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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., Volume II, London: William Smith, 1848. pp. 35-50.
CHAPTER CLX. — SIR JOHN DE VIENNE, ADMIRAL OF FRANCE, ARRIVES IN SCOTLAND WITH HIS ARMY. — HE MEETS WITH BAD TREATMENT THERE.
THE French army that was bound for Scotland had very favourable winds, for it was the month of May, when the weather is temperate and agreeable. They coasted Flanders, Holland, Zealand, and Friesland, and advanced until they approached so near Scotland as to see it; but before they arrived there an unfortunate accident befel a knight of France and an expert man at arms, named sir Aubert d’Angers. The knight was young and active, and to show his agility he mounted aloft by the ropes of his ship completely armed; but, his feet slipping, he fell into the sea, and the weight of his armour, which sunk him instantly, deprived him of any assistance, for the ship was soon at a distance from the place where he had fallen. All the barons were much vexed at this misfortune, but they were forced to endure it, as they could not any way remedy it.
They continued their voyage until they arrived at Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, where the king chiefly resides when he is in that part of the country. The earls of Douglas and Moray, from the information they had received, were waiting for them in Edinburgh,and as soon as they were come, hastened to meet them at the harbour, and received them most amicably, bidding them welcome to their country. The Scots barons instantly recognised sir Geoffry de Charny, for he had resided full two months with them last summer in Scotland. Sir Geoffry made them acquainted, as he very well knew how, with the admiral and the barons of France. At that time the king was not at Edinburgh, but in the Highlands* of Scotland: his sons received them handsomely, telling them the king would shortly be there.
They were satisfied with this information, and the lords and their men lodged themselves as well as they could in Edinburgh, and those who could not lodge there were quartered in the different villages thereabout. Edinburgh, notwithstanding it is the residence of the king, and is the Paris of Scotland, is not such a town as Tournay or Valenciennes; for there are not in the whole town four thousand houses. Several of the French lords were therefore obliged to take up their lodgings in the neighbouring villages, and at Dunfermline, Kelson†, Dunbar, Dalkeith, and in other villages.
News was soon spread through Scotland, that a large body of men at arms from France were arrived in the country. Some began to murmur and say, “What devil has brought them here? or who has sent for them? Cannot we carry on our wars with England without their assistance? We shall never do any effectual good as long as they are with us. Let them be told to return again, for we are sufficiently numerous in Scotland to fight our own quarrels, and do not want their company. We neither understand their language nor they 36 ours, and we cannot converse together. They will very soon eat up and destroy all we have in this country, and will do us more harm, if we allow them to remain among us, than the English could in battle. If the English do burn our houses, what consequence is it to us! we can rebuild them cheap enough, for we only require three days to do so, provided we have five or six poles and boughs to cover them.” Such was the conversation of the Scots on the arrival of the French: they did not esteem them, but hated them in their hearts, and abused them with their tongues as much as they could, like rude and worthless people as they are.
I must, however, say that, considering all things, it was not right for so many of the nobility to have come at this season to Scotland; it would have been better to have sent twenty or thirty knights from France, than so large a body as five hundred or a thousand. The reason is clear. In Scotland you will never find a man of worth: they are like savages, who wish not to be acquainted with any one, and are too envious of the good fortune of others, and suspicious of losing any thing themselves, for their country is very poor. When the English make inroads thither, as they have very frequently done, they order their provisions, if they wish to live, to follow close at their backs; for nothing is to be had in that country, without great difficulty. There is neither iron to shoe horses, nor leather to make harness, saddles or bridles: all those things come ready made from Flanders by sea; and, should these fail, there is none to be had in the country.
When these barons and knights of France, who had been used to handsome hôtels, ornamented apartments, and castles with good soft beds to repose on, saw themselves in such poverty, they began to laugh, and to say before the admiral, “What could have brought us hither? We have never known till now what was meant by poverty and hard living. We now have found the truth of what our fathers and mothers were used to tell us, when they said, — ‘Go, go, thou shalt have in thy time, shouldst thou live long enough, hard beds and poor lodgings:’ all this is now come to pass.” They said also among themselves, “Let us hasten the object of our voyage, by advancing towards England: a long stay in Scotland will be neither honourable nor profitable.” The knights made remonstrances respecting these circumstances to sir John de Vienne, who appeased them as well as he could, saying, “My fair sirs, it becomes us to wait patiently, and to speak fair, since we are got into such difficulties. We have a long way yet to go, and we cannot return through England. Take in good humour whatever you can get. You cannot always be in Paris, Dijon, Beaune or Châlons: it is necessary for those who wish to live with honour in this world to endure good and evil.”
By such words as these, and others which I do not remember, did sir John de Vienne pacify his army in Scotland. He made as much acquaintance as he could with the Scottish barons and knights: but he was visited by so very few it is not worth speaking of; for, as I have said before, there is not much honour here, and they are people difficult to be acquainted with. The earls of Douglas and Moray were the principal visitants to the lords of France. These two lords paid them more attention than all the rest of Scotland. But this was not the worst, for the French were hardly dealt with in their purchases; and whenever they wanted to buy horses, they were asked, for what was worth only ten florins, sixty and a hundred: with difficulty could they be found at that price. When the horse had been bought there was no furniture nor any housings to be met with, unless the respective articles had been brought with them from Flanders. In this situation were the French: besides, whenever their servants went out to forage, they were indeed permitted to load their horses with as much as they could pack up and carry, but they were way-laid on their return, and villanously beaten, robbed, and sometimes slain, insomuch that no varlet dared to go out foraging for fear of death. In one month the French lost upwards of a hundred varlets: for when three or four went foraging not one returned, in such a hideous manner were they treated.
With all this the king required many entreaties before he would come forward: the knights and squires of Scotland were the cause of this, for they declared, they would not at this season wage war with England, that the French might pay more dearly for their coming. Before the king would come to Edinburgh, it was necessary to pay him a large sum of 37 money for himself and his courtiers. Sir John de Vienne engaged, under his seal, that he would never quit Scotland until the king and his people were perfectly satisfied: for, had he not done so, he would not have had any assistance from the Scots. He was obliged to make this bargain or a worse; but however advantageous it was for them, and whatever affection he gained by it, they made the war solely profitable for themselves, as I shall relate in this history. At present I wish to return to what was passing in Flanders, and to speak of the marriage of the young king of France, which happened at this period.
* “En la Sauvage Escosse.”
† “Kelson.” — Q. Kelso would have been too far distant.
CHAPTER CLXI. — THE TOWN OF ARDEMBOURG* NARROWLY ESCAPES BEING TAKEN BY SURPRISE BY FRANCIS ATREMEN AND HIS GHENT MEN.
