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From Chronicles of England, France and Spain and the Surrounding Countries, by Sir John Froissart, Translated from the French Editions with Variations and Additions from Many Celebrated MSS, by Thomas Johnes, Esq; London: William Smith, 1848. pp. 262-278.
AFTER the defeat of Nogent-sur-Seine, which I have just related, the country being cleared of the enemy, the French barons and men at arms returned to Troyes, carrying with them their booty; but the prisoners they sent by different roads to several of the French garrisons, because the common people at Troyes were desirous of putting them to death. — When those who had remained at Pont-sur-Seine heard that sir Eustace, their captain, was made prisoner; that all his army were slain or taken; they packed up their baggage and set out as quickly as possible, for they were but a very few in number. Those also who were at Torcis *, Espoye†, Ausy‡, Mery§, and Pleusy¶, and in all the forts that had been under the command of sir Eustace, did the same, and left them void, for fear of the bishop of Troyes and sir Broquart de Fenestrages, who were great warriors: they united themselves with other garrisons at a distance. Sir Peter Audley did not, for this check, quit Beaufort ¥; nor sir John Segar, Nogent; nor the lord Albret, Gié-sur-Aube**.
About this time, the lord John of Piquigny died in an extraordinary manner at his castle of la Herielle, within three leagues of Amiens: it was reported that he was strangled by his chamberlain, and that sir Luke de Bekusy, who was of his council, died much in the same manner. Near this period, as some of the soldiers belonging to sir Peter Audley were riding through the country, they came to a good large village on the name of Ronay††, which they plundered; insomuch that, as the curate of the place was celebrating high mass, an English squire entered the church, took the chalice from the altar, on which the curate was preparing to consecrate the precious body of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, and cast the wine upon the floor. Upon the curate remonstrating with him for this conduct, he struck him so hard a blow with his gauntlet upon the hand, that the blood spirted upon the altar. Those pillagers then marched out into the fields, and the squire carried with him the sacred vessels and the cloth. He was, however, scarcely got into the fields, when his horse began to caper, and to play such violent tricks that no one dared to approach him: after many plunges, they both fell to the ground with their necks broken, and were immediately turned into cinders and dust. His companions, seeing this, made a vow, that from henceforward they would never violate the sanctity of any church.
The garrison of Mauconseil, not having any provisions, sold the place to the inhabitants of Noyon†††, and those in its neighbourhood, for about twelve thousand gold moutons§§, with liberty to go away in safety, which they did, carrying off all that belonged to them. They withdrew into the fortresses of Creil, Clermont, la Herielle, Vely, Pierrepont, Roucy, and Sissonne, which, for a length of time, had been held by the Navarre party; but, since the conclusion of the peace with the king of Navarre, they had remained with the English. As soon as those of Noyon were in possession of Mauconseil, they razed it to the ground.
Sir John Segar sold also Nogent to the bishop of Troyes, and gave it up to him for a large sum of florins, which he was to receive, and had it ratified to him under the hand and seal of the bishop. Upon this, he went to the city of Troyes, and dismounted at the hôtel of the bishop, who said to him: “John, you will stay with me two or three days; and; whilst you are courteously treated, I will prepare the money for your payment.” Sir John, who had come thither on the bishop’s word, agreed to the proposal: but the populace began to murmur, and to say, “How can our lord bishop make such a mock of us, as to entertain in his house the greatest pillager of all France, besides wanting to make us give him our 263 money?” They then collected together, sent strong guards to each of the gates, to prevent his escape, and marched in a body of six thousand, with arms, to slay sir John Segar in the court of the bishop’s hôtel. When the bishop saw this, he spoke to them, and said: “My good friends, he is come here under the security of my passport; and you know that a treaty has been made between us, with your consent: it would therefore be highly disloyal to do anything, under this assurance, that may be hurtful to him.” However, notwithstanding the endeavours of the bishop, they forced into the hall and the apartments, in which they made so exact a search that they found sir John Segar, slew him, and cut him into pieces.
* A village in Champagne, diocese and election of Troyes.
† A village in Champagne, diocese of Rheims.
‡ Ausson is a town and village in Champagne, — Arcy le Pousard, election of Rheims.
§ Mery-sur-Seine, — a town in Champagne, diocese of Troyes.
¶ A town in Champagne, diocese of Troyes.
¥ Beaufort-les-Regnicourt, — a village in Champagne, election of Rheims.
** Gié, — a village in Champagne, election of Bar-sur-Aube.
†† Ronay, — a village in Champagne, diocese and election of Troyes.
‡‡ Noyon, — an ancient town in Picardy. Its bishop is suffragan to the bishop of Rheims.
§§ Moutons, — see note, p. 231.
I HAVE been a long time silent with regard to the king of England: but until this moment there has not been any cause for speaking of him; for as long as the truce lasted his people did not carry on the war in his name. The truce having expired the first day of May, 1359, from that period the English and Navarre garrisons made war for him as king of France, and continued so to do daily. It happened that soon after the peace between the duke of Normandy and the king of Navarre had been concluded, as has been related, the lord Arnold d’Andreghen, marshal of France, returned to England; for he was not yet ransomed since he was made a prisoner at Poitiers. At that time also, the king of England and the prince of Wales came to Westminster, to meet the king of France and lord James de Bourbon; when these four assembled together in council, and agreed on a peace, without any arbitrator between them, upon certain conditions which were written down, and also a letter was indited to be sent to France to the duke of Normandy.
The earl of Tancarville and sir Arnold crossed the sea with these dispatches, landed at Boulogne, and hastened on to Paris; where they found the duke of Normandy and the king of Navarre, to whom they delivered their letters. The duke of Normandy consulted the king of Navarre on the subject of them, who advised that the prelates, nobles, and the councils of the principal towns should be assembled, which was accordingly ordered. It appeared to the king of Navarre, the duke of Normandy and his brothers, as well as to the council of state, that the conditions of peace were too hard: and they gave an unanimous answer to the two lords who had brought them, that “they would much rather endure the great distress they were in at present, than suffer the kingdom of France to be diminished, and that king John must remain longer in England.” When the king of France was informed they had not succeeded in their mission, he said, “Ha, ha, my good son Charles, you consult with the king of Navarre, who deceives you, and would deceive forty such as you.” The king of England, on receiving their answer, said, that since it was so, before the winter was over, he would enter France with a most powerful army, and remain there until there was an end of the war by an honourable and satisfactory peace. He began making more splendid preparations than he had ever done before.
About this season, which was the middle of August, 1359, the lord John de Craon, archbishop of Rheims, the inhabitants of that town and its neighbourhood, with other knights and squires of the counties of Rethel and Laon, marched and laid siege to the castle of Roucy: they pressed it so hard for five weeks, that the garrison surrendered, on condition of saving their lives and fortunes. For this effect, they had letters, with permission to go wherever they pleased in surety, under the hands of the archbishop, the count de Porcien and the count de Braine, who were there: but when they were setting out, the common people came forth to meet them, and slew the greater part, in spite of the lords, who with much difficulty saved the life of their leader, Hanequin François. Thus had the count de Roucy once more possession of his town and castle.
