Read Ebook: The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Vol. 07 [of 13] Containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English their expulsion thence and of other memorable events by Monstrelet Enguerrand De Johnes Thomas Translator

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ge to Calais, and to other places under their obedience. The remainder saved themselves by flight as speedily as they could.

At this time, La Hire was posted at Beauvais and Gerberoy,--and, by means of intelligence which he had kept up in the town of Gisors, he gained admittance, with the forces under his command, and won the place. Part of the garrison retired into the castle, and hastily sent off messengers to Rouen, and to other towns, to state their situation and demand succours. On the third day, so strong a reinforcement came, the town was reconquered,--and La Hire and his companions marched off at a quicker step than a pace, with the exception of twenty or thirty who had remained behind. These were put to death or detained prisoners by the English, together with a great number of the inhabitants, because they had afforded assistance to their enemies.

THE MEN OF GHENT, AND THE FLEMINGS, MAKE GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR THE SIEGE OF CALAIS.

The men of Ghent were not idle all this time. They issued a summons throughout their castlewicks and dependances, for all burghers, whatever their rank might be, to appear within three days before the sheriffs of Ghent, and have their names and surnames inrolled, under pain of losing their franchises. They were also ordered to provide themselves with arms and all necessary habiliments for war. They likewise caused it to be proclaimed, that those who had for their misdeeds been condemned to perform certain pilgrimages, would be excused from doing them until their return from the war, and fourteen days after; and also that those who had quarrels should be placed under the safeguard of the law, and all who dared to infringe it should be punished according to the custom of the town of Ghent. It was also forbidden for any one of that country, whatever his rank, to carry, or have carried away, any armour, or habiliments for war, under pain of banishment for ten years.

When these proclamations were issued, there was much bustle in Ghent and its dependances in preparations for the war,--and every town and village knew exactly how many men they were to provide to make up the quota of seventeen thousand, which the city of Ghent had promised to deliver to their prince in the course of the present year; and each family knew also the exact amount of the taxes it was to pay for the support of the war. Summonses were next issued through their castlewicks, that a third more carts and waggons were to be provided than had been necessary for the late expedition to Hamme on the Somme; and these demands were proclaimed in all the usual places by officers sent from Ghent. But as these matters did not seem to the men of Ghent to be pushed forward with the expedition they expected, they sent another proclamation to their officers, declaring, that if within three days from the date thereof there were not sent to their commissary in Ghent the number of carriages required, they would order the deacon of the black hoods and his attendants to the different towns and villages to seize on all the best carts and carriages without exception, and at the expense of those who should neglect to send them to Ghent by the time specified. This second proclamation caused such an alarm among the farmers and peasants, lest the black hoods should be sent, that they made such dispatch in forwarding their carriages to the appointed place that the townsmen of Ghent were well satisfied with them.

The regulations for their arms were as follow: each was to provide himself with a short mallet of lead or iron, having points on its head and a lance; that two mallets would be reckoned as equal to one lance; that without such arms they would not pass muster,--and those who should be found defective would be punished.

The inhabitants of Bruges, and the other towns, made likewise very grand preparations to join the army; and for two months the majority of such as had been ordered on this service had not done a single day's work at their trades. Thus the greater part of their time was occupied in spending their money in large companies at taverns and ale-houses, which very frequently caused quarrels, when several were killed or wounded.

The duke of Burgundy, in the mean while, was busily employed in preparing for his attack on Calais.

During this time, there lived one Hannequin Lyon, a native of Dunkirk, but who, for his demerits, had been banished from Ghent, and, becoming a fugitive, turned pirate, and, by his good fortune and activity, increased in wealth, so that he now possessed eight or ten vessels, well armed and victualled, under his command. He made war indiscriminately on the flags of all nations, and was much feared on the coasts of Holland and Flanders. He called himself The Friend of God and the Enemy of all Mankind.

At length, he met with the fate that people of his way of life generally experience,--for, when he was at the highest pinnacle of his fortune, he lost his life and his wealth in a tempest at sea.