AFTER the defeat of the detachment of sir Rafflart de Flandres, which he had led into the Quatre Mestiers, sir Robert de Bethune, viscount de Meaux, came to Ardembourg, whither he had been sent to garrison it. He found there sir John de Jumont and his companions: he had also brought with him about forty knights, who were eager to meet with adventures. On the viscount’s arrival, he began to repair and strengthen the fortifications of the town. Francis Atremen and those of Ghent were constantly devising plans to annoy their enemies, and do them mischief. Their attention was particularly directed to places in their neighbourhood, such as Oudenarde, Dendremonde, Ardembourg, Damme, Bruges and Sluys. It behoved those towns to keep a strict guard and watch well; for in regard to storming and scaling towns, and such like subtleties, these Ghent men were very skilful and alert.
About the end of May, Francis Atremen, with seven thousand armed men, sallied out of Ghent, with the intent to take Ardembourg by surprise, and to make all the knights and squires there in garrison prisoners. They were more desirous to take the governor, sir John de Jumont, than all the rest; for he had done them much mischief, by slaying and taking their people, thrusting out their eyes, cutting off their hands or ears, so that hey could not love him. For this purpose, they came on Wednesday at day-break to Ardembourg, having with them their ladders ready prepared. Now observe what great peril they were in: the viscount de Meaux, sir John de Jumont, sir Rafflart de Flandres, the lord de Daymart, sir Tiercelot de Montigny, sir Perducas de Port St. Mare, the lord de Longueval and sir John his son, sir Hugh Desnel, the lord de Lalain, sir Reginald de Lommie and several more, were sleeping quietly in their beds, trusting to the watchfulness of the guard: but the guards of the night were almost all retired, and the watchman was mounting his post, when Francis Atremen and his Ghent men, with their ladders on their shoulders, had crossed the ditches and fixed their ladders to the walls, which the foremost had begun to mount.
By accident, the lord de St. Aubin and a squire from Picardy, called Enguerrand Zendequin, were at this moment parading the town close by the walls: they had with them three picards [Susan note Picards??] armed with pikes. I believe they had been on guard this night, and were then retiring. To say the truth, if they had not been where they were, Ardembourg must infallibly have been taken, and all the knights in their beds. When the lord de St. Aubin and Enguerrand Zendequin perceived the Ghent men mounting by ladders to the battlements, and that one of them was actually putting his leg over the wall to enter the town, they were very much alarmed, but not so much as to prevent them defending the place: they saw clearly, that if they fled, the town must be conquered; for the Ghent men had arrived there so opportunely that they were entering it just between the time of the dismissal of the night-guard and the watchman mounting his post.
“Forward, forward!” cried sir Enguerrand to the pikemen; “here are our enemies: let us defend ourselves and our town, or it is taken.” They then advanced to the place where they had fixed their ladders and intended entering. The pikemen attacked him who was about to enter so vigorously with his pike, that he tumbled into the ditch. At this time, the watch was at his post, who, noticing the large battalion in the ditches and thereabouts, sounded his horn, crying out, “Treason, treason!” The town was in motion, 38 and the knights heard in their beds the noise and confusion, and also how the Ghent men wanted to surprise their town. They were very much astonished, and having armed themselves as speedily as they could, sallied forth against them. Notwithstanding they were discovered, the Ghent men laboured hard to enter the town; but these five men held out valiantly against them for upwards of half an hour, and performed wonders in arms, for which they were highly praised.
The lords now advanced in handsome array; the viscount de Meaux with his banner before him, sir John de Jumont with his pennon, sir Rafflart de Flanders and all the others, shouting their war-cries, and found the knight and squire, with the three pikemen, defending the walls most gallantly. When Francis Atremen and the Ghent men found their scheme had failed, they called back their men and retreated in a handsome manner, into the Quatre Mestiers.
The garrison were more attentive in guarding their town for the future, and in posting their sentinels. They honoured greatly their five defenders; for, if they had not been there, Ardembourg had been lost, and all their throats cut.
* Ardembourg, ten miles N. E. from Bruges.
CHAPTER CLXII. — LEWIS OF FRANCE, BROTHER TO KING CHARLES VI. IS MARRIED BY PROCURATION TO MARGARET OF HUNGARY. — MADAME DE BRABANT CAUSES THE DAUGHTER OF DUKE STEPHEN OF BAVARIA TO COME TO FRANCE TO MARRY KING CHARLES.
YOU have heard how the duke of Anjou, who styled himself king of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem, had carried on a war for three years in la Puglia, Calabria and Naples, against Charles de Durazzo, and that during that war he had died*. His opponent was dead also. It was said he was killed in Hungary with the consent of the queen; for, after the death of the king of Hungary, being the son of his brother, he wished to maintain that the kingdom had devolved to him, as the king of Hungary had left no male issue. The queen, suspecting his intentions to disinherit her daughter, had him put to death†. This event caused much wonder everywhere; and the war of the queen of Naples and her son Lewis, who resided at Avignon, was more strenuously carried on in Provence.
During the lifetime of the late king of Hungary, the great barons and prelates had advised that the eldest of his daughters, the lady Margaret‡, who was very handsome, and was likewise heiress to the kingdom, should be given to Lewis count de Valois, brother to the king of France, because they thought he would reside in Hungary, and the king, had he lived, would have followed this advice.
After the decease of the king of Hungary, ambassadors were sent to France, to the king and his uncles, to notify the wish of the queen of Hungary to unite the count de Valois with her eldest daughter. This seemed to the king and the barons of Franc as if it was very desirable, except that it would separate and place at too great a distance the count de Valois from his family and the powerful kingdom of France. On the other hand, they considered it was a grand as well as a profitable offer for the count de Valois to be king of Hungary, which is one of the greatest realms in Christendom. The Hungarians sent by the queen were magnificently received, and large presents were made to them. The bishop de Maillerets and John de Personne, returned with them as ambassadors from France, who, on their arrival in 39 Hungary, espoused by procuration, in the name of the count de Valois, the princess Margaret. John de la Personne courteously lay on a bed beside hers. They then came back to France, and showed their letters patent and other public instruments, which gave great satisfaction to all France; and the count de Valois signed himself king of Hungary for a long time.