SOON after the re-capture of the castle of Roucy, sir Peter Audley fell sick, and died in his bed, at the castle of Beaufort in Champagne, which caused great grief among all the followers of his fortunes. Upon this, the English and Germans, who were united in carrying on the war in the name of the king of England, consulted together, and determined that they could not fix on a more proper leader than sir Eustace d’Ambreticourt, who was then recovered from his wounds. They sent Faucon the herald into the county of Vaudemont, to confer with the earl of that name, and with the lord Henry de Quenillart*, who had made him prisoner, touching his redemption. His liberty was granted, on condition of his paying down twenty-two thousand French livres for his ransom. Sir Eustace thus recovered his freedom; the different garrisons in Champagne and Brie having made a subscription for that purpose, when each man cheerfully paid his part. He obtained his hackney and war-horse that he had lost at the battle of Nogent, which had been sent to him by the lady Isabella de Juliers, countess of Kent, from England, out of her affection to him. The English also surrendered at that time the castle of Conflans† in Champagne, of which they were in possession.
When these troops, who were carrying on the war against France, had thus ransomed sir Eustace d’Ambreticourt, they elected him their chief, and all sorts of persons enlisted under his banner. He made an excursion into the Rhetelois‡, where no one had been before, and took by storm the good town of Attigny§ upon the Aisne, where they found upwards of a hundred butts of wine. They fixed upon this as the principal garrison, and overran from it the whole country in the environs of Rheims: they pillaged Epernay¶, Damery¥, Touraine **, and the town of Vertus††, where they met with very great booty; they placed there another garrison, which scoured the country from the river Marne to la Ferté-Milon‡‡; whilst those of Attigny overran it as far as Mesieres§§ upon the Meuse, Donchery¶¶, and even to le Chêne Pouilleux¥¥.
* Barnes calls him sir Henry de Quingey, but why, I know not.
† Diocese and election of Châlons, near Châlons.
‡ A country of Champagne, near Rhetel.
§ A market-town in Champagne, diocese of Rheims, and near Rhetel.
¶ Diocese of Rheims, eight leagues from Châlons.
¥ Damery, — a village near Epernay.
** I can find only Touraille, a village in Champagne, election of Chaumont, near Ligny.
†† A town in Champagne, six leagues from Châlons.
‡‡ A town in Picardy, diocese of Senlis, election of Crespy.
§§ A strong city in Champagne, on the Meuse.
¶¶ A town in Champagne on the Meuse, bordering on Luxembourg.
¥¥ Chesne Pouilleux, — a town in Champagne, in the election of Rhetel, near Sedan, — made famous by the retreat of the Duke of Brunswick, before Dumouriez, in the year 1792.
ABOUT this time it happened, that sir Broquart de Fenestrages, who had been to the aid of the duke of Normandy and the French, against the English and men of Navarre, and had much assisted them in their conquests, and in driving them out of their fortresses in Champagne, had been very badly paid for his assistance, insomuch that there was owing to him and his men, for their subsidy, thirty thousand livres. He sent therefore certain persons to the duke at Paris, who did not give him very pleasant answers, for they returned without having been able to do any thing. Upon this, sir Broquart sent a defiance to the duke and to all France, and took possession of a handsome town called Bar-sur-Seine*, where at that time there were nine hundred hôtels, and plundered the inhabitants; but the castle was so well guarded, he could not gain it. Having packed up his booty, he carried away upwards of five hundred prisoners, and burnt the town so completely, that nothing remained but the walls. His men retreated to Conflans, which they had made their garrison, and committed afterward more atrocious acts in Champagne than ever the English or men of Navarre had 265 done. When sir Broquart and his troop had thus overrun and pillaged the country, there was an agreement made with them; and each man was paid even more than he demanded; so that sir Broquart retreated into Lorraine, whence he had come, carrying with him all his soldiers: he left peaceably the kingdom of France and country of Champagne, after having done a sufficiency of evil to each of them.
* A town of Burgundy, on the Seine, diocese of Langres.
AT this same period, in the year 1359, sir Robert Knolles prepared an expedition, consisting of three thousand persons, including every one. With this army, he quitted the marches of Brittany; and having followed the course of the Loire upwards, entered the province of Berry, overrunning and destroying all that part of the country. It was reported that his intentions were to pass through Auvergne, to pay a visit to the pope and cardinals at Avignon, and get some of their florins, as the archpriest had done before. The gentlemen of Auvergne and Limousin assembled, in large bodies, to oppose this invasion; in particular, the count de Forests, who brought with him four hundred lances: and they were very numerous when all were assembled.
Sir Robert Knolles and his troops, who were all called Englishmen, continued their march from Brittany unmolested, until they came to the borders of Auvergne. The lords of Auvergne, with their array, advanced to within a short day’s journey of sir Robert. They observed, from a mountain where they had posted themselves, all that the English were doing. On the morrow, they marched to that part; there were only two short country leagues between them; when they halted, and took post on a mountain, and the English did the same on another: each army saw the fires the other was making. The next morning, the French decamped, and advanced still nearer to meet them, for they were well acquainted with the country, and, about noon, took up their quarters on an eminence right before the English: the two armies were only separated by a meadow of about twelve acres. The English immediately drew up in order of battle, and placed their archers on the declivity of the hill, in the front. The French lords then drew up their army in two battalions, each of which consisted of upwards of five thousand men. The count de Clermont, dauphin of Auvergne, commanded the first battalion; his name was Berault. He was knighted on the spot, and displayed his banner, which was quartered with the arms of Auvergne and Clermont*. There were near to his person, his uncle the lord Robert Dauphin, the lord of Montagu, the lord of Talençon, the lord of Rochefort, the lord of Serignac, the lord Godfrey of Boulogne, and many young squires from Limousin, Quercy, Auvergne, and Rouergue. In the second battalion, were the count de Forests, the lord John of Boulogne, the count d’Auvergne, the lord d’Archer and his sons, the lord d’Achon, the lord d’Uzes, the lord Reginald de Forests, brother to the count, and great numbers of knights and squires, with a thorough good will for the combat, as was apparent. On the other hand, sir Robert Knolles and his troops showed an equally good countenance to engage.
Thus then they remained until the evening, each in their entrenchments, without moving, except some young knights and squires, who, in hopes of gaining glory by feats of arms, descended into the meadow, with the leave of their marshals, in order to tilt with their opponents. He who conquered his adversary carried him off prisoner. Towards night, each party retired to his quarters, and kept a good and great guard. The lords of France 266 held a council, and resolved at the hour of midnight to descend the mountain, not on the side next the English, but by that which they had ascended; when, by making a circuit of only two leagues, they would come to the opposite side of the hill where the English were posted, which part was not high nor difficult of ascent: they had hopes to arrive there so early, that the English would not be all armed. Each lord was to give these orders to his own people: this, however, was not done so secretly but that the English were informed of it by one of their countrymen, a prisoner in the French army, who made his escape, and told sir Robert Knolles of their intentions. Sir Robert summoned a council of those in whose opinion he most confided, who, considering the superiority of the French forces, thought it not advisable to wait for them. Upon this, their baggage was immediately loaded: they decamped, and were conducted by those of the country whom they had made prisoners.
