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About this time, sir Lyonnel de Bournouville, who had lost his town and castle of Creil, requested some men-at-arms from the duke of Bedford to re-conquer one of his castles called Breteictre, which the French had won. His request was granted, and he took the fort by storm, putting to death all within it,—but he was so severely wounded himself that he died soon after.

CHAPTER LXX. THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES AN ATTACK ON THE CITY OF PARIS.

DURING king Charles's stay at Compiègne, news was brought him that the regent-duke of Bedford had marched with his whole army to Normandy, to combat the constable near to Evreux, where he was despoiling the country. The king did not leave Compiègne for ten or twelve days, when he marched for Senlis, appointing sir William de Flavy the governor. Senlis surrendered on capitulation to the king, who fixed his quarters in the town, and distributed his army in the country about it. Many towns and villages now submitted to the king's obedience; namely, Creil, Beauvais, Choisy, le Pont de St. Maixence, Gournay sur l'Aronde, Remy la Neuville en Hez, Moignay, Chantilly, Saintry, and others.

*

The lords de Montmorency and de Moy took the oaths of allegiance to him; and, in truth, had he marched his army to St. Quentin, Corbie, Amiens, Abbeville, and to other strong towns and castles, the majority of the inhabitants were ready to acknowledge him for their lord, and desired nothing more earnestly than to do him homage, and open their gates. He was, however, advised not to advance so far on the territories of the duke of Burgundy, as well from there being a considerable force of men-at-arms, as because he was in the expectation that an amicable treaty would be concluded between them. After king Charles had halted some days in Senlis, he dislodged and marched to St. Denis, which he found almost abandoned, for the richer inhabitants had gone to Paris. He quartered his men at Aubervilliers, Montmartre, and in the villages round Paris. The Maid Joan was with him, and in high reputation, and daily pressed the king and princes to make an attack on Paris.

It was at length determined that on Monday, the 12th day of the month, the city should be stormed, and, in consequence, every preparation was made for it. On that day, the king drew up his army in battle-array between Montmartre and Paris; his princes, lords, and the Maid, were with him; the van division was very strong; and thus, with displayed banner, he marched to the gate of St. Honoré, carrying thither scaling-ladders, fascines, and all things necessary for the assault. He ordered his infantry to descend into the ditches; and the attack commenced at ten o'clock, which was very severe and murderous, and lasted four or five hours. The Parisians had with them Louis de Luxembourg, the bishop of Therouenne, king Henry's chancellor, and other notable knights, whom the duke of Burgundy had sent thither, such as the lord de Crequi, the lord de l'Isle-Adam, sir Simon de Lalain, Valeran de Bournouville, and other able men, with four hundred combatants. They made a vigorous defence, having posted a sufficient force at the weakest parts before the attack began. Many of the French were driven back into the ditches, and numbers were killed and wounded by the cannon and culverines from the ramparts. Among the last was the Maid, who was very dangerously hurt; she remained the whole of the day behind a small hillock until vespers, when Guichard de Thiembronne came to seek her. A great many of the besieged suffered also. At length the French captains, seeing the danger of their men, and that it was impossible to gain the town by force against so obstinate a defence, and that the inhabitants seemed determined to continue it, without any disagreement among themselves, sounded the retreat. They carried off the dead and wounded, and returned to their former quarters. On the morrow, king Charles, very melancholy at the loss of his men, went to Senlis, to have the wounded attended to and cured.

The Parisians were more unanimous than ever, and mutually promised each other to *John II. lord of Montmorency, Escouen, and Dam- royal cause, that he disinherited his two sons for being ville, grand chamberlain before 1425.-So faithful to the Burgundians.

oppose, until death, king Charles, who wanted to destroy them all. Perhaps, knowing how much they had misbehaved by forcing him to quit Paris, and by putting to death some of his most faithful servants, they were afraid of meeting with their deserts.

CHAPTER LXXI.--THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY SENDS AMBASSADORS TO AMIENS, TO KEEP UP HIS INTEREST WITH THE INHABITANTS.

In these days, the duke sent as ambassadors, to Amiens, the bishops of Noyon, of Arras, the vidame of Amiens, and others, to remind the mayor and townsmen of the good affection which he and his predecessors had ever shown them; and to say, that if there was any thing he or his friends could do for them, they were at their commands; requesting them, in return, to persevere in their attachment to his interests, like good friends and neighbours. The townsmen of Amiens, seeing themselves thus honoured and courted by such ambassadors from so mighty a prince, were in the highest spirits, and said among themselves, that it would be well to put their town under his protection, on his abolishing all taxes. They replied to the ambassadors, that they would shortly send commissioners to the duke to declare their intentions. They did send commissioners in conjunction with deputies from Abbeville, Montrieul, St. Riquier, Dourlens, and others, who were instructed to demand an abolition of taxes. This was not granted by the duke; but he promised them his support and assistance to obtain their demand from king Henry.