You have before head how the duke of Burgundy and duke Albert of Bavaria, lord of Hainault, Holland, Zealand, and Freisland, had intermarried their children in the city of Cambray, at which marriage the king of France had assisted with great magnificence. Some seemed to say, as I was then informed, that the same week the king and all his nobles were at this marriage, there was a secret negotiation for a marriage between the young king of France and the lady Isabella, daughter of duke Stephen of Bavaria, chiefly through the means of the duchess of Brabant. The late king of France had on his dying-bed ordered, that his son should be married, if possible, to a princess of Germany, to strengthen the union of France with that country; for he had seen that the king of England, by marrying the sister of the emperor of Germany, had gained by it. The duchess of Brabant was a lady of a very active mind; she conversed with the king’s uncles and his council, while in the city of Cambray, on this subject, explaining to them, that as this young lady was the daughter of a great lord in Germany, and the most powerful in Bavaria, through him great alliances might be made in that country; that duke Stephen was so potent, he could well break the purposes of the great lords of the empire; for he was as powerful, if not more so, than the emperor. This object made the council of France listen more readily to the proposal: it was, however, carried on with the utmost secrecy, and very few knew anything of it until it was settled. The reason for this you shall hear. It is customary in France, for the lady destined to be married to the king, however high may be her birth, to be examined quite naked by ladies, whether she be well made, and have no apparent hindrance to her bearing children. As this lady was to come from so distant a country as Bavaria, they were ignorant if she would be agreeable to the king, for otherwise every thing would be broken off. These were the reasons why this affair was kept so secret. About Whitsuntide the young lady was brought to the duchess in Brabant, who received her very cordially, and accustomed her to the usages in France. She was accompanied by duke Frederick of Bavaria, her uncle, by whom, in truth, this marriage was first moved, for the causes which I will explain to you.
When duke Frederick was before Bourbourg, in the service of the king, he was much feasted by the king’s uncles, and the other nobles, for having come two hundred leagues to serve France. They considered his services as very great; and he always quartered near the king, out of affection to him, and had the greatest respect paid him. When he left Bavaria, he thought there must be a pitched battle, between the kings of France and of England, either in France or Flanders, for such had been the current report in Germany. The king of France and his uncles were very thankful for his coming. It happened, that during the expedition to Bergues and Bourbourg, the king’s uncles and other nobles, in amicable conversation, had asked him if he had no daughters to marry? For they wanted a wife for the king of France; and they would prefer marrying him to Bavaria than elsewhere, Bavaria having formerly been in the councils of France. Duke Frederick, in reply to this speech, said he had none himself, but that his brother, duke Stephen of Bavaria, had a very handsome one. “And how old is she?” demanded the king’s uncles. “Between thirteen and fourteen,” replied the duke. Then, said the uncles, “This is what we want. Do you, on your return to Bavaria, talk with your brother, and conduct your niece, as if in pilgrimage, to St. John at Amiens, and the king shall be placed beside her. Should he find her handsome, we hope he will be desirous of her, for he loves beauty; and if he appear eager for her, she shall be queen of France.” This was the beginning of the business, and neither more nor less was said on the subject. The king of France was ignorant that anything had been mentioned respecting his marriage.
Duke Frederick, on his return to Bavaria, repeated these words to his brother, who pondered some time on them, and thus answered, “Fair brother, I believe such speeches have been made to you, and that my daughter would be very fortunate if such a high honour as to become the queen of France should fall to her lot; but the distance is great from hence, and it is a matter of great consideration to attempt the making of a queen. I should be 40 exceedingly vexed if, after having carried my daughter to France, she should be returned to me: and I would rather marry her at my leisure, nearer home.” Such was the answer duke Stephen gave his brother, with which he was contented: and he wrote the substance of it to the uncles of the king, to his own uncle, duke Albert, and to madame de Brabant, to whom he had communicated the business on his return home. They thought he had been too indifferent about it, and had made overtures elsewhere, on the subject of the king’s marriage. A match was shortly after proposed between the king and the daughter of the duke of Lorraine: she was a very handsome lady, and nearly of his own age: of high birth, being of the family of Blois. The duke of Lancaster’s daughter, afterwards queen of Portugal, was also talked of, but this could not be brought about on account of the war: the affair was therefore at a stand.
The duchess of Brabant, when at these marriages at Cambray, and the king and his court present, brought this subject again on the carpet, that a union with Bavaria was the most desirable for the king, on account of the alliances that might be formed with the Germans. “It is so, indeed, lady,” replied the king’s uncles; “but we now hear nothing of it.” “Be you silent,” answered the duchess, “and I will make such advances that you shall, without fail, have certain intelligence of it in the course of the summer.” The promises of the duchess were verified; for she managed so well, that duke Stephen allowed his brother, duke Frederick, to conduct his niece, as you have before heard: and it was given out on the road, that they were going on a pilgrimage to St. John at Amiens. Every body believed it; for the Germans are fond of performing pilgrimages, and it is one of their customs. After duke Frederick and his niece, the lady Isabella of Bavaria, had been three days at Brussels, they took leave of the duchess: it was, however, her intention to be at Amiens as soon, if not sooner, than they were.
They went through Hainault to Quesnoy, where they found the duke and duchess, and William count of Ostrevant and his wife; by all of whom they were most graciously received, for duke Albert was his uncle. They were much surprised at their coming, and enquired the reasons of it. “Certainly,” said duke Frederick, “I have had much difficulty to persuade my brother, but, as you see, I have at last brought him to consent that I should conduct his daughter hither. On taking leave, he called me aside and said, “Now, Frederick, my fair brother, you are carrying away Isabella, and upon no certain conditions; for if the king of France refuse her, she will be for ever ruined: therefore, consider well this business, for should you bring her back, you will never have a more bitter enemy than me:’ and you see, my good uncle, the dangerous situation I am in.” “Dear nephew, do not be alarmed; for, if it please God, she shall be queen of France, and you stand acquitted of blame, and remain the affections of your brother.” They remained at Quesnoy for three weeks, during which time the duchess, who was very able, tutored the young lady of Bavaria, as to her manners and appearance; and did not allow her to keep the clothes she then wore, as being too plain and simple for the French fashions, but had her dressed up and adorned as if she had been her own child. When all had been properly prepared, the duchess and her daughter, the future duchess of Burgundy, set out in great magnificence for Amiens, with the young lady, where the duchess of Brabant was already arrived, as were the king, the duke and duchess of Burgundy, and the council.
The lord de la Riviere, sir Guy de la Trimouille, with many barons and knights, went out of the city of Amiens to meet the company from Hainault, whom they escorted into town with many honours, and they visited each other out of love and affection. But the king could hardly close his eyes that night from the desire of seeing her who was afterwards his spouse. He asked the lord de la Riviere when he should see her. This question much amused the ladies. And on the Friday when the young lady was dressed for the occasion, the three duchesses presented her to the king. She instantly kneeled down very low, but the king directly raised her up by the hand, and continually kept his eyes upon her: so that from that time love and pleasure pierced his heart.
