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went himself, with few attendants, to wait on the king of England, who was well pleased with his diligence.

In the interim, the dauphin, when he was informed of the great army that was marching against him, broke up his siege of Chartres, and retreated to Tours. When the king and the duke of Burgundy had held several councils on their further proceedings, it was agreed that the duke should return to Picardy to oppose the Dauphinois, who were doing great mischief there by means of the influence of sir James de Harcourt.

CHAPTER CCXLIII.-THE

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

DURING the time that the duke of Burgundy was on his march, and when he was with the king of England, the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Saintrailles collected about twelve hundred horse, and, passing through Vimeu, crossed the Somme at Blanchetaque, where they were met by sir James de Harcourt: they thence proceeded to St. Riquier, and gained admittance into the town through the influence of sir James. They treated successfully with Nycaise de Boufflers for the surrender of the castle of La Ferté, which was given up to them; as was that of Drugy, belonging to the abbot of St. Riquier. When they had established themselves in these places, they overran the adjacent country, and even sailed on the river Canche, to a large village called Conchy, and completely burnt the whole, together with a very handsome church, into which the principal inhabitants had retreated with their effects, the greater part of whom were led prisoners to St. Riquier. In another part, the strong fort of Dourier, proudly seated on the river Authie, was surrendered to Poton de Saintrailles; and, by means of this acquisition, the town and neighbourhood of Montreuil were greatly harassed.

The duke of Burgundy heard, on his return with his army, at a town called Croissy, that the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Saintrailles had gained possession of St. Riquier, and how they were proceeding. On this he assembled his council; and it was determined that menat-arms should be summoned from all parts, and cross-bowmen from the towns under the dominion of the king of France, that St. Riquier might be besieged. With this intent he went to Amiens, and solicited succours, which were granted to him. He thence despatched his messengers to different towns, to make similar requests: the greater part of them promised to serve him liberally. When the duke departed from Amiens, he went through Dourlens, to fix his quarters at Auxi, on the river Authie, within three leagues of Saint Riquier. He was there rejoined by sir John de Luxembourg, who had been detached with a certain number of combatants, through Dourmart in Ponthieu, toward St. Riquier, to make inquiry as to the number and situation of the Dauphinois.

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

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

THE duke of Burgundy advanced his whole army from Auxi to a large village called Viurens, within a league from St. Riquier. On the morrow he marched by this last town, and quartered himself and his army at Pont de St. Remy, on the night of the feast of the Magdalen. Some of his men were lodged in large houses near the bridge; but the Dauphinois, who were in the castle and island, discharged rockets into them, and set them on fire, which forced the Burgundians to retire, and fix their quarters further off. Two days after their arrival, the cross-bows from Amiens, and a body of men-at-arms who escorted them, descended the Somme in twelve boats, ready to attack the castle and island. But the Dauphinois, on learning that they were near at hand, took fright, and, packing up their baggage, fled to the castle of D'Airaines, leaving Pont de St. Remy without any guard. Some women, who had remained in the island, lowered the drawbridge on the side where the Burgundians lay, who instantly entered the place, and plundered all that the Dauphinois had left. This same day, by orders from the duke of Burgundy, the castle and town were burnt, wherein were many handsome houses. In like manner, on this and on the following day, were destroyed the castles of Marveil and Jaucourt, which the Dauphinois had deserted from fear of the duke.

While the duke of Burgundy was thus employed at Pont de St. Remy, sir John de Luxembourg went to the town of St. Riquier, under proper passports from the lord d'Offemont, with one hundred picked men-at-arms as an escort to six knights, well mounted and accoutred, who were to perform a deed of arms against six champions of the Dauphinois under the lord d'Offemont. This combat had been previously settled by messages which had passed between the parties. The Burgundian champions were Henry l'Allemant, the bastard de Robaix, Lyonnet de Bournouville, and three others. The Dauphinois were the lord de Verduysant, Guillaume d'Aubigny, and four others, whose names I have forgotten. On the parties meeting, the justings commenced; but at the onset the two Dauphinois killed the horses of their opponents: the others broke several lances gallantly enough; but, from the shortness of the time, two on each side could not just,-and there was no one wounded on either side. The parties took a friendly leave; and sir John de Luxembourg returned with his company to the Pont de St. Remy, and the lord d'Offemont re-entered St. Riquier.

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

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

AFTER the destruction of Pont de St. Remy, the duke of Burgundy departed for Abbeville with his army, a part of which was quartered in the suburbs. About the end of July, he marched to St. Riquier, and fixed his quarters in the castle of la Ferté, which a little before,

together with the castle of Drugy and the suburbs, had been set on fire. His men were quartered in other places near sir John de Luxembourg, at the gate of St. John leading toward Auxi: the lord de Croy, some days after, was lodged near the gate of St. Nicholas toward Abbeville. At the gate of the Heronhault, leading toward Crotoy, there was not any lodgement of men-at-arms, which gave free liberty to the garrison or inhabitants to go in and out of the town at their pleasure, on horseback or on foot. Numerous reinforcements from the principal towns, in consequence of his summons, now joined the duke. When the quarters had been all marked out, the Burgundians made their approaches near to the walls, and began severely to annoy the garrison. The duke might have under his command, as well men-at-arms as archers and cross-bows, including those sent from the towns, five or six thousand combatants. The enemy, under the lord d'Offemont, Poton de Santrailles, Verduysant, Mengues, and other captains in the town, might consist of twelve or fourteen hundred men; for in addition to those they had brought thither, sir James de Harcourt had sent them some of his most expert soldiers; and they exerted themselves to the utmost to resist the attacks of the Burgundians.

