The duke of Bourbon, in consequence of the terms of the treaty, promised to restore to the king, within a few days, the towns of Corbeil, Vincennes, Sancerre, and the castle of Loches, which were in his possession; but the king would not permit his army to quit the Bourbonnois and Auvergne until these places were fairly given up. The king also pardoned the duke d'Alençon, the count de Vendôme, and many other princes and nobles, who had taken part with the dauphin. When all these things were accomplished, the dauphin was satisfied to remain with the king his father, and peace was proclaimed in the following

terms.

"We make known to you, by the king's command, that my lord the dauphin and my lord the duke of Bourbon have appeared before his majesty in all humility and obedience; that the king has affectionately received them into his good graces, and pardoned everything. By these presents, the king wills and ordains, that all quarrels and warfare cease, and that no prisoners nor captures of cattle, or of other effects, be made, or injuries done to any one by taking castles or towns, or otherwise; but that all persons do now attend to their affairs, and go about their business without any interruption whatever; and he forbids any places belonging to the duke of Bourbon or to others, being demolished.-Given at Cusset, the 24th of July, in the year 1440."-It was subscribed at the bottom by order of the king and his great council, and signed "Jugon."

Within a few days after, the king gave to the dauphin the government of Dauphiny, and ordered his army to march from the estates of the duke of Bourbon toward Orleans and Paris.

CHAPTER CCXLVI.-THE FRENCH OVERRUN THE LANDS OF NEEL, BELONGING TO SIR JOHN DE LUXEMBOURG.

In the month of July of this year, while sir John de Luxembourg, count de Ligny, was at Neel in the Vermandois, the garrisons of Crespy in Valois, of Vert, and other places, to the amount of about one hundred combatants, advanced thither, having crossed the Oise at the bridge of Saint Maixence, under the command of Gilbert de la Roche, a companion of arms to sir John de Luxembourg. They overran the country round Neel, belonging to the count de Ligny, and made great prizes of peasants, cattle, horses, and of all they could seize, after which they set out with their plunder on their return home.

Intelligence of this was carried to sir John de Luxembourg, who was very indignant thereat, for it was not the first time such pillaging had taken place. He instantly assembled, from his nearest towns and castles, about a hundred fighting men, whom he sent in pursuit of them. The principal captains were, sir David de Poix, governor of Guise, Guyot de Bethune, Antoine de la Baniere, governor of Ham, Antoine du Belloy, and other gentlemen, who, riding full speed, overtook them below Compiégne, opposite to Royalieu ‡, where they had sent across the river, by means of a boat which they had found there, good part of the cattle and horses,—and about twenty were in the boat crossing when they saw their adversaries arrive and vigorously attack those who had remained behind. Wishing, therefore, to assist their companions, they turned the boat toward the shore they had come from, but it was useless; for no sooner did it approach than such numbers, from fright and surprise, leaped into it that it overset, and many were drowned, and their effects lost. The rest were defeated, and several slain : in this number was Gilbert de la Roche. Rassillé saved himself by flight, with only about eight or ten of his men.

The conquerors now crossed the river to seek for the plunder,-and by another road drove the cattle, &c., to Neel, where sir John de Luxembourg came out to meet them, much rejoiced at their good success. They brought with them five prisoners, the majority of whom were hanged.

Crespy in Valois,-capital of the Valois, six leagues from Senlis.

+ Ver, a village in Picardy, diocese of Senlis.

Royaulieu, a convent in the diocese of Soissons, near Compiegne.

CHAPTER CCXLVII.-THE EARL OF SOMERSET BESIEGES HARFLEUR WITH A POWERFUL ARMY OF ENGLISH.

ABOUT the end of April, in this year, six thousand English combatants were assembled near to Rouen, under the command of the earls of Somerset, of Dorset *, and of Falconbridge, they having with them the lord Talbot, sir Francis the Arragonian, Matago, Jacquemin, Vacquier, Thomas Heniton, the bailiff of Rouen, and some other captains, who marched thence, and besieged Harfleur by sea and land.