The constable, observing what passed, said to the lord de Coucy, “By my faith, this lady will remain with us: the king cannot take his eyes off her.” When the ladies had remained some little time with the king, they took leave of him, and carried back the damsel. 41 But, as the intentions of the king were not known, the duke of Burgundy charged the lord de la Riviere to sound him when he retired to his closet, which he diligently did, by saying, “Sire, how do you like the young lady? will she remain with us?” “Yes, by my troth, will she,” replied the king, “for she pleases us, and you will tell my good uncle of Burgundy to hasten the business.”
When the lord de la Riviere had heard these words, he repeated them to the duke of Burgundy, who announced them to the ladies; and they were so well pleased thereat, they began carolling. The whole court were joyous on the occasion; and it was intended by the king’s uncles to celebrate the feast at Arras, but it did not please the king to go further. He entreated his uncle to make every haste, for he assured him that he wished no delay, but was anxious to have the business completed in the good city of Amiens. “Very well, my lord,” replied the duke, “it shall be as you order.”
The duke of Burgundy, in company with the constable, sir Guy de la Trimouille and several others, waited on madame de Hainault, and found her niece seated beside her. The duke related all that had passed, adding, that he king had made him alter his intention as to the place where the marriage ceremony was to be performed; for he was so deeply smitten, that he had owned he could neither sleep nor take any repose on account of her whom he wished for his wife, but on the morrow they would cure all his ailings. The duchess went out in a fit of laughter, and they separated from each other with much joy and satisfaction.
* At the castle of Biseglia, near Bari.
† The Hungarian nobles, tired of the government of two women (Elizabeth the wife of Louis, and Mary his daughter) and their favourites, secretly called in Charles of Durazzo, who in spite of the entreaties of his wife Margaret, whom he appointed regent of the kingdom of Naples, set sail on the 4th September 1385, for Signa in Sclavonia, and was proclaimed king by the nobles unanimously, in a diet held at Alba-Royal. He was, however, in February, 1385, old style, or 1386 new style, set on by assassins employed by the queen’s favourites, and brought to the ground by a sabre cut on the head; all his attendants were massacred. Charles survived his wounds, but he was imprisoned at Visgradi, and on the 3d of June 1386 poison completed the work left unfinished by the sword. Sismondi’s Italian Repub. — ED.
‡ This is a mistake; the lady’s name was Mary, not Margaret; Froissart appears to have been also misinformed regarding the proposed alliance between her and the count de Valois, for she had already been betrothed to Sigismond, marquis of Brandenburg, whom she afterwards married, and no mention is made of it by other historians. — ED.
CHAPTER CLXIII. — FRANCIS ATREMEN TAKES DAMME. — THOSE OF BRUGES ATTEMPT TO RETAKE IT.
ON a Saturday night, Francis Atremen marched with seven thousand men from the Quatre Mestiers, whither he had retreated after the failure of his attempt on Ardembourg: he had promised his townsmen, on his departure, that he would never return until he had taken some good town. The Ghent men were desirous of finding the French employment, so that they should be unable to send more men to the admiral of Scotland, to make war on the English; for it was currently reported, that the constable, together with a large body of men at arms and cross-bows, was about to embark to reinforce those sent to Scotland.
Francis Atremen, being an expert man at arms, sallied out one Saturday evening from the country called Quatre Mestiers, and when it was dark, advanced to the walls of Bruges, in hopes of taking it, but could not. When he found he could do nothing, he marched towards Damme, and met his spies whom he had sent thither and round that neighbourhood: they told him he would do well to advance to Damme, for sir Roger de Guistelles had left it, and only women were there. This was true; for he had gone to Bruges, thinking the inhabitants were able to defend themselves, but in this he was disappointed. When Francis Atremen heard that sir Roger de Guistelles was not in Damme, he divided his men into two divisions, and, taking the smallest, said to the other, “You will advance to that gate, and make no attack until you hear our trumpets sound: then attempt the barriers, and cut down and destroy all, and on the side we will break down the gate, for we shall never enter the town by ladders.”
His orders were punctually obeyed. He advanced with the smaller division, leaving the other behind him: the foremost marched with ladders through the ditches, where they met with no resistance, and, having passed the mud, fixed their ladders to the walls: on entering the town, they sounded their trumpets and made for the gates without opposition, for they were masters of the place, the good people being still in their beds. It was the 17th day of July when Damme was thus surprised. They advanced to the gate, and broke all the bars of it with strong axes: those without destroyed the barriers, and thus all sorts of people entered the town.
The inhabitants began to be in motion; but it was too late, for they were made prisoners in their houses, and those whom they found armed were slain without mercy. Thus was the good town of Damme taken, wherein they found much wealth: in particular, cellars full of Malmsey and other wines. I heard also that those of Bruges had brought thither great 42 riches for fear of a rebellion of the populace whom they suspected. Francis Atremen was much rejoiced on being master of Damme, and said, “Now I have well kept my promise to Ghent: this place will enable us to conquer Bruges, Sluys, and Ardembourg.” He instantly issued a proclamation, that not the smallest harm or insult should be offered to the noble ladies in the town; for there were seven ladies, the wives of knights, who had come thither to visit madame de Guistelles, who was with child and near lying-in. After having pillaged the town and put to death those who would not join their party, they began to repair it.
When those in Bruges heard of this, they were much enraged, and not without cause: they instantly armed and marched to Damme, and began to skirmish and attack it; but it was of no avail, for they lost more than they gained: they therefore marched back to Bruges. You may suppose, when this news reached Ghent, they were much pleased, and considered it as a valiant enterprise, and also looked on Francis Atremen as a gallant soldier.
CHAPTER CLXIV. — KING CHARLES ESPOUSES THE LADY ISABELLA OF BAVARIA. — HE BESIEGES DAMME.
WE will return to the marriage of king Charles of France, and relate how it was concluded. The duchess Margaret of Hainault, who had the young queen under her care, on the morning of the wedding dressed her out handsomely, as she knew well how to do, when the duchesses of Brabant and Burgundy came thither grandly attended by ladies and damsels. These three ladies conducted the lady Isabella of Bavaria in the richest covered cars ever seen, with a crown on her head, that was worth all the wealth of the country, and which the king had sent to her a little before. The bishop of Amiens performed the marriage ceremony in the presence of the lords and ladies before mentioned*. After the mass and other ceremonies thereto appertaining, the king, with the lords, ladies, and damsels went to dinner, which was very sumptuous and magnificent, and that day the counts and barons served at it in grand array. After dinner, they amused themselves in different manners, which continued with great enjoyment until evening, when the king retired with his bride.
