CHAPTER CCLXVI. THE KING OF FRANCE, AFTER GAINING TARTAS, COMES BEFORE SAINT SEVERE, AND CONQUERS THAT TOWN AND CASTLE, WITH SOME OTHERS IN GASCONY.

On the Wednesday following the surrender of Tartas, the king of France marched his army before the town of Saint Severe*, whither, as it was very strongly fortified with five bastions, the whole country had withdrawn with their cattle and effects. The dauphin's men, on their arrival, made an attack on two of these bastions with such success that they gained them, and lodged themselves therein. Within a few days, another was won by the king's division, who ordered an immediate attack on the fourth: the English made a vigorous defence, but were driven thence, and pursued as far as the gate of the principal bastion. The French continued their attacks on this place, without having had any orders from the king or his captains, and they lasted for a long time with great valour on both sides; but at length the French gained the victory, and conquered the place by storm, putting to death about eight hundred English, with the loss of from twenty to thirty of their own men, but in that number was the little Blanchefort.

The town was won on the side where the constable attacked it, when on the part of the English, sir Thomas Rampstone and a few more were made prisoners. The king after this conquest, remained there for twelve days, and thence marched to besiege the town of Dax, which occupied him for the space of five weeks, as there was a strong fortification in front of one of the gates. When the battering cannon had partly demolished the walls of the town, orders were given for storming this fortification, which held out most obstinately for five hours, but was at last won about nightfall. Ten or twelve English were killed and very many of the French wounded. The king withdrew his men after this event, with the exception of those who had the guard of it. On the ensuing day, the townsmen of Dax, fearing that a stronger attack would now be made on their town, surrendered themselves to the king, except the lord de Montferrand, governor of the town for the English, and the before-mentioned Enguerrot de St. Per, who were permitted to march out in safety, but with staves in their hands. The lord de Montferrand also promised to surrender into the king's hands two castles which he held near to Bordeaux,-for the due performance of which he gave his son in hostage. He remained a prisoner a long time, because the lord de Montferrand refused to keep his promise of surrendering these two castles.

Gascony and Guienne were at this time governed, for the king of England, by the captal de Buch, the lord de Montferrand and sir Thomas Rampstone, seneschal of Bordeaux. In the absence of the king of France, the English reconquered the town and castles of Saint Severe; but the king shortly after, marched back his army thither, retook it by storm, and put numbers of English to death. At this time, all the towns and castles of the lord de la Rochetaillade turned, and did homage to the king of France.

The king of France next marched to Marmondet, which opened its gates to him, and thence to La Réole‡. It was vigorously besieged, and the town was taken by storm; but the castle held out for about six weeks, when it surrendered on the garrison being allowed to march away in safety. Olivier de Cointiny was appointed by the king governor of this and of other places that had been conquered in the course of the expedition. The baron of Dax commanded in La Réole for the king of England,—but he afterward turned to the French interest.

While these conquests were making, the English much distressed the French, particularly by encouraging their peasantry to harass their scouting parties, so that, from the multitudes. in the French army they frequently suffered famine. Great numbers of their horses died; a severe loss to those adventurers who had been accustomed to keep the field all the year round. Many of them, in consequence, quitted the army in search of provision for themselves and horses, and advanced as far as Navarre, where they committed all sorts of mischief on the poor farmers. In another quarter, the English collected a body of men, and through friends Saint Severe,-near to Coignac. La Réole, on the road between Bordeaux and

Marmonde,-a town on the Garonne, between Bor- Toulouse. deaux and Toulouse.

in the town, regained the city of Dax from the French. The governor, Regnault Guillaume, le Bourguignon, was made prisoner, and most part of his garrison put to the sword. The king of France was much vexed at thus losing a place, through the neglect of the governor, which had cost him so long a time and such an expense to conquer.

When the king of France had remained for seven or eight months in Gascony, where he had made such valuable conquests, he considered the dreadful state of his army, and the danger it was daily exposed to from want of provision, and resolved to direct his march toward Montauban. He staid at Montauban about two months, whence he issued his orders for the defence of the country, and then, by slow marches, returned to Poitiers.

Shortly after the king had left Montauban, La Hire, who had suffered extremely in this expedition, and was advanced in years, died in the castle of that town. The king, on hearing of his death, was much affected, and ordered that his widow should possess the lands he had given to him for his life.

CHAPTER CCLXVII.-PIERRE DE REGNAULT IS FORCED TO DISLODGE FROM THE CASTLE OF * MAILLY.

