A feeble woe! whose impotent commands According to Pierre de Fenin, the English did not bury their own dead; but their loss was so small, that this is very unlikely. He says, Apres cette douloureuse journée et que toutes les deux parties se furent retirées, Louys de Luxembourg qui estoit evesque de Teroüane, fit faire en la place ou la bataille avoit esté donnée plusieurs charniers, ou il fit assembler tous les morts d'un costé et d'autre ; et la les fit enterrer, puis il benit la place, et la fit enclore de fortes hayes tout autour, pour la garantir du bestail. After the battle of Agincourt Henry lodged at Maisoncelle; le lendemain au matin il en deslogea, et alla passer tout au milieu des morts qui avoient esté tuez en ce combat; la il s'arresta grand espace de temps, et tirerent ses gens encor des prisonniers hors du nombre des morts, qu'ils emmenerent avec eux. Mem. de Pierre de Fenin. Page 38.-From the disastrous plain of Agincourt. Perhaps one consequence of the victory at Agincourt is not generally known. Immediately on his return, Henry sent his legates to the council of Constance: "at this councell, by the assent of all nations there present, it was authorised and ordained, that England should obtaine the name of a nation, and should be said one of the five nations that owe their devotion to the church of Rome, which thing until that time men of other nations, for envy, had delayed and letted." Stowe. Elmham. Page 38.-Henry as wise as brave had back to England Henry judged, that by fomenting the troubles of France, he should procure more certain and lasting advantages than by means of his arms. The truth is, by pushing the French vigorously, he ran the risk of uniting them all against him; in which case, his advantages, probably, would have been inconsiderable; but by granting them some respite, he gave them opportunity to destroy one another: therefore, contrary to every one's expectation, he laid aside his military affairs for near eighteen months, and betook himself entirely to negociation, which afforded him the prospect of less doubtful advantages. Rapin. Page 40.-For many were the warrior sons of Roan. Yet although the armie was strong without, there lacked not within both hardie capteins and manfull soldiers, and as for people, they had more than inough: for as it is written by some that had good cause to know the truth, and no occasion to erre from the same, there were in the citie at the time of the siege 210,000 persons. Dailie were issues made out of the citie at diverse gates, sometime to the losse of the one partie and sometimes of the other, as chances of warre in such adventures happen.” Holinshed. 566. Page 40.- Had bade them vow before Almighty God. The Frenchmen indeed, preferring fame before worldlie riches, and despising pleasure (the enemy to warlike prowesse), sware ech to other never to render or deliver the citie, while they might either hold sword in hand or speare in rest.” Page 41. Holinshed. 566. Had made a league with famine. The king of England, advertised of their hautie courages, determined to conquer them by famine which would not be tamed by weapon. Wherefore he stopped all the passages, both by water and land, that no vittels could be conveied to the citie. He cast trenches round about the walls, and set them full of stakes, and defended them with archers, so that there was left neither waie for them within to issue out, nor for anie that were abroad to enter in without his license. The king's coosine germane and alie (the king of Portugale), sent a great navie of well-appointed ships unto the mouth of the river of Seine, to stop that no French vessel should enter the river and passe up the same, to the aid of them within Rouen. "Thus was the faire citie of Rouen compassed about with enemies, both by water and land, having neither comfort nor aid of king, dolphin, or duke.” Holinshed, 566. King Henry of England marched a most powerful army, accompanied by a large train of artillery and warlike stores, in the month of June, before the noble and potent town of Rouen, to prevent the inhabitants and garrison from being supplied with new corn. The van of his army arrived there at midnight, that the garrison might not make any sally against them. The king was lodged at the Carthusian convent; the duke of Gloster was quartered before the gate of St. Hilaire; the duke of Clarence at the gate of Caen; the earl of Warwick at that of Martinville; the duke of Exeter and earl of Dorset at that of Beauvais : in front of the gate of the castle were the lord marshal and sir John de Cornwall. At the gate leading to Normandy were posted the earls of Huntingdon, Salisbury, Kyme, and the lord Neville, son to the earl of Westmoreland. On the hill fronting St. Catherine's were others of the English barons. Before the English could fortify their quarters, many sallies were made on them, and several severe skirmishes passed on both sides. But the English, so soon as they could, dug deep ditches between the town and them, on the top of which they planted a thick hedge of thorns, so that they could not otherwise be annoyed than by cannon-shot and arrows. They also built a jette on the banks of the Seine, about a VOL. I. cannon-shot distant from the town, to which they fastened their chains, one of them half a foot under the water, another level with it, and a third two feet above the stream, so that no boats could bring provision to the town, nor could any escape from it that way. They likewise dug deep galleries of communication from one quarter to another, which completely sheltered those in them from cannon or other warlike machines. Monstrelet, vol. v. p. 40. Page 41.- Desperate endurance. "After he had prosecuted the siege of this place for some time, the cardinal Ursino repaired to his camp, and endeavoured to persuade him to moderate his terms, and agree to an equitable peace; but the king's reply plainly evinced his determination of availing himself of the present situation of public affairs; Do you not see,' said he, that God has brought me hither, as it were by the hand? The throne of France may be said to be vacant; I have a good title to that crown; the whole kingdom is involved in the utmost disorder and confusion; few are willing, and still fewer are able, to resist me. Can I have a more convincing proof of the interposition of heaven in my favour, and that the Supreme Ruler of all things has decreed that I should ascend the throne of France ?' Hist. of England by Hugh Clarendon. |