The feasts were continued until the Tuesday following, when news was brought to the king and to his council that Francis Atremen had taken the town of Damme. A herald arrived at the same time from the duke of Bourbon, who brought letters that Taillebourg, with its castle and bridge, had been subdued, and that the duke, with his army, was on full march to besiege Verteuil, having already conquered back again in Poitou and Limousin, six fortresses. This news rejoiced somewhat the court, and made them indifferent as to the loss of Damme: but it was determined the king should not undertake any thing until he had marched to Flanders and re-taken Damme. He declared he would enter the Quatre Mestiers, from whence this mischief had sprung, and would not leave any house undestroyed. Messengers were immediately sent over the kingdom with summons for every man at arms to be in Picardy by the first of August, to march to Damme. This was soon spread through France, and all knights and squires made their preparations for waiting on the king as they had been commanded. This same day, duke Frederick of Bavaria, duke Albert, and the other barons took leave of the king and departed for their homes, leaving behind the lady Isabella of Bavaria, now Queen of France as you have heard. The king of France, who had sent his summons through the realm, declared he would not return to Paris before he had been at Damme. On the twentieth day of July he set out from Amiens, with the constable and many lords, and came to Arras, where he slept one night. On the morrow he went to Lens†, in Artois: men at arms were daily coming to him from all quarters. He continued his march until he arrived at Ypres, so that by the first of August he was before Damme, and quartered himself so near the town that the arrows flew over his head.
Three days afterward arrived William of Hainault, who was very welcome to the king and to my lord of Burgundy. The siege was laid to Damme in a handsome manner, and Francis Atremen was enclosed within it. He behaved very gallantly, for every day there were attacks and skirmishes, unless prevented by short truces. The lord de Clary, master 43 of the ordnance to the lord de Coucy, was hit by an arrow‡ from the town, which caused his death: it was a pity, for he was a gallant knight. Those of Bruges and Ypres came to this siege; and there were present upwards of one hundred thousand men. The king was quartered between Damme and Ghent. The lord de St. Py and the lord de Guistelles were the commanders of the Flemings: they had about twenty-five lances, and quartered themselves among them for fear of dissensions.
An attack was made on Damme at which all the lords were present. William of Hainault was made a knight by the king’s hand, and that day he displayed his banner: during the course of the siege he showed himself an excellent knight. The French, by this assault, lost more than they won, for Francis Atremen had with him some English archers who sorely galled the assailants: he had also many pieces of artillery, for the town, before it was surprised, was well provided; and Francis had ordered more thither from Ghent when he knew it was to be besieged.
* The marriage took place on the 18th July, 1385. — ED.
† “Lens,” — four leagues from Arras.
‡ D. Sauvage’s edition says, that the lord de Clary, whilst approaching the town to view the guns on the walls was struck by a quarrel from one of them, not by an arrow. — ED.
CHAPTER CLXV. — SOME CITIZENS OF SLUYS ARE BEHEADED FOR TREASON TO THE FRENCH. — THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ACQUIRES SLUYS FROM SIR WILLIAM DE NAMUR, BY AN EXCHANGE FOR THE LANDS OF BETHUNE.
DURING the siege of Damme, some of the principal citizens of Sluys who governed it, were accused of high treason against the king of France: they wanted to deliver the town to his enemies, to murder the governor and all his garrison in their beds, and to set fire to the numerous fleet of France, which was then at anchor in their port, well filled with all sorts of stores. Before the expedition to Damme, the king of France had intended to follow his admiral to Scotland. These wicked people of Sluys also meant to destroy the dykes of the sea, and drown all or the greater part of the army. This had been bargained for by those of Ghent, and it was all to have been done in one night: it would have been executed if one of the inhabitants of the town had not overheard the malice they were devising. He directly went to the governor and told him what was intended, and named the greater part of the conspirators. The knight was much astonished when he heard of this, and taking with him his garrison, which consisted of about sixty lances, went to the houses of the different conspirators, whom he arrested and sent to separate prisons under a strong guard. He then mounted his horse, and hastened to the king’s tent, before Damme, where the duke of Burgundy at that time chanced to be. He related to them all that he had heard and done: how near the town was being lost, and his army drowned. The king and his nobles were much surprised; and the governor was ordered to return to Sluys, and to keep his prisoners no longer confined, but instantly to put them to death, that others might from them take example. The governor, on his return, had them beheaded, and thus ended the business.
This same week, the duke of Burgundy, by the advice of sir Guy de la Trimouille, who had last summer resided at Sluys with a considerable force, resolved to open a negotiation with his cousin, sir William de Namur, to obtain that town by exchange for other lands, to add it to the country of Flanders, which lands were equally profitable as to revenue. Sir William de Namur was much displeased when he first heard this proposal for an exchange; for the town of Sluys, with its dependencies and sea-rights, was a noble and profitable inheritance: it had also devolved to him from his ancestors, which made him like it the more. Notwithstanding this, since the duke of Burgundy was desirous of it, he found it necessary to comply. It was the intention of the duke, when in possession of it, to erect there a handsome and strong castle, like to Calais and other places, which should command the harbour of Sluys, and garrison it with men at arms and archers, so that none could approach his territories without danger from them. He said, he would build it high enough to see it from twenty leagues at sea. In short, sir William was so hard pressed by the duke and his council, that he consented to the exchange of Sluys for the whole territory of Bethune, which is one of the fairest inheritances of the whole country. It was given to him and to his heirs. Immediately afterwards, the duke set workmen on the castle he intended to build at Sluys. We will now return to the siege of Damme, and say how it prospered.
CHAPTER CLXVI. — FRANCIS ATREMEN AND HIS MEN ABANDON DAMME. — THE TOWN IS DESTROYED BY THE FRENCH; THEY ALSO RUIN THE COUNTRY OF THE QUATRE MESTIERS.
THERE were several skirmishes almost daily at the barriers of Damme, where many were wounded and slain. The walls could not be approached because the ditches were filled with mud and filth: and, if it had been rainy weather, the army would have had enough to do, and must have decamped whether they would or not: but for the space of one month, during which this siege lasted, there never fell one drop of rain. They had provision in great abundance; but the stench of the beasts killed by the army, and the dead horses corrupted the air, and caused many knights and squires to be so ill and low spirited that they retired to Bruges or elsewhere: the king was wont to lodge at Marle, notwithstanding his tents were left standing in the camp. It was the intention of Francis Atremen to hold out this siege till the reinforcements which he expected to see from England should arrive to raise it: for it is certain that Francis, and the men of Ghent, had sent to England for assistance. The uncles of the king of England would undoubtedly have carried over a sufficiently of men at arms and archers, if the admiral of France had not at that time been in Scotland with so large a force.
