Enguerrand de Monstrelet

“ 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 upward of a hundred of these peasants made prisoners. [Pg 324] 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 other french captains retreated with their men to the places whence they had come.
The English, on their departure, refreshed themselves, and then marched away in haste for their town of Rouvroy, where they halted for the night. On the morrow, they departed in handsome array, with their convoy and artillery, armed with every accoutrement becoming warriors, and in a few days arrived before Orleans, very much rejoiced at their good fortune in the late attack from the French, and at having so successfully brought provision to their countrymen. ”

“ The duke of Burgundy, having finished his business in Hainault, returned to Holland with a great force of men at arms to punish those who, after having sworn allegiance to him, had revolted. On his march, he attacked a town fortified with thick hedges and deep ditches, called Hermontfort, which attack lasted a long time, and was very severe.
The duke crossed the ditches, and valiantly fought in person with his enemies, who defended themselves with the utmost courage, regardless of their lives. ”

“ In these days, Estienne de Vignolles, surnamed La Hire, took the town of Louviers, in Normandy, by surprise, having entered it with scaling ladders. He had with him from five to six hundred men, who found therein such plenty that they were greatly enriched. On their entrance, about thirty townsmen, English and others, were killed. After the capture, the majority of the inhabitants took the oaths of allegiance, to whom La Hire restored their houses and the greater part of their effects: the rest saved themselves as well as they could, leaving their wealth behind them. ”

“ The townsmen of Orleans were greatly rejoiced on seeing themselves, by their dishonourable retreat, delivered from such false and traitorous enemies, who had for so long a time kept them in the utmost danger. Many men at arms were dispatched to examine the remaining forts, in which they found some provision, and great quantities of other things, all of which were carried safely to the town, and made good cheer of, for they had cost them nothing. ”

“ 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. ”

“ We therefore most humbly supplicate the Almighty as knowing the right of my lord in this matter, that he would dispose the hearts of this people so that they may remain in peace without further oppressions ”

“ The duchess was delighted with her victory, but cruelly caused the prisoners to be put to death: and after this, from fear of the arrival of the duke of Burgundy, who was raising an immense army in Flanders and Artois, she raised the siege of Harlem.
In this year, the earl of Salisbury besieged the castle of Moyennes in Champagne, which was beyond measure strong and well garrisoned with men at arms. During the siege, there were many severe skirmishes on each side. In one of them, Valerien de Bournouville, brother to sir Lyonnel de Bournouville, was slain by a lance passing through his body. ”

“ Many gentlemen ascended the battlements, and in sight of the English tore to pieces the crosses they had worn as badges of king Charles, and loudly abused those who had been sent to their relief for perjured traitors.
The garrison was not long before they held a parley with the duke's officers; and persons were chosen on each side to conclude a treaty. On the part of the English were deputed the earl of Salisbury, sir John Fastolfe, sir Pierre de Fontenay, sir John de Poulligny lord de la Motte, Richard Widville, Nicholas Bourdee, grand butler of Normandy, and Pierre le Verrad. ”

“ When the service was finished, the procession moved to St Denis. The body was borne by the attendants of his stable as far as a cross, half way between Paris and St Denis, when the measurers and carriers of salt in Paris took it from them, having each a flower de luce on his breast. They carried the body to a cross near St Denis, where the abbot, attended by his monks and all the clergy of the town, with great multitudes of people bearing lighted torches, received it. Thence with chaunting and singing, recommending his soul to God, was it carried to the church of St Denis. ”

“ The Maid, after this victory, returned to Orleans with the nobles who had accompanied her, and with but little loss of men. Notwithstanding that at these three attacks Joan was, according to common fame, supposed to have been the leader, she had with her all the most expert and gallant captains who for the most part had daily served at this siege of Orleans, mention of whom has been before made. ”

“ In the month of May ensuing, the earl of Salisbury, a knight very expert, and of great renown in arms, by orders from king Henry and his ministers, assembled a force of six thousand combatants, men tried in war, great part of whom he was to carry to France to the aid of the duke of Bedford, [Pg 229] who styled himself regent of that kingdom. The earl sent off a detachment of three thousand to Calais, whence they marched to Paris, to carry on the war against king Charles. ”

“ The duke of Bedford ordered two thousand archers to guard them and the baggage.
Very many new knights were now created on both sides; and when all was ready, these two powerful armies met in battle, about three o'clock in the afternoon, on the 16th day of August, The English, as usual, set up a grand shout as they ad [Pg 92] vanced, which alarmed the French much; and the conflict raged with the utmost violence for three quarters of an hour,—and it was not in the memory of man that such armies had been so long and warmly engaged without victory declaring for either of them. ”