The governor for the king of France was John d'Estouteville, having with him his brother Robert and others, to the amount of four hundred fighting men, who, with the townsmen and sailors, made every preparation to receive their adversaries with courage. They strengthened every weak part of the fortifications, and made some sallies, in which they took prisoners or slew several of their adversaries. The besiegers, on their side, were not idle in securing their camp with deep ditches all round, and with strong hedges, to prevent any surprise, leaving at proper intervals openings for their own convenience to sally forth. They pointed bombards, and other destructive engines, against the gates of Harfleur, which harassed the town much, and for so long a time that the inhabitants suffered greatly. They were also oppressed by a famine, caused from a want of all necessaries. They sent several messengers to king Charles to state their situation and solicit succour, which he promised to send: but, from the many weighty affairs on his hands, he was unable to do it so soon as they required. However, at the end of about four months that this siege had lasted, and when the countess of Somerset and other ladies and damsels were come thither to see the conclusion of it, the count d'Eu was ordered to march, with the promised succour, to the relief of the town. He had with him the count de Dunois, bastard of Orleans, the bastard de Bourbon, the lord de Gaucourt, La Hire, sir Giles de St. Simon †, the lord de Penerach, Pierre de Broussac, and other experienced captains, with about four thousand combatants.

John d'Estouteville had in the town about four hundred fighting men, whose captains were John de Bressay, sir James de Hincourt, Hector de Fol, Guillot de Las, and John Gentil. The succours sent him were all picked men: they marched through the country near Paris, then suddenly turned toward Amiens and Corbie, where they crossed the river Somme, and thence through Ponthieu came to Abbeville, where they held a council on their future proceedings. As they marched through Picardy, they were joined by all the vassals of the lords d'Auxi and de Humieres, John d'Ailly lord of Araines, Guillaume le Jeune lord of Cousay, and many other gentlemen. When they had fully deliberated in a general council how they should act, they caused thirty carts to be laden with artillery, provision, and warlike stores, and then left Abbeville in handsome array, and marched to Eu§. The bastard of Bourbon and La Hire commanded the vanguard. From Eu they marched to quarter the greater part of their force at Le Bourg-d'Un ||,-and the count was lodged at St. Aubin en Caux¶; but this same day, about vespers, the lord de Gaucourt, having remained behind, was made prisoner by about eighteen English, who had watched his steps, and carried him off to the castle of Neuf-châtel ** de Hincourt. He afterwards regained his liberty, on paying a large sum of money for his ransom.

The count d'Eu had intelligence, while at St. Aubin, that the English had taken master John de la Motte, whom he had sent to inform the garrison of Harfleur of the relief he was bringing them; and this very day the English sent pursuivants to say that they would advance

The count de Mortain, styled, in the treaty of Harcourt between the French and English, A. D. 1438, "Edmond comte de Dorset, et de Mortain, et de Harcourt, captaine general et governeur de par monseigneur le roi du pays d'Anjou, du Maine, &c."-Dumont, Corps Universel de Diplomatique.

Giles de Rouvray, lord of Plessier Choiseul, Precy sur Oise, &c., second son of Matthew II. lord of St. Simon, killed at Azincourt, and brother of Gaucher lord of St. Simon. He was greatly distinguished in most of

the military exploits in Picardy, Flanders, &c., and died in 1477.

Cousay. Contay.-Du Cange.

§ Eu, a considerable town in Normandy, eight leagues from Abbeville.

Le Bourg-d'Un,-a village in Normandy, near St. Valery en Caux. [Dieppe.

St. Aubin en Caux,-a village in Normandy, near ** Neuf-châtel,-on the road from Amiens to Rouen, sixteen leagues from Amiens.

to combat the French before they proceeded further, which, however, they did not do. On this account, the French advanced their whole force to Fauville en Caux*, two leagues nearer their adversaries. On the morrow, at daybreak, they marched to Montivilliers †, which was under their obedience, and there learned for certain that the English had not broken up their siege. This day the count d'Eu went to reconnoitre the enemy, escorted by about one hundred chosen horsemen mounted on the flower of their cavalry, when some sharp skirmishing took place between them and a party of English. On his return, he called a council of his ablest captains to consider how they should act,--and they lamented the loss of the lord de Gaucourt, who, from his great experience in such matters, would have ably advised them. It was resolved in this council, that the count should embark with a certain number of combatants, and attack the enemy on the side of Caux; that the bastard of Orleans should do so, with another detachment, on the opposite side; and that the Picards should advance on foot, with pontoons to throw over the ditches which the English had made round their camp ; and that all these operations should commence as nearly as possible at the same instant of time. La Hire and the rest of the captains were to remain on horseback with their men, ready to succour those that might stand in need of support.

