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When they had somewhat refreshed themselves with meat and drink, the English and Burgundians assembled in the cathedral, and there entered into such resolutions as you shall hear. This united force began their march toward Crevant; and when within a long quarter of a league from the town they dismounted. It was at the time very sultry; and they suffered much thus marching on foot, by the weight of their armour and from the extreme heat of the sun. This day were knighted, William de Vienne *, son to the lord de St. George, Jolin lord of Auxi, Philip lord de Trenont, and Coppin de la Viefville.

The regulations that had been made by the chiefs of the English and Burgundians, when in the cathedral of Auxerre, were as follow:-First, that on the morrow, Friday, they would march away at ten o'clock in the morning, to fix their quarters near to Crevant. Secondly, two marshals were to be appointed to overlook and inspect the army, namely, the lord du Vergy for the Burgundians, and sir Gilbert de Hallesal† for the English.

Thirdly, it was to be proclaimed that the Burgundians and English should live in good harmony with each other, without quarrels or strife, on pain of being severely punished by their commanders. Fourthly, that the whole should form one army; and that there should be six score men-at-arms, namely, sixty English and sixty Burgundians, with as many archers, sent forward as scouts to gain intelligence. Fifthly, it was ordered that when the army should arrive near any spot where a battle was likely to take place, proclamation should be instantly made for every one to dismount,—and those who refused should be put to death: the horses were to be led half a league in the rear; and all that should be found nearer the army should be seized and confiscated.

It was also ordered, that every archer should provide himself with a stake with two sharp points, to plant before him should it be found necessary.- -Item, that no person, whatever might be his rank, should dare attempt making any prisoners on the day of battle until the field should be fairly won. Should any such be made, the prisoner was to be instantly put to death, and with him the person who had taken him, should he refuse to obey.Item, that every man should provide himself with provision for two days; and that the town of Auxerre should send after the army as much provision as could possibly be collected, for which they were to be well and truly paid.- -Item, it was then also ordered that no one should precede or remain behind their captains, but that every man should keep the station that had been assigned him, under pain of corporal punishment.

All these regulations and orders were proclaimed by sound of trumpet throughout Auxerre ; and on the ensuing day, after having heard mass with great devotion, and drank a cup, they departed from Auxerre in much brother-like affection, and fixed their quarters within a short league of their enemies.

On the following Saturday, they decamped at ten o'clock in the morning, and advanced in handsome array toward the French, whom they saw posted on a mountain in front of the town of Crevant, and where they had remained the preceding night waiting the arrival of

more men.

Upon the English and Burgundians crossing to the other side of the river Yonne, near to Coulogne les Vimeus or Vigneuses, the French descended the mountain, and marched toward the enemy with great appearance of courage; and each party formed their order of battle, in which they remained without doing anything more for three hours, as the river Yonne was between them. The English and Burgundians, however, made an advance, and gained possession of a bridge, whence they annoyed the French greatly, those in Crevant, at the same time, making a sally, and attacking them briskly in their rear. The battle now began in earnest on both sides, and, finally, the English and Burgundians won the day and the field; the greater part of the Scots, amounting to three thousand, who were in the front ranks, were either killed or taken. The constable of Scotland surrendered himself prisoner to the lord de Châtellux, but with the loss of an eye. In like manner, the lord de Ventadour surrendered to the lord de Gamaches, and he also had lost an eye. Stephen and John de Farsmeres, Scots knights, with several gentlemen of note, to the number of four hundred,

William, lord of Bussy, eldest son of William IV de Vienne, lord of St. George.

Called in Hall's Chronicle, sir Gilbert Halsell.
To clear up, if possible, these misnomers, I consulted

my friend, Dr. Robert Anderson, at Edinburgh. He
thinks, that "Stephen and John de Farsmeres may perhaps
mean Ferrier, or Ferrieres, which are Scottish names.
may be Farmer, or Farnihurst, or Fernihurst, the ancient

It

were made prisoners. The nephew of the earl of Buchan was slain, as were sir Thomas Secron*, sir William Hambon† and his son, all three knights of Scotland, John Pillott, a Scots captain and bastard to the king, with many others, to the amount of twelve hundred or thereabout.