When Francis Atremen found, after the king of France had besieged him for a month, that he was not to expect any succour, and that his artillery began to fail, he was much cast down, and said to those of his council, — “I will, that all of us from Ghent return home: but let it be made known to them secretly, so that none of the town be informed of our intended departure, and attempt to save themselves, with their wives and children, by sacrificing us. They would obtain peace, and we should be slain: but I must take good care to prevent this; for we will keep in a body, and go round the town to visit the guard. We will secure all the inhabitants, not having arms, in the churches, and give them to understand, we do so because we expect a grand attack to be made to-morrow, and do not wish them to suffer from it. We must tell the guard of the night that we intend to beat up the enemy’s quarters, and the moment we are in the plain we will spur for the fastest to Ghent.” His council replied, that he had well spoken. Every man made his preparation accordingly, and in the evening packed up their all, and put the women, children and lower sort of people in the churches; they even ordered thither the ladies of the knights who were prisoners, telling them, that on the morrow there was to be a grand attack, and they wished them not to be frightened: all this was thought very proper.
The first hour of the night the Ghent men went their rounds: there were none of their townsmen on the walls, but only those of Damme. Francis Atremen said to them, — “Keep up a strict watch about midnight; and on no account, whatever you may see or hear, quit the battlements, for in the morning we shall be attacked; but I am resolved this night to beat up their quarters.” His words were believed, for they thought he was speaking the truth. After Francis Atremen had arranged all his business, he ordered the gate to be opened, and sallied forth with those of his townsmen from Ghent. They were not half a league from the town when day appeared, and the inhabitants discovered that Francis and his companions were gone off: they were much disheartened: but their leaders began to negotiate with those belonging to the king, and said they had killed Francis Atremen the preceding evening.
Several of the town, understanding that Francis Atremen was gone away, and the gate still open, set out from the town as fast as they were able. When this news arrived at the camp, the Bretons and Burgundians, who were eager for pillage, mounted their horses, and pursued them within two leagues of Ghent: several were slain, and upwards of five hundred made prisoners; they were not from Ghent, but the inhabitants of Damme who were running away. Whilst they were pursuing them on all sides, the town, now defenceless, was 45 attacked: the French entered it at different parts by ladders, which they carried over the ditches with much difficulty. When they had entered, they imagined they should roll in riches; but the found nothing, except poor people, women and children, and great quantities of good wine. In spite, therefore, they set fire to the town and burnt almost the whole of it. The king, and duke of Burgundy were much vexed at this, but they could not prevent it. The noble ladies were, however, saved, but with some difficulty, from having any harm done to their persons.
After Damme had been thus regained by France, the king was advised to decamp and to fix his own quarters at a small town two leagues from Ghent called Artavelle, and that, during the time he should be there, the men at arms should scour the country of the Quatre Mestiers, and completely destroy it; because, in former times, all sorts of provision were sent from thence to Ghent, and more assistance given to that town from those countries than from any others. The king of France and his army marched from before Damme: he took up his quarters at Artavelle; during which time the men at arms destroyed the country, burning all houses, monasteries and forts, which held out for them. They left not any house whole, and killed or drove into the woods all the women and children. When the French had completed this destruction, they were ordered to march and lay siege to the castle of Gaure, and afterwards to do the same to Ghent. But all this ended in nothing.
CHAPTER CLXVII. — THE KING OF FRANCE LEAVES FLANDERS, AND DISBANDS HIS ARMY. — DURING THE TIME HE IS AT PARIS, TREATING WITH AMBASSADORS FROM HUNGARY, NEWS ARRIVES THAT THE MARQUIS DE BLANCQUEFORT* HAD FORCIBLY MARRIED THE HEIRESS OF HUNGARY.
INTELLIGENCE was brought to the king, while at Artavelle, that the queen of Hungary had sent the bishop of Vassereul, attended by several knights and squires as her ambassadors, who had brought credential letters to say that they were come to seek for the lord Lewis of France, count de Valois, and who signed himself king of Hungary, to conduct him to his wife in Hungary, whom John de la Personne, a French knight, had espoused by procuration for the said Lewis count de Valois. This news pleased greatly the king and his council, who, being desirous of properly equipping the young count de Valois, resolved to return to France, saying they had done enough for this season. The king set out from Artavelle the 12th day of September, and disbanded all his men at arms, when each returned to his home.
The king went to Cray†, where the queen resided; for, when he left Amiens to go to Flanders, she was sent thither to hold her court. I know not how many days he staid there with her; but, when they left it, the king came to Paris, and the queen went to Vincennes, where she resided a while, for they were busily employed in the equipment of the young count, as they were anxious he should have furniture and attendants suitable to his rank as king of Hungary; but things in a short time turned out differently in Hungary, as you shall hear‡. 46 True it is, that the queen-mother of Hungary took great delight in the idea of Lewis of France being king of Hungary, and considered her daughter as married to him. She wished not for any other but him for her son-in-law; and with this intent she had sent the bishop of Vassereul, with many knights and squires, to conduct him to his queen.
It happened, that while these ambassadors were on their road to France, the emperor of Germany, who styled himself king of the Romans, had a brother younger than himself, called Henry de Blancquefort.§ The king of the Romans had been informed of the state of Hungary, of the treaties which had been entered into with the count Louis de Valois, and that the before named ambassador was gone to conduct him to Hungary. The king of the Romans loved his brother’s interest more than his cousin’s, had long considered this business, and had already arranged it in his mind to bring it cautiously and secretly about according to his own plan; for, had the queen of Hungary had the slightest intimation of his intent, she would have guarded effectually against it; but it was clear she had not.
It was known to the council in Germany, that the queen of Hungary and her daughter were gone to a castle near the borders of Germany, to amuse themselves; upon which, the marquis de Blancquefort set off with a large body of men at arms, ten thousand at least, to lay siege to this castle and enclose the ladies within it. The queen, on perceiving her situation, was thunderstruck, and sent to know from the marquis why he thus kept her confined, and what he wanted. The marquis sent for answer, “it was done solely because she intended marrying her daughter to the brother of the king of France, who was a stranger, and from whom she could never have any comfort;” adding, that “it would be better and more advantageous for the kingdom of Hungary, if he, who was her neighbour, should marry her, than another, who came from such a distant country as Louis de Valois.” The queen answered, that she had never before heard one word of his pretensions, and for that reason had consented to her daughter’s union with the brother of the king of France: besides, the king of Hungary, during his lifetime, had ordered her so to do.” To this the marquis replied, that “he paid little attention to what she said; that he had the consent and good-will of the greater part of the Hungarian nation, and that he would, by fair means or otherwise, have her, now she was in his power.” The lady was much cast down at these words, but, notwithstanding, held out as well as she could; and, though she sent to her subjects to come to her assistance, none obeyed, nor did they make the least movement against the marquis, which plainly showed the Hungarians preferred the Germans to the French.