At midnight, the French were drawn up in battle-array, and marched according as it had been ordered. They arrived by day-break on the mountain, where they thought to have found the English: but, when they saw they had decamped, they sent off some of their most expert and best mounted, over the hills, to see if they could get any tidings of them. They returned about nine o’clock, and reported that they had seen them on their march, named the roads they had taken, and added they were advancing towards Limoges. When the lords of Auvergne heard this, they broke up their expedition, and each returned to his own home.
Very soon after, a treaty of marriage was entered into, and completed, between the gallant knight the lord Berault, dauphin of Auvergne, with the daughter of the count de Forests, whom he had by a sister of the lord James de Bourbon.
* In all my manuscripts and printed editions, it is Auvergne and Merquel. Denys Sauvage says, that there must be some mistake, and proposes Clermont in lieu of Merquel, which, as he was count de Clermont, as well as dauphin of Auvergne, seems to me proper. Barnes changes the word Merquel into Marteques; but he gives no reason or authority for so doing.
The counts of Auvergne added the title of dauphin, in rivalship to the dauphin of Viennois, 1167. How long they continued it I know not. The last dauphin of Viennois was Humbert, who ceded the title and his estates to the crown of France, 1345, on condition of the heir apparent to that crown bearing it. Dauphin was formerly a title of honours, as duke, marquis, &c. is now.
DURING all this time, the king of England was making such great preparations for his expedition into France, that the like was never seen before: on which account, many barons and knights of the German empire, who had formerly served him, exerted themselves much this year, and provided themselves handsomely in horses and equipage in the best manner they could, each according to his rank, and hastened as fast as possible, by the frontiers of Flanders, to Calais, where they remained, to wait for the king of England. It happened that the king could not come thither with his army by the time appointed, which caused such numbers to remain at Calais, that there were no lodgings for them, nor stables for their horses. In addition to this, bread, wine, hay, oats, and all sorts of provisions, were so scarce, that none could be had for money.
Thus did these mercenary Germans, Bohemians, Brabanters, Flemings, Hainaulters, both poor and rich, wait from the beginning of August until St. Luke’s day; so that many were forced to sell the greater part of their jewels. If the king had arrived then, they would not have known where to have lodged him and his people, except in the castle, for the whole town was occupied. There was also some doubt if these lords, who had spent their all, would have quitted Calais, for the king or any one else, if their expenses had not been allowed them. The king had not sent for a fourth part of them. Some came out of good-will to him, in hopes of grace and favour: others, with the expectation of gaining from the plunder of France.
The king of England at last ordered the duke of Lancaster to Calais, with four hundred men in armour and two thousand archers and Welchmen. When the duke came to Calais, he was much rejoiced to see so many foreign lords, who made earnest inquiries after the king. He excused the king for not coming, on the impossibility of getting all preparations ready for so large an army by the time he had fixed. He then told these lords, that a longer residence there would be of no service; that as he intended making an excursion into France, to see what he could find, he entreated of them to accompany him, offering to lend to each a sum of money, to pay their landlords and other expenses, as well as to supply them 267 with as much provision as their horses could carry. They accepted the duke’s proposal, for they were ashamed to refuse it: and having had their horses new shodden, and packed up their baggage, they set out from Calais in a magnificent train, accompanying the duke towards St. Omer. They might be about two thousand men with armour, without counting the archers or footmen. They passed by St. Omer, riding on towards Bethune*, which they also left unmolested, and came to Mont St. Eloy†, where there was a large and rich monastery, situated two leagues distant from Arras. Here they halted four days, to refresh themselves and their horses, as they found a sufficiency for both in the monastery.
When they had robbed and plundered the country round about, they advanced until they came to the town of Braye‡, which they attacked a whole day. A knight-banneret§ of England was slain there, with many others; for the townsmen defended themselves valiantly, owing to a reinforcement which the count de St. Pol and the lord de Lameval, with others, to the amount of two hundred lances, had thrown into the back part of town. When the English perceived they could make no impression, they marched off, following the course of the river Somme, being in great distress for bread and wine, until they came to a town called Cherisy¶, where they found enough of both. They crossed the river at this last place by the bridge, which was not destroyed, and remained there that night and the feast of All-Saints. That day, a messenger brought the news to the duke, that the king was arrived at Calais, with orders for him and his troops to join him immediately. Upon which they all returned to Calais. In this expedition was sir Henry of Flanders, with two hundred lances. From Brabant, there were sir Henry de Beautresen, lord of Bergues, the lord Girard de la Harde, and lord Franque de Halle¥. From Hainault, the lord Walter de Manny and the lord John de Gommeguines. From Bohemia, sir Walter de la Hautepomme, sir Reginald de Boullant, the lord Godfrey de Harduemont, and the lord John his son, the lord Duras, Thierry de Ferram, the lord Russe de Jumeppe, the lord Giles Sorles, the lord John de Bermont, the lord Reginald de Bergehes, and many other noblemen. The Germans and mercenaries from strange countries, I am unable to name; therefore, for the present, I shall be silent on that head.
* A strong town in Artois.
† A village of Artois, diocese of Arras.
‡ Bray-sur-Somme, — a village in Picardy.
§ Barnes says it was sir Thomas Murrers, but gives no authority.
¶ A village in Picardy, diocese of Noyon.
¥ Sir Francis van Halle was afterwards a captain of Calais, and a commissioner for treating of peace with France. He was installed knight of the garter in the 23rd stall, in the room of sir Otho Holland, — Buswell’s Account of the Garter, No. 50.
AS the duke of Lancaster, with his barons and knights, were returning to Calais, to salute the king of England, who was impatient to see them, they met, within four leagues of Calais, such a multitude of people, the whole country was filled with them; and they were so richly armed and dressed out, that it was a pleasure to view their arms glittering in the sun, their banners waving in the wind, and the whole army marching slowly in battle-array. When the duke and the above-mentioned lords were come to the king, he received them very graciously, and thanked them much for their services. Shortly afterward, these mercenary Germans, Brabanters, and Bohemians, having assembled together, informed the king, that, having spent their money, and sold their horses and armour, very little remained with them for his service, according to the design of their coming, and that, if there should be occasion, they had not wherewithal to return to their own country: they intreated him, out of his generosity, to pay some regard to their situation. The king thus replied: “I am but ill prepared at this place to give you a complete answer; and, as I imagine, you must all be much fatigued, if you will go and refresh yourselves in Calais for two or three days, I will consider your requests this night, and to-morrow will send you such an answer as ought 268 to be satisfactory to you in reason, and according to my means.” These lords then left the king and the duke, and advanced towards Calais. When they had marched about half a league, they met a great number of handsome waggons, and soon after the prince of Wales, who, as well as all his attendants, were most brilliantly armed, and in such numbers that the whole country seemed covered with them: they marched slowly in close order, as if they were about to engage in battle, and always a league or two in the rear of the king’s division, with their baggage and provisions between them; which arrangement the foreign lords viewed with delight.
