beauté, as well on account of her personal charms as because the king had given her for life the castle of Beauté, near Paris. She was very charitable, and most liberal in her alms, which she distributed among such churches as were out of repair, and to beggars.

It is true, that Agnes had a daughter, who lived but a short time, which she said was the king's, and gave it to him as the proper father: but the king always excused himself, as not having any claim to it. She may indeed have called in help, for the matter was variously talked of.

At length, she was seized with a bowel-complaint, and was a long time ill,--during which, she was very contrite, and sincerely repented of her sins. She often remembered Mary Magdalen, who had been a great sinner, and devoutly invoked God and the virgin Mary to her aid. Like a true catholic, after she had received the sacraments, she called for her book of prayers, in which she had written with her own hand the verses of St Bernard, to repeat them. She then made many gifts (which were put down in writing, that her executors might fulfil them, with the other articles of her will), which, including alms and the payment of her servants, might amount to nearly sixty thousand crowns. Her executors were Jacques Coeur, counsellor and master of the wardrobe to the king, master Robert Poictevin, physician, and master Stephen Chevalier, treasurer to the king, who was to take the lead in the fulfilment of her will, should it be his gracious pleasure.

The fair Agnes, perceiving that she was daily growing weaker, said to the lord de la Trimouille, the lady of the seneschal of Poitou, and one of the king's equerries called Gouffier, in the presence of all her damsels, that our fragile life was but a stinking ordure. She then required that her confessor would give her absolution from all her sins and wickedness, conformable to an absolution, which was, as she said, at Loches, which the confessor, on her assurance, complied with. After this, she uttered a loud shriek, and called on the mercy of God, and the support of the blessed virgin Mary, and gave up the ghost on Monday, the 9th day of February, in the year 1449, about six o'clock in the afternoon. Her body was opened, and her heart interred in the church of the said abbey, to which she had been a most liberal benefactress; and her body was conveyed, with many honours, to Loches, where it was interred in the collegiate church of our Lady, to which also she had made many handsome donations, and several foundations. May God have mercy on her soul, and admit it into paradise![69]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 66: Thomas Aurmagan. Q.]

[Footnote 67: Master Sanice. Q.]

[Footnote 68: Jamieges,--a market-town on the Seine, two leagues from Caudebec, six from Rouen.]

[Footnote 69: Agnes Sorel, says Moreri, was one of the handsomest women of her time. She was a native of Promenteau, a village of Touraine, in the diocese of Bourges. King Charles VII. no sooner saw her than he fell in love with her. This prince made her great presents, and gave her the castle of Beauté sur Marne. It is said that his affection for her caused him to neglect public business, but that Agnes contrived to excite him with such animosity against the English that he exerted his utmost efforts to drive them out of the kingdom. It is added, that she assured him that an astrologer had foretold to her that she would captivate the affections of the greatest king in the world, but that this prediction had no reference to him, since he neglected to establish his authority in a state which his enemies had usurped, and that, in order to accomplish it, she would be obliged to repair to the court of the king of England. These reproaches roused the king from his lethargy,--and he took the field to gratify, at once, his love and his ambition. On this subject it is also said, that Francis I. being, one day in the house of the count d'Estampes, who had been his governor, and who was then grand master of France, he amused himself with looking into a port-folio which was upon the dressing table of the countess, who was fond of painting, and had drawn in it the portraits of divers illustrious persons, and among others of Agnes Sorel. The king made devices and verses for each of these portraits,--and under that of the fair Agnes he wrote the following lines with his own hand.]

CHAP. XVII.

THE COUNT DE FOIX RAISES A LARGE ARMY TO BESIEGE THE CASTLE OF GUISCHEN.--THE ENGLISH ASSEMBLE TO RAISE THE SIEGE, BUT ARE DEFEATED BY THE LORD DE LAUTREC AND THE BASTARD DE FOIX.

About this period, the count de Foix raised a large army, and caused the strong castle of Guischen, situated four leagues from Bayonne, to be besieged by his brother, the lord de Lautrec, and the bastard de Foix. The English, on hearing this, instantly took the field with four thousand combatants, under the command of the constable of Navarre. He had with him the mayor of Bayonne, George Saltviton[70],

'Plus de loüange et d'honneur tu merites,
La cause étant de France recouvrer,
Que ce que peut dedans un cloitre ouvrer
Close nonnain, en bien devot hermite.'

and many other English, who, having embarked their stores on the river that runs through Bayonne, to convey them near to this castle, marched as close to the vessels as they could.