SIR JOHN DE CROY, BAILIFF OF HAINAULT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER CAPTAINS, ATTACK THE ENGLISH AND ARE DISCOMFITED BY THEM.

At this time, sir John de Croy, bailiff of Hainault, assembled, on the borders of Picardy and the Boulonnois, about fifteen hundred combatants, the principal leaders of whom were the lord de Waurin, sir Baudo de Noyelle, sir Louis de Thieubronne, Robert de Saveuses, Richard de Thieubronne, the lord Deulez, the bastard of Roucy, with several more, well experienced in war. They intended to march them against Calais and other places dependant on the English, and for this reason had their rendezvous at a village called le Wast, two leagues from St Omer.

They marched thence one night to forage the country of the enemy,--but this same night the English had formed an expedition to do the like in the Boulonnois, to the amount of about two thousand men. Neither of them knew of the other's intent, nor did they take roads likely to meet; but on sir John de Croy's approaching the English border, he dispatched some expert men at arms, well acquainted with the country, to gain intelligence. They fell in with the rear of the English detachment near the bridge of Milay, about day-break, and, on reconnoitring them, found that they were very numerous. When returned to sir John, they made him acquainted with what they had seen, and that the English were advancing toward the Boulonnois. A council of the captains was called to determine how they should act, when it was resolved to pursue and attack them during the time they would be engaged in plundering the villages, if they could overtake them in time--otherwise to combat them wherever they should meet.

It was ordered that sir John de Croy, accompanied by a body of the most able men at arms, should advance with the greater part of the archers, and that the main body should follow near, under the banner of sir Louis de Thieubronne.

Scouts were again sent forward, who rode long before they saw the fires which the enemy had made by burning different villages and small towns. Some prisoners whom they had taken had given information to the English of their being abroad, who in consequence had collected their men on a small eminence between Gravelines and Campagne. It might be at this time about ten o'clock, but the greater part of the English were assembled lower down, and could not well be seen.

The main body of the Burgundians, on perceiving the enemy, were very eager for the combat, because the advanced party had already begun the engagement, and from sixty to eighty of the English on the hill were slain and the others put to flight; but when, on advancing, they perceived so large a body on the other side of the declivity rallying the runaways, they were surprised and fearful of the event, and halted for the arrival of the main body.

In the mean time, the English recovered courage on seeing the enemy afraid to follow up their victory, and made a well ordered and firm charge upon them. The Burgundians could not withstand the shock, were thrown into confusion, and, instantly wheeling round, fled in haste for the castles under their obedience.

The English, who had been half conquered at the first onset, pursued them, full gallop, as far as the town of Ardres, and even within the barriers. Upwards of a hundred were slain or made prisoners: among the first was Robert de Bournonville, surnamed the Red. In the last were Jean d'Estreves, Bournonville, Galiot du Champ, Maide, Houttefort, Barnamont, and many others, men of note. The English pursued their enemies with such eagerness that five or six were killed close to the ditches of the town,--and among them was one of very high rank.

The lord de Waurin, sir Baudo de Noyelle, sir Louis de Thieubronne, Robert de Saveuses, who had that day been knighted, and several more, saved themselves in Ardres. Sir John de Croy had been wounded by an arrow at the first onset, and his horse killed. He and the lord Deulez retired to the abbey of Lille, much troubled and hurt at his defeat. The others escaped to divers forts and castles in the neighbourhood.

When the English had ceased pursuing, they collected together, and returned with their prisoners to Calais, and to other places under their government. The count de Mortaigne came out of Calais to meet them, and gave them a most joyful reception, blaming greatly, at the same time, those who by flying had put them in such imminent danger.

FOOTNOTES:

THE FLEMINGS MARCH TO THE SIEGE OF CALAIS--AND MARCH BACK AGAIN.

At the beginning of the month of June, duke Philip of Burgundy having completed his preparations for the siege of Calais, as well in men as in warlike stores, went without state to Ghent and other places in Flanders, that he might hasten the march of the troops from that country.

