of Burgundy, or with those of his party; he even seized in the port of Estaples a vessel laden with corn, that belonged to sir Hemon de Bouberch, who was attached to the duke of Burgundy. Because he refused to restore it, on being summoned, a sudden war broke out between them, very prejudicial to the whole country of Ponthieu and the adjoining parts. Sir Hemon, in revenge, went and made his complaints to sir William Balledo, lieutenant of Calais, who instantly collected soldiers from the county of Guines, and from his garrison, and carried them by sea to Crotoy,-when, having burnt all the vessels and boats in the harbour, he returned to Calais. In return for this enterprise, sir James forced an entrance into many of the towns of sir Hemon, which he completely plundered, and carried away the pillage to his garrisons of Noyelle and Crotoy.

Shortly after, sir Hemon did the same to the towns of sir James de Harcourt, and the war was carried on with such bitterness that the whole of that country suffered greatly; for sir James, to strengthen himself, obtained reinforcements of men-at-arms from Compiègne and elsewhere. He also formed an alliance with many of the nobles of Vimeu and Ponthieu, with the lord de Rambures, Louis de Vaucourt, le bon de Saveuses, Perceval de Houdent, Pierre Quieret, governor of D'Araines, and with many others. Sir James, by this means, gained possession of several towns and castles, such as the town of St. Riquier, the castles of la Ferté and of Drugy, the island and castle of Pont de Remy, the fortresses of D'Araines, Diaucourt, and Moreul: on the side of the country toward St. Valery, Rambures, Gamaches, and some others, into which, by the exertions of sir James, parties of the Dauphinois gained admittance, who began to make open war on the duke of Burgundy and his adherents, to the ruin of the country. The town of St. Riquier, however, did not submit to sir James until king Henry had crossed from England to France, as you shall hear.

CHAPTER CCXLI.-KING HENRY OF ENGLAND RETURNS TO FRANCE WITH A POWERFUL ARMY TO COMBAT THE DAUPHIN, WHO HAD BESIEGED CHARTRES.

WHEN King Henry had settled the government of England during his absence, and when his army was advanced to Canterbury, having received pay for eight months, he came to Dover; and thence, and at the neighbouring ports, he and his army embarked at day-break, on the feast of St. Barbara, and that same day arrived in the harbour of Calais at two o'clock in the afternoon. The king disembarked from his vessel and was lodged in the castle of Calais; the others landed also, and were quartered in the town and the adjacent parts, according to the orders of the king and his harbingers. Shortly after, when the vessels were unladen, they were discharged, and ordered back by the king to England. It was estimated by competent judges that from three to four thousand men-at-arms disembarked that day, and full twenty-four thousand archers.

*

On the morrow of the feast of St. Barbara, the king sent the earl of Dorset and the lord Clifford to the assistance of his uncle the duke of Exeter and the Parisians, who were much straitened for provisions by the garrisons of the Dauphinois that surrounded Paris. They had under their command twelve hundred combatants, and, avoiding all the ambushes of the enemy, rode hastily forward to Paris, where they were joyfully received by the inhabitants, by reason of the intelligence they brought of the king of England being at Calais, to whom they had sent several messages before he left England. The dauphin had now a considerable army, which he marched toward Chartres; and the towns of Bonneval and Galardon, with other castles, surrendered to him, which he regarrisoned, and then fixed his quarters as near to Chartres as possible, and encompassed it on all sides. It was defended by the bastard de Thian and other captains, who had been despatched thither in haste from Paris for that purpose. The dauphin's army was supposed to consist of from six to seven thousand having leg-armour, four thousand cross-bows, and six thousand archers, and this

*John lord Clifford, knight of the Garter, killed at the siege of Meaux. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Harry Hotspur, and had issue, 1. Thomas lord Clifford, killed at the battle of St. Albans. 2. John lord Clifford,

the son of Thomas, was surnamed the Butcher, and killed at the battle of Towton. For the romantic history of the son of the last-named John, and father of the first earl of Cumberland, see Dugdale's Baronage, vol. ii.

statement was sent to the king of England by those who had seen them. The Dauphinois erected many engines to batter the walls and gates, which did some mischief; but as the inhabitants were assured of being speedily relieved by king Henry, they were not under any alarm at their attacks.

CHAPTER CCXLII.-THE KING OF ENGLAND MARCHES FROM CALAIS, THROUGH ABBEVILLE, TO BEAUVAIS, AND THENCE TO MANTES, WHERE THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MEETS HIM.