These lords attentively considered this army, and respectfully saluted the prince, the barons, and the other lords that were with him. After the prince had courteously and handsomely received them, like one who knew well how to do so, on their taking leave, they informed him also of their poverty and situation, beseeching him that he would have the goodness to attend to their necessities. The prince listened to them, and cheerfully complied with their request. They then rode on, and came to Calais, where they took up their lodgings. The second day after they had been there, the king of England sent them his answer by three worthy knights, who told them plainly, that the king had not with him adequate sums of money to pay all their expenses, nor what they might perhaps demand: that he had brought with him only sufficient for the enterprise he had undertaken: that, however, if they thought proper to accompany him, and partake of his good and bad fortune, should any success ensue, they should partake of it, and largely; but that he would not be understood as obliged to pay them any wages, nor anything for horses destroyed, or other expenses which they might be put to; for he had brought an army from his own country equal to the business that he had undertaken. This answer was not very agreeable to these lords, nor to their companions, who had laboured hard, and expended their all: they had also pawned their horses and armour, having sold every thing superfluous through necessity. Nevertheless, they could obtain nothing except some small sums lent them to carry them home 269 again. However, some of these noblemen chose to remain with the king and share his adventures; for they would have been blamed if they had gone back to their own country without having done anything.
I shall now point out the manner of the arrangement of the king of England’s forces, which he brought with him for this expedition. It ought not to be passed over in silence, for so large an army* had never left England before. Previous to the king’s embarking for France, he sent all the French earls and barons, his prisoners, into different parts and strong castles in his kingdom, in order to be more under command. He placed the king of France in the Tower of London, which is very large and strong, and situated on the river Thames: his young son Philip was sent thither with him: but they were deprived of many of their attendants, curtailed in several comforts, and more closely confined than before.
When he was ready to set out, he summoned all those who had provided themselves with everything necessary to attend him to France, to advance towards Dover, where they would find vessels to cross the sea. Each man got himself ready as fast as he could: there was not knight, squire, or man of honour, from the age of twenty to sixty years, that did not go; so that almost all the earls, barons, knights, and squires of the realm went to Dover, except those whom the king and his council had ordered to remain to guard his castles, bailiwicks, mayoralties, sea-ports, havens, and marches. When all were collected together at Dover, and the vessels ready, the king ordered both small and great to assemble at a particular place out of the town, where he distinctly told them, that his intentions were to pass into France, and never to return until he should have put an end to the war, and obtained an honourable and efficient peace; that he would die sooner than not accomplish this object; and that if there were any among them who disapproved of what he had said, he desired they would return home. They all approving, embarked on board the ships, to the cries of “God and St. George!” and arrived at Calais two days before the feast of All-saints, 1359.
* Or so well ordered. — Lord Berners.
WHEN the king of England was arrived at Calais, attended by the prince of Wales and three other sons, namely, Lionel earl of Ulster, John earl of Richmond, and Edmund, afterwards earl of Cambridge, the youngest of the four, with the following lords and their attendants, he ordered the cavalry, provision, and baggage, to be landed, and remained there four days. He then commanded every man to get ready; for he was desirous of marching after his cousin the duke of Lancaster.
He left the town of Calais on the next morning, and took the field with the largest army and best appointed train of baggage-waggons, that had ever quitted England. It was said, there were upwards of six thousand carts and waggons, which had all been brought with him. He then arranged his battalions: they were so richly and well dressed that it was a pleasure to look at them: he nominated his cousin the earl of March, whom he much loved, his constable.
First marched five hundred knights, well armed, and a thousand archers, in the van of the king’s battalion, which was composed of three thousand men at arms and five thousand archers; himself and attendants riding among them in close order after the constable. In the rear of the king’s battalion, was the immense baggage-train, which occupied two leagues in length: it consisted of upwards of five thousand carriages, with a sufficiency of horses to carry the provision for the army, and those utensils never before accustomed to be carried after an army, such as handmills to grind their corn, ovens to bake their bread, and a variety of other necessary articles. Next marched the strong battalion of the prince of Wales: he was accompanied by his brothers: it was composed of full two thousand men at arms, most excellently mounted and richly dressed. Both the men at arms and archers marched in close order, so that they were ready instantly to engage, should there be occasion. On their march, 270 they did not leave even a boy behind them without waiting for them, so that they could not well advance more than four leagues a-day.
In this state, they were met by the duke of Lancaster with the foreign lords, as has been before related, between Calais and the abbey of Licques*, in a handsome plain. There were also, in this army of the king of England, five hundred pioneers with spades and pick-axes, to level the roads, and cut down trees and hedges, for the more easily passing of the carriages.
I wish now to name the great lords of England who crossed the sea with the king, and the duke of Lancaster his cousin-german: — First then, there were his four sons already named; Henry duke of Lancaster; John earl of March, constable of England; the earls of Warwick and Suffolk, marshals of England; the earls of Hereford, Northampton, Salisbury, Stamford, Oxford; the bishops of Lincoln and Durham; the lords Percy, Neville, Despenser, Roos, Manny, Reginald Cobham, Mowbray, Delawarre; sir John Chandos, sir Richard Pembridge†, the lord Maine, the lord Willoughby, the lord Felton, the lord Basset, the lord Charlton‡, the lord Silvancier‡; sir James Audley, sir Bartholomew de Burghersh, the lord Scales, sir Stephen Cossington, sir Hugh Hastings, sir John Lisle, sir Nesle Loring, and a great many others whom I cannot recollect.
These lords then rode on in the same order I mentioned on their quitting Calais, and marched through Artois, passing by Arras, taking the same road which the duke of Lancaster had done before. They, however, could not find any provision in the flat countries, for every thing had been carried into the different garrisons. The country had been so pillaged and destroyed, that the ground had not been cultivated for the last three years; and there was such distress and famine in the kingdom of France, that if corn and oats had not been sent from Hainault and the Cambresis, into Artois, Vermandois, the bishopric of Laon, and Rheims, must have died with hunger. It was upon this account, that the king, who had been informed of the poverty and distress in France, had made such ample provision before he quitted England. Each lord had done the same according to his rank, except in the articles of straw and oats, and for that they did with their horses as well as they could. The season, however, was very rainy, which hurt greatly both themselves and their horses; for almost every day and night it rained in torrents, so that the vintage of this year was worth nothing.
The king continued his march, by short journeys, with his whole army, until he came near Bapaume§. I must notice here an adventure which befel sir Galahaut de Ribemmont, a very gallant and expert knight of Picardy. I will first inform you, that all the towns, cities and castles, near the road that the king of England was following, were well guarded; for each town in Picardy took and received knights and squires into their pay. The count de St. Pol had posted himself, with two hundred knights, in Arras; the constable of France in Amiens; the lord de Monsault in Corbie; sir Odart de Renty and sir Enguerrant de Hedin in Bapaume; sir Baldwin de Annequin, captain of the cross-bowmen, in St. Quentin: and thus from city to city, for it was well known to all that the king of England was marching to lay siege to the good city of Rheims. It happened, that the inhabitants of Peronne in Vermandois had neither captain nor leader; and as their town was on the line of march the king was taking, and the English very near, they were not at their ease. This town is situated upon the river Somme; and the English followed the course of the rivers in preference: they bethought themselves, therefore, of sir Galahaut de Ribemmont, who was not at that time engaged to any town, and, as they had heard, was at Tournay. They sent thither to him most courteous letters, to intreat that he would come to assist in guarding the good town of Peronne, and bring as many companions as were attached to him; that they would pay him every day, for himself, twenty livres; for each knight under him, ten livres; and each lance having three horses, seven livres¶ a-day.