When the queen found she was not to expect any assistance from her subjects, she began to listen to reason; for the marquis threatened her, that if she suffered the castle to be taken by storm he would confine her in a tower, where she should have only bread and water, as long as she lived. These menaces frightened her, for the place was weak, and she had come thither without enough of men or provision. She therefore entered into a treaty with the marquis; and in this situation she gave him her daughter, who was directly married, and he instantly went to bed with her.
Thus did sir Henry of Bohemia, marquis de Blancquefort, gain the inheritance of Hungary, of which he was king rather through force than love, with regard to the consent of the queen-dowager; but she was obliged to abide by this bargain, or worse might have happened. News of this was soon published, and it was sent to the bishop and knights of Hungary who were on their return from France; for the count de Valois, having completed his arrangements, had proceeded as far on his journey as Troyes. He was much enraged when this event was told him; but he could not any way remedy it. The Hungarians departed very angry, as indeed they had reason; and the young count de Valois returned to his brother and uncles at Paris, who, having never depended much on this marriage, said, “the count de Valois was fortunate in having his wife taken from him, for Hungary was a distant country, and out of reach of the French, from whence they could never had had any 47 assistance.” These considerations made them indifferent about it, and induced them to think of another connection for him. This was the duke of Milan’s daughter, heiress of Lombardy, which territory is more valuable than all Hungary, and nearer at hand to the French.
We will leave these marriages, and speak of the duke of Bourbon, who, having taken Taillebourg, was in Poitou besieging Verteuil; and return to the admiral of France in Scotland, and say how we went on.
* This, I suppose, should be Brandenburgh.
† “Cray.” Q. If not Craonne, which is a town in Picardy.
‡ There must be some mistake, or perhaps Froissart was misinformed, for I cannot find any mention of the crown of Hungary being offered to the count de Valois. Underneath is all that is said of the matter in the “Art de Vérifier les Dates.”
Mary, surnamed King Mary. — Mary, daughter of Charles the Great, was crowned in Albe Royale, or Stul Weissembourg, in the year 1382, under the name of King Mary. As she was too young to govern the kingdom, the regency was given to her mother queen Elizabeth. Nicholas de Gara having gained the confidence of the two princesses, ruled despotically in their names, insomuch that it excited great murmurs among the Hungarians. In the year 1385, Charles le Petit, king of Naples, at the solicitations of the discontented party, arrives at Buda, seizes the government, and caused himself to be crowned king of Hungary in Albe Royale the 31st of September, in the same year. On the 5th of February following, he is assassinated in Buda, by order, and in the presence of Elizabeth. — On the 1st of May, 1386, John Horwarh, ban of Croatia, surprises the two queens, attended by Nicholas de Gara, while on a journey: he massacres the last before their eyes, drowns Elizabeth the ensuing night, and carries off Mary prisoner to Croatia. Sigismond, marquis of Brandenbourg, flies, on hearing this, to deliver Mary, to whom he was betrothed. He joins her at Albe Royale, whither she had been sent, marries her at that town, and is crowned king of Hungary on the 10th of June, Whitsunday, being only twenty years old. The ban of Croatia was this same year arrested by his order, and expiated his crimes by tortures. Mary died at Buda, 1392. Her body was buried at Peter-Waradin.
§ This should be Sigismond marquis of Brandenburg; he was a son of the emperor Charles IV. and brother of the emperor Wenceslaus, and had been betrothed to Mary in his infancy. The whole story concerning the count de Valois is very apocryphal; no other historian mentions it. — ED.
CHAPTER CLXVIII. — THE DUKE OF BOURBON TAKES VERTEUIL IN POITOU, AND RETURNS TO THE KING OF FRANCE AT PARIS.
DURING the time the king was before Damme, the duke of Bourbon, with a handsome body of men at arms, made his excursion into Poitou and Limousin, where he took many English castles and forts, such as Archeac, Garnate, Montlieu eight leagues from Bordeaux, and Taillebourg on the Charente; he then laid siege to Verteuil, a strong castle in Poitou, on the borders of Limousin and Saintonge. Andrew Prior an Englishman, and Bertrand de Montrinet, a Gascon, were governors of Verteuil, and had with them numbers of stout companions. There were skirmishes, therefore, almost daily at the barriers, and many gallant deeds of arms done, in which several were slain or wounded. The duke declared he would not move from thence until he was master of the castle, for to this effect had he given his promise the last time he had conversed with the duke of Berry.
It happened that while Bertrand de Montrinet, one of the governors, was planning a ditch to be made within the castle to add to its strength, and showing his people how to bank it, a stone, shot from a dondaine* by the besiegers, wounded him mortally, and caused his instant death. This Bertrand had escaped from sixteen very dangerous sieges. His companions lamented much his death; but, as that was not irretrievable, Andrew remained sole governor. Fifteen days afterwards, negotiations were opened, and a treaty concluded, that the garrison should surrender the castle, with all its provisions, on being conducted in safety to Bouteville, of which place Durandon de la Perede was governor. Thus did the French gain the castle of Verteuil, which they afterwards repaired and reinforced with stores, artillery and men at arms. They then marched to an adjoining town called Cares, and, when they departed thence, came to Limoges, where the duke of Bourbon remained full eight days. He was advised to return to Paris, which he did, and found the king with his nephew the count de Valois, who received him with great joy.
We will now return to the affairs in Scotland, and speak of the admiral of France.
* “Dondaine,” — a large machine to throw stones from.
CHAPTER CLXIX. — THE SCOTTISH ARMY WITH THAT OF THE ADMIRAL OF FRANCE ENTER NORTHUMBERLAND, — BUT THE ENGLISH, BEING ON THEIR MARCH TO MEET THEM, THEY RETREAT WITHIN THE BORDERS.
YOU have before heard how the admiral of France, with a large body of men at arms, had landed at the port of Edinburgh, and that they found it a very different country from what they had expected from the accounts of the barons of Scotland. The king’s council and other barons had told those knights who had been in Scotland last year, particularly sir Geoffry de Charny and sir Amyard de Marse, that if the séneschal, the constable or the admiral of France would cross the sea to Scotland with a thousand good lances and five hundred cross-bows, with armour for a thousand Scotsmen and proper equipments for their leaders, with their assistance the rest of Scotland would make such a fatal irruption into England, it would never recover the blow. With this expectation had the French crossed the sea, but had not found these promises realised. In the first place, they met with savage people, bad friends and a poor country; and the knights and squires knew not where to send 48 their varlets to forage, for they dared not do so except in very large numbers for fear of the wicked people of the country, who lay in wait for them, attacked and killed them.