WHEN King Henry had remained some days in Calais on account of business, he departed in haste; for he had received pressing solicitations from his uncle the duke of Exeter and the Parisians that he would succour Chartres. Taking his march by the sea-side, he was lodged at the hôtel of the Crown in Montreuil, and his army quartered in the low lands near it. Philip duke of Burgundy had arrived there the preceding day to confer with the king; but as he was confined with a fever, and unable to mount his horse, he sent sir John de Luxembourg, with all his chivalry, to meet the king, and make his excuses for not coming himself in person. They remained for three days in this town to confer at leisure on the present state of affairs. They departed together, and went to lodge at Douvast in Ponthieu. As they marched near to Montenay, the king of England ordered the tower, house and mill of sir James de Harcourt to be burnt.

The king was desirous of crossing the Somme at Abbeville, and the duke of Burgundy advanced to that town to negotiate the king's passage, which was obtained, but very unwillingly, on the duke promising that every expense should be fully discharged. While the duke was absent, the king and his nobles amused themselves in hunting in the forest of Cressy, and the following day fixed their quarters at St. Riquier, near to which place was a small fort called La Ferté, garrisoned by about sixty of sir James de Harcourt's men, under the command of the bastard de Ballay, who, on a formal summons, surrendered the place.

A gentleman of the country, called Nycaise de Boufflers*, was appointed by the king and the duke governor, who shortly after yielded it to the Dauphinois (as will be hereafter related), by whom it had before been held. From St. Riquier king Henry came to Abbeville, where he was most honourably received, and many handsome presents were made him, in compliment to the duke of Burgundy. The army and baggage passed very peaceably through the town; and on the morrow, when all the expenses had been paid, the king took leave of the duke, on his promising that he would speedily join him with his whole force. King Henry continued his march through Beauvais and Gisors, to the castle of Vincennes, where were the king and queen of France, whom he saluted most respectfully, and was by them received with great joy. Thither came his uncle the duke of Exeter, with several of the council of the king of France, and many conferences were held on the present state of the kingdom.

Among other things it was ordered, that the florettes, a coin of the king which was current for sixteen deniers, should be reduced to three deniers; but when this ordinance was proclaimed throughout the kingdom, it created great murmurings against the ministers among the commonalty of Paris, and in other places, but without obtaining any redress. Their murmurings were soon after much increased by the coin being still lowered in currency. The king of England now assembled a very large army; and in conjunction with that he had brought with him from England, he marched toward Mantes to offer battle to the dauphin, who had been already seven weeks before Chartres. He sent to the duke of Burgundy to join him instantly with as many men as he could raise, that he might be in time for the day of battle. The duke made all haste to comply, and advanced to the town of Amiens with about three thousand combatants, and thence, marching through Beauvais a d Gisors, came to the town of Mantes. He, however, left his army at a large village, and

*Aleaume lord of Boufflers, was inade prisoner at Azincourt. His sons were,-1. David, who was in the duke of Burgundy's company in 1417, and died s. p.;

2. Peter, a celebrated Burgundian leader; 3. Nycaise, here mentioned, one of the peers of Ponthieu.

went himself, with few attendants, to wait on the king of England, who was well pleased with his diligence.

In the interim, the dauphin, when he was informed of the great army that was marching against him, broke up his siege of Chartres, and retreated to Tours. When the king and the duke of Burgundy had held several councils on their further proceedings, it was agreed that the duke should return to Picardy to oppose the Dauphinois, who were doing great mischief there by means of the influence of sir James de Harcourt.

CHAPTER CCXLIII.-THE LORD D'OFFEMONT ENTERS ST. RIQUIER.—THE ADVENTURE OF THE LORD DE COHEN, GOVERNOR OF ABBEVILLE.-OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THESE TIMES.

DURING the time that the duke of Burgundy was on his march, and when he was with the king of England, the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Saintrailles collected about twelve hundred horse, and, passing through Vimeu, crossed the Somme at Blanchetaque, where they were met by sir James de Harcourt: they thence proceeded to St. Riquier, and gained admittance into the town through the influence of sir James. They treated successfully with Nycaise de Boufflers for the surrender of the castle of La Ferté, which was given up to them; as was that of Drugy, belonging to the abbot of St. Riquier. When they had established themselves in these places, they overran the adjacent country, and even sailed on the river Canche, to a large village called Conchy, and completely burnt the whole, together with a very handsome church, into which the principal inhabitants had retreated with their effects, the greater part of whom were led prisoners to St. Riquier. In another part, the strong fort of Dourier, proudly seated on the river Authie, was surrendered to Poton de Saintrailles; and, by means of this acquisition, the town and neighbourhood of Montreuil were greatly harassed.

