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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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.

On the morrow, the duke of Burgundy went to the head-quarters of the Flemings, where, having assembled their captains and the nobles of Flanders, he caused them to be harangued by master Gilles de la Voustine, his counsellor in the courts of Ghent, on the challenge he had received from the duke of Glocester, by his herald, and the reply he had made,--on which account, he requested them, as his dear friends, to remain with him and assist him in the defence of his honour. Those present immediately promised to comply with his demand in the most liberal manner,--as did those from Bruges and the other towns of Flanders.

It was also determined at this meeting to erect a high block-house on an eminence near Calais, to enable them to view from it the proceedings of those in the town. It was instantly begun with oak and other wood,--and some cannon were placed thereon, to fire into Calais, and a strong guard ordered for its defence. The English were not well pleased at this, for they were afraid lest their sallies should be cut off: to obviate which, they made an immediate attack on it with a large body of men; but it was well defended by the Flemings, under the conduct of some able warriors who had gone thither; and as numerous reinforcements to the Flemings were continually pouring in, the English retreated to Calais without effecting any thing, and leaving some dead behind them.

On the morrow and following days, there was much skirmishing at the palisades of the town. In one of them, a half-witted knight, the lord de Plateaux, was made prisoner: notwithstanding his folly, he was a determined and brave man at arms. On Thursday, the 25th of July, the fleet, which had been so anxiously expected, was discovered at sea. The duke of Burgundy mounted his horse, and, attended by many lords and others, rode to the sea-shore. When a barge having advanced as near as the surf would permit, a man jumped out, and, coming to the duke, informed him that the fleet in sight was his own. This spread universal joy throughout the army, and several ran to the downs to see it,--but their captains made as many return to the camp as they could.

The following evening-tide commissioners, appointed for this purpose, quitted the fleet, and sunk four vessels in the mouth of the harbour of Calais, that were filled with immense stones, well worked together and cramped with lead, in order to choak up the entrance, and prevent any supplies from entering the harbour from England. The fleet kept up, in the mean time, a constant fire against the vessels in harbour, and sunk one. The next day two other vessels, filled with stones like the others, were also sunk at the mouth of the port. But, to say the truth, all these sunken vessels were so improperly placed that when the tide was out many remained on the sand, scarcely covered with water.

The English hastened from the town at ebb tide, as well women as men, and with strong efforts, pulled them to pieces, and what wood they could not convey into the town they burnt and destroyed, notwithstanding a continual fire from the fleet, to the great astonishment of the duke and his admirals.

Sir John de Hornes, seneschal of Brabant, the commander de la Mor?e, and other lords from Holland, set sail with the fleet on the morrow, and were soon out of sight, on their return to whence they had come; for indeed they could not with safety remain long before Calais, on account of danger from sea, which sailors say is more imminent between Calais and England than elsewhere. They had also received information that a fleet was on the point of sailing from England, against which they would be unable to make head.

The Flemings were much discontented at their sailing away, and murmured among themselves, saying they were betrayed by the ministers of their prince,--for they had been promised, on leaving Flanders, that Calais should at the same time be besieged by sea and land,--so that their leaders had difficulty enough to pacify them.

In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy had sent to summon men at arms from all parts of his dominions, and was impatiently expecting their arrival to assist him in opposing the troops that were coming from England. He ordered the ground to be examined by such as were well acquainted with those parts, for a spot whereon he might best offer battle to his enemies on their arrival; and to be better prepared for every event, he summoned a grand council of his advisers, together with the principal leaders of the commonalty, on the 27th of July, and laid before them the whole of his intended operations, with which they were perfectly satisfied.

But these were wholly deranged, a few days afterward, by the commonalty from Ghent; for on the day the council was held, the English made a grand sally from Calais, both horse and foot, and advanced unexpectedly to the block-house before mentioned: the cavalry were posted between the camp and the block-house, so that no immediate aid could be sent thither. There were from three to four hundred Flemings in the block-house,--and the cries of 'To arms!' were re-echoed through the army, which caused great confusion and alarm. Multitudes rushed from all sides to relieve the block-house, and even the duke of Burgundy himself went thither on foot. But the English made a most vigorous attack, and the defence was but indifferent, so that the block-house was won before assistance could arrive.--About eight score Flemings were killed, and the greater part of the rest made prisoners,--and full half of them were put to death before the gates of Calais, because the Flemings had slain an English knight whom the Picards had taken prisoner while on horseback at this rencounter. The capture of the block-house and its consequences were grievous to the duke of Burgundy,--and the Flemings retreated to their camp disconsolate and vexed at the death and capture of their friends and companions.