On the Saturday after Corpus-Christi-day, a general muster was made in Ghent before the duke, of all who were to join his army from that town and its dependances, namely, from the towns of Alost, Grammont, Dendermonde and Mene, of Boulers, Sotengien, Tournay, Gaures and Rides, with those from Regnaits, and the regalles of Flanders, situated between Grammont and Tournay. These troops remained in the market-place, where they had been mustered, from eight o'clock in the morning until noon, when they marched out of the town, taking the road to Calais. The duke accompanied them as far as the open country, where he took leave of them and went to Bruges, to hasten their contingent of men.

The weather was so exceedingly oppressive that two of the ghent captains died of the heat. They were named Jean des Degrez, deacon of the watermen, and Gautier de Wase-Reman, captain of Westmonstre, with several others of low degree. The commander in chief of this division of the flemish army was the lord de Comines; of that of Bruges, the lord de Fienhuse; of those from Courtray, sir Girard de Guistelles; of those from the Franc, the lord de Merque; of those from Ypres, Jean de Comines.

The first night they halted at Deijnse and Peteghem, which are not far distant from Ghent, and remained there on the morrow to wait for their baggage and stores. On the ensuing Monday they departed, and continued their march until they came to the town of Armentieres, when they quartered themselves in the meadows without the town with those from Courtray and Oudenarde, who were within the castlewick of Ghent, and had joined them on the march. The lord d'Antoing was their leader and commander in chief, as being hereditary viscount of all Flanders.

When they remained at Armentieres, twenty-one of their men were arrested, and hung on trees in front of head-quarters, for having robbed some peasants. The ghent division then advanced to Hazebrouch, in the country of Alleu, where they destroyed the mill of d'Hazebourch, because he had, as they said, led on the Flemings ungallantly when they were lately defeated by the English near to Gravelines; but he excused himself by declaring, they would not attend to his advice, nor obey his orders.

Thence they advanced to Drinchaut, where they were met by their prince the duke of Burgundy, and the count de Richemont, constable of France, who had come thither to wait on the duke. Both of them visited the ghent men, and partook of a collation at their head-quarters. The army marched through Bourbourg, and quartered themselves near to Gravelines, where they destroyed the mill of Georges de Wez, for the same reason they had done that of Cherry de Hazebourch.

At this place they were joined by the forces from Bruges, Ypres, the Franc and other towns in Flanders, and formed an handsome encampment, placing the tents regularly according to the towns they came from--which made a fine sight, and at a distance had the appearance of a large town. The carriages were innumerable to convey these tents, baggage and stores; and on the top of each was a cock to crow the hours. There were also great numbers of peasants to drag the culverines and other engines of war; and the majority of the Flemings wore plain armour, according to the custom of their country.

On their departure, they all mustered under arms before the duke and constable, who viewed them with much pleasure,--and on this day a wolf ran through the ranks of the division from Bruges, which caused a great alarm and a cry of 'To arms!' on which the whole took the field, when there might be full thirty thousand wearing helmets. They crossed the river at Gravelines, and fixed their quarters at Tournehem, not far distant. The weather was at this time dreadfully severe, with rain and such high winds that they could not pitch their tents, but were forced to lie on the ground. Three Picards were arrested and hanged by the ghent men, for robbing the landlord of an h?tel of his provisions.

The count d'Estampes here joined the army of Flanders with the men at arms the duke of Burgundy had ordered on this expedition,--and on a Friday the whole encamped before the castle of Oye, in possession of the English. This place soon surrendered to the duke and to the men of Ghent, who ordered nine and twenty to be hanged the same day in front of the castle; and afterward twenty-five suffered the like sentence, with the exception of three or four that were respited at the request of the duke. The castle was on its surrender burnt, and razed to the ground.

With regard to the Picards and Burgundians now with the army, although very expert plunderers, they could not lay hands on any thing; for the flemish commanders would on no account suffer such things, or, when known, pass them over with impunity,--and, what was worse, when they chanced to get any things from the enemy, it often happened that, with their spoil, their own private property was taken from them also. When they complained of this, they only received additional blows, which obliged them to be silent and suffer all, from the greater power of the Flemings, but it was most impatiently.