271Sir Galahaut was always eager for any warlike enterprise, and, finding himself thus courteously sought after by his neighbours of Peronne, readily complied with their request, and answered, that he would set out and be with them the day after the morrow. He left Tournay with about thirty lances; but his numbers, as he rode on, increased. He sent to sir Roger de Cologne, to meet him at an appointed place, which sir Roger did, accompanied by nineteen good companions, so that sir Galahaut had now fifty lances. They took up their quarters one night, in their way to Peronne, within two short leagues of the enemy, at a village, but where they found no one, for all the inhabitants of the low countries had fled to the fortified towns. On the next morning, they were to have got into Peronne, as they were but a small distance from it. About the hour of midnight, when supper was over, after they had posted their watch, they were chatting and jesting about feats of arms, of which they had wherewithal to talk, sir Galahaut said: “We shall get into Peronne very early to-morrow morning; but, before we make our entry there, I would propose an excursion towards the flanks of our enemies; for I shall be much mistaken, if there will not be some of them who will set out early in hopes of gaining honour or booty by pillaging the country; and we may perchance meet with them, and make them pay our score.” His companions immediately agreed to this proposal, kept it secret among themselves, and were ready with their horses saddled at break of day. They took the field in good order, and, leaving the road which led to Peronne, skirted the woods to see if they could meet with any one: they arrived at a village, the inhabitants of which had fortified the church: sir Galahaut dismounted at this place, where there was wine, with bread and meat in plenty, which were offered to them by those within. Whilst they were at this place, sir Galahaut called to him two of his squires, one of whom was Bridoul de Tallonne, and said to them; “Ride forward, and examine the country round, to see if you can perceive any one: and, if you find nothing, return here to us: we will wait for you.” The two squires set off, mounted on good horses, and made for a wood which was about half a French league distant.
This same morning, sir Reginald de Boullant, a German knight belonging to the duke of Lancaster’s division, had rode forth since day-break, and, having made a large circuit without seeing any one, had halted at that spot. The two squires, being come thither, imagined they might be some persons of the country, who had placed themselves there in ambuscade, and rode so near that each party saw the other. The two Frenchmen, therefore, consulted together, and said, “If they be Germans, we must pretend we belong to them: if they be of this part of the country, we will tell them who we are.” When they were so near each other that they could speak, the two squires soon perceived, by their uniforms, that they were Germans and their enemies. Sir Reginald de Boullant spoke to them in German, and inquired whose soldiers they were. Bridoul de Tallonne, who well understood that language, answered, “We belong to sir Bartholomew Burghersh.” “And where is sir Bartholomew?” “He is,” replied he, “in that village.” “For what reason has he stopped there?” “Sir, because he has sent us forward, to see if we can find any thing to forage in this part of the country.” “By my faith, there is not,” answered sir Reginald; “for I have been all over it, and have not been able to pick up any thing. Return to him, and tell him to advance, and we will ride together as far as St. Quentin, and see if we cannot find out a better country, or some good adventure.” “And who are you?” demanded the squire. “I am called Reginald de Boullant,” answered the knight, “and say so to sir Bartholomew.” Upon this the two squires turned about, and went to the village where they had left their master. As soon as sir Galahaut saw them, he asked, “What news? have you found or seen any thing?” “Yes, sir, enough, in conscience: beyond this wood is sir Reginald de Boullant, with about thirty more: he has been riding about this neighbourhood all this morning, and desires much to have your company to ride further towards St. Quentin.” “How,” replied sir Galahaut, “what are you saying? sir Reginald de Boullant is a German knight, and in the service of England.” “All this we know well,” answered the squire. “Then how could you get away from him?” “Sir,” said Bridoul, “I will tell you.” He then related to him all that conversation which has just been mentioned.
When sir Galahaut heard what had passed, he was for a moment thoughtful, and then asked the opinions of sir Roger de Cologne and some other knights present, what was best 272 to be done. The knights answered, “Sir, you are seeking for adventures, and, when they fall into your mouth, take advantage of them, for by all means, allowed by the laws of arms, every man ought to molest his enemy.” To this advice sir Galahaut cheerfully assented, for he was very desirous of meeting the Germans. He ordered his steed to be got ready, and put on his helmet with the visor down, that he might not be known: the rest did the same. They quitted the village, and, getting into the fields, rode to the right for the wood, where sir Reginald was waiting for them. They might be about seventy men at arms, and sir Reginald had but thirty. As soon as sir Reginald perceived them advancing, he collected his men together in a very orderly manner, and thus left his ambuscade, with his pennon displayed before him, and marched with a gentle pace to meet the French, whom he believed to be English. When he was come up with them, he raised his visor, and saluted sir Galahaut, by the name of sir Bartholomew Burghersh. Sir Galahaut kept his face covered, and replied in a low voice, adding, “Come, come, let us ride on.” Upon which, his people drew off on one side, and the Germans on the other. When sir Reginald de Boullant noticed his manner, and that sir Galahaut was eyeing him askance without saying a word, some doubts entered his mind. He had not rode a quarter of an hour before he stopped short, under his banne,r in the midst of his people, and said aloud: “I have some suspicions, sir knight, that you are not sir Bartholomew de Burghersh; for I am well acquainted with sir Bartholomew, and hitherto I have not seen your face; therefore, you must tell me your real name, before I ride any farther in your company.” At these words, sir Galahaut raised his visor, and advanced towards the knight, in order to seize the reins of his horse, crying out, “Our lady of Ribemmont!” which was echoed by sir Roger de Cologne, crying, “Cologne, to the rescue!”
Sir Reginald, perceiving his mistake, was not much frightened, but laying his hand quickly on his sword of war, which he wore by his side, that was both stiff and strong drew it out of the scabbard; and, as sir Galahaut advanced to take the bridle, sir Reginald gave him so furious a stroke with this sword, that it penetrated the armour, and passed through his body. Having drawn it back again, he stuck spurs in his horse, and left sir Galahaut grievously wounded.