News of their intentions was carried to the besiegers, who marched as secretly as possible to meet them, and made so sharp an attack on the English that they were driven from their boats, and lost twelve hundred of their men in killed and taken. When Saltviton witnessed this defeat, fearing it was impossible to recover the boats, he broke gallantly through the french army with only sixty lances, and saved himself for the moment in one of the outworks of the castle. Finding that he could not long maintain himself in his present post, he marched away with his men, thinking to regain Bayonne; but the bastard de Foix, knowing his departure, immediately pursued him, and made him and the greater part of his men prisoners.

On the morrow, the castle surrendered, and all the country between Dax and Bayonne,--in which were from fifteen to sixteen strong places, that surrendered to the count de Foix. When these forts had been sufficiently garrisoned, the count's army was marched home.

The siege of Honfleur was commenced with great courage on the 17th day of January, while the king remained at Jamieges, by his lieutenant general, the count de Dunois, and the other lords before named. The franc archers, who had been sent by these lords in advance ten or twelve days before, to skirmish with the english garrison of Honfleur, did their duty well.

When the blockade was completed, the king left Jamieges, and fixed his quarters at the abbey of Grestain, two leagues from Honfleur. On his arrival, the approaches and trenches were pushed forward with vigour, and many cannons and bombards were pointed against the walls, to the astonishment of those within the town.

The governor of the place was called master Courson[71], having a garrison of three or four hundred English who exerted themselves valiantly in their defence with cannons and other missile weapons. By their means was killed a gallant Frenchman, named Regnault William, le Bourgognon, then bailiff of Montargis, which was a great loss. At length, the English were so overpowered by fear and want of provision that they were constrained to demand a parley, to arrange terms of capitulation; and they agreed to surrender the town and castle on the 18th day of February, unless there should appear a force sufficient to relieve them, by conquering the French, and gave hostages for its due performance, on which they were to march away with their effects in safety.

The French now fortified their camp, and made preparations for a combat, but the English did not appear; for the duke of Somerset dared not leave Caen ungarrisoned, and, besides, they were not strong enough to expect success without great reinforcements from England. The place was therefore surrendered according to the terms of the capitulation, and the English marched to other parts under their obedience.

Soon after the reduction of Honfleur, the king left the abbey of Grestain, and went to Berucy[72], and thence to Essay[73] and Alençon. He ordered a party of his guards, with the franc archers, to lay siege to Fresnay[74], which was under the government of two Englishmen, called Andrew Torfflot[75] and Janequin Vaquier[76], having with them from four to five hundred English and Normans, called French Renegadoes. The French advanced before the place in a numerous body, in handsome array, which so much alarmed the governors that they instantly offered to treat for a surrender. After a short discussion, it was agreed, that on the place being given up to the king of France, together with ten thousand golden saluts, their captain, called Montfort[77], who had been made prisoner at Pont Audemer, should be restored to them, and they should be allowed to march away in safety with their baggage. Thus was the place surrendered,--and the English departed, on the 22d day of March, for Caen or Falaise, or to wherever else they pleased.

During the time of Lent, in this year, three thousand English landed at Cherbourg, under the command of sir Thomas Kiriel, a knight of great experience and renown, and marched to lay siege to Valognes[78], which was under the government of an esquire from Poitou, called Abel Rohault. He held it valiantly for some time, for his brother Joachim Rohault; but having no hope of succour, he was forced to surrender it to sir Thomas Kiriel, after a defence of three weeks, and was allowed to march his men away in safety with all they possessed.

The king's army was, at the time, collecting to raise the siege; as were the English to oppose them, from their different garrisons,--namely, sir Robert Vere, in Caen, had six hundred combatants,--Henry Morbery, in Vire, had about four hundred,--Matago, in the town of Bayeux, had eight hundred fighting men,--so that they amounted in all, including sir Thomas Kiriel's force, to six or seven thousand combatants. The French, learning this, suffered the town to be surrendered without any attempt to the contrary,--for they could not be assembled in time, considering that the king's army was then dispersed in cantonments throughout Normandy, for the better preservation of their conquests.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 70: Saltviton. In the MS. of Du Cange, it is _Soliton_; but this seems as far from the true name as the other.]

[Footnote 71: Courson. Q. Curzon?]

[Footnote 72: Berucy,--Bernay, a market-town in Normandy, twenty leagues and a half from Alençon. MS. Du Cange.]