The Flemings were so presumptuous that they thought nothing could be done without them, and even imagined that the English, from fear of them would abandon Calais and fly to England. This was frequently the subject of their conversations with the Picards, adding, that they well knew that, when the English should be informed of their lords of Ghent being in arms against them, they would not run the risk of being conquered by them, but make a timely retreat; that it was negligence in the fleet not to have advanced prior to their arrival, before the port of Calais, to cut off their escape.

They needed not have been so uneasy on this head, for the English were well inclined to defend themselves,--and in truth, king Henry and all England would just as soon have lost their thirty-year's conquests in France as the single town of Calais, as I have been credibly informed, and as they full well showed by their defence shortly afterward.

When the castle of Oye had been demolished, the whole army decamped, to take post between the castle of Marque and Calais. At the same time, the duke of Burgundy and his men at arms made an excursion before the town of Calais, whence issued out a party of horse and foot, and a considerable skirmish took place,--but in the end the English were repulsed, and the Picards and Flemings drove away a large booty in cows, sheep, horses, and other things.

The duke staid with his men at arms some time near Calais, until the armies were returned to their quarters, and then went to his own tent before the castle of Marque, as the Picards were about to make a serious attack on it. The bulwark was won, to the great astonishment of the garrison, who displayed on the side toward Calais the banner of St George, ringing at the same time all their bells, and making the most horrid noises and cries.

The assailants, fearful that the garrison would escape by night, placed a strong guard all around; and, on the morrow, pointed many great engines against the walls, which damaged them in several places. They were then jointly attacked by the Picards and Flemings; but they defended themselves obstinately by throwing down stones from the battlements, with which and with arrows they killed and wounded so many that the assailants were glad to retreat. The besieged demanded a truce for a parley, which was granted them, when they offered to surrender to the duke on the sole condition of not being hanged,--but that they would submit in other respects unconditionally. These terms were accepted, and all persons forbidden to enter the castle under pain of death, unless ordered so to do.

The garrison was conducted by the four chief flemish officers to the head-quarters of the ghent division; and it was determined to make reprisals, in order to have some flemish prisoners in Calais exchanged. In consequence, one hundred and four English were delivered over to the bailiff of Ghent, who carried them thither to be imprisoned.

The greater part of the common men now entered the castle and took whatever they could find; but some of the ghent men, placing themselves at the gates, seized on all articles that had been taken, as they repassed, and laid them in a heap, saying they were so ordered by the sheriffs of Ghent,--but, when night came, they loaded the whole on carts, and carried it whithersoever they pleased. They were, however, charged with this before the sheriffs, and were banished from Ghent, and the country of Flanders, for fifty years. This sentence raised great murmurings, and was nearly the cause of a general mutiny among the Flemings.

On the following day, several men were beheaded because they had been taken with the English: six were Flemings, and the seventh a Hollander; after which, the castle was demolished and razed to the ground.

The army now decamped, and fixed their quarters on the spot where, it was said, Jacques d'Artavelle was formerly encamped when king Edward won Calais after the decisive battle of Cressy. Duke Philip was encamped hard by with his chivalry and men at arms, but nearer to Calais. A severe skirmish took place this day with the English, in which many were killed and wounded on both sides. La Hire, who had come to visit the duke of Burgundy, was wounded by an arrow in the leg. Many engines were also pointed, to throw stones and balls into the town of Calais, which were returned with such interest from the ramparts, that the enemy were glad to retreat to a greater distance.

The duke of Burgundy was encamped on the downs, among the sand hills; and as he was one day riding, with few attendants, to reconnoitre the towns, a cannon-shot fell so near him that it killed a trumpeter and three horses, one of which belonged to the lord de Saveuses.

The English made frequent sallies on horseback and on foot, and many severe skirmishes happened between the two parties, the details of which would be tedious to relate, or to make mention of those who behaved the worst or best: but I have heard from very good authority, that the lords de Habourdin, de Crequi, and de Waurin, were much applauded for their conduct in these several skirmishes, as well as other valiant men of note from Picardy. The English, however, carried off the palm of the day. At times, the Picards repulsed them back to the barriers, in visible confusion.