The companions of sir Galahaut, perceiving their master and captain in such a condition, were like madmen: they threw themselves up, and attacked the party of sir Reginald most fiercely, when some of them were unhorsed. As for sir Reginald himself, he had no sooner struck sir Galahaut than, clapping spurs to his horse, he had galloped off. Some of sir Galahaut’s squires pursued him, whilst others were engaged with the Germans, with the intention of being fully revenged: but sir Reginald, who was a bold and accomplished knight, was not much alarmed: however, when he found himself so closely pursued, that it was proper to turn about or be disgraced, he wheeled round, and struck the nearest so violently with his strong sword, that he had not any desire to follow him further: thus, as he was riding off, he beat down and severely wounded three; and had he had a sharp battle-axe in his hand, every one of his strokes would have killed a man. In this manner did the knight escape from the French, without receiving the smallest wound, which his enemies, as well as all those who heard of it, considered as a most gallant act: but it fared otherwise with his people, as they were almost all killed or made prisoners, scarcely any escaping. They placed sir Galahaut de Ribemmont, who was very severely wounded, on a litter, and carried him to Peronne to a physician. He was never perfectly cured of this wound; for he was a knight of such courage that he would not allow it time to heal, so that he died shortly afterward.
We will now return to the king of England, and relate how he laid siege to the city and castle of Rheims.
* Licques, — a small town in Picardy, sovereignty of Ardres.
† Sir Richard Pembridge is buried in Hereford cathedral. — See Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments.
‡ In my MSS. it is Corbanton and Silvancier. Barnes says, there was lord John Charlton, who was chamberlain to the king; but who Silvancier is, I cannot find out. Lord Berners repeats the word, and calls the first lord Grabalton.
§ Bapaume, — a strong town in Artois, diocese of Arras.
¶ All my copies, MS. as well as printed, have ung franc a-day; but as Denys Sauvage has altered it to seven, and says that other authors say seven, an dparticularly as La Chaux marks it clearly vii., I have therefore followed it.
THE English continued their march, until they had passed through Artois, the low country of which they found in great poverty and distress for provisions, and had entered Cambresis, where all things were in greater abundance: for the inhabitants of the plains had not carried their provisions into any fortresses, thinking themselves secure from the English, as forming a dependence of the empire; but the king of England did not consider them in that light, nor look upon Cambresis as part of the empire.
The king took up his quarters in the town of Beaurevoir in Cambresis, encamping his army in the neighbourhood, where they halted four days to refresh themselves and horses, and from whence they overran the greater part of the country of Cambresis. The bishop, Peter of Cambray, and the councils of the lords of the country and the principal towns, sent divers messengers, under a passport, to inquire the grounds of the war. They received for answer, that some time ago they had contracted alliances with the French, had aided them much, had supported them in their towns and fortresses, and had before made part in the war as enemies: that these were the reasons why the war was carried on in their country: nor could they get any other answer. The Cambresians were therefore obliged to put up with their losses and grievances as well as they could. The king continued his route through Cambresis, and entered Tierache*; but his people overran the country to the right and left, and took provisions wherever they could lay hands on them. It chanced, that in one of 274 these foraging parties sir Bartholomew Burghersh, in riding towards St. Quentin, accidentally met the governor of that place, sir Baldwin d’Annequin, when both riders and horses met together: there was great confusion, and many were unhorsed on each side; but in the end the English gained the field, and sir Baldwin d’Annequin was captured by sir Bartholomew Burghersh, to whom he had been before a prisoner at the battle of Poitiers.
The English returned to the king, who that day was lodged in the abbey of Femy†, where they found great plenty of provisions for themselves and horses; they then passed on, and continued their march without any hindrance, so that they arrived in the environs of Rheims.
The king’s quarters were at St. Waal beyond Rheims, and the prince of Wales’ at St. Thierry‡, where they held their courts. The duke of Lancaster, after them, kept the greatest household. The counts, barons, and knights, were quartered in the neighbouring villages to Rheims, so that they were not very comfortable, nor had they weather to please them; for they had arrived there in the depth of winter, about St. Andrew’s day, when it was very rainy: their horses were badly housed, hardly treated, and ill fed, as the whole country was so destroyed, by having been for two or three years before the theatre of war, that no one had tilled or sowed the ground. There was such scarcity of corn of all sorts, many were forced to seek forage ten or twelve leagues off. These parties met frequently with the garrisons of the neighbouring fortresses: sharp skirmishes ensued between them: sometimes the English lost, at others were victorious.
Sir John de Craon, archbishop of Rheims, the count de Porcien, sir Hugh de Porcien his brother, the lord de la Bone, the lord de Canency, the lord Dannore, the lord de Lore, were governors and captains of the town at the time the king of England besieged it. Many other barons, knights and squires of the district of Rheims were also there, who exerted themselves so much that the town suffered little loss or damage from the siege: besides, it was strong, well fortified, and as well defended. The king of England was not desirous of storming it, lest his army might suffer too much from wounds or fatigue; he remained, therefore, before it, from St. Andrew’s day to the beginning of Lent. Detachments from his army, however, scoured the country in search of adventures. Some of them went over the whole country of Rhetel, as far as Warq§, to Maisieres¶, Donchery¥, and Mouson**: they quartered themselves in the country for three or four days; and after having pillaged it without let or hindrance, they returned again to their army.
During the time that the king of England was before Rheims, sir Eustace d’Ambreticourt had taken the good town of Achery-sur-Aine††; in which he had found a great quantity of provisions, and, in particular, upwards of three thousand butts of wine. He sent a large portion of it to the king of England and his sons, for which they were very thankful.
Whilst this siege lasted, many knights left it, to seek what good fortune they might find. Among others, sir John Chandos, sir James Audley, the lord of Mucident, sir Richard de Pontchardon, with their companies, advanced so near to Châlons in Champagne, that they came to Chargny-en-Dormois‡‡, where there was a very handsome and strong castle. Having carefully examined it, they were very desirous of gaining this castle, and directly made an assault on it. Within it were two good and valiant knights as governors: the name of one was sir John de Caples, who bore for arms a cross anchored sable, on a shield or.
The attack was sharp and long: the two knights and their garrison defended themselves well: and it behoved them so to do, for they were assaulted very roughly. The lord of Mucident, who was a powerful and rich lord in Gascony, advanced so forward at this attack, that he received a severe blow from a stone on his helmet, through which it found a passage to his head: he was so badly wounded, that he could not be carried away, but died in the arms of his people. The other barons and knights were so enraged at the death of the lord 275 of Mucident, they swore they would never quit the place until they had conquered the castle, and all that were in it. They renewed the assault with double vigour: many gallant deeds were performed: for the Gascons, being irritated by the loss of their lord, rushed into the ditches, close to the walls of the castle, without sparing themselves, and, placing their shields over their heads, climbed up them: the archers, in the meantime, kept such a continual volley of arrows, that no one dared to appear. The castle was so briskly assaulted that it was won, but it cost them dear. When the English were masters of it, they made the two knights prisoners who had so valiantly defended it, and some other squires and gentlemen: the rest of the garrison they put to the sword. They destroyed much of the castle of Chargny, because they did not wish to keep it, and returned to the king and his barons, to relate what they had performed.
During the time they were before Rheims, great animosities and hatred arose between the king of Navarre and the duke of Normandy. I am not perfectly well informed of the real cause§§, but so it was, for the king of Navarre quitted Paris suddenly, and went to Mantes-sur-Seine, from whence he sent his challenge to the duke and his brothers. Many a baron was much surprised at this, and wondered for what cause the war was to be renewed. However, a squire from Brussels, whose name was Waustre Ostrate, under pretence of this war took the strong castle of Roulleboise upon the Seine, a short league from Mantes, which was afterwards a great annoyance to the Parisians and all the neighbourhood.