This same day, they collected together in different parts, and said among themselves that they were betrayed, for that not one of the promises which had been made them were kept; that they daily had some of their number killed, without their nobles attending to it, or endeavouring to prevent it. In short, they worked upon themselves so much by this kind of conversation that they determined, in spite of every remonstrance, to decamp and return home; and some of them wanted even to put to death several of the duke's ministers.

The duke, on hearing of their intentions, was much troubled, and vexed at the disgrace that would fall on him should he now decamp, after the challenge sent him by the duke of Glocester by his herald and the answer he had returned. He went, therefore, to the head-quarters of the ghent division, and there assembled a large body of the malcontents, whom he entreated in the most pressing manner to remain with him until the arrival of the English, which it was now ascertained could not be long; adding, that should they depart without waiting for the enemy and offer him battle, they would cover themselves and him with indelible disgrace, and such as no prince ever had incurred. With such language did the duke and his council harangue the ghent men, but it was all in vain, for they were most obstinately bent on departing, and listened with a deaf ear to all that was said; notwithstanding, some of their captains answered courteously for them, making excuses for their conduct,--but for which the lower ranks little thanked them.

The duke, perceiving the difficulty in which these commoners had involved him, and the blame which would be cast on him for their departure, it need not be asked whether he was grieved at heart, for hitherto all his undertakings had succeeded to his wish, and this, which was of the greatest consequence, he failed in. He was, however, obliged to endure the rudeness and folly of the Flemings,--for he could not alter their dispositions, although he made repeated attempts to detain them for a few days only.

When he perceived that it was labour in vain to make further requests, he agreed with the lords of his council to decamp with the Flemings,--and informed them, that since they would not remain longer, he wished them to wait until the morrow, when they should pack up their baggage, and march away in good order, with their arms, that they might not be harrassed by the enemy, and that he would escort them as far as the river of Gravelines. They returned for answer, that they would comply with this order; but the greater number said, that they were in sufficient force not to need any escort.

Several of the ringleaders of this mutiny were anxious to go to the duke's quarters, to put to death the lord de Croy, sir Baudo de Noyelle, Jean de Brimeu bailiff of Amiens, and others of the ministers, saying, that it was by their advice that this enterprise had been undertaken, which was not possible, as they affirmed, to be achieved, considering the manner in which the business had been carried on. These three lords, hearing of the mutiny of the Flemings and the plots against their lives, left the army privately, with few attendants, and hastened to the quarters of sir John de Croy before Guines.

The Flemings began on the Saturday and Sunday to strike their tents, and to load their baggage for the march. The ghent men were the principals in the mutiny,--and after their example, the whole of the army and its followers packed up their baggage; but from the suddenness of the departure, a very great quantity of provision and wine were left behind,--and it was necessary to stave many pipes of wine, and of other liquors, to the great loss of the merchants.

Several large engines of war and other stores belonging to the duke of Burgundy were lost, because there were not enough of carts or waggons to carry them away; and for the like cause, a number of things belonging to the Flemings remained behind.

The Flemings then marched, in a mere orderly manner, to quarter themselves near to Gravelines, on the same spot they had occupied before. The men of Bruges were, however, very much displeased at this shameful retreat, and from not having horses to carry away their large cannon and other engines of war which they had brought with them: they put them on carts, and had them drawn by men to their former encampment near to Gravelines.

This day the duke sent orders to sir John de Croy to break up his siege of the castle of Guines, and join him with his men at arms without delay. Sir John, on receiving this order and hearing of what had passed in the main army, made instant preparations to obey it, and marched off in good array, but was forced to leave behind many large engines, and a quantity of other things, from want of means to convey them off.

The garrison of Guines were very much rejoiced at their departure, for they were hardly pressed, and would have been obliged to surrender in a few days had the Burgundians remained. They made a sally when the enemy was marching away, shouting after them.

The garrison of Calais were likewise well pleased at their departure, and issued out of the town to collect what had been left behind, and made a considerable booty. They also sent messengers to England with information of this event.

The duke of Burgundy was lodged in Gravelines, very much mortified at what had happened, and complained bitterly of the disgrace the Flemings had put on him to those of his lords who had accompanied him. They consoled him as well as they could, and advised him to bear it patiently, as it was the chance of fortune in this world. At the same time, they recommended him to reinforce all his towns on the frontier with steady men at arms, stores and provisions, as soon as possible, to resist his enemies, who were daily expected from England, and who would, as he might suppose, make every attempt to injure him, in return for what he had done to them; and that he himself should retire to one of the towns in the interior.

The duke of Burgundy issued summonses for all bearing arms to be ready prepared to defend such parts of his dominions as should need it. He then entreated some of the nobles present that they would remain in the town of Gravelines, which, unless well guarded, would, if taken, be very prejudicial to the whole country, promising them, on his honour, that should they want assistance, or be besieged, he himself would come to their succour, cost what it would. The lord de Crequi, the lord de Saveuses, sir Simon de Lalain, his brother sir Sausse, Philibert de Vaury, and other valiant men at arms, complied with his request, and remained in Gravelines.