The English and Burgundian captains assembled together in great harmony and joy after the victory, and entered the town of Crevant rendering thanks to the Creator for their success. They were received with every demonstration of joy, and their men lodged within and near to it. Perrinet, however, and some others followed the runaways, and took and slew several in the pursuit. On the Monday following, when all their men were returned, the army separated; the Burgundians went home, and the earls of Salisbury and Suffolk returned to the siege of Mont-Aquilon, whence they had come, having left a sufficient force to blockade the place.

Soon after the battle of Crevant, the earl of Suffolk laid siege to the town of Coussy, which was yielded up to him within a few days. He thence marched into the Maconnois, where he subdued many castles held by the French. He ordered one of his captains, called Claidas, to besiege the strong castle of la Roche, which in the end surrendered to him.

CHAPTER XI.-MANY EVENTS BRIEFLY SPOKEN of.

WHILE these things were passing, the duke of Burgundy left Artois, and, making Paris in his road, went to Burgundy, where he remained until the month of February following. He took with him the count de Richemont, who there espoused his sister, as this marriage had been agreed on some time before.

At the end of July, a body of French assembled from the borders of Mousson, the county of Guise and other parts, and suddenly shut up within Bethlehem the bailiff of the Vermandois, and the bastard de St. Pol; but sir John de Luxembourg and the earl marshal of England instantly collected a number of their men, and hastened to raise the siege. The French, on hearing this, decamped as speedily as they could for their own territories, and were pursued full twenty leagues by the earl marshal and sir John de Luxembourg, who hastened after with the intent to combat them.

In this year, a numerous army of Castilians and Arragonese arrived at the port of Naples, and took by storm that town, which was plundered and sacked. Eight hundred of the principal inhabitants were made prisoners and sent to Arragon, where the greater number of them died. A third part of the town was burnt and totally destroyed, to the great grief of king Louis; but he shortly after, by the succours sent him from the duke of Milan, reconquered it and several other towns.

In August following, sir John de Luxembourg took by storm the fortress of Arsie, in which were about thirty pillagers of the party of king Charles, some of whom were beheaded, others hung, and the place demolished. Sir John went thence to besiege Landrecy, where he remained until October battering the wall with his engines of war. the end, however, the garrison surrendered, on having their lives and great part of their fortunes spared; and the castle was also demolished. At the same time, the earl marshal of England, with about six hundred combatants, entered the Laonnois; and those of the party of king Charles assembled a body of men to repel him,—but the earl, having notice thereof, marched against them, and forced them to fly. Part of them, in their flight, took shelter in a fort wherein they were so closely besieged by the earl, that they surrendered at discretion, when many of them were hanged, and the fort demolished..

In this month of August, the governor of la Buisserie, between Tornus and Mâcon, who title of the family of Lothian. Stephen, however, is a of reputation and honour who fell at this battle. This is Christian name of but rare occurrence.

The nephew of the earl of Buchan is doubtful. Robert Stewart was active in raising the levies, but whether he attended his uncle to France, and was killed at Crevant, is uncertain.

* Sir Thomas Secron is probably sir Thomas Swinton, who is mentioned by our historians among the gentlemen

almost certain.

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was attached to king Charles, fixed a day for the surrender of that castle to the lord de Toulongeon, marshal of Burgundy, on payment of a sum that had been previously settled between them; but on that day the governor placed two ambuscades near to the town, and when the lord de Toulongeon had passed the first with but a dozen persons, those in ambush fell on him so suddenly, that few escaped being carried with their lord prisoners into the castle. After a certain time, he was exchanged for the count de Ventadour, made prisoner at the battle of Crevant, as has been related.

In this year also, sir John de Luxembourg reduced to obedience the strong places which king Charles held in the Cambresis and Tierache; and all the lands in that country belonging to the count de Pontieuvre were placed in the hands of the count de Hainault by the lord de Havrech, governor thereof,-because it was suspected that the count de Pontieuvre would not garrison the strong places which he had there, such as Landrecy, Avesnes, and others.

CHAPTER XII. SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT HOLDS A CONFERENCE WITH SIR RAOUL LE BOUTEILLER FOR THE SURRENDER OF CROTOY.