With regard to the Flemings, they were not much afraid of these English,--and thought, that if there were but three Flemings against one Englishman, they should easily gain their point. The duke of Burgundy was attended, on this occasion, by his nephew of Cleves, the count d'Estampes, the lord d'Antoing, commander of the Flemings, the lord de Croy, the lords de Crequi, de Fosseux, de Waurin, de Saveuses, de Habourdin, de Humieres, d'Inchy, de Brimeu, de Launoy, de Huchin, the brothers de Hastines and de Fremessen, with numbers of other lords and gentlemen of his household from Burgundy, Flanders, Brabant, Hainault, Artois and other parts of his dominions; but the duke had not assembled half of his forces from Picardy, in regard to men at arms. He had even sent back great part of those who were mustered, to the surprise of many who wished him well; for they thought that it would have been more to his advantage to have retained them than double the number of common men.

Sir John de Croy, who commanded in the Boulonnois, was ordered to quarter himself and men nearer to Calais, on the other side, toward the bridge of Nieullay, when much conversation took place between them and those in the town. The duke, shortly after, countermanded him, and sent him before Guines, where he quartered his detachment near to the walls and gates, and pointed many large engines against them, which damaged them much.

Sir John de Croy was accompanied by sir Galois de Rancy, Robert de Saveuses, and other men of note, who attacked the enemy so vigorously that, for fear of being taken by storm, they abandoned the town and withdrew into the castle, whither they were pursued,--and the attack was renewed with more courage than ever. Before they came to Guines, the fortress of Vauclingen had surrendered to sir John, on condition that the English should retire in safety, with part of their baggage. On similar terms was Sangate-castle yielded up to Robert de Saveuses, who had marched thither during the siege of Guines,--and he re-garrisoned it with his men.

During all this time, the duke of Burgundy was encamped before the strong town of Calais, wondering what was become of his fleet, which ought to have arrived some time. The Flemings were also much discontented, and began loudly to complain of the duke's council, and against the admirals of the fleet, namely, sir John de Hornes, seneschal of Brabant, and the commander de la Mor?e; but the duke appeased them with gentle words, saying that they would soon arrive, as he had lately had letters from them,--and that hitherto the wind had been against them, which had prevented their sailing sooner.

There came daily vessels from England to Calais, in sight of their enemies, some days more, others less, laden with fresh provisions, reinforcements of men, and warlike stores; and the opposite parties were not so near each other but that the English turned out every day their cattle to graze, which vexed their adversaries very much, and was the cause of frequent skirmishes, in hopes of seizing some of them.

The lords and men of Ghent, perceiving that the Picards were in the habit of carrying off these cattle, thought within themselves that they were strong, well made and armed, and might as well have their share also. On a certain day, therefore, about two hundred assembled, and went as secretly as they could toward the marshes before Calais, to forage; but they were seen and known from their dress by the English, who were not well pleased at the attempt to carry off that whereon they lived, and instantly attacked them with such courage that twenty-two were killed on the spot and thirty taken prisoners. The remainder fled in haste to their quarters, saying they had suffered a great loss, and caused much confusion, for they thought they had narrowly escaped. There were frequent alarms in the quarter of the Flemings, for at the smallest noise they were on the alert and under arms, to the great vexation of their lord the duke of Burgundy,--but he could not prevent it, for they would have all things according to their good pleasure.

At this time, a herald, called Cambridge, came from England to the duke, and, having saluted him very respectfully, said, 'that his lord and master, Humphry, duke of Glocester, made known to him, by his mouth, that, with God's pleasure, he would very shortly combat him and his whole army, if he would wait his arrival,--and, should he decamp thence, that he would seek him in his own territories,--but he could not fix on any day for coming, as that would depend on the winds, which are unsteady, and he could not cross the sea at his pleasure.'

The duke replied, 'that there would be no necessity for the duke of Glocester to seek him in any other place but where he was, and that, unless some misfortune should happen, he would there find him.' After these words, the herald was magnificently feasted,--and rich gifts were made him, with which he returned to Calais.

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