[Footnote 73: Essay,--a market-town in Normandy, five leagues from Alençon.]

[Footnote 74: Fresnay. There are two villages of this name in Normandy.]

[Footnote 75: Andrew Torfflot. Troslo.----MS. Du Cange. Q. if not Truslow?]

[Footnote 76: Janequin Vaquier. Basquier and Baquier.----MS. Du Cange.]

[Footnote 77: Montfort. Q. if not lord Fauconberg? See in the preceding pages.]

[Footnote 78: Valognes,--five leagues from Cherbourg.]

[A.D. 1450.]

CHAP. XVIII.

AFTER THE CAPTURE OF VALOGNES BY SIR THOMAS KIRIEL, HE TAKES THE FIELD WITH A LARGE ARMY OF ENGLISHMEN.--HE IS MET BY THE COUNT DE CLERMONT, WHO ATTACKS AND DEFEATS HIM.

On the 12th day of April, in the year 1450, after Easter, sir Thomas Kiriel dislodged from Valognes, having with him the greater part of the garrisons of Caen, Bayeux, and Vire, and, crossing the fords of St Clement[79], advanced toward the country of Bayeux and Caen. Intelligence of this movement was carried to the french headquarters, and a detachment was ordered to pursue them, under the command of the count de Clermont, the count de Castres, the seneschal of Poitou, the lord de Montgascon and de Retz, admiral of France, and others, to the amount of five or six hundred spears and archers. Although they were so few in numbers, they continued their pursuit until they overtook them. Sir Geoffry de Couvran and Joachim Rohault had, some little time before, separated from them to seek if they could gain any information of the enemy, and luckily fell in with their track. Notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, they boldly and courageously made an attack on their rear-guard, and killed and wounded several. They then retreated, and sent notice of what they had done to the count de Clermont, who was not far off. He hastened to come up with the English, which he did near a village called Fourmigny, between Carentan and Bayeux, on the 13th of the same month.

The English, on perceiving the enemy, drew up in battle-array, and sent in haste to a captain, called Matago, who had that morning quitted them for Bayeux, but instantly returned to the aid of his companions.

The two armies remained drawn up facing each other for three hours, while a continual skirmish was going forward,--during which, the English made, with their swords and daggers, deep holes in their front, that those who should charge them might fall in with their horses: they were also very advantageously posted, for they had, within a bow-shot of their rear, a small river with gardens and orchards thick planted with fruit-trees, so that they could not be attacked on that quarter.

The count de Clermont, observing their situation, and considering that he had not an adequate force to combat them, dispatched a messenger in haste to St Lo, to require that the count de Richemont, constable of France, would come to his succour,--otherwise he and his men would have more work on their hands than they could accomplish, for that the English greatly outnumbered his force.

The constable, on receiving this intelligence, instantly set out, at three o'clock in the morning of the same day, the 18th, to his assistance, although he was but just arrived from Brittany without halting. He rode to Trevieres[80], accompanied by the lord James de Luxembourg, the count de Laval, the lord marshal de Lohéac, and from two hundred to twelve score lances and eight hundred archers. They advanced with great rapidity (for the English had already crossed the ford) until they came to the windmill above Fourmigny, where they drew up in order of battle in sight of the English.

The count de Clermont had begun the engagement with his army of a thousand to fifteen hundred men before the arrival of the constable, and had been sharply repulsed by the English, who had taken from them two culverines. The constable first marched his men to gain a stone bridge,--but no sooner did Matago and sir Robert Vere perceive this manœuvre of the constable than they fled with a thousand of their men from Caen and Bayeux. Kiriel and the remainder retreated toward the rivulet, and occupied the village that was hard by.

Part of the constable's archers, having dismounted at the end of the bridge, attacked the left wing of the English,--and many were killed and put to the rout. The constable now crossed the rivulet and joined the count de Clermont; when the grand seneschal of Normandy asked his permission to march his division toward the enemy's right wing, which being granted, the English were slain and defeated. The main body of the constable's men marched now in handsome order until they were near the village, and crossed the brook by the high road. The English were so much alarmed that they quitted the village, and advanced to the rivulet, where a well-fought engagement took place; but although the French were in all not more, according to the report of the heralds, than three thousand combatants, and the English from six to seven thousand, nevertheless, by the grace of God, the French defeated them. From the accounts of the heralds, priests, and credible persons, three thousand seven hundred and seventy-three were slain, and buried in fourteen deep trenches on the spot.