When the king of England was besieging Rheims, with his whole army, it happened that the lord Gomegines, who had returned to the queen in England, at the time the king had sent all strangers out of Calais, as had been before related, re-passed the sea, and with him some squires of Gascony and England, who accompanied him into Hainault, intending to join the army before Rheims. The young lord of Gomegines, being eager to advance himself, collected some men together on his return to Hainault. Many men at arms joined him, and served under his pennon. When they were all assembled, they might amount to about three hundred. They set out from Maubeuge¶¶, where they had been mustered, and came to Avesnes¥¥, which they passed through, and then to Trelon***.
The lord of Roye, at this period, was in garrison at Roye††† in Tierache: there were a great many companions with him, as well knights as squires; and he had been informed, by the spies he kept in pay on the borders of Hainault, of the lord of Gomegines having collected a body of forces, which he was marching to the assistance of the king of England before Rheims, and that he and his troops must pass through Tierache. As soon as the lord of Roye had ascertained the truth of this intelligence, he communicated it secretly to all his fellow-soldiers in the neighbourhood, and particularly to the lord Robert, canon de Robersart, who at that time managed the estates of the young earl de Coucy, and resided in the castle of Marle‡‡‡. When the canon heard it, he was not slow in obeying the summons, but came to the lord of Roye with forty lances. The lord of Roye was chosen the chief of this expedition, as indeed he had reason to expect, for he was a powerful baron in Picardy, and for the times was a good man, and a gallant soldier, much renowned, and well spoken of in various places.
These French men at arms, who might amount to three hundred, posted themselves in ambuscade, on the road the lord of Gomegines and his troops must necessarily pass, who was quite ignorant of their intentions, and who thought to continue his march unmolested; he entered, therefore, Tierache, and taking the road to Rheims, came very early in the morning to a village called Habergny§§§, where they determined to halt for a short time to refresh themselves and horses, and then to continue their route without any more delay. They 276 dismounted in this village, and began to make preparations for feeding their horses. Whilst his companions were thus employed, the lord of Gomegines, who was then young and wilful, said, he would ride out of the village to see if he could not meet with something better to forage. He called to him five or six of his companions, and Christopher de Mur¶¶¶ his squire, who bore his pennon: they quitted the village furiously, but without any order or regularity.
It happened that the French knights and their troops were in ambuscade near this village: they had followed them the preceding day and night, in order that they might combat them with more certainty; and, if a proper opportunity had not offered itself in the plain, they intended to have entered the village, for the purpose of attacking them; but the lord of Gomegines fell into their hands. When the French lords perceived the lord of Gomegines and his company advancing on this secret excursion, they were at first surprised, and could not conceive who they might be. They sent two scouts on the look-out, who brought back word, that they were enemies. This news was no sooner heard than they quitted their ambuscade, each crying out, “Roye, for the lord of Roye!” The knights advanced before the lord of Roye, who had his banner displayed in front. There were sir Flamen de Roye and his cousin, sir Lewis de Robersart, the canon de Robersart his brother, who was a squire, sir Tristram de Bonne-roye, and others, each armed according to his condition, with their swords hanging to their wrists, and their spears couched, towards their enemies, crying out, "Roye, for the lord of Roye !"
When the lord of Gomegines perceived the ambuscade he had fallen into, he was much astonished; but he determined to stand his ground, and wait his enemies, for both himself and followers disdained to fly: they couched their spears, and formed themselves in order of battle. The French, being well-mounted, charged these English and Gascons, who were not very numerous; and, at the first charge, the lord of Gomegines was run through with a spear, and had not afterwards an opportunity, from the situation of the place, to remount his horse. His people fought valiantly, and many gallant deeds were done; but in the end the lord of Gomegines could not hold out; he was therefore made prisoner, on his parole. Two of his squires had fought valiantly, but were forced to yield, or they would have been slain, as well as Christopher de Mur, a valiant squire, who bore the pennon of the lord of Gomegines. To make an end of this affair, all those of the Gomegine party were either slain or made prisoners, except the valets, who, being well-mounted, saved themselves by flight. No pursuit was made after them, more weighty considerations occupying their enemies.
* Tierache, — a fertile country in Picardy, watered by the Oise and the Serre, to the west of Champagne, and south of Hainault.
† Femy, — a village in Cambresis, on the borders of Hainault.
‡ St. Thierry, — a small village in Champagne, diocese of Rheims.
§ Warq-les-Maisons, — a village of Champagne, election of Rhetel.
¶ Mezieres, — a strong city of Champagne, diocese of Rheims, election of Rhetel.
¥ Donchery, — a town of Champagne, on the Meuse, diocese of Rheims, election of Rhetel.
** Mouson, — a town of Champagne, diocese of Rheims.
†† Achery, — a town in Picardy, on the Oise, diocese of Laon. The river Aine falls into the Oise near Compiegne.
‡‡ Dormois, — A country of Champagne, diocese of Rheims.
§§ Probably occasioned by the king of Navarre’s treasonable designs being discovered. See Villaret’s Hist. of France, pp. 216, &c.
It is said there, that the castle of Roulleboise was taken by one of the king of Navarre’s captains.
¶¶ A strong town in Hainault, on the Sambre, diocese of Cambray.
¥¥ Avesnes, — a strong town in Hainault, diocese of Cambray.
*** Trelon, — a village in Flanders, near Avesnes.
††† Roye, — a strong town in Picardy. My printed copies have it Ray, two MSS. Roy, one Rosoy.
‡‡‡ Marle, — a town in Picardy, diocese of Laon.
§§§ Habergny. Barnes calls it Harcigny, which is a village in Picardy, diocese of Laon. Habergny is not in the Gazetteer.
¶¶¶ Barnes makes him an Englishman, of the name of Moor, but I see no cause for it.
THE knights and squires who had taken the lord of Gomegines and overthrown all those who had followed him out of the village, did not wish to lose time, but, putting spurs to their horses, galloped into the above-mentioned village, calling out, “Roye, for the lord of Roye!” Those who were there were much alarmed at this cry, and surprised to find their enemies so near them, as they were chiefly disarmed and scattered about so that they could not rally nor collect together. The French made prisoners of them at their pleasure, in houses, barns, and ovens: and the canon de Robersart had many who surrendered themselves to him, because his banners were better known than those of the others. It is true, indeed, that some of them retreated to a small fortified house, surrounded by a moat, which is situate in this village of Harcigny, and consulted among themselves whether to defend it until the king of England, who was before Rheims, might hear of their disaster, (for the mansion could very soon be made strong enough to enable them to hold out,) when they thought, that as soon as he should know of their situation, he would without doubt send forces to relieve them. Some, however, hesitated, as the house was in an open country, and they 277 were surrounded by their enemies. Whilst they were thus debating, the lord of Roye and his companions came before it, and said to them: “Listen, gentlemen; if you force us to make the slightest assault, we will not suffer any one of you to escape death; for, if we begin, we will continue the attack until we take it.” These and such-like words threw them into confusion; and even the boldest were alarmed: they surrendered, therefore, on having their lives spared. They were all made prisoners, and sent to the castle of Coucy, and the other garrisons from whence the French had marched. This disaster happened to the lord of Gomegines and his party about Christmas, 1359. When the king of England was informed of it, he was mightily enraged; but he could not amend it.