When these orders had been given, every one made his preparations for executing them. on the ensuing day. The attack first commenced on the quarters of the lord Talbot, and was very sharp, lasting for more than half an hour; but the assailants, though they fought valiantly, made little impression, from the superior resistance of the English, and because their pontoons were too short for them to cross the ditches. On the other hand, the enemy, was advantageously posted,—and their archers, who were very numerous, shot so well and briskly that they wounded and killed great numbers with their arrows. Among the slain were two valiant knights, sir John de Chailly, lord of Chambois, and sir Harpin de Richames, governor of Rue‡, and a few more. At this attack some new French knights were made,— such as John d'Ailly, Guillaume le Jeune, and others. While this was going forward, the English, to the amount of five hundred, charged the infantry, but were soon repulsed by the cavalry, with the loss of forty or fifty slain. The garrison now made a sally on the guard before the gate, and killed about thirty.

The count d'Eu made a fruitless attempt with his men on the side near the sea, for the English had so strongly fortified every point where he could land that it was labour in vain; and after losing some of their vessels, which had grounded, they retreated to Montivilliers. The infantry likewise retreated thither, finding that they could not gain any advantage.

The French remained eight days at Montivilliers, in great want of provisions for themselves and their horses, waiting to see if they could any way afford assistance to the besieged,— and during this time many skirmishes took place. The count d'Eu sent proposals to the earl of Somerset to decide the raising of the siege on a personal combat with him, or of one hundred men against a hundred Englishmen ; but neither was accepted, because the earl knew full well that the garrison and inhabitants were so much distressed by famine that they must, within a few days, surrender at discretion. The earl and the other captains considered also the very great expense their king had been at for this siege, and, when so near gaining their object, would not put the risk of losing it to the chance of a battle at the request of their adversaries. The French then, from their great want of victual, and from the superior numbers of the English, seeing the impossibility of relieving the town, concluded unanimously to return whence they had come, as speedily as they could. They were forced to this from want of food for themselves and their horses, which was not to be had for any consideration; but before their departure, they requested a passport from the enemy for the lord de Rambures, which was granted.

The lord de Rambures then went to the English camp to treat for the surrender of Harfleur,—and the French and Picards, in the mean time, retreated to Abbeville. On their march, they were met by certain messengers from the duke of Burgundy, to forbid them entering his territories, by reason of the great damages they had done when passing through

* Fauville,—a market-town in Normandy, in the country of Caux, four leagues from Fêcamp. Montivilliers,-a town in Normandy, in Caux, two leagues from Haifleur

Rue, a town in Picardy, two leagues from Saint Valery.

them before, threatening that if they should set foot in them he would drive them back by force. They promised not to touch the duke's lands,-but a few broke their word, and entered Ponthieu, drawing toward Amiens, and committed great damages; but the counts d'Estampes and de St. Pol, having collected a large force of men-at-arms, attacked and repulsed them.

Some skirmishes took place on each side; but at length, for certain considerations, they promised to withdraw from the duke's territories and make for Santois, and for the lands of sir John de Luxembourg, threatening to carry thither fire and sword. Sir John was, however, so well provided with troops to resist them that they were happy to pass quietly through his possessions,-for the count de St. Pol was hard on their rear, with a very numerous body of men, ready to succour his uncle should there be any need of it. They advanced into Champagne, doing great waste to all the poor people whose countries they passed through, and who were unable to oppose them.

The lord de Rambures concluded a treaty with the earl of Somerset and the other English captains for the surrender of Harfleur, that the inhabitants might depart in safety, each with a white staff in his hand. In like manner was Montivilliers reduced, for it was forced to surrender from want of provisions.

CHAPTER CCXLVIII.-A VERY GREAT LORD IN BRITTANY, CALLED THE LORD OF RETZ, IS ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF SORCERY.

In this year, a very extraordinary event happened in Brittany. The lord of Retz*, then marshal of France, and of a very noble birth, and a great landed proprietor, was accused and convicted of sorcery, which he had long followed, by the instigation of the devil and his adherents. He confessed having put to death many young children and women with child, with the intent of arriving at great fortunes and honours,—and that with the blood of these victims to his superstition, whom he had violently murdered, were written divers books of diabolical conjurations, and other things contrary to the catholic faith.

When he was arrested and examined, he confessed that in this way he had caused upward of eight-score persons of different sexes and ages to be put to death. After a trial before competent judges, he was condemned to be hanged and strangled until he should be dead, and then his body to be burnt.

The duke of Brittany and numbers of the nobility, as well secular as ecclesiastical, were present at this trial in the town of Nantes, where the sentence was executed. However, when the first part of it was done, and his body partly burnt, some ladies and damsels of his family requested the body of the duke, that they might inter it in holy ground, which the duke granted. Notwithstanding the many and horrid cruelties he had been guilty of, he made a very devout end, full of repentance, requesting most humbly of his Creator to have mercy on his manifold sins and wickednesses. The greater part of the nobles of Brittany, more especially those of his kindred, were in the utmost grief and confusion at his disgraceful death. Before this event, he was much renowned as a most valiant knight at arms.

