CHAPTER LXXXII.—THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY QUARTERS HIS ARMY AT GOURNAY-SUR-ARONDE. [A. D. 1430.]

Ar the commencement of this year, the duke of Burgundy marched his army from Mondidier, and fixed his quarters at Gournay-sur-Aronde, in front of the castle, which belonged to Charles de Bourbon count de Clermont, his brother-in-law. He summoned Tristan de Maguillers, the governor, to surrender, or he would storm it. Tristan, seeing he could no way hold out against the duke's forces, concluded a treaty, by which he engaged to yield it up on the first day of next August, if he was not before relieved by king Charles or his party he also promised, that neither he himself nor his garrison would, during that time, make war on any of the duke's partisans,—and by this means Tristan remained in peace. This compromise had been hastily concluded, because the duke and sir John de Luxembourg had received intelligence to be depended upon, that the damoiseau de Commercy, Yvon du Puys, and other captains, with a very large force, had besieged the castle of Montagu. Commercy, to whom this castle belonged, had marched thither secretly a great number of combatants, with bombards, veuglaires, and other warlike engines, intending, by an unexpected and sharp assault, to recover the place; but it was well defended by those whom sir John de Luxembourg had placed therein. The principal leaders of the garrison were two notable men-at-arms, one of whom was an Englishman, and the other Georges de la Croix. They were frequently summoned to surrender, but would not listen to the summons, for they had not a doubt but that they should be very shortly succoured. At length the besiegers, having learnt that the duke of Burgundy was marching against them, and that they must stand the chance of a battle, were panic-struck, and so great was their fear, that they marched away about midnight for their own garrisons, leaving their cannon, bombards, and all their stores behind. Information of this was instantly dispatched to the duke and sir John de Luxembourg, who made all diligence to attack them, and the duke marched his whole army to Noyon.

In these days sir John de Luxumbourg advanced against Beauvais, and on the countries of the enemy, particularly against sir Louis de Vaucourt and his men, who had remained there for a considerable time during the winter, and set fire to a castle which they had repaired. The enemy retired within the town of Beauvais ; and sir John encamped before the castle of Prouveulieu, which some Englishmen had refortified, and, by their excursions from thence, frequently oppressed the town of Mondidier, and the territories of the duke of Burgundy. They were soon forced to submit to sir John, who had the greater part executed and the rest sent to different prisons: having done this, he returned to the duke of Burgundy at Noyon.

CHAPTER LXXXIII.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LAYS. SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF
CHOISY, WHICH HE CONQUERS IN A FEW DAYS.

WHEN the duke of Burgundy had remained for about eight days in Noyon, he departed, to lay siege to the castle of Choisy sur Oise, in which was Louis de Flavy, holding it for sir William de Flavy. The duke's engines did so much mischief to the walls of the castle that the garrison capitulated, on being allowed to march away with their baggage in safety. So soon as they had quitted the castle, it was demolished and razed to the ground. The duke built a bridge over the Oise, to enable himself and his army to cross toward Compiègne on the side of Mondidier. During this time the lord de Saveuses and John de Brimeu had been appointed to guard the suburbs of Noyon, with their men, and those of the lord Montgomery and of other English captains quartered at Pont l'Evêque, to prevent the garrison of Compiègne from cutting off the supplies from the duke's army.

It happened on a certain day, that those in Compiègne, namely, Joan the Maid, sir James de Chabannes, sir Theolde de Valperghue, sir Regnault de Fontaines, Poton de Saintrailles, and others of the French captains, accompanied by about two thousand combatants, came to Pont l'Evêque between day-break and sun-rise, and attacked the quarters of the English

with great courage. A sharp conflict took place; and the lord de Saveuses with John de Brimeu, with their men, hastened to their support, which renewed the vigour of the English ; they together repulsed the French, who had made good progress in their quarters. About thirty were killed on each side,—and the French retreated to Compiègne, whence they had come. The English from that day strengthened their position on all sides, to avoid a similar attack. Shortly afterward, John de Brimeu, going to the duke of Burgundy with about one hundred combatants, was suddenly attacked by a party of French in the forest of Crespy in the Valois, who had come from Attichy for this purpose, and to seek adventures, and without much defence made prisoner. The reason of his being thus taken was because his men followed in a file, and were unable to form into battle-array until the attack had commenced. He was put into the hands of Poton de Saintrailles, who, in the end, gave him his liberty on paying a heavy ransom.

When the duke of Burgundy had demolished the castle of Choisy, he quartered himself in the fortress of Coudun, within a league of Compiègne, and sir John de Luxembourg was lodged in Claroi. Sir Baudo de Noielle was ordered to post himself with a certain number of men-at-arms on the causeway of Marigny, and the lord Montgomery and his men were quartered along the meadows of La Venette. The duke was joined by some reinforcements from his different countries, having the intention to besiege the town of Compiègne, and reduce it to the obedience of king Henry of England.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.-JOAN THE MAID OVERTHROWS FRANQUET D'ARRAS, AND

HAS HIS HEAD CUT OFF.

