in comparison to them. The duke, nevertheless, was in good spirits, and only regretted that he had not the rest of his troops to give combat to these Bruges men, now in absolute rebellion. Those with him were very uneasy, and those without much vexed at their situation: the last heard from some of their companions the disagreeable state their lord was in, and also saw eight or ten of their fellow-soldiers, pursued by the townsmen, leap from the ramparts to save themselves in the ditches wherein they were drowned.

This confusion and affray, in the town of Bruges, lasted a full hour and half, when the duke was informed that the mob were preparing to fall on him in immense numbers and with artillery, so that resistance would be vain. He was advised to make a desperate attempt to gain possession of the gate, cost what it would, before this mob should arrive. He advanced, therefore, to the gate, with all the men he now had; and the enemy, as before, retreated from it. Large hammers were got from a smith's house hard by, with which the bolts and bars were broken,-and on opening the gate the army rushed out with a hearty good-will; but the duke, mounted on a handsome courser, had remained steady in the midst of the tumult, though nearly approached by the enemy, and, like a good shepherd, saw all his men out of the gate before him, and then took the road to Rousselaire, whence he had marched that morning, much hurt that affairs had turned out so ill, and sincerely grieved at the loss of the lord de l'Isle-Adam and others of his people.

The greater part of the army were so panic-struck with what had happened, that it was with difficulty they could be marched in any order. Neither sir Roland de Hautekirk nor sir Colart de Comines had entered the town with the duke, who lost that day, in killed, upward of a hundred of his men. They were all interred together in a grave in the hospital churchyard, except the lord de l'Isle-Adam, who was buried apart,—and his body was afterward removed, with great solemnity, into the church of St. Donât at Bruges.

Two hundred prisoners were made by the townsmen, and on the Friday following, thirty-two of them were beheaded; the rest had their lives saved by the intercessions of the churchmen and foreign merchants, who earnestly exerted themselves in the business. At the end of eight days, they set at liberty all the attendants of the duke, with their baggage; but they hung and quartered the blacksmith, for having given hammers to break down the gates: his name was Jacob van Ardoyen. On the side of the townsmen, there were not more than twelve killed; and among the Picards, none of name but the lord de l'Isle Adam and an usher of the apartments to the duke, named Herman. The Bruges men remained night and day under arms, and in very great bodies, not only within the town, but through all parts of their jurisdiction. They shortly after pulled down the house of a citizen called Gerard Reubs.

With regard to the duke of Burgundy, he went to Rousselaire, and thence to Lilie, where many councils were held to consider how he could reduce the town of Bruges to his obedience. It was proposed, in order to accomplish this the sooner, to have it proclaimed through all the adjoining towns and villages, that no persons should carry any provisions to Bruges under pain of being reputed an enemy to the prince. This was done; and the men of Bruges, though surprised and fearful of the consequences, did not relax in continuing the business they had begun.

CHAPTER

CCXIV.THE BASTARD DE LA HIRE MAKES AN EXCURSION THROUGH THE COUNTRIES OF PERONNE, ROYE, AND MONDIDIER, WHERE HE COMMITS GREAT WASTE. Ar this season, the bastard de la Hire was posted in the castle of Clermont in the Beauvoisis, with about sixty or four score combatants, with whom he sorely harassed the adjoining countries, more particularly the castlewicks of Peronne, Roye, and Mondidier, belonging to the duke of Burgundy. Thither they made frequent excursions, carrying away each time to their garrison great plunder in cattle and other effects, notwithstanding the peace concluded at Arras between the king of France and the duke. One day, they came before the town of Roye, and drove off cattle, and whatever else they could lay hands

on, to the castle of Clermont. They were usually accompanied by several garrisons as well from Mortemer*, belonging to William de Flavy, as from others. The governor of Roye for the duke of Burgundy, was a valiant nobleman, called Aubert de Folleville, who, hearing of th ir enterprise, assembled with all speed as many men-at-arms as he could collect, and instantly pursued them, in the hope of recovering the plunder they were carrying away. He overtook them at a village called Boulogne, and immediately charged them; but they had seen him coming, and had placed an ambuscade, who sallied out against sir Aubert, and, from their superior numbers, defeated him and put him to death. Many gentlemen were likewise killed, such as the souldan de la Bretonnerie, his nephew Hugh de Bazincourt, the bastard d'Esne, Colart de Picellen, Jacques de Bruyiere, Jean Basin, Simon le Maire, and several more: the rest saved themselves by the fleetness of their horses.