At last, king Robert of Scotland arrived, with red bleared eyes, of the colour of sandalwood, which clearly showed he was no valiant man, but one who would rather remain at home than march to the field: he had, however, nine sons who loved arms. On the king’s arrival at Edinburgh, the barons of France, waited on him to pay him their respects, as they well knew how to do: the earls of Douglas, Moray, Mar, Sutherland, and several more, were at this interview. The admiral requested the king to fulfil the terms on which they had come to Scotland; for that on his part he was resolved to enter England. Those barons of Scotland who were eager to advance themselves were much rejoiced at hearing this, and replied, that if it pleased God, they would make such an inroad as should be both profitable and honourable.
The king issued his summons for a very large armament: on the day fixed for their assembling at Edinburgh, there were thirty thousand men on horseback, who as they arrived took up their quarters after the manner of the country, but they had not every thing comfortable. Sir John de Vienne was very impatient to make an excursion and to afford his men opportunities of performing gallant deeds of arms in England: he no sooner saw the arrival of the Scottish men at arms than he said it was time to march, for they had remained idle too long. The departure was then proclaimed, and they took their march towards Roxburgh. The king was not with the army, but remained at Edinburgh; however, all his children accompanied it. The thousand* complete sets of armour brought from France were delivered to the Scottish knights who were badly armed, and those who had them were much delighted. They began their march towards Northumberland, which 49 they continued until they came to the Abbey of Melrose, where they quartered themselves on each side the river Tweed: on the morrow, they advanced to Lambir Law, and then came before Roxburgh.
The governor of the castle of Roxburgh for the lord Mountague, to whom it belonged as well as all the circumjacent lands, was a knight called sir Edward Clifford. The admiral of France, with his whole army, as well as the Scots, halted before it, and, having reconnoitred it, thought hey should gain nothing by the attack, as the castle was large, fair, and well provided with artillery. They therefore continued their march down the river, towards Berwick and the sea, until they came to two square towers, tolerably strong; in which were two knights, father and son, of the name of Strande. A good farm of fine fields of grass, with a country-house, was hard by, which was instantly burnt and the towers attacked. Several feats of arms were performed, and many of the Scots wounded by arrows and stones; but the towers were at length taken by storm, and the knights within them, who had valiantly defended themselves as long as they had been able.
After the conquest of these two towers, the Scots and French came before a very strong castle in another part of the country, which is called Werley†; it belonged to sir John Mountague. Sir John Lussebourne was the governor for him, and had in it his wife, children, and all his family; for he had been informed that the Scots and French were advancing that way. He had, in consequence, fully provided the place with men at arms and artillery, to the utmost of his power, in expectation of the attack. The army soon came and encamped before Werley, situated on a handsome river which runs into the Tweed below it. There was one grand assault on this castle, where the French behaved much more valiantly than the Scots: f r they crossed the ditches, though with much difficulty; and, having fixed their ladders, many gallant deeds were done, for the French ascended to the battlements, and there fought hand to hand and dagger to dagger with the garrison. Sir John Lussebourne showed himself a good knight and powerful in arms, by engaging the French knights as they mounted the ladders. At this attack a German knight, called sir Alberis Gastelain, was slain, which was a pity; many others were killed and wounded. The enemy, however, were so numerous, and the attack so often renewed, that the castle was taken, and the knight, his wife, and children, who were within it. The French who first entered made upwards of forty prisoners: the castle was then burnt and destroyed, for they saw they could not keep nor guard it, being so far advanced in England.
After the capture of this castle, and of sir John Lussebourne, the admiral and barons of France and Scotland marched towards Amith‡; the estate of the lord Percy, and quartered themselves all around it. They destroyed several villages, and marched as far as Boul§, a handsome and strong castle on the sea-coast, belonging to the earl of Northumberland: they did not attack it, for they knew they should lose their labour, but continued their march to half-way between Berwick and Newcastle-on-Tyne, where they learnt that the duke of Lancaster, the earls of Northumberland and Nottingham, the lord Neville, with the barons of the counties of Northumberland, York, and Durham, were hastening with a large force to meet them¶. The admiral and barons of France were much delighted at this intelligence, for they were desirous of an engagement; but the Scots were of a contrary opinion, and advised a retreat towards Scotland, on account of their stores, and to have their own country in their rear and wait for the enemy on their own borders. Sir John de Vienne wished not to act in contradiction to their wishes, and followed what they had advised; they did not therefore advance further into Northumberland, but made for Berwick, of which place sir Thomas Redman was governor, and had with him a great number of men at arms. The French and Scots came before it, but made no attack, and continued their road to Roxburgh, on their return to their own country.
News was spread all over England, how the French and Scots had entered Northumberland, and were burning and destroying it. You must, however, know, that before this, the arrival 50 of the admiral and the French in Scotland was known. All the lords were therefore prepared, and the king had issued his summons: as they assembled, they took the road to Scotland, threatening much the Scots. The English at this time had made greater preparations than ever for their expedition to Scotland, as well by land as by sea; for they had freighted six score vessels, laden with stores and provision, which followed their march along the coast. The king took the field, accompanied by his uncles, the earls of Cambridge and Buckingham, his brothers sir Thomas and sir John Holland. There were also the earls of Salisbury and Arundel, the young earl of Pembroke, the young lord de Spencer, the earl of Stafford, the earl of Devonshire, and so many barons and knights, that they amounted to full forty thousand lances, without counting those of the duke of Lancaster, the earl of Northumberland, the earl of Nottingham, the lord Lucy, the lord Neville, and other barons of the marches, who were in pursuit of the French and Scots, to the number of two thousand lances and fifteen hundred archers. The king, and the lords who attended him, had full fifty thousand archers, without including the varlets. He hastened so much the march of his army after the duke of Lancaster, that he arrived in the country about York; for he had had intelligence on the road that there was to be an engagement between his men and the Scots in Northumberland; and for this reason he had made as much haste as possible. The king lodged at St. John de Beverly, beyond the city of York, in the county of Durham, where news was brought him that the Scots had returned to their own country. The army therefore quartered themselves in the county of Northumberland. I will relate an accident that happened in the English army, which caused a mortal hatred between different lords.
* In other editions the number is stated as two hundred, which appears more probable. — ED.
† “Werly.” Q. if not Wark.
‡ “Amith.” Q. Alnwick.
§ “Boul.” Q. if not Cornhill.
¶ Mr. Redpath, in his Border History, gives a very short account indeed of this expedition, and of these places: he adds, — “It is said, they took and destroyed the castles of Wark, Cornhill, and Ford.”
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