Ar the beginning of the month of May, a valiant man-at-arms named Franquet of Arras, attached to the duke of Burgundy, was overthrown and taken. He had made an excursion with about three hundred combatants toward Lagny sur Marne, but, on his return, was met by Joan the Maid and four hundred French. Franquet and his men attacked them valiantly several times, and, by means of his archers whom he had dismounted, made so vigorous a resistance that the Maid, finding they gained nothing, sent hastily for succours from the garrisons of Lagny and other castles under the dominion of king Charles. They came in great numbers with culverines, cross-bows, and other warlike instruments, so that in the end the Burgundians, after doing great mischief to the enemy's cavalry, were conquered, and the better part of them put to the sword. The Maid even caused Franquet to be beheaded, whose death was exceedingly lamented by his party, for he was a man of most valiant conduct.

CHAPTER LXXXV.-RENE DUKE OF BAR LAYS SIEGE TO CHAPPES, NEAR TO

TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.

ABOUT this period the duke of Bar, called Réné of Sicily, collected from his duchies of Lorraine and Bar, and the borders of Germany, a considerable force of men-at-arms, commanded by that prudent and valiant knight the lord de Barbasan, who, as has been said, was detained by the English for a long time prisoner. The duke's troops might amount to three or four thousand combatants; and he led them to besiege the town of Chappes, three leagues from Troyes, in which were the lord d'Aumont, his brother and many warriors, who diligently applied themselves to its defence. They also sent to the lords of Burgundy, to entreat that they would come to their aid in this time of need. In consequence, sir Anthony de Toulongeon marshal of Burgundy, the count de Joigny, sir Anthony and sir John du Vergy, the lord de Jonvelle, the lord de Chastellux, le veau de Bar, and in general the greater part of the Burgundian nobles, to the number of four thousand combatants, assembled, and advanced toward the quarters of the duke of Bar, to offer him battle.

The duke, knowing of their coming, was drawn up ready to receive them, when the Burgundians were soon thrown into disorder, and returned to their own country. About

sixty were killed or taken: of the latter number were the lord de Plansi and Charles de Rochefort. The lord d'Aumore was also made prisoner, with several of his men, when sallying out of the town to support his friends. His brother was likewise taken, and he was forced to deliver up the castle to the duke of Bar, who completely destroyed it,

CHAPTER LXXXVI.—THE MAID IS TAKEN PRISONER BY THE BURGUNDIANS BEFORE COMPIEGNE.

DURING the time that the duke of Burgundy was quartered at Coudun, and his men-atarms in the villages between Coudun and Compiègne, it happened, that about five o'clock in the afternoon, on Ascension-eve, the Maid, Poton, and other valiant French captains, having with them from five to six hundred combatants horse and foot, sallied out of Compiègne by the gate of the bridge leading to Mondidier, with the intent to attack the post of sir Baudo de Noielle, at the end of the causeway of Marigny. At this time, sir John de Luxembourg, the lord de Crequi, and eight or ten gentlemen, but with very few attendants, were with sir Baudo. They had rode thither to consult with him on the best mode of directing their attacks on Compiègne.

The French were very near to Marigny, before the greater part of the men who were unarmed could prepare themselves; but they soon collected together, and a severe conflict commenced, during which the cries of "To arms!" were echoed through all the English and Burgundian quarters. The English, who were encamped on the meads of Venette, formed themselves into battle-array against the French, and were near five hundred men. On the other hand, sir John de Luxembourg's men quartered at Claroi, hastened to the relief of their lord and captain, who was engaged in the heat of the skirmish, and under whom the most part rallied. In this encounter the lord de Crequi was dangerously wounded in the face.

After some time, the French, perceiving their enemies multiply so fast on them, retreated toward Compiègne, leaving the Maid, who had remained to cover the rear, anxious to bring back the men with little loss. But the Burgundians, knowing that reinforcements were coming to them from all quarters, pursued them with redoubled vigour, and charged them on the plain. In the conclusion, as I was told, the Maid was dragged from her horse by an archer, near to whom was the bastard de Vendôme, and to him she surrendered and pledged her faith. He lost no time in carrying her to Marigny, and put her under a secure guard. With her was taken Poton the Burgundian, and some others, but in no great number. The French re-entered Compiègne doleful and vexed at their losses, more especially for the capture of Joan: while, on the contrary, the English were rejoiced, and more pleased than if they had taken five hundred other combatants, for they dreaded no other leader or captain so much as they had hitherto feared the Maid.

The duke of Burgundy came soon after from Coudun to the meadows before Compiègne, where he drew up his army, together with the English and the troops from their different quarters, making a handsome appearance, and with shoutings and huzzas expressed their joy at the capture of the Maid. After this, the duke went to the lodgings where she was confined, and spoke some words to her; but what they were I do not now recollect, although I was present. The duke and the army returned to their quarters, leaving the Maid under the guard of sir John de Luxembourg, who shortly after sent her, under a strong escort, to the castle of Beaulieu, and thence to that of Beaurevoir, where she remained, as you shall hear, a prisoner for a long time.