Giles de Laval, lord of Retz, descended in the fourth degree from Fulk Laval, second son of Guy VIII. lord of Laval, who married the heiress of the ancient house of Retz. Giles was a marshal of France in 1429, and a man of distinguished valour, but of a heart and mind depraved to an incredible degree. Some historians however allege that reasons of state precipitated, if they did not occasion his downfall, and that duke Francis was too well pleased

with the opportunity of getting rid of a dangerous enemy, to examine very carefully into the truth of the articles preferred against him. He suffered at Nantes on the 23rd of December, 1440, the duke himself attending at his execution. By his wife Catherine de Thouars, he left but one daughter Mary, who married, first, the admiral de Coetivy, secondly the marshal de Lohèac.

CHAPTER CCXLIX.—PIERRE DE REGNAULT, BASTARD-BROTHER TO LA HIRE, GOES ON A FORAGING PARTY TO THE COUNTRY ROUND ABBEVILLE.

ABOUT this period, Pierre de Regnault, bastard-brother to La Hire, who resided in the castle of Mailly, near to Beauvais, which he had repaired, set out with about eight-score combatants, as well horse as foot, to forage the country round Abbeville. He took the castle of Yancourt*, and the lord within it, whence he carried away everything that was portable. Intelligence of this was soon carried to Abbeville, wherein were the lord d'Auxi, Guillaume de Thiembrone, Philip de Vaucourt†, Guy Gourle‡, and other captains, who no sooner heard it than they armed themselves and their men, and sallied out horse and foot, to the amount of more than three hundred, with the intent of overtaking the marauders and recovering the plunder they had made from the castle of Yancourt.

Pierre de Regnault, having had notice of this assembly, sent to the lord d'Auxi to excuse himself for what he had done, saying, it was only provisions he was seeking,-but this excuse was not admitted. Great discord now arose on the meeting of the two parties,—but Pierre de Regnault, observing that most of those who had come from Abbeville were only common men, charged them furiously; and breaking through them with little resistance, he turned on their rear, and, with great slaughter, totally defeated them. Twenty or thirty were killed on the spot, and nine were drowned in attempting to cross the Somme, in which last number was Guy de Gourlay,—and upward of sixty were made prisoners; the principal of whom were, sir John de Fay, knight of Rhodes, sir Philip de Jaucourt, and sir William de Thiembrone.

After this defeat, Pierre de Regnault returned with his prisoners and booty, unmolested, to his castle of Mailly, and ransomed his prisoners as if they had been Englishmen. He made during this year frequent excursions on the territories of the duke of Burgundy, who was very much displeased thereat, and in consequence sent information thereof to king Charles, and complained that those of his party were daily robbing and pillaging his country and subjects, and committing such devastations as were not to be endured, considering that peace had been concluded between them. The king made answer, that he was equally vexed at such misconduct, and offered many excuses; adding, that he would provide as speedy a remedy for it as he could, but that he should be no way displeased at the duke if he could arrest any of these marauders and put them to death, or punish them by any other method he might choose. Notwithstanding this, the same inroads and plundering were continued, to the ruin of the poorer ranks of people.

At the same time, La Hire's companions, who resided in the castle of Bonne, near Laon, began to make inroads on Hainault, the Cambresis, and other places dependent on the lord de St. Pol, who, dissatisfied with their proceedings, placed a strong garrison in the town of Marle§ to oppose them. This garrison one day marched toward Rheims,—and, to secure a passage over the river, took the fort of Bac-a-Bery ||, of no great value, but possessed by La Hire's men. They left about thirty combatants to guard it, under the command of a captain; but within a few days the men of La Hire returned, having been joined by some from the garrisons in the Valois, who had been lately beaten by sir John de Luxembourg, amounting in the whole to full three hundred fighting men.

They instantly attacked the fort, which was soon won, and all within it put to the sword or forced into the river and drowned,-after which, the French left a stronger garrison in the fort. Within sixteen days, the vassals of the count de St. Pol, and of his uncle sir John de Luxembourg, again assembled in great numbers with the intent of attacking this garrison in the fort of Bac-a-Bery; but they, having had notice of their coming, abandoned the place before they arrived. The fort was now demolished and razed to the ground.

Thus were the countries about Rheims, Laon, and other parts, sorely oppressed by the inroads of both parties; and this was done by one side, as it has been said, because sir John de Luxembourg would not take the oaths of allegiance to king Charles, and had kept all his garrisons on a war establishment to prevent them being insulted.