At this time the duke of Burgundy summoned from Picardy and the adjacent parts, all those who had been accustomed to bear arms, to be ready prepared to join and march with him where he might please to lead them. They were soon assembled in great bodies, and passed muster at Beauquêne, where they took the oaths before sir James de Brimeu, constituted marshal for this purpose. They advanced toward Abbeville and St. Riquier, where they remained a considerable time waiting for the duke of Burgundy, which was a heavy oppression to those parts.

CHAPTER LXXII.-CHARLES KING OF FRANCE RETURNS TO TOURAINE AND BERRY.

KING Charles, finding the city of Paris unwilling to submit to his obedience, resolved with those of his council to appoint governors to all the towns and castles which had surrendered to him, and to return himself to Touraine and Berry. Having determined on this, he made Charles de Bourbon, count of Clermont, governor in chief of the Isle de France and of Beauvoisis: his chancellor had the command in the town of Beauvais, the count de Vendôme at Senlis, William de Flavy, at Compiègne, sir James de Chabannes at Creil. The king, atended by the other great lords who had come with him, went from Senlis to Crespy, and thence, by Sens and Burgundy, to Touraine; for the truce between the Burgundians and French did not expire until Easter. The passage of the Pont de St. Maixence, of which the French now had possession, was again intrusted to the hands of Regnault de Longueval,— so that all that part of France was at this time sorely distressed by the French and English garrisons making daily inroads on each other; in consequence of which the villages were deserted, by the inhabitants retiring to the strong towns.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.—DUKE PHILIP OF BURGUNDY CONDUCTS HIS SISTER BACK TO PARIS, IN GREAT POMP, TO HER LORD THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.

On the 20th of September in this year, the duke of Burgundy left Hêdin, with his sister the duchess of Bedford, grandly accompanied, and lay that night at Dourlens. They proceeded the next day to Corbie, where they remained some days to wait the arrival of men-atarms who were coming to them from all quarters. From Corbie they went to Mondidier, and thence to Chastenay, quartering the men-at-arms, who amounted to from three to four thousand, in the country round. They crossed the river Oise at Pont St. Maixence, and, passing by Senlis. were lodged at Louvres-en-Parisis.

The duke marched his men in handsome order, sir John de Luxembourg commanding the van, and the duke the main body. Near to him was his sister, mounted on a good trotting horse, attended by eight or ten ladies on hackneys. The lord de Saveuses and other knights, with a certain number of men-at-arms, followed by way of rear-guard. The duke was much looked at by the French, who had come out of Senlis in great numbers on foot and on horseback, armed or not as they pleased, on account of the existing truce. He was completely armed except the head, and mounted on a beautiful horse, and handsomely dressed and equipped, followed by seven or eight pages on excellent coursers.

The archbishop of Rheims, chancellor of France, came first to meet and do him reverence in the plains without Senlis, and shortly after came the count de Clermont, with about sixty knights. When they had drawn near to the duke they both pulled off their hoods, bowed their heads, and addressed each other in obliging terms, but did not embrace through love and joy, as those nearly allied by blood are accustomed to do. After these first salutations, the count de Clermont went to embrace his sister-in-law the duchess of Bedford, who was on the right hand of his brother-in-law the duke of Burgundy,-and having made a short acquaintance with her he returned to the duke; but observing that he did not seem willing to enter into any conversation, or have much to say to him, they took leave of each other and separated on the spot where they had met. Charles de Bourbon and the chancellor went back to Senlis, and the duke pursued his march to Louvres, where, as I have said, he intended to pass the night.

On the morrow, he directed his march toward Paris, whither the duke of Bedford was returned from Normandy. On their meeting, joyous was the reception on both sides, and great and numerous were the embracings. The men-at-arms of the duke of Burgundy were drawn up in array near to Paris, where they waited a considerable time before the harbingers had settled their quarters within the town. This done, the princes and the duchess made their public entry with their men-at-arms. The Parisians were highly delighted at the arrival of the duke of Burgundy, and sung carols in all the streets through which he passed. They conducted the regent and his duchess to the palace of the Tournelles, and then the duke to his hôtel of Artois.