It would be too long and tedious were I to attempt to enumerate all the sallies of the garrison, but in truth they made many in which they gained more than they lost; and in the number was one by which they captured some of the duke's captains, the principal of whom were sir Emond de Boubers, Henry l'Allemant, John de Courcelles, John de Crevecœur, one called Ancellet, and some other noblemen. In the meantime, the engines which the duke had erected broke down the gates and walls, and even destroyed some of the houses within the town; and those which the besieged had pointed against the Burgundian army were equally destructive, so that many lives were lost on both sides during this siege. Sir James de Harcourt sent frequent messengers to the lord d'Offemont, to exhort him and his brother captains to hold out with courage, for that they would shortly be succoured, as he had sent for relief from divers places in Champagne, Brie, Valois, to Compiègne and other places attached to the interest of the dauphin, and had earnestly besought them to assemble as large a force as they possibly could to join him, and offer battle to the duke of Burgundy. In consequence of this request, the Dauphinois did assemble in force in the neighbourhood of Compiègne, whence they were to begin their march. The duke, however, continued the siege with vigour; but hearing of the intentions of the Dauphinois to force him to raise it, and to offer him battle, he called a council to determine in this case how he should act. It was resolved that the duke should break up the siege, and advance to fight the Dauphinois before they could effect a junction with sir James de Harcourt and the others. In conformity to this resolution, on the 29th of August the duke despatched Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecœur at nightfall from the camp, with six-score combatants, to cross the Somme at Abbeville, whence they were to advance into Vimeu to inquire diligently into the state and condition of the Dauphinois; he earnestly entreated and commanded them to attend particularly to his orders, and to send him as soon as possible a true statement of what the Dauphinois were intending, adding, that his whole army should very speedily follow them. These two captains rode during the night to Abbeville, where having refreshed their horses a little they advanced into Vimeu. In the meantime, the duke of Burgundy secretly made his preparations for breaking up the siege by packing up his tents, baggage, and stores, and, having set fire to his camp, marched straight for Abbeville. On his arrival there, those of his army who chose to eat or to drink were obliged to do so on horseback; for he would not suffer any one to dismount, as he was every moment expecting intelligence of the enemy from Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecoeur. When they had entered Vimeu, they observed about sun-rise, toward Oisemont, the Dauphinois in handsome array, briskly pushing forward and making for the ford of Blanchetaque. They were so near that some of the Dauphinois were taken by them; and by their means they acquired full knowledge of their intentions. They sent them instantly to the duke, who, as I have said, was at Abbeville, that he might hasten his march to meet them before they could cross the river. The duke, on receiving this intelligence, was much rejoiced, and immediately quitted the town and pressed his march as much as he could, leaving behind at Abbeville his archers and crossbows. The Dauphinois saw the duke's army was pursuing them, and consequently made all

haste to gain the ford of Blanchetaque, and cross the Somme to sir James de Harcourt, who was waiting for them on the opposite side near to Saint Riquier. During this time, repeated messengers were sent to hasten the march of the duke, who, on his side, was equally eager to come up with the enemy, and his forces pushed forward as fast as their horses could carry them. The Dauphinois were in the act of passing the river Somme, when, perceiving the Burgundians, they deliberately changed their purpose and returned to the plain, where they drew up in battle-array, and advanced with every appearance of giving battle to the duke, although they were very inferior in numbers to his army. Poton de Santrailles had joined them that night, with twelve others from St. Riquier, in order to be present at the battle. The two parties were now advanced near enough to observe exactly the numbers on either side; and because some of the duke's men were behind, several heralds and poursuivants were sent to hasten them forward.

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

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

On Saturday, the 31st of August, the two armies kept advancing with much courage, and halted about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at three bow-shots' distance from each other. During this short halt, many new knights were hastily created on both sides. In the number was the duke of Burgundy, by the hand of sir John de Luxembourg, when the duke did the same to Philip de Saveuses; and there were knighted of his party Collart de Commines, John d'Estenu, John de Robais, Andrew and John Villain, Philebert Andrenet, Daviod de Poix, Guerrard d'Acties, the lord de Moyencourt, Le Moyne de Renty, Colinet de Brimeu, Jacques Pot, Louis de Saint-Saulieu, Guillain de Halluin, Derre de Cauroy and others.