Among the prisoners were sir Anthony[81] Kiriel, sir Henry Norbery[82], sir Thomas Drieut[83], Thomas Kirby, Christopher Auberton, Arpel, Helix Alengour, Jannequin Vacquier, Gobert Caleville, and numbers of other captains, and english gentlemen bearing coats of arms. Conformably to the old proverb, of 'He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day,' did those act who fled and left their companions to bear the brunt of the battle, namely, Matago, sir Robert Vere, Henry Lons, master Meillan, and another captain who commanded thirty lances and five hundred archers. The prisoners taken at this battle were estimated at from twelve to fourteen hundred. Matago fled to Bayeux, and sir Robert to Caen,--and thus, by the favour of Divine Providence, were the English defeated.

On this day, the following were made knights: the count de Castres, son to the count de la Marche,--Godfrey de Boulogne, son to the count de Boulogne and Auvergne,--the lord de Vauvert, son to the count de Villars, the lord de St Severe, the lord de Chalençon, and several more. The French only lost this day, by death, eight persons at the most!

The army now marched to lay siege to the town and castle of Vire. After their departure, a dispute arose among the captains, to whom the honour of the day was due: some said to the constable, as being, from his office, lieutenant-general for the king in all parts of the realm; but others claimed it for the count de Clermont, he having been specially ordered on this service,--and a special order ought to supersede a general one. It came to such a length that it was referred to the king, who decided in favour of the count de Clermont, although it was through the constable's able support that he had gained the victory.

News of this success was soon spread all over the kingdom of France; and coming to the ears of master William Charrier, bishop of Paris, he immediately ordered a procession to be made to the church of Nôtre Dame of all children, as well male as female, that were at school, from the age of seven to eleven years, to return thanks to God for the signal victory the most Christian king had obtained over his ancient enemies. The procession, consisting of from twelve to fourteen thousand children, attended by their masters and tutors, set out from the church of St Innocent, where they were assembled, each with a wax taper, or other light, in his hand. The chaplains of the church were in the center, bearing the relics of Saint Innocent,--and the procession extended from this church to that of our Lady, and was a fine sight to see, and did great honour to the bishop. On its arrival at the church of Nôtre Dame, a solemn mass was sung, and the bishop preached a sermon, taking for his text the second verse of the eighth Psalm,--'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.' When the service was over, they returned two and two as they had come, conveying back the relics to the church of Saint Innocent,--and thence each child went to its school.

About this period, the duke of Suffolk quitted a strong castle into which he had retired for fear of the English, who would have put him to death, and embarked for foreign countries; but he was met at sea by the partisans of the duke of Somerset, who laid hands on him and cut off his head, which they sent, with the body, to their friends in London, who hung up the quarters at the different gates.[84]

The French, without loss of time, after their late victory, marched to besiege the town of Vire, in which was a garrison of three or four stout english combatants: their captain was sir Henry Norbury, then a prisoner, in consequence of the defeat at Fourmigny. The siege did not last long before the commandant capitulated to surrender, on being allowed to march away in safety with the garrison and baggage to Caen. The french army was now divided: one part, under the count de Clermont, marched toward Bayeux,--and the other, with the constable, returned to the duke of Brittany, to lay siege to Avranches[85].

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 79: St Clement,--a village near to Bayeux.]

[Footnote 80: Trevieres,---a market-town near Bayeux.]

[Footnote 81: Anthony. He is called _Thomas_ before.]

[Footnote 82: Norbery. Before Morbery. Probably Norbury.]

[Footnote 83: Drieut. Q. Trivet?]

[Footnote 84: See the english historians for a more correct account of the end of the duke of Suffolk.]

[Footnote 85: Avranches,--a bishoprick in Normandy, 75 leagues from Paris, 50 from Rouen.]

CHAP. XIX.

THE DUKE OF BRITTANY BESIEGES AVRANCHES, WITH HIS WHOLE FORCE.--IT SURRENDERS TO HIM.--HE TAKES TOMBELAINE[86].--BAYEUX IS WON.--THE CONSTABLE GAINS BRICQUEBEC[87], VALOGNES[88], ST SAUVEUR LE VICOMTE[89],--OTHER INCIDENTS.

When the duke of Brittany's army was returned to him, and had taken some rest, he mustered his men, and without delay began his march, well attended by artillery, to besiege the town of Avranches, which was garrisoned by four or five hundred English under the command of a captain called Lampet[90]. The duke displayed great ability and courage in forming the siege, during which many skirmishes took place between the parties.