The duke of Burgundy heard, on his return with his army, at a town called Croissy, that the lord d'Offemont and Poton de Saintrailles had gained possession of St. Riquier, and how they were proceeding. On this he assembled his council; and it was determined that menat-arms should be summoned from all parts, and cross-bowmen from the towns under the dominion of the king of France, that St. Riquier might be besieged. With this intent he went to Amiens, and solicited succours, which were granted to him. He thence despatched his messengers to different towns, to make similar requests: the greater part of them promised to serve him liberally. When the duke departed from Amiens, he went through Dourlens, to fix his quarters at Auxi, on the river Authie, within three leagues of Saint Riquier. He was there rejoined by sir John de Luxembourg, who had been detached with a certain number of combatants, through Dourmart in Ponthieu, toward St. Riquier, to make inquiry as to the number and situation of the Dauphinois.

While

The duke remained three days at Auxi, to wait the arrival of his reinforcements. these things were passing, the lord de Cohen, governor of the town of Abbeville, going one night after supper to visit the guard, attended by only six persons, but preceded by his servants carrying lighted torches, was suddenly attacked by three or four persons who were lying in wait for him, and severely wounded him in the face. They also struck an advocate, called John de Quex, who was in his company, mounted on a handsome horse: he was stunned with the blow, and in his fright stuck spurs into his horse, who galloped off against a chain that had been stretched across the street from two posts. One of them, by the great strength of the horse, was torn from the ground, but the shock flung the advocate with such force that he died shortly after of the bruises. The lord de Cohen was carried home by his servants thus wounded, and was unable at first to discover the perpetrators of this deed. They were however of Abbeville, and by means of friends escaped secretly, and went to Crotoy to relate what they had done to sir James de Harcourt, who was well pleased thereat, and retained them in his service. Some few years afterward, however, they were taken, and executed for this and other crimes.

CHAPTER CCXLIV.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES TO PONT DE SAINT REMY, AND CONQUERS IT. THE DEEDS OF ARMS THAT WERE PERFORMED BEFORE SAINT RIQUIER.

THE duke of Burgundy advanced his whole army from Auxi to a large village called Viurens, within a league from St. Riquier. On the morrow he marched by this last town, and quartered himself and his army at Pont de St. Remy, on the night of the feast of the Magdalen. Some of his men were lodged in large houses near the bridge; but the Dauphinois, who were in the castle and island, discharged rockets into them, and set them on fire, which forced the Burgundians to retire, and fix their quarters further off. Two days after their arrival, the cross-bows from Amiens, and a body of men-at-arms who escorted them, descended the Somme in twelve boats, ready to attack the castle and island. But the Dauphinois, on learning that they were near at hand, took fright, and, packing up their baggage, fled to the castle of D'Airaines, leaving Pont de St. Remy without any guard. Some women, who had remained in the island, lowered the drawbridge on the side where the Burgundians lay, who instantly entered the place, and plundered all that the Dauphinois had left. This same day, by orders from the duke of Burgundy, the castle and town were burnt, wherein were many handsome houses. In like manner, on this and on the following day, were destroyed the castles of Marveil and Jaucourt, which the Dauphinois had deserted from fear of the duke.

While the duke of Burgundy was thus employed at Pont de St. Remy, sir John de Luxembourg went to the town of St. Riquier, under proper passports from the lord d'Offemont, with one hundred picked men-at-arms as an escort to six knights, well mounted and accoutred, who were to perform a deed of arms against six champions of the Dauphinois under the lord d'Offemont. This combat had been previously settled by messages which had passed between the parties. The Burgundian champions were Henry l'Allemant, the bastard de Robaix, Lyonnet de Bournouville, and three others. The Dauphinois were the lord de Verduysant, Guillaume d'Aubigny, and four others, whose names I have forgotten. On the parties meeting, the justings commenced; but at the onset the two Dauphinois killed the horses of their opponents: the others broke several lances gallantly enough; but, from the shortness of the time, two on each side could not just, and there was no one wounded on either side. The parties took a friendly leave; and sir John de Luxembourg returned with his company to the Pont de St. Remy, and the lord d'Offemont re-entered St. Riquier.

Sir John de Luxembourg had been accompanied for his security by one hundred of the most expert men-at-arms in the Burgundian army: he had also formed an ambuscade of three hundred men in a wood to succour him, should there be occasion. When on his road to St. Riquier, having placed this ambuscade, he halted on an eminence to observe if his orders were obeyed, and to his surprise saw that those in ambush were wandering about and the horses grazing. In a great rage he seized a lance and galloped back to reduce them to proper order; but his men perceiving him coming, mounted their horses and fled as fast as spurs could make them. Nevertheless, he overtook a man-at-arms, named Aloyer, whom he pierced through the thigh and unhorsed, and to many others he gave severe blows. When he had restored order, and severely reprimanded the leaders, he continued his march to witness the deed of arms already related.