The duke of Burgundy was greatly vexed at this defeat, and at similar inroads being made on his territories, and to oppose these pillagers, the count d'Estampes reinforced the garrisons of Peronne, Roye, and Mondidier with men-at-arms.

CHAPTER CCXV.-KING CHARLES OF FRANCE ORDERS HIS CAPTAINS TO RECONQUER SOME TOWNS AND CASTLES FROM THE ENGLISH.-HE MARCHES IN PERSON AGAINST MONTEREAU-FAUT-YONNE, AND RECAPTURES IT.

In these days, king Charles sent orders to his nobles and captains, scattered throughout the realm, to meet him, on an appointed day, at Gien-sur-Loire, as he was resolved to regain some of the towns and castles the English held near to Montargis and in the Gâtinois. The king was met at Gien by the constable of France, sir Jacques d'Anjou, the count de Perdiac, the count de Vendôme, the bastard of Orleans, and others. It was there determined in council, that the constable and the count de Perdiac should advance to Château-Landon † with their men, and besiege it. This was instantly executed, and the place surrounded on all sides, to the great alarm of the English garrison. They were so far inland, that they had little hopes of being relieved, and were beside badly provided with provision and stores: notwithstanding, they made show as if they meant to defend themselves to the last.

When the constable summoned them to surrender on having their lives spared, they made answer, that they were not so advised, and that it would cost him dear before such an event happened. However, on the third day, they were so courageously attacked, that the place was taken by storm, when the greater part of those within were hanged, especially such as were natives of France: the rest had their liberties on paying ransoms. When this business was finished, the two lords marched their army to besiege Nemours; which held out for about twelve days, when it surrendered, on the inhabitants and garrison having their lives and effects spared, and being allowed to march off to Montereau.

While these things were passing, sir Gascon de Logus, bailiff of Bourges, in Berry, in company with other captains, laid siege to the town and castle of Terny, held by the English, which, after a few days, surrendered, on the garrison having their lives and fortunes spared. When they marched away, sir Gascon, mounted on a spirited courser, escorted them part of the road; but, on spurring him, the horse turned short round, and the knight fell with such force that he was killed on the spot, and Poton de Saintrailles was, by the king, appointed bailiff of Bourges in his stead. Shortly after, the king, with his company, went from Gien to Sens in Burgundy, and thence to Braye-sur-Seine. From this place, he sent the lord de Gaucourt, sir Denis de Sailly, Poton de Saintrailles, Boussac, the bastard de Beaumanoir, with other captains, and about sixteen hundred fighting men, to Montereau-faut-Yonne. They posted themselves on an eminence opposite the castle, on the side toward Brie, and raised there a large blockhouse, which they fortified as strongly as they could, placing therein a numerous garrison.

* Mortimer, a village in the election of Mondidier.

Château-Landon,-in the Gâtinois, three leagues from Nemours.

The constable, the count de Perdiac, the bastard of Orleans, sir James de Chabannes, with their men, advanced on the side toward the Gâtinois, and took up their quarters near to the town. After them came the lord de Valogne, sir Anselm de la Tour, bailiff of Vitry, Regnault Guillaume, bailiff of Montargis, who posted themselves on the island, between the two rivers, so that the place was surrounded on all sides by the army of the king of France; and they pointed so many cannons against the walls that they were soon greatly damaged. The commander-in-chief, within the town and castle, for the king of England, was sir Thomas Gerard, having under him Mondo de Montferrant, Mondo de Lausay, and other valiant captains, together with three or four hundred combatants, who made as vigorous a resistance against their enemies as their circumstances would permit. They had great hopes of succour from the English commanders in Normandy, according to their promises.

The king of France now arrived at Montereau from Bray-sur-Seine, grandly accompanied, and was lodged in the blockhouse before mentioned. He had with him six or seven thousand, well tried and well equipped, fighting men. On his arrival, the greatest exertions were made to approach the town,-and the cannons, and other engines, were continually in action; the king even did not spare himself in the labours of this siege. At the end of six weeks, or thereabouts, from the commencement of the siege, the town was won by storm, with little loss to the assailants. With regard to the besieged, from twenty to thirty were killed, and as many made prisoners, the greater part of whom were hanged. The king, on making his entry, strictly forbade any mischief being done to the persons of the inhabitants, men, women or children, who had retired within churches or monasteries; but as for their effects they were plundered, as is usual when any place is taken by storm.