This siege lasted three weeks, when the walls were so battered that the captain and garrison were reduced to surrender; but although they proposed different terms of capitulation, they could only obtain permission to march away in safety, but without arms or baggage; so that, when the place was given up, they departed with staves in their hands. On the reduction of Avranches, the duke of Brittany advanced with his army to Tombelaine, which is impregnable, so long as provision and stores last; for it is seated on a rock in the sea, near to St Michael's Mount. There was in it an english garrison of from four score to one hundred men,--but they no sooner perceived the great force that was brought against them than they capitulated to surrender the place, on being permitted to march to Cherbourg in safety with their baggage and effects.

On the 16th day of May, the king of France ordered the counts de Dunois, de Nevers, d'Eu, and several other knights and esquires, to lay siege to Bayeux. In consequence, they encamped near to the town, and pushed forward the siege with such vigour, by mines and battering cannon, that many breaches were made in the wall, wide enough to be stormed; but the commanders were averse to this, to avoid the effusion of blood and the numberless other evils that would ensue. However, notwithstanding this laudable resolution, the ardour and avarice of soldiers to become rich induced part of the army, without orders, to storm the town twice in the same day, when many gallant deeds were done on both sides, and several were killed by arrow and culverine shots. The French were forced to retreat without success, for the storm had been only made on one side: had this measure been carried on under the direction of their officers, it must undoubtedly have succeeded.

Matago, the governor of Bayeux, surprised at the valour he had seen displayed by the French at this attack, for they had slain some of the stoutest of the English, opened a treaty with the count de Dunois for its surrender; but after many parleys, he could only obtain permission for his men to march away without arms or baggage and with staves in their hands. Thus marched away, by the castle-gate for Cherbourg, all the English, to the amount of nine hundred, esteemed the most valiant of their party; but in honour of nobility, horses were given to carry their damsels and gentle ladies,--and carts were also supplied to convey the most respectable of the women who followed their husbands. It was a pitiful sight thus to see from three to four hundred women, (without including children, who were very numerous,) some carrying their infants in cradles on their heads, others swinging them round their necks or in rolls of cloth round their bodies and in a variety of other ways.

On the restoration of Bayeux to the obedience of the king of France, the count de Dunois appointed a captain, and other officers, to govern the city, and then crossed the Orne[91], with the count de Clermont,--and there cantoned the army, to live on the country until the arrival of the count de Richemont, constable of France. He had left all his artillery at Bayeux to be ready for laying siege to Caen.

In the mean time, the constable, and those in his company,--namely, the troops of the lord de Laval, the marshal de Lohéac, the troops of the admiral and of the lord de Touteville,--gained the town of Bricquebosq for the king of France, on permitting those within it to march away with their baggage and effects. The constable then besieged Valognes, that had lately been captured by the English; but it was not long before it surrendered, for the lieutenant-governor for the king of England had turned to the french interest. He, however, obtained from the constable that the english garrison, amounting to six score men, should march in safety, with arms and baggage, to Cherbourg.

On the departure of the duke of Brittany, the constable came to Bayeux, and thence sent sir James de Luxembourg his lieutenant, and Odet Dadic, with about thirty lances, to commence the siege of St Sauveur le Vicomte, which is a handsome town, and one of the strongest in Normandy. They remained before it three days, waiting for the marshals of France and of Brittany, the lords de Touteville, de Boussac and others.

The lord Robersart, a baron of Hainault, was the governor, having with him two hundred english combatants,--and on the arrival of the marshals the place was besieged in earnest. During the opening of the trenches, a valiant esquire from Berry, called John de Blanchefort, was killed by a cannon-shot, whose loss was much lamented. The garrison witnessing the approaches of the French, although unhurt by their batteries, offered to surrender, on condition that they should depart in safety with their arms, baggage and effects, and be allowed eight days for clearing the place. Thus was St Sauveur le Vicomte restored to the king of France; and the marshals rode to a village called Ceaux[92], within two leagues of Caen, where the constable and his company were quartered, carrying with them the english hostages for the performance of the treaty,--and at the end of eight days, when the place was cleared, they were set at liberty.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 86: Tombelaine,--a small island, or rock, on the coast of Normandy, between Avranches and St Malo.]

[Footnote 87: Bricquebec. Probably Bricquebosq, a village in Normandy, near Valognes.]

[Footnote 88: Valognes,--a large town between Cherbourg and Carentan.]