“ THE MAID JOAN, WITH THE CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, THE DUKE D'ALENÇON, AND THEIR MEN, CONQUER THE TOWN OF GERGEAU.—THE BATTLE OF PATAYE, WHEN THE FRENCH DEFEAT THE ENGLISH.
The constable of France, the duke d'Alençon, Joan the Maid, and other captains, having, as I said, taken the field, advanced with their army to Gergeau, wherein was the earl of Suffolk, and from three to four hundred of his men, who, with the inhabitants, made all diligence to put themselves in a posture of defence. The place was very soon surrounded by the enemy, who commenced an instant assault on the walls. ”

“ An assembly of men at arms was then ordered by king Charles at Orleans, and the command of them given by the king to the count de Dunois bastard of Orleans. He had with him sir William d'Albreth lord d'Orval, the lords de Graville, de Villag, de Gaucourt, Estienne Vignolles surnamed La Hire, sir Gilles de St Simon, Gaultier Boussart, and many other captains, amounting to sixteen hundred combatants, all men of tried courage. They commenced their march with a large train of forage-carts, intending only to revictual the town, and not to raise the siege. ”

“ On the other hand, the French, quartered at Guise, made frequent visits to Crotoy and Rue, by which the country was sorely harrassed by each party,—and justice was no where obeyed.
The Burghers and commonalty of Tournay had, at this time, great dissentions, and assembled in arms under the banners of the different trades, that is to say, the great against the small. The commonalty admitted the lord de Moy into the town, who was attached to the party of king Charles, as well as themselves; and they elected several men of low degree for their captains, in place of the provost and their rulers. ”

“ In the month of October, the duke of Glocester and Jacqueline of Bavaria, countess of Hainault, of Holland and of Zealand, (whom the duke of Glocester had married some time before in England, although duke John of Brabant, her first husband, was still alive,) disembarked at Calais with five thousand english combatants, intending to make a powerful invasion on Hainault, and gain the government thereof, as belonging of right to the said Jacqueline. The earl marshal of England was commander in chief of these men at arms. ”

“ Shortly after, the count de St Pol marched away from before Braine, on his return with the army to Brabant; but as the duke of Glocester was with his lady in Soignies, the Brabanters were afraid of being attacked, and therefore all the nobles and gentlemen marched in the same array as if they were about to engage in battle. The commonalty were likewise well drawn up; and they had not advanced far, when the scouts, whom they had left in their rear to bring them information, gave notice that the English had taken the field. ”

“ A LARGE BODY OF ENGLISH AND BURGUNDIANS, ON THEIR MARCH TO BESIEGE GUERBIGNY, ARE ATTACKED AND CONQUERED BY THE FRENCH.
Duke Philip of Burgundy was in Brabant when he heard that the French had forced his men to raise the siege of Com [Pg 389] piègne. He was much troubled thereat, as well for the loss of his troops in killed and wounded as for the great sums of money he had expended on this siege. He, however, made preparations to return to Artois with all the men at arms he had with him, and summoned his nobles to assemble as large a force as they possibly could. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The king of Cyprus and the grand master of Rhodes had at this time a considerable fleet at sea, on board of which were the bastard of Burgundy, brother to duke Philip, the lord de Roubaix, and many other great lords from divers countries, very impatient to combat the Saracens, but they never could have a favorable wind to carry them near the infidels. ”

“ The king and his army next came before Château-Thierry, in which were the lord de Châtillon, John de Croy, John de Brimeu and other great lords of the burgundian party, with about four hundred combatants. These gentlemen, perceiving the townsmen inclined to submit to the king, and not expecting any speedy succour, and being withal poorly provided for defence, yielded up the town and castle to king Charles, and marched away with their effects and baggage undisturbed. ”

“ 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. ”

“ During the time the regent was at Hesdin, the bastard de St Pol and Andrew de Humieres appeared there with silver [Pg 158] rings on their right arms, whereon was painted a sun with its rays. They had put them on as a challenge to the English and their allies, maintaining that duke John of Brabant had a more just right to the government and possession of Hainault and the other territories of Jacquiline of Bavaria, his lady, than the duke of Glocester. ”

“ THE MAID WITH MANY NOBLE FRENCH CAPTAINS OF GREAT RENOWN REINFORCE AND REVICTUAL THE TOWN OF ORLEANS, AND AFTERWARD RAISE THE SIEGE.
The english captains had continued their siege of Orleans about seven months, and had much straitened it by their batteries and towers, of which they had erected not less than sixty. The besieged, sensible of the peril they were in of being conquered, resolved to defend themselves to the last, and sent to king Charles for reinforcements of men, and a supply of stores and provision. ”