SIR RAOUL LE BOUTEILLER having continued the siege of Crotoy by sea and land until the month of October, then held a parley with sir James de Harcourt, when each of them

[graphic]

SIR JAMES DE HARCOURT DISCUSSING WITH SIR RAOUL LE BOUTEILLER THE TERMS FOR THE SURRENDER OF CROTOY. From an illumination in the MS. Monstrelet in the Royal Library, Paris.

appointed commissioners to draw up a treaty, truces having been agreed on for the intermediate time. After a short delay, the following were the terms proposed by their commissioners, and ratified by them.

Articles of a treaty concluded between sir Raoul le Bouteiller, knight, and William Miners, esquire, as deputies for that most excellent prince John duke of Bedford, regent of France, on the one part, and sir James de Harcourt, knight, lieutenant-general of Picardy for king Charles,-he the said sir James answering for the clergy, nobles and inhabitants of the town and castle of Crotoy on the other part.

In the first place, my lord regent, or his deputies, shall, on the first day of March next, appear in arms in the plain between Crotoy and Rue, and for three successive days, from sunrise until three o'clock in the afternoon; when if they should not be combated by the said sir James so powerfully that the field of battle shall remain to the said sir James de Harcourt, he, the said sir James, engages loyally to deliver up the town and castle of Crotoy to the said lord regent, or to whomever else he may appoint. This is to be accomplished at three o'clock in the afternoon of the said ensuing third day of March.-Item, the said sir James de Harcourt and all such as may please shall have full liberty to depart from the town and castle of Crotoy, on the day of its surrender, excepting those who may have been implicated in the death of the late duke of Burgundy, should any such be there, who are to remain at the discretion of the lord regent.—Item, sir James shall leave within the castle all the powder, cross-bows and bolts, without any way injuring or damaging them, with the exception of nine veuglaires, two kegs of powder, twenty-three cross-bows, and nine boxes of bolts. His men to be allowed to carry with them their armour, clothes and other effects. -Item, in case any of the men-at-arms, or inhabitants of the said town and castle, shall wish to take the oaths of allegiance to the lord regent, all their effects, moveable and immoveable, shall be preserved to them, and sufficient certificates given them thereof.

Item, the said sir James shall have the use of part of the fleet before Crotoy, namely, the great hulk and the barge, Colin l'Anglois, Plumeterre, Balenier, Jacquese and Martinet,— and he shall leave behind all other vessels. The boats of the fishermen shall remain to their owners, on condition that they take the oaths of allegiance.—Item, sir James shall deliver up all the prisoners whom he may have at this moment in the town and castle of Crotoy, and, in return, sir Raoul le Bouteiller will give up one of his men, whom he has captured. -Item, during the whole intermediate time henceforth to the first day of March, all those within the said town and castle shall abstain from making war either secretly or openly, saving that sir James de Harcourt may carry on the war wheresoever he pleases on the other side of the Seine.

Item, it is strictly forbidden any persons that belong to the lord regent to make any inroads, or to plunder the lands appertaining to the said town and castle, or on the lands of any of their allies, during this said space of time.-Item, from henceforward to the first day of March, the inhabitants of Crotoy may carry on commerce with the towns of Rue, Abbeville, and Saint Valery, provided they obtain leave from the governors of these towns, but not otherwise. They shall also have liberty to traffic by sea, and to bring wines and other provision for sale, but not in sufficient quantities to revictual the town or castle, but solely for their daily supply during the aforesaid term.-Item, all persons attached to the lord regent shall have liberty to enter the town of Crotoy on business, provided they first obtain leave from the governor.

Item, should it happen that, during this intermediate time, any armed vessel, or other having men-at-arms on board, appear before Crotoy, such shall not be admitted into the harbour, nor receive any succour from the vessels then within the port. Sir James de Harcourt shall not, during this aforesaid term, in any way strengthen or demolish the said town and castle.-Item, the lord regent, or his commissioners, shall, at the time of surrender, grant passports to all within the town and castle to go whithersoever they may please to join their party, and carry with them all their effects,-for the moving of which they shall be allowed fifteen days, and passports to continue for fifteen days more.-Item, sir James de Harcourt shall in like manner have passports for himself, his children, and family, to depart by sea or land, as he may please, and whithersoever he shall choose.