We will now return to the siege of Rheims, and speak of an adventure which happened to sir Bartholomew Burghersh, who had laid siege to the town and castle of Cormicy, in which there was a knight of Champagne, whose name was sir Henry de Vaulx; he wore black armour, and bore for arms five almonds argent on a field sable: his war-cry was “Viane†.”
During this siege of Rheims, the earls, barons, and great lords were quartered in the neighbourhood, as you have before heard, in order to prevent any provision being carried into that city. Among them was sir Bartholomew Burghersh, a great baron of England: he and his suite, with his company of archers and men at arms, were lodged near Cormicy, where there is a very handsome castle belonging to the archbishop of Rheims, who had put into it the knight before-mentioned, with many good companions, to guard it against their enemies. They were far from fearing any attack; for the castle had a large square tower, whose walls were very thick, and it was well furnished with arms of defence.
When sir Bartholomew had surrounded this castle, and, by well reconnoitering its strength, found he could not take it by assault, he ordered a number of miners, whom he had with him in his pay, to get themselves ready and do their duty in undermining the fortress, when he would reward them handsomely: upon which they replied, they would cheerfully undertake it. The miners immediately broke ground, and, having lodged themselves in their mine, worked night and day; insomuch that they advanced far under the great tower; and, as they pushed forward, they propped up the work, that those within knew nothing of it. When they had thus completed their mine so that they could throw down the tower when they chose, they came to sir Bartholomew Burghersh, and said to him: “Sir, we have carried our works so far that this tower, great as it is, shall be thrown down whenever you please.” “It is well,” replied sir Bartholomew, “but do nothing more without my orders:” to which they willingly consented. The knight immediately mounted his steed; and taking John de Guistelles‡ with him, who was one of his companions, they advanced to the castle, and sir Bartholomew made a signal that he wished to have a parley with those within. Upon this, sir Henry came forward on the battlements, and demanded what he wanted. “I want you to surrender,” replied sir Bartholomew, “or you will be all infallibly destroyed.” “By what means?” answered the French knight, who began to laugh; “we are perfectly well supplied with every thing; and you wish us thus simply to surrender: certainly it shall not be to-day,” added sir Henry. “Certainly,” said the English knight, “if you were truly informed what your situation is, you would surrender instantly, without more words.” “Why, what is our situation?” demanded sir Henry. “If you will come out, upon my assurance of your safety, I will show you,” replied sir Bartholomew. Sir Henry accepted the condition, and came out of the fortress, with only three others, to sir Bartholomew and John de Guistelles, who immediately conducted them to the mine, and showed them that the great tower was only supported on props of wood.
278When the French knight saw the peril he and his garrison were in, he told sir Bartholomew, that he had very good reasons for what he had said, and that his proceedings were truly gallant and noble: “We shall therefore surrender ourselves to your will.” Sir Bartholomew took them all his prisoners, made them leave the tower one after the other with their baggage, and then set fire to the mine. The timber was soon on fire; and when the props were burnt, the tower, which was extremely large, opened in two places, and fell on the opposite side to where sir Bartholomew was standing, who said to sir Henry and the garrison of the fortress, “Now, see if I did not tell you the truth.” “We own it, sir,” replied they, “and remain prisoners at your pleasure. We also return you our best thanks for you kindness to us; for if the Jacquerie, who formerly overran this country, had had the same advantage over us that you have, they would not have acted so generously.” Thus were all the garrison of Cormicy made prisoners, and the castle thrown to the ground.
The king of England remained before Rheims for upwards of seven weeks, but never made any assault upon it, as it would have been useless. He began to tire; and as his army found great difficulties in obtaining forage and provision, their horses perished. He broke up his camp, and marched off towards Châlons, in Champagne, in the same order as before. The king and his army passed very near to Châlons, and sat down before Bar-sur-Aube, and afterwards before the city of Troyes. He took up his quarters at Mery-sur-Seine§.
The whole army lay between Mery and Troyes, which is reckoned to be eight leagues distant from each other. Whilst he was at Mery-sur-Seine, his constable¶, who commanded always the van battalion, advanced and came before St. Florentin¥, which was under the command of sir Odoart de Rency; and, after having displayed his banner, (which was blazoned, or and azure, a chief pally, and at each of the two corners girons, and an escutcheon argent in the midst of the shield,) before the gate of the fortress, made a fierce attack on it, but in vain. The king of England and his whole army came and took up their quarters at Saint Florentin and the neighbourhood, on the banks of the river Armançon**. When they marched from thence, they came before Tonnerre††, which was so briskly attacked, the town was won, but not the castle. The English, however, found in that town upwards of three thousand butts of wine, which were of great service to them.
At this period, the lord de Fiennes, constable of France, was in the city of Auxerre‡‡ with a number of men at arms.
* Commercy is not in the Gazetteer. Barnes calls it Cormicy, which is a town in Champagne, diocese of Rheims.
† In all the printed books I have seen, his name is Henry de Noir, but at the end it is Henri de Vaulx. My two MSS. have, “Messire Henri de Vaulx, et s’armoit le dit messire Henri, de noir a cinq amans d’argent, et criet Viane.”
Q. Amans, — not in any of my dictionaries. Mr. Lodge supposes they must mean almonds.
[Amans, in Norman french, mean diamonds, or, in heraldic phrase, lozenges; the arms of Henri de Noir or Vaulx, are not given in D. Sauvage’s or Lord Berners. — ED.]
‡ Barnes calls him lord John de Botetourt; but he gives no authority for it.
§ Mery-sur-Seine, — diocese and election of Troyes, seven leagues from Troyes. — Gazetteer.
¶ Roger earl of Mortimer. See more of him and his arms, in Ashmole, p. 692.
Mr. Lodge says, the arms of Mortimer have puzzled heralds at all times: but the terms heralds now use in blazoning the arms of Mortimer are these: “Barry of six or and azure, an inescutcheon argent; on a chief of the first three pallets of the second, between two girons or.” — [The arms of Mortimer, given in Burke’s “Extinct, dormant, and suspended Peerages,” are as follows: Barry of six or and azure on a chief of the first, three pellets between two esquires, bust dexter and sinister, of the second, and in escutcheon argent. — ED.]
¥ St. Florentin — situated on the Armançon, thirteen leagues from Troyes.
** In the printed copies it is Mouson, but in my MSS. Armançon.
†† Tonnerre, — situated on the Armançon, diocese of Langres.
‡‡ It is Dampierre in the printed copies. Denys Sauvage thinks it ought to have been Auxerre. It is Auxerre in my MSS.
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