Many new knights were made at the storming, namely, the young count de Tancarville, son to sir James de Harcourt, Robert de Bethune lord de Moreul, and others. The king and most of the princes were lodged in the town; and, about fifteen days afterward, those in the castle surrendered to the king, on having their lives and fortunes spared. The bastard of Orleans was then appointed governor, who regarrisoned it with his own men. When this business was settled, the king and dauphin, with great part of the princes, went to Melun. The men at arms separated, in companies, to divers places, but most of them went to Paris.

CHAPTER CCXVI.-THE MEN OF BRUGES MAKE FREQUENT EXCURSIONS FROM THEIR TOWN, AND LAY THE LOW COUNTRIES UNDER CONTRIBUTION.

We must now return to what was going forward at Bruges, the inhabitants of which continued their mad and foolish rebellion against their prince. They made frequent sallies in large bodies to forage the low country, and to destroy the houses of all whom they suspected as enemies. Among others, they took the castle of Koecklare, held by the bastard of Bailleul, and did great damage to it. On the other hand, when they remained within the town, they committed many acts of injustice on such as they knew were of a contrary way of thinking to themselves. In the number of their wicked deeds, they caused the deacon of the handicraft trades to be beheaded, on a charge which they made against him of intending to deliver up the town to the Ghent men. But all the principal and most wealthy citizens had left Bruges, and gone to other places for fear of them.

The commonalty next collected a body of three or four thousand, and marched against Sluys, with every implement of war to lay siege to it, for they had an implacable hatred against it. The duke of Burgundy and sir Simon de Lalain were in that place, with a certain number of combatants; notwithstanding this, the men of Bruges remained before it three-andtwenty days, and made many attacks on the barriers and gates,-in which numbers were killed and wounded on each side, but more especially on that of Bruges. The duke of Burgundy, during this time, was assembling a large force of the nobles and men-at-arms in Picardy, and in his lordships near to St. Omer, with intent to give them battle. But in the interim, the Bruges men, fearful of the consequences, prevailed on those of Ghent to mediate between them and the duke, and returned quietly to Bruges.

CHAPTER CCXVII.-THE ENGLISH RECOVER THE TOWN OF FECAMP IN NORMANDY.

Ar this period, the English laid siege to the town of Fecamp in Normandy. They remained before it about three months, when it capitulated, on the garrison and townsmen having their lives and fortunes spared. It was, however, within a few days after, reconquered by the French. A severe warfare was now carrying on throughout Normandy, and frequent skirmishes took place between the parties, one of which deserves notice*.

La Hire, Poton de Saintrailles, the lord de Fontaines, L'Avagan, and other captains, had one day collected about six hundred fighting men, and advanced toward Rouen, in the expectation of gaining some advantage over their adversaries the English. Having failed, they returned toward Beauvais; but as they and their horses were much fatigued, they halted at a village called Ris, to refresh and repose themselves.

During this time, sir Thomas Kiriel, with a body of English, surprised the village, and defeated them completely, with little loss, before they could arm and collect together. The lord de Fontaines, Alardin de Moussay, with numbers of others, were made prisoners; La Hire, with difficulty, escaped by the goodness of his horse, but he was severely wounded in many places. Poton de Saintrailles, and others, escaped also,-but they lost the greater part of their horses and arms. The English, after this victory, returned to Rouen: joyful at their success, however, they soon after lost the town of Fecamp, as has been related.

CHAPTER CCXVIII.- -THE LORD D'OFFEMONT MAKES LA HIRE HIS PRISONER WHILE HE WAS PLAYING AT BALL AT BEAUVAIS.

WHILE these matters were passing, the lord d'Offemont, who had not forgotten the ill treatment he had suffered from La Hire, when he was made prisoner and ransomed at Clermont in the Beauvoisis, as has been mentioned, assembled a body of about six score combatants, under his brother-in-law the lord de Moy, the bastard de Chauny, and other captains. By means of the lord de Moy he led them to the city of Beauvais, of which La Hire was governor, and was at this moment playing at ball in the court of an inn having the sign of St. Martin. The lord d'Offemont hastened thither with his men, for he had learned where La Hire was, from his spies; but La Hire hearing of his approach, had hidden himself in a stable under the manger, where he was found and taken, after some search, by the lord d'Offemont's men, together with one called Perret de Salle-noire. They were instantly mounted behind two men-at-arms, and told, that if they made the slightest noise, or cry to be rescued, they would that moment be put to death. Without further delay, they were carried through the gates of the town; but several of his men, and the common people, assembled to pursue them and attempt their deliverance, when some skirmishing took place with arrows. They were first carried to the castle of Moy, and thence to Meulan, where they were detained a considerable time. They were afterwards removed to the castle of Ancret, belonging to the lord d'Offemont, and kept prisoners.