[Footnote 89: St Sauveur le Vicomte, near Valognes.]

[Footnote 90: Lampet. Q. Lambert?]

[Footnote 91: Orne,--a river in Normandy: it runs into the sea at Estreham.]

[Footnote 92: Ceaux,--a small town in Normandy, near Avranches.]

CHAP. XX.

THE SIEGE OF CAEN.--THE KING OF FRANCE, ATTENDED BY THE KING OF SICILY AND HIS SON, THE DUKE OF CALABRIA, APPEAR BEFORE IT WITH A LARGE ARMY.--THE ENGLISH, AFTER SUSTAINING MUCH DAMAGE FROM THE BATTERIES, SURRENDER THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF CAEN.

On the 5th day of June, the constable and his division dislodged from Ceaux, and fixed his quarters in the abbey of St Stephen, in the suburbs of Caen, and near to the walls. On the same day, the count de Clermont, the count de Castres, and many other lords, knights and esquires, marched their men to the quarters of the constable: they amounted to twelve hundred spears, four thousand five hundred archers, guisarmes[93], and armour-bearers, and two hundred franc archers on foot.

The count de Dunois posted himself in the suburbs of Vaucelles, on the side toward Paris with a large company of nobles, men at arms and archers, to the amount of eight hundred lances, and two thousand archers, guisarmes, and armour-bearers on horseback, and two thousand franc archers on foot, so that the city was completely blockaded on its two sides. They instantly threw a bridge of communication between the two divisions over the river Orne, by which, the fourth day after, the counts of Nevers and of Eu passed a considerable body of men at arms and archers, and quartered them in the suburbs of Caen, toward the sea, at the abbey of la Trinité, a convent of women. They were scarcely arrived before they attacked an outwork of the town, which was valiantly defended, and many gallant deeds were performed on each side, but it was at length won by storm by the French. They soon deserted it, because it was open on the side near the walls,--and it was not re-occupied by the English, for they had destroyed its communication with the town by walling up the gate.

The king of France departed from Argentan[94], to be present at this siege, attended by the king of Sicily, his son the duke of Calabria, the duke of Alençon, the counts of Maine, of St Pol, of Tancarville, and a numerous body of barons, knights, esquires, men at arms and archers, to the number of six hundred lances, and archers in proportion.

The king lay the first night at St Pierre sur Dive[95],--on the morrow at Argentan,--and on the third day, he came to dinner in the suburbs of Vaucelles[96]; after which, he instantly crossed the river by the new bridge, and was lodged at an abbey called Dardenne, where he remained during the whole siege, except one night that he passed in the abbey of la Trinité, wherein were quartered the king of Sicily, the duke of Calabria, and other lords, to the amount of a thousand lances.

The king had with him twelve thousand archers on horseback, one thousand guisarmes, and armour-bearers mounted also, and two hundred franc archers on foot, of whom the greater part were quartered in the villages round. The siege was pushed forward with the greatest diligence on the arrival of the king, and trenches were made round the town, in which every person individually exerted himself. The count de Dunois made an attack on the outworks of Vaucelles, on the river Dive[97], which were valorously defended; but after many gallant deeds on both sides, they were gained by the French, and numbers of the English slain, wounded, and taken, to the great dismay of their companions.

From all the quarters of the French, deep mines were made even unto the ditches of the town, more particularly from the constable's quarters, which advanced under St Stephen's,--so that all the wall above fell to the ground, and the French and English could there engage hand to hand. The English, perceiving the near approach of the enemy, were fearful of being taken by storm, and demanded to capitulate. The king of France, moved by compassion and pity, after the example of our Lord, who desires not the death of sinners, but would rather that they would turn to their God,--and considering what a loss the destruction of so fine a town would be, and the miseries that would ensue from pillaging the churches, violating women and damsels,--and desirous also of sparing a further effusion of human blood, consented to their request, and agreed that the place should be surrendered on capitulation. In truth, the town might have easily been taken by storm, as there were many practicable breaches; but the English might have retired into the castle, and have held out for a considerable time, if they had had the courage so to do,--although, in the end, they must have yielded to the numerous chivalry then before it.

To show that the castle was tenable to those who have never seen it, I must say that it is the strongest in all Normandy, fortified with high and great bulwarks of a very hard stone, situated on a rock, and containing in extent as much as the whole town of Corbeil. It has a very strong keep, consisting of a large and high square tower, surrounded by four massy ones from the foot of the ditch to the level of the ground, the whole strengthened by a high wall all round, with towers at proper distances, and a very deep ditch cut out of the solid rock. In this castle were lodged the duke of Somerset, his lady and children,--and in the town were quartered sir Robert Vere, brother to the earl of Oxford, sir Henry Radford, and others, who commanded, under the duke of Somerset, four thousand English as the garrison of Caen.