Great councils were held on the following day respecting the present state of public affairs; and, among other things the duke of Burgundy was required by the Parisians to be pleased to take on him the command of Paris, whose inhabitants had so strong an affection for him, and were ready and willing to support his and his late father's quarrels. They added, that it was absolutely necessary that he should comply with their wishes, considering the very many weighty matters the regent had on his hands in Normandy and elsewhere. The duke of Burgundy granted their request until the ensuing Easter, but it was very much against his inclinations. The two dukes then determined to bring forward all their forces about Easter, in the spring of the year, to reconquer those towns in the Isle of France and on the Oise which had turned against them. Having arranged these matters, the duke of Bedford, with his duchess and the English, departed from Paris. The duke of Burgundy appointed the lord de l'Isle-Adam governor of Paris, with a small number at men-at-arms at St. Denis, the Bois de Vincennes, at the bridge of Charenton, and at other necessary posts. Having settted this business, and tarried in Paris the space of three weeks, he took leave of the queer of France, mother to king Charles, and returned, by the same route by which he had come, to Artois, and thence to Flanders. With him departed several of the burghers of Paris and some merchants.

CHAPTER LXXIV. THE FRENCH AND BURGUNDIANS ATTACK EACH OTHER, NOTWITHSTANDING THE TRUCE.

ALTHOUGH a truce had been concluded between king Charles and the duke of Burgundy, it was very little respected on either side, for they frequently attacked each other. To cover their proceedings, some of the Burgundians joined the English, with whom no truce had been made, and thus carried on open war against the French. The French acted in the same way, by making war on the Burgundians, under nretence of mistaking them for

English, so that the truce afforded no manner of security. Among others, a gallant act was done by a valiant man-at-arms from England, called Foulkes, with whom some of the Burgundians had united themselves: and they were quartered in a handsome castle at Neuville le Roi, which they had repaired.

They formed a plan to surprise the town of Creil and plunder it, and placed an ambuscade near that place, that if the enemy should pursue them, they might fall into it. What they had supposed did happen; for sir James de Chabannes, the governor, hearing a disturbance, instantly armed, and, mounting his horse, galloped into the plain, to attack the English. At the first onset, Georges de Croix was made prisoner, and several unhorsed. A grand skirmish ensued; but, in the end, by the valour and perseverance of the said Foulkes, sir James and two other knights were made prisoners, together with some of their ablest men. In this action, however, Foulkes was struck on the uncovered part of his neck with the sharp point of a spear, so that he instantly died, though the wound was very small. All those of his party who knew him greatly lamented his death, and were sorry at heart, for they looked on him as one of the most valiant and expert men-at-arms in England.

The remaining English now collected together, under their leaders, Bohart de Boyentin and Robinet Eguetin, and returned with the prisoners to their castle. Within a few days they concluded a treaty with sir James de Chabannes, giving him his liberty on his paying a certain sum of money, and delivering up Georges de Croix. The duke of Bedford, perceiving that Château Galliard, from its situation and strength, greatly annoyed the adjacent countries in Normandy, resolved to have it besieged before the enemy could revictual it, or reinforce it. The siege lasted from six to seven months, and it was then surrendered from want of provisions,—and the garrison were allowed to march away with their baggage and effects.

CHAPTER LXXV. THE LORD DE SAVEUSES AND THE BASTARD DE ST. POL ARE MADE PRISONERS BY THE FRENCH, NEAR TO PARIS.-A PARTY OF FRENCH GAIN THE TOWN OF ST. DENIS BY SCALADO.

ABOUT this time, the duke of Burgundy sent the lord de Saveuses and John de Brimeu, with five hundred combatants, to assist the Parisians against the French, who were daily making excursions on all sides of the town, to the great loss of the inhabitants. They quartered themselves in St. Denis, and gained several advantages over the enemy in their many skirmishes; but one day, the French, having formed a junction with some of the garrisons on the side of Montlehery, advanced to Paris, leaving a detachment in ambuscade at a small village. At that time the lord de Saveuses and the bastard de St Pol were in Paris, and, hearing the disturbance, hastily mounted their horses, and set out instantly in pursuit of the enemy, with few attendants, and without waiting for their men-at-arms. The French, in their flight, made for the ambuscade, where these two knights, finding resistance vain, were taken prisoners by them, and carried away, with a few of their attendants, to one of their castles. The bastard de St. Pol was badly wounded in the neck by a lance before he was taken, and was some time in danger of his life. The two knights, however, on paying a heavy ransom, soon returned to Paris, to the great joy of the inhabitants.