CHAPTER

LXXXVII.-YOUNG

KING HENRY OF ENGLAND DISEMBARKS AT CALAIS AND
COMES TO FRANCE.

In this year, king Henry of England, then about eight years of age, disembarked about ten o'clock in the morning of St. George's day, from his vessel at Calais. Having mounted his horse, he went to hear mass at the church of St. Nicholas, attended by the cardinal of Winchester, the duke of York, the earls of Huntingdon, Warwick, Stafford, Arundel, and Suffolk, the counts de Bonneterre, de Hemme, the lords de Roye, de Beaumont, d'Escaillon, de Grez, and many more.

He was likewise accompanied by master Pierre de Cauchon, bishop of Beauvais, who had been sent to meet him. His attendants then followed; and he was escorted from Calais to Rouen by his army, where he remained a long time.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.-AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE MAID, THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ENCAMPS HIS ARMY BEFORE COMPIEGNE.

On the morrow of the feast of the Ascension, the duke of Burgundy changed his quarters from Coudun to La Venette, where he was lodged in the abbey, and his men in the town and near to it. Sir John de Luxembourg was quartered at Marigny. They had soon erected an earthen bulwark within a bow-shot from the outworks of Compiègne, and huts of wood and earth were built still nearer to the ramparts, in which men-at-arms kept guard

day and night. They had a deep ditch of communication sunk from the bulwark to these huts, so that the guard could safely pass and repass, without fear of the guns from the walls. which were continually firing.

The duke had some large engines pointed against the gates of the town, which, by the huge stones they cast, did great damage to the gates, bridges, and mills: some of the last were rendered quite useless, to the great distress of the inhabitants. Among other mischiefs done by these machines, a young gentleman of twenty-two years old, called Louis de Flavy, son to sir William de Flavy, governor of Compiègne, was struck dead. All present were much grieved at this accident on account of sir William, who, although he was much affected, concealed his feelings, to avoid discouraging his men, and soon after, by way of heartening them, caused his minstrels to sound before him as usual; and ordered the ramparts to be more diligently defended, notwithstanding they had been greatly damaged by these engines. There had been constructed within the ditch small wooden huts, in which the guard were sheltered from danger. Some mines were also begun on by orders of sir John de Luxembourg, which, though very deep and well concealed, were of little service, but had cost much.

While these different measures were pursuing, many shirmishes took place, in which the besiegers had numbers killed and wounded. The principal persons among the dead were sir John de Belles, knight, Alain d'Escaussines, Thibault de Caitigines, and many others, as well Burgundians as English.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.—THE LIEGEOIS RAISE A LARGE ARMY, AND INVADE THE COUNTRY OF NAMUR.

At this time, the Liegeois were instigated by some arrogant men attached to the party of king Charles, such as John de Beaurain, John de Saumain, Everard de la Marche, with others, and, by the hatred and malice they had long borne the duke of Burgundy on account of former quarrels, which have been already detailed in the preceding part of this work, to rise in arms, and invade the territories of the duke, more especially the county of Namur, and despoil it. John de Heneberg, their bishop, remonstrated with them strongly on this subject; but his attempts to dissuade them from executing their plans were vain, although he plainly showed that very great misfortunes might befall Liege in consequence. The Liegeois were much displeased with these remonstrances, and being determined to pursue hostile measures against the duke of Burgundy, the bishop considered, that should he not take part and support them, he might be deprived of his bishopric. He, therefore, having advised with his council, resolved to save his-own honour, by sending letters of defiance to the duke before he made war upon him. The tenour of these letters was as follows.

"Most high, most noble, and most puissant prince Philip, duke of Burgundy, count of Artois, Flanders and Burgundy, palatine of Namur, &c.

"Notwithstanding that I, John de Heneberg, bishop of Liege and count de Loz, in virtue of certain statements that have passed between us, have made frequent applications to you for reparation according to the claims declared in these aforesaid statements, which have been but little attended to, and that divers great and abominable outrages have been committed by your captains and servants on my country and subjects, which, if it may please you to remember, have been fully detailed in the complaints that were made to you thereon. Nevertheless, most high, noble and puissant prince, although your answers have been very gracious, and although you declare your intentions of preserving a good understanding between us, your promises have hitherto been without effect; and these matters are now so much entangled with others, no wise concerning them, that it is very grievous to us, and most highly displeasing.

"Most high, noble and puissant prince, you must, in your wisdom, know, that by reason of my oath to remain faithful to my church and country, it behoves me to support and defend their rights against all who may attempt to infringe them, with the whole force I shall be possessed of. For this reason, most high, noble, and puissant prince, after my humble