In regard to the capitulation, several conferences were held between the English and French. On the part of the king, the count de Dunois, the seneschal of Poitou, the lord John Bureau, treasurer of France, acted as commissioners;--for the English, sir Richard Herisson, bailiff of Caen, Robert Parges, and some others;--for the inhabitants, Eustace Gaingnet, lieutenant to the said bailiff, and the abbot of St Stephen's,--each alleging various articles, and supporting them by their arguments. After much discussion, a treaty was concluded on the morrow of the feast of St John Baptist, when the English promised to deliver up to the king of France the said town, castle and keep, on the first day of July next ensuing, unless they should combat and conquer the said king on or before that day,--and on condition that the duke of Somerset, his lady and children, and the other English who should wish to depart with them, should be allowed so to do, and to carry away with them all their effects and furniture without molestation or hinderance. They were also to take with them their horses and armour; and for the transport of these articles, they were to be provided with vessels to convey them to England, and to no other part, on their paying the expences: provided, however, that the English gave up all their prisoners, and acquitted themselves of debt to the inhabitants of Caen, churchmen and others, without carrying away any thing belonging to them. They were also to leave behind their large and small artillery, with the exception of bows, cross-bows, and hand culverines.

For the due observance of this treaty, the English delivered twelve of their countrymen, two knights of Normandy and four of the principal inhabitants, as hostages.

As no succours arrived on the first day of July, the town, castle, and keep were surrendered. The aforesaid bailiff carried the keys of the keep to the french camp, and delivered them into the hands of the constable, in the presence of the count de Dunois, lieutenant-general, who immediately gave them to the count, as governor of the town and castle for the king of France. The new governor remained in the field, to see that the English took the strait road to Estreham[98]; but soon after their departure, accompanied by the marshal de Jalognes, preceded by two hundred archers on foot, the king's trumpets and heralds, and having in his rear three equerries of the stables, bearing the royal banners, and the whole closed by one hundred men at arms on foot, he entered the town by the keep of the castle, and had the banners displayed from the keep and gates.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 93: Guisarmes,--a kind of (offensive) long-handled and long-headed weapon; or, (as the Spanish visarma) a staff that had within it two long pikes, which, with a shoot or thrust forward, come forth.----_Cotgrave._]

[Footnote 94: Argentan. I should suppose it must be Alençon.]

[Footnote 95: St Pierre sur Dive,--a market-town near Trouard in Normandy.]

[Footnote 96: Vaucelles,--a village in Normandy near Bayeux.]

[Footnote 97: The Dive separates the bishopricks of Lisieux and Bayeux, and loses itself in the Channel.]

[Footnote 98: Estreham,--at the mouth of the Orne, four leagues from Caen.]

CHAP. XXI.

THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO CAEN, AND IS NOBLY RECEIVED THERE.--THE ENGLISH SURRENDER FALAISE[99].--POTON DE SAINTRAILLES IS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF IT.--DOMFRONT[100] IS REDUCED TO THE KING'S OBEDIENCE.

On the 6th day of July, the king of France left the abbey of Dardenne, to make his entry into Caen, attended by all his nobles who had been at the siege, magnificently dressed, excepting his lieutenant-general and the marshal de Jalognes, who were already in the town. He was preceded by his two hundred archers, heralds and trumpets,--and when he was near the gates, the count de Dunois came out to meet him, followed by crowds of the townsmen: after making their obeisances, they most humbly presented the keys of the place to the king, who, graciously received them. Then came the clergy in procession, as is usual in such cases. After which, the king entered the gates, four of the principal inhabitants holding a canopy over his head,--and thus the king rode through streets hung with tapestry, and in some places covered over, canopy-like, amidst the shouts of the people, unto the great church of St Peter, where he dismounted at the porch, to offer up his thanksgivings. He thence went to his lodgings, at the house of one of the burghers of the town, and remained there some days to settle with his lieutenant-general and ministers the future government and police of the place.

The lord de Croy, sir John de Croy his brother, and the lord d'Arsy, came to the king while at Caen, on an embassy from the duke of Burgundy, to treat of a marriage with one of the king's daughters and the lord Charles, son to the duke, and on other weighty matters with which they were charged.