CHAPTER CCXLV.-THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES FROM PONT DE ST. REMY TO LAY SIEGE TO THE TOWN OF ST. RIQUIER.HE BREAKS UP HIS SIEGE TO COMBAT THE DAUPHINOIS, WHO ARE ADVANCING TO THE RELIEF OF THAT TOWN.

AFTER the destruction of Pont de St. Remy, the duke of Burgundy departed for Abbeville with his army, a part of which was quartered in the suburbs. About the end of July, he marched to St. Riquier, and fixed his quarters in the castle of la Ferté, which a little before,

together with the castle of Drugy and the suburbs, had been set on fire. His men were quartered in other places near sir John de Luxembourg, at the gate of St. John leading toward Auxi: the lord de Croy, some days after, was lodged near the gate of St. Nicholas toward Abbeville. At the gate of the Heronhault, leading toward Crotoy, there was not any lodgement of men-at-arms, which gave free liberty to the garrison or inhabitants to go in and out of the town at their pleasure, on horseback or on foot. Numerous reinforcements from the principal towns, in consequence of his summons, now joined the duke. When the quarters had been all marked out, the Burgundians made their approaches near to the walls, and began severely to annoy the garrison. The duke might have under his command, as well men-at-arms as archers and cross-bows, including those sent from the towns, five or six thousand combatants. The enemy, under the lord d'Offemont, Poton de Santrailles, Verduysant, Mengues, and other captains in the town, might consist of twelve or fourteen hundred men; for in addition to those they had brought thither, sir James de Harcourt had sent them some of his most expert soldiers; and they exerted themselves to the utmost to resist the attacks of the Burgundians.

It would be too long and tedious were I to attempt to enumerate all the sallies of the garrison, but in truth they made many in which they gained more than they lost; and in the number was one by which they captured some of the duke's captains, the principal of whom were sir Emond de Boubers, Henry l'Allemant, John de Courcelles, John de Crevecœur, one called Ancellet, and some other noblemen. In the meantime, the engines which the duke had erected broke down the gates and walls, and even destroyed some of the houses within the town; and those which the besieged had pointed against the Burgundian army were equally destructive, so that many lives were lost on both sides during this siege. Sir James de Harcourt sent frequent messengers to the lord d'Offemont, to exhort him and his brother captains to hold out with courage, for that they would shortly be succoured, as he had sent for relief from divers places in Champagne, Brie, Valois, to Compiègne and other places attached to the interest of the dauphin, and had earnestly besought them to assemble as large a force as they possibly could to join him, and offer battle to the duke of Burgundy. In consequence of this request, the Dauphinois did assemble in force in the neighbourhood of Compiègne, whence they were to begin their march. The duke, however, continued the siege with vigour; but hearing of the intentions of the Dauphinois to force him to raise it, and to offer him battle, he called a council to determine in this case how he should act. It was resolved that the duke should break up the siege, and advance to fight the Dauphinois before they could effect a junction with sir James de Harcourt and the others. In conformity to this resolution, on the 29th of August the duke despatched Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecoeur at nightfall from the camp, with six-score combatants, to cross the Somme at Abbeville, whence they were to advance into Vimeu to inquire diligently into the state and condition of the Dauphinois; he earnestly entreated and commanded them to attend particularly to his orders, and to send him as soon as possible a true statement of what the Dauphinois were intending, adding, that his whole army should very speedily follow them. These two captains rode during the night to Abbeville, where having refreshed their horses a little they advanced into Vimeu. In the meantime, the duke of Burgundy secretly made his preparations for breaking up the siege by packing up his tents, baggage, and stores, and, having set fire to his camp, marched straight for Abbeville. On his arrival there, those of his army who chose to eat or to drink were obliged to do so on horseback ; for he would not suffer any one to dismount, as he was every moment expecting intelligence of the enemy from Philip de Saveuses and the lord de Crevecoeur. When they had entered Vimeu, they observed about sun-rise, toward Oisemont, the Dauphinois in handsome array, briskly pushing forward and making for the ford of Blanchetaque. They were so near that some of the Dauphinois were taken by them; and by their means they acquired full knowledge of their intentions. They sent them instantly to the duke, who, as I have said, was at Abbeville, that he might hasten his march to meet them before they could cross the river. The duke, on receiving this intelligence, was much rejoiced, and immediately quitted the town and pressed his march as much as he could, leaving behind at Abbeville his archers and crossbows. The Dauphinois saw the duke's army was pursuing them, and consequently made all