On the other hand, sir Louis de Thieubronne with his brother Guichart were sent to Ardres, and others into the Boulonnois where the towns and castles were garrisoned according to their strength and importance. Some lords of the council were present at this meeting who had advised the expedition to Calais, but greatly hurt at its unfortunate termination, which they could not help: they were, nevertheless, forced to hear many severe observations made thereon.

When the council broke up, and the above dispositions for the defence of the country had been arranged, the duke again solicited the Flemings to wait a few days longer for the arrival of the enemy,--but they refused to remain from the fear they now had of the English; and some of their captains waited on the duke the last day of July, to demand leave to return to their own country. The duke, seeing that he could no way detain them, gave permission for their departure; for he was satisfied they would never act well against the enemy from want of courage.

They marched from Gravelines, by short days marches, to their different towns; but those from Ghent refused to enter their town unless each man had a robe given him at the expense of the magistrates. This was an ancient usage on the return of the townsmen from war; but now the magistrates refused compliance, because it seemed to them that they had behaved very ill. On receiving this answer, they did enter the town, but much discontented and with murmuring. On marching from before Calais, they had set fire to and destroyed the forts of Balinghen and of Sangate.

The duke of Burgundy, on leaving Gravelines, went to Lille, and thence issued a proclamation for every person who had been accustomed to bear arms to hold himself ready to march whithersoever he might please to order, to oppose his adversaries the English, who were about to disembark at Calais. In truth, the duke of Glocester arrived with his army before Calais just after the burgundian army had decamped.

FOOTNOTES:

SIR FLORIMONT DE BRIMEU, SENESCHAL OF PONTHIEU, CONQUERS THE TOWN OF CROTOY.

While the duke of Burgundy was employed on the expedition against Calais, sir Florimont de Brimeu, seneschal of Ponthieu, Richard de Richaumes, governor of the town of Rue, Robert du Quesnoy, governor of St Valery, and others in the neighbourhood of Crotoy, collected together about four hundred combatants, and marched them by night to an ambuscade on the shore near the town and castle of Crotoy.

Robert du Quesnoy ordered about thirty of his men to embark very early in a boat and row towards the town, to induce the English to pursue them. This they executed,--and when they thought that they were within sight of the enemy, they made pretence as if their boat were aground, and that they could neither advance nor retire, notwithstanding the efforts ten or twelve of the crew pretended to make to get her afloat.

The English, observing this from the ramparts, thought to take advantage of their situation, and made a sally, in hopes of taking them prisoners; but they were immediately surrounded by those in ambush, who attacked them with vigour, killing on the spot more than sixty-four, and making prisoners from thirty to forty. The party of the seneschal lost several. Thus was the garrison of Crotoy much weakened,--and when the seneschal learnt from his prisoners that but few men at arms were in the town, he collected a reinforcement of men from the adjoining parts, and within a few days made an attack on Crotoy, which he took by storm with little loss of men.

The townsmen retreated to the castle,--before which the seneschal fixed his quarters, and pointed his engines against it, but without doing any damage, for it was wonderous strong. When the seneschal had remained before it some length of time, finding his attempts to conquer it vain, he dislodged, after he had destroyed the fortifications of the town, and marched back his men to the places they had come from, carrying with them all the plunder they had gained in Crotoy.

The English had afterward at Crotoy two boats, called 'Gabarres,' with which they much harrassed the town of Abbeville, and especially the fishermen. In consequence, the inhabitants of Abbeville sent by night a party toward Crotoy in a boat, whence some of the crew by swimming fastened grappling irons to each of these gabarres,--the cords of which being fixed to the Abbeville boat, they towed them to Abbeville, to the vexation of the English.

FOOTNOTES:

HUMPHRY DUKE OF GLOCESTER ARRIVES AT CALAIS WITH A LARGE ARMAMENT.--HE ENTERS FLANDERS, ARTOIS, AND OTHER TERRITORIES OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, AND DOES MUCH DAMAGE TO THEM.

A few days after the decampment of the duke of Burgundy and the Flemings, the duke of Glocester arrived at Calais with about ten thousand fighting men to combat the duke of Burgundy, had he waited for him. Since that it was otherwise, he followed the duke to Gravelines, and thence marched into Flanders, and through several towns and large villages, namely, Poperingues, Bailleul and others, whose suburbs he burnt and destroyed, for no one opposed him,--but the people fled on all sides, and none of the Flemings dared wait his coming. He drove, therefore, away great numbers of cattle, with little or no loss of men,--but they suffered much from want of bread.