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

When this ceremony was over, the duke sent the banner of Philip de Saveuses, with sixscore combatants, under the command of sir Mauroy de Saint-Leger and the bastard de Roussy, across the plain to fall on the flank of the Dauphinois. Both armies were eager for the combat; and these last advanced with a great noise, and fell on the division of the duke with all the strength of their horses' speed. The Burgundians received them well; and at this onset there was a grand clattering of arms, and horses thrown to the ground in a most horrible manner on each side. Both parties now began to wound and kill, and the affair became very murderous; but during this first shock of arms one-half of the duke's forces were panic-struck and fled to Abbeville, where being refused admittance they galloped on for Picquigny. The duke's banner was carried away with them; for in the alarm the varlet who had usually borne it forgot to give it to some other person, and in his flight had thrown it on the ground, where it was found and raised by a gentleman called John de Rosimbos, who rallied about it many of the runaways who had until that day been reputed men of courage and expert in arms. They had, however, deserted the duke of Burgundy, their lord, in this danger, and were ever after greatly blamed for their conduct. Some pretended to excuse themselves by saying, that seeing the banner they thought the duke was with it. It was also declared, on the authority of Flanders king-at-arms, that to his knowledge the duke was either killed or made prisoner, which made matters worse; for those who were most frightened continued their flight across the Somme at Picquigny to their homes, whence they did not return.

Some of the dauphin's forces, perceiving them running away from the duke's army, set out

VOL. I.

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on a pursuit after them,-namely, John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel, with about sixscore combatants, and killed and took a good many of them. They imagined they had gained the day, and that the Burgundians were totally defeated; but in this they were mistaken, for the duke, with about five hundred combatants of the highest nobility and most able in arms, fought with determined resolution, insomuch that they overpowered the Dauphinois, and remained masters of the field of battle.

According to the report of each party, the duke behaved with the utmost coolness and courage; but he had some narrow escapes, for at the onset he was hit by two lances, one of which pierced through the front of his war-saddle and grazed the armour of his right side; he was also grappled with by a very strong man, who attempted to unhorse him, but his courser, being high-mettled and stout, bore him out of this danger. He therefore fought manfully, and took with his own hands two men-at-arms, as he was chasing the enemy along the river-side. Those nearest his person in this conflict were the lord de Longueval and Guy de Rely, and some of his attendants, who, though few in number, supported him ably. It was some time before his own men knew where he was, as they missed his banner; and when John Raullet and Pierron de Luppel returned from their pursuit of the Burgundian runaways, expecting to find their companions victorious and on the field of battle, they were confounded with disappointment on seeing the contrary, and instantly fled toward St. Valery, and with them the lord de Moüy; others made for D'Airaines.

The duke of Burgundy, on coming back to the field of battle, collected his men, and caused the bodies of those to be carried off who had fallen in the engagement, particularly that of the lord de Viefville. Although all the nobles and great lords who had remained with the duke of Burgundy behaved most gallantly, I must especially notice the conduct of John Villain, who had that day been made a knight. He was a nobleman from Flanders, very tall and of great bodily strength, and was mounted on a good horse, holding a battle-axe in both hands. Thus he pushed into the thickest part of the battle, and, throwing the bridle on his horse's neck, gave such blows on all sides with his battle-axe that whoever was struck was instantly unhorsed and wounded past recovery. In this way he met Poton de Saintrailles, who, after the battle was over, declared the wonders he did, and that he got out of his reach as fast as he could.

When the duke had collected his men, and had caused the dead to be inspected and stripped, he returned to Abbeville, where he was joyously received, with those of the Dauphinois who had been made prisoners, namely, the lord de Conflans, Louis d'Offemont, sir Gilles de Gamaches, his brother Louis, sir Louis de Thiembronne, Poton de Saintrailles, the marquis de Serre, his brother de Saint-Saulieu, sir Regnault de Fontaines, Sauvage de la Riviere, John de Proisy governor of Guise, sir Raoul de Gaucourt, sir John de Rogan, Bernard de St. Martin, John de Joigny, the lord de Mommor, John de Verselles, le bourg de la Hire, Yvon de Puys, John de Sommam, Hervé Dourdis, and others, to the amount of one hundred and six-score.

There were left dead on the field, of both parties, from four to five hundred men; but it was thought only from twenty to thirty were Burgundians, and chiefly belonging to the lord de Viefville and John lord of Mailly*. Those of note slain of the Dauphinois were, sir Peter d'Argensy lord of Ivry, Charles de Saint-Saulieu, Galhaut d'Aarsy, Thibaut de Gerincourt, sir Corbeau de Rieux, sir Sarrasin de Beaufort, Robinet de Verseilles, Guillaume du Pont, the bastard de Moy, and many other gentlemen, to the above amount.

The prisoners made and carried off by the Dauphinois were, sir Colart de Commines, sir Guillain de Halluyn, the lord de Sailly en Hernaise, Lamon de Lannoy, and some others. In this engagement, sir John de Luxembourg, from his too great eagerness at the onset, was made prisoner by a man-at-arms called le Mouse, and carried away to some distance, but he was rescued by a party of his own and the duke's men. He was, however, very badly wounded on the face and across his nose. In like manner was the lord de Humbercourt taken, wounded, and rescued.

* Moreri says that the lord de Mailly himself was killed in this engagement. He was succeeded by his brother, also named John, and called le jeune, also l'Estendart,

who was afterwards a very distinguished warrior on the part of Charles VII. The lord de Viefville is mentioned to have been killed in the preceding page.

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