The king of France and many of his officers were very angry at this capture, for it had taken place on the territories of France; but the nobles who had accompanied the lord d'Offemont excused themselves by saying, that they had done this service to the lord d'Offemont from their near relationship in blood to him. The king wrote very pressing letters to the duke of Burgundy in favour of la Hire, that he might be set at liberty, and that no personal harm might be done to him. In short, the matter was so strongly urged that the duke of Burgundy found means, partly by threats, that the whole of their quarrel should be submitted to his decision, after it had been discussed before his council. The discussion lasted for several days, in the presence of the duke at Douay, when, as well perhaps to please the king (who had very strongly written to him,) as because he did not think the mode of † Ancre, or Albert, a small town in Picardy, diocese

This expedition and failure have been before related

in chapter ccxii, with very little variation in the first, it of Amiens, four leagues from Peroane. Was to gain Rouen by surprise and treachery.

making La Hire prisoner fair or honourable, but just the contrary, the duke made up the quarrel, and the lord d'Offemont had his castle of Clermont restored to him, and a sum of money paid, but not so much as he had been forced to give for his ransom. Perret de Sallenoire was ordered to pay one thousand crowns for his liberty. Thus were all differences settled between them, and they were made friends.

At the same time, peace was made between La Hire and sir John de Luxembourg, who had hated him mortally, as well for his having taken Soissons as for other damages he had done to different parts of his territories; and they remained to all appearance good friends ever after. La Hire soon returned to the king of France, and related all the kindness and favour the duke of Burgundy had shown him, from his regard to his majesty. This was very agreeable to the king, who entertained La Hire very splendidly, and gave him, at the same time, wherewithal to discharge the greater part of his ransom, and the other expenses he had incurred.

When La Hire's men heard that they were to quit the castle of Clermont, they set about repairing an old fortress called Thoys, belonging to the lord de Crevecoeur, wherein they placed themselves, and again began to harass all the country near to Amiens and Pecquigny, more especially the lordships of those who had been assisting in the capture of La Hire, their captain. The principal leader, both in the reparation of the castle and in their oppressions of the country, was one who called himself Philip de La Tour.

CHAPTER CCXIX.-CHARLES KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS FIRST ENTRY INTO PARIS AFTER ITS REDUCTION. THE PREPARATIONS FOR IT.

ON Tuesday the 12th of November, in this year, king Charles of France was lodged in the town of St. Denis. He was accompanied by his son the dauphin of Vienne, the constable of France, the lord Charles d'Anjou, the counts de Perdiac, de Vendôme, and the young count de Tancarville, sir Christopher de Harcourt, the bastard of Orleans, and a very great number of nobles, great lords, knights, and esquires. La Hire was also there, in very grand state.

The provost of merchants and the sheriffs of Paris came out as far as La Chapelle to meet him, attended by the citizens, cross-bows, and archers of the town, dressed in robes similar to those of the peers. When they met the king, the provost presented him with the keys of Paris, which the king delivered to the care of the constable. The provost and sheriffs then expanded a blue canopy, studded with flowers-de-luce of gold, over the king's head, and thus supported it as he proceeded. He was next met by the governor of Paris, attended by his common sergeants, having each of them a hood half green and half crimson. After the sergeants came the notaries, attorneys, advocates, and commissaries of the Châtelet. Then came persons representing the Seven Virtues and the Seven Deadly Sins, dressed in character, and on horseback: they were followed by the judges of the parliament, of the court of requests, the presidents, and by crowds of people.

Thus nobly accompanied, did the king make his entry into the city of Paris by the gate of St. Denis. Three angels supported a shield bearing the arms of France over the gate, above which were placed angels singing, and underneath was written in large characters,

"Most excellent and noble king,

The burghers of this loyal town
To you their grateful offering bring,
And bow before your royal crown."

At the Little Bridge was a fountain, over which was a pot having a flower-de-luce, whence spouted good hippocras, wine, and water: two dolphins were playing in the fountain,—and above the whole was a terrace, vaulted with flowers-de-luce, which exhibited a representation of St. John Baptist pointing to the Agnus Dei, surrounded with angels singing melodiously. In front of Trinity Church was a pageant of the passion of our Lord, and how Judas hanged himself. Those who exhibited this did not speak, but acted as in a pantomime. The acting was good, and very affecting.