He passed le Neuf-ch?tel, and burnt Rimesture and Valon-Chapelle. Having entered Artois, he advanced to Arques and Bland?ques, where some skirmishing passed,--and he set fire to every town and village that lay in his way. Marching through the jurisdiction of St Omer, he committed great waste on all sides; and when near to Tournehem, Esprelecques and Bredenarde, some skirmishes took place between him and the different governors: Cavart and other companions of de Langle were wounded. Many captains were expelled by force from their castles; and there were more killed and wounded near to Ardres than had been in all Flanders.

The duke of Glocester now retreated toward Guines and Calais, on account of sickness in the army, occasioned from want of bread, of which they had not a sufficiency; and many good women saved their houses by giving bread, and even got in return cattle, of which the army had plenty, and which they were driving from Flanders. They were rather embarrassed with them; for, not finding water to give them, they wandered abroad and were lost,--and those who went in search of them were very frequently surprised by the enemy when at a distance from their vanguard.

While these things were passing in Artois and Flanders, sir Thomas Kiriel and lord Faulconbridge assembled at Neuf-ch?tel d'Incourt about a thousand combatants, whom they led across the Somme at Blanchetaque, and quartered at Forest-montier; thence they advanced to Broye, on the river Authie, where they remained four days, and took the castle by storm, which, however, was not very strong, nor of much value,--but it belonged to the vidame of Amiens. Part of the garrison were slain, and from five to six of the English. This capture created great alarm in the country round; for they feared the enemy would keep possession, as at the time there were but few men at arms in those parts.

The English having found in this and in other towns much wealth, and made many prisoners, they returned, by way of Blanchetaque, the same road they had come, to their different garrisons, without any loss worth mentioning; but they committed very great waste on the lands of their enemies.

FOOTNOTES:

THE FLEMINGS AGAIN TAKE UP ARMS, AFTER THEIR RETREAT FROM CALAIS TO THEIR TOWNS.

Not long after the Flemings were returned home, news was brought them that a large fleet of English ships was off the Flemish coast, near to Biervlict, with intent, as was supposed, of invading the country. The principal towns remanded the men who had been disbanded, and instantly marched with a powerful army and artillery toward Biervlict, and encamped near the sea to wait for the English, who were off the coast.

This fleet, however, was not stationed there for the purpose of covering an invasion, but merely to alarm the Flemings, and prevent them from opposing the duke of Glocester, who was with his army in the neighbourhood of Poperingues and Bailleul. It had on board no men at arms, but only mariners to manage and defend it, which made them no way anxious to enter any of the enemy's ports; and, after hovering along the coast for a few days, it made sail for Calais.

When the fleet was gone, each company of Flemings marched back to its town, excepting those from Ghent, who being discontented at the blame thrown on them, for being the principal cause of the retreat from Calais, would not lay down their arms, and wanted to introduce many reforms, and were in so mutinous a state that it was necessary for their prince to go thither.

On the duke of Burgundy's arrival in Ghent, he ordered their remonstrances to be laid before him. Some contained demands why Calais had not been besieged by sea as well as by land, according to a promise made,--and why the English fleet had not been burnt as had been determined on.

To these demands the duke ordered answers to be given, that it was impossible, as every seaman knew, to besiege Calais on the sea-side, by reason of the danger of the vessels being driven on shore and captured by the enemy. Add to this, that the Hollanders had not kept their promise of assisting him in this business with their shipping. With respect to burning the English fleet, the men and vessels ordered on this service at Sluys had been constantly wind-bound in that harbour, during the whole time.

In regard to their other demands, namely, to order three governors of Ghent to make a procession through the country, with a sufficient force to regarrison all their towns with native Flemings, and to put an end to the quarrels between Bruges and Sluys, and several other points insisted on by them, the duke made such satisfactory answers that they were contented with them; and each laid down his arms, and retired to his home, although they had shown great signs of violence at the beginning. They caused the duke's archers to lay aside their staves, saying that they were strong enough to guard him.

Sir Roland de Hautekirque, sir Collart de Comines, sir Gilles de la Voustine, Enguerrand Auviel and John Daudain, were afterward banished Ghent, because they had declined to appear with the other citizens to remonstrate; and the Ghent men wrote to their castlewicks, that whoever would arrest any one of the above persons, and deliver him into their hands, should receive three hundred livres tournois as a reward, besides all reasonable expenses.

Many ordinances were published for the more effectual guard and defence of the country; and several governors were appointed, under the chief command of the lord d'Estrenhuse, such as the lord de Comines at Ghent, sir Gerard de Tournay at Oudenarde, and sir Gerard de Guystelles at Courtray. Other nobles and men at arms were posted in different towns, according to their rank, as well on the frontier toward Calais as elsewhere, and on board of their fleet.

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