Item, for the due performance of these articles, the said sir James shall deliver as hostages the lord Pierre de Hergicourt, knight, Boort de Fiefiez, Jean Sarpe, and Percival Combiet, esquires, Jean d'Estampes, Gilles le Roi, and Jean de Gonne, burghers of the town of

Crotoy. These hostages shall be set at liberty on the surrender of Crotoy; and in case that he who calls himself their king shall, by himself or others, come to their succour, and remain victorious, these said hostages shall have their liberty as before.

On the signing this treaty, and the delivery of the hostages, the siege was broken up. Sir James de Harcourt had all his stores of provision in Abbeville and elsewhere sold, and ordered his children from Hainault to the castle of Hamesche, whence, on their arrival, he sent them to Monstreul-Bellay. After sir James had disposed of his stores, he embarked with a part of his people and his immense wealth, leaving sir Choquart de Cambronne his lieutenant in the castle of Crotoy. He sailed for Mont St. Michel, where he was received honourably, and thence to visit his children at Monstreul-Bellay, where he deposited the greater part of his wealth.

Some days after he waited on king Charles, who received him very kindly, and made him kingly presents. He thence took his way to visit the lord de Parthenay, uncle to his lady*, who was attached to the Burgundy interest. When the lord de Parthenay had shown him much honour and liberal entertainment, sir James required his uncle to give up his castle to his guard, and that he would quit the duke of Burgundy, whose quarrels he had hitherto espoused, and he (sir James) would make his peace with king Charles, so that he should keep up his usual state. The lord de Parthenay replied, that it was his intention to remain lord of his own castle and lands; and that those to whom they would belong after his decease, might then do with them as they listed. Upon this, sir James, having formed his plan so that it could not fail, laid hands on the lord de Parthenay, and made him prisoner in the name of king Charles. Sir James's people raised the drawbridge of the castle, but in doing so they made a noise which alarmed the townsmen, who hastened in crowds to inquire what was the matter,—and as the bridge was neither fastened by bolt nor latch, they pulled it down again, and entered the castle so suddenly, that they put to death sir James, Jean de Huselames, Jean de Frousieres, Philip de Neufville, and others of his men. Thus did sir James de Harcourt find a sudden and cruel death through somewhat too much covetousness, —although this has been related in various other manners.

CHAPTER XIII.—SEVERAL EVENTS BRIEFLY TOUCHED UPON.

In these days, the county of Hainault was in great alarm and tribulation for fear of a war between the dukes of Gloucester and of Brabant, which now seemed very probable, for both of them had espoused the heiress of these territories, and each styled himself lord of the country as a matter of right. The lords of these parts were also divided, some declaring for the duke of Brabant, and others for the duke of Gloucester, notwithstanding they had all sworn fidelity to the duke of Brabant, and had, for a long time, acknowledged him for their legal lord.

The dukes of Bedford and of Burgundy met at Amiens, having with them many of their council, to adjust the differences between these two dukes; but not being able to do so, they adjourned the business for final determination at Paris, and fixed a day for meeting there.

About this time the regent caused the castle of Ivry to be strongly besieged by his English, in conjunction with the lord of Isle-Adam and the bastard de Thian. The count d'Aumarle, the bastard d'Alençon, and other captains, assembled a large force to raise this siege. On their march for this purpose they met the governor of Avranches, brother to the earl of Suffolk, who, returning from an excursion, had dismissed a part of his men. The French instantly charged and defeated his remaining force, and made him prisoner; and supposing

Parthenay was an ancient house descended from that of Lusignan. Jane, daughter of William l'Archevesque, lord of Parthenay, married William de Melun, count of Tancarville, and the only issue of that marriage was Margaret de Melun, who married sir James de Harcourt, and brought into that family all the possessions of her house.

+ Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, died 12 Rich. II.,

leaving Michael, his son and heir, who succeeded him, and died of the flux at Harfleur, 3 Hen. V. His sons were, 1. Michael, earl of Suffolk, killed at Azincourt; 2. William, earl, and afterwards duke, of Suffolk, the same here mentioned; and 3. John de la Pole, captain of Avranches, also here mentioned.

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