On this same 6th of July, the town of Falaise was besieged by Poton de Saintrailles, bailiff of Berry. He was joined on the Monday by Master John Bureau, treasurer of France, with the franc archers, to serve the artillery, of which he was grand master. When the English heard of his approach, they sallied out and sharply attacked him; but he defended himself and his artillery well until the lord de Saintrailles came to his assistance,--and the English were repulsed to the gates.

The king left Caen to attend this siege, and halted at an abbey called St Andrew's, within a league of Falaise. The king of Sicily, the duke of Calabria, the counts of Maine, of St Pol, of Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and others, were with him. The town was now surrounded on all sides; but as the king had a greater body of chivalry than necessary for the gaining such a place, the counts of Richemont and of Clermont were ordered to besiege Cherbourg.

The garrison in Falaise consisted of fifteen hundred English, the very best of that nation that now remained in Normandy, under the command of two english gentlemen, named Andrew Troslet[101] and Thomas Cathon[102], lieutenants to the governor the lord Talbot. When they saw the multitude of men at arms, archers, and cross-bowmen, that were drawn up before them, they demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, who, by the king's orders, sent them passports, that they might explain what they required. They met on the 10th, and asked to capitulate, which the king granted; when they appointed the 22nd day of July to surrender the place, unless they should, before that day, receive reinforcements to enable them to offer battle,--and on condition that the lord Talbot, who was their governor for the king of England, and who at that moment was the king of France's prisoner in the castle of Dreux, should be set at liberty, on making certain promises to the king of France.

A truce was now proclaimed, to last from the 10th to the 22nd, and twelve hostages were delivered for its observance. The English were to march away with arms and baggage, in safety, for England, in case they should not be relieved on the day appointed. As no succours came to them they departed, according to the tenour of the capitulation, and delivered up the town and castle to the king, who made governor thereof Poton de Saintrailles, his master of the horse and bailiff of Berry.

On the 24th of July, after the reduction of Falaise, the lord Charles de Culant, grand master of the household, the lord de Blainville, the lord John Bureau, treasurer of France, who always had the command of the artillery, with fifteen hundred franc archers, marched to lay siege to the town and castle of Domfront. The english garrison amounted to seven or eight hundred; but when they heard of the great body of chivalry and archers that were then in Normandy, they surrendered the place on the 2d day of August, on condition that they might depart in safety, with arms and baggage, for England, as, I have already recounted, many of their countrymen had before done from different towns and castles.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 99: Falaise,--nine leagues from Caen.]

[Footnote 100: Domfront,--twelve leagues from Mayenne, eight from Alençon.]

[Footnote 101: Andrew Troslet. Q. Truslow.]

[Footnote 102: Thomas Cathon. Q. Cawthorn.]

CHAP. XXII.

THE DECEASE OF THE DUKE OF BRITTANY,--AND OF THE LORD GILES HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAD CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH BEFORE HIS DECEASE.--CHERBOURG IS BESIEGED BY SEA AND LAND, AND IS TAKEN BY THE FRENCH.

About the end of July, Francis duke of Brittany, nephew and vassal to the king of France, died of a natural death. He was a great loss to the kingdom; for he was an active prince, prudent and valiant, and had greatly exerted himself, personally and with money, in the service of the king in the conquest of Normandy, as has been related. This prince was naturally attached to the king of France, as was apparent by his making war on those whom he knew to be enemies to his crown. He carried his affection so far that he quarrelled with one of his own brothers, the lord Giles, because, in prejudice to the king of France, and without asking his permission, he had accepted of the order of the Garter, and also the appointment of constable, from the king of England.

When the duke first heard of this, he had his brother arrested and confined in one of his castles, where he was a long time closely guarded. He had been often admonished by the duke and his other relations and friends, wellwishers to France, to abandon the quarrel of the English, whom he supported against all reason, justice and right. When gentle means had been thus used in vain, other measures were resorted to; but he would not, on any account, agree to their proposals. The duke, therefore conceived a mortal hatred against him, and ordered him to be put to death. The duke was frequently summoned, by heralds from the king of England, to deliver up his constable, whom he detained prisoner under the guard of Arthur of Montauban: on his refusal, the english monarch sent him his challenge, which made sir Giles's case worse than before,--and the duke's hatred so much increased that, it was commonly said, he was strangled by two twisted towels. Thus ended the days of sir Giles miserably and pitifully, which will be a great example to all others.