On the other hand, the French, under the command of Allain Geron, Gaucher de Bruissart, and other captains, advanced, at the break of day, to St. Denis; in which town, John de Brimeu was lately arrived with some men-at-arms, whom he had brought from Artois, and he had also some of the men of the lord de Saveuses. A party of the French gained admittance by means of ladders, and opening one of the gates, their whole body rushed in, shouting, 'Town won!' and battering down the doors and windows of all the houses wherein they thought there were any Burgundians, who, on hearing the noise, were much alarmed. Some retreated to the strong parts of the town, and John de Brimeu with many to the abbey ; the bastard de Saveuses to the gate leading to Paris, and others saved themselves under different gates; while great part, sallying out of their quarters to join their captains, were made prisoners or slain. Among the prisoners were Anthony de Wistre, Thierry de Manlingehem,

and from twelve to sixteen others, mostly gentlemen. Hautecloque, and a few more, were killed.

Thevenin de Thenequestes, Jean de

While the affray was going on, John de Brimeu and his companions recovered their courage, and began to assemble in different parts where they heard their war-cries; and having introduced a valiant man-at-arms, called Guillaume de Beauval, he collected a body of men and attacked the enemy, who were more intent on pillaging than on keeping good order, and drove them out of the town, with the loss of eight or ten of their men. The lord de Saveuses, then in Paris, hearing of this attack, assembled in haste as many men as he could, and galloped off to succour his friends at St. Denis: but before his arrival the French were gone, and had retreated toward Senlis and others of their garrisons, carrying with them many horses from those in St. Denis.

At this same time, the English besieged the lord de Rambays in his castle of Estrepaigny, the inheritance of the count de Tancarville,-and remained so long battering it with their engines that the lord de Rambays, hopeless of succour, treated with the English for its surrender, on condition that he and his men should depart in safety with their baggage.

CHAPTER LXXVI.—THE ENGLISH MAKE MANY CONQUESTS.

In this year the duke of Bedford had the castle of Torcy besieged, which was the best built and strongest in all that part of the country. The command of the besieging army was given to the bastard of Clarence, who by his cannon and other engines, which he kept continually playing against it, greatly damaged the walls. At the end of six months, the besieged seeing no hope of relief, and finding that their provision began to fail, entered into a treaty with the bastard of Clarence for their surrender, on condition that some of the principal inhabitants might depart whither they pleased with their effects; and that from ten to twelve others, who had formerly been of the English party, but who had even aided the French to win the castle, should remain at their pleasure. These were very cruelly put to death, and the castle was then demolished and razed to the ground.

In the month of January of this year, sir Thomas Kiriel, an Englishman, with four hundred combatants, most part of whom were his countrymen, marched from Gournay in Normandy, where they had been in garrison, passing by Beauvais toward Beauvoisis and the county of Clermont. He committed much mischief in those parts, seized many cattle, especially horses, and made several prisoners. He advanced even to the suburbs of Clermont, and then set out on his return to his garrison. The count de Clermont was then at Beauvais, and hearing of this enterprise of sir Thomas, quickly collected from all the neighbouring garrisons attached to king Charles eight hundred or more combatants. To these were added a multitude of peasants, as well from Beauvais as from the adjacent parts,—and all of them hastened to meet and fight the English. Sir Thomas had heard from his scouts of their coming, and had drawn up his men in battle-array, about a league off Beauvais, to wait for them. They were on foot, having a wood on their rear, and sharp stakes in front to prevent the horse from charging without great danger to themselves. The French, nevertheless, began the attack, and very severe it was on both sides, but, as they were on horseback, were soon repulsed by the arrows of the archers, and thrown into confusion: the English then, seizing their opportunity, rushed on them with such courage that the enemy were defeated, very many being slain, and upwards of a hundred of these peasants made prisoners. They gained the field of battle,-for the horsemen had retreated, very melancholy at their loss, to Beauvais. Sir Thomas, rejoiced at his victory, carried his prisoners and plunder safe to his garrison of Gournay.

The earl of Suffolk, about this time, laid siege to the castle of Aumale, of which the lord de Rambures was governor, having under him six-score combatants. The castle was surrounded on all sides; and at the end of twenty-four days it was constrained to surrender, on condition that the lord de Rambures and his men should have their lives spared, with the exception of about thirty who were hanged, because they had formerly taken oaths of

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