I HAVE before noticed how Pierre de Regnault had taken possession of the castle of Mailly, two leagues distant from Beauvais, which he had repaired and refortified. He had with him about two hundred determined combatants, with whom he overran the countries round, seizing and carrying off to his fort all he could find, as well from those dependent on the king of France as from others. He overran, in particular, the dependencies of the duke of Burgundy, the count d'Estampes, and other great lords of that party he even at times crossed the river Somme, and advanced into Artois, twelve or fifteen leagues from his castle. He acted in like manner within the castlewicks of Peronne, Roye, and Mondidier, where he made some capital prisoners, who paid large sums for their ransoms, just the same as an enemy would have done in time of war, so that the country was grievously harassed,--and heavy complaints were made frequently to the superior lords, who were much vexed at this conduct. The duke of Burgundy at last sent to remonstrate with the king of France on this destruction of his country, and to require that a remedy be applied. The king gave a similar answer to what he had done before that he was much concerned at what had happened, and would be well pleased if the duke should conquer Pierre de Regnault whenever he found him marauding on his territories, or that he would besiege him in his castle of Mailly, and drive him thence; that he would send positive orders to all his captains in that part of the country not to give him the smallest aid against the troops of the duke of Burgundy, under pain of incurring his highest indignation.

The duke was satisfied with this answer, and began to arrange his plans accordingly. He concluded a treaty with some of the English captains on the frontier of Normandy, that they should give security not to molest his men nor aid the enemy; and when he was assured that neither French nor English would take part against him in this business, he sent orders from Burgundy, where he then was, to the count d'Estampes, who had the government of Picardy, to collect as many men as he could raise, and march against the castle of Mailly. The count on this made great diligence, and assembled in a short time twelve hundred combatants, knights, esquires, and others, the most expert warriors in Picardy and in the adjoining parts. In the number were Waleran de Moreul, Guy de Roye, Jean d'Ange, the lord de Saveuses, Simon de Lalain, Jean de Haplaincourt, Charles de Rochefort, sir Colart de Mailly, and many more great lords and gentlemen.

The rendezvous was in the town of Amiens, whence they marched with a numerous train of artillery, stores, and baggage, to Beauvais. The count and great lords were handsomely received in that town, and their men were quartered in the villages round. The count d'Estampes lost no time in advancing to the castle of Mailly, and posted his men as near as he could to the gate, the strongest part of the castle, and to the lower court, which had been newly strengthened with casks and beams of timber. The garrison defended themselves

Mailly,--a town in Picardy, near Peronne.

courageously with cannons and other engines of war, and killed many of the count's men : among the slain was sir Matthew de Humieres. The besiegers had left the greater part of their horses in the town of Beauvais, whence and from Orleans they were daily supplied with provision.

When the artillery had made a breach in the walls of the lower court, a general and very sharp assault was made, in which great prowess was displayed on both sides; but the lord de Saveuses and his men gained the most renown. The besieged defended themselves with such obstinacy that the count, finding the conquest would be attended with too much loss, ordered a retreat, leaving behind from eight to ten dead: of the besieged, only a few were wounded. The besieged, perceiving that they could not hold out much longer, and that they had no great hopes of succour, capitulated with the commissaries of the count to surrender the place, on being allowed to march away in safety with their arms and baggage. On the surrender of the castle, it was set on fire, and razed to the ground, and the count marched his army during Passion-week to the places they had come from. This siege of Mailly had lasted upwards of three weeks, and the whole country that had been laid under contributions by the garrison, were greatly rejoiced when it was known for certain that the castle was demolished and the garrison driven thence.

CHAPTER CCLXVIII.-THE KING OF FRANCE ASSEMBLES A LARGE ARMY TO MARCH INTO NORMANDY.-THE EARL OF SOMERSET MAKES SOME CONQUESTS FROM THE FRENCH IN ANJOU AND ELSEWHERE.

[A. D. 1443.]

Ar the beginning of this year, the king of France assembled a numerous body of men-atarms, with the intent of marching them into Normandy the ensuing summer to relieve Dieppe, which was hardly pressed by a very strong block-house the English had raised

against it.

DIEPPE. RELIEF OF THE TOWN.-From a study made on the spot in 1839.

The king meant, under escort of this succour, to revictual the town; and consequently the men-at-arms conducted thither numbers of cattle and other stores, which they

drove forcibly into the town, notwithstanding the severe skirmishes that took place, when many were killed and wounded on both sides.

About this time, the earl of Somerset* had collected a body of six thousand combatants, or thereabout, and marched them into the province of Anjou, committing great waste with fire and sword; after which, he advanced toward Brittany, and took by storm La Guerche,† belonging to the duke of Alençon, which town was plundered by the English. He thence advanced to Ponsay+, where he remained upwards of two months, but detached parties of men, who overran the countries of Anjou, Touraine, and near to Chartres, where at times they were attacked and defeated by peasants.

The marshal de Lohéac had the defence of this part of the kingdom intrusted to him by king Charles, and to oppose the English with the men of the duke of Alençon. They formed a plan to attack the English camp by night; but the earl of Somerset, having had intelligence thereof, advanced to meet them, and fell on them unawares. The French were thrown into confusion, and from twenty to thirty were killed or taken: the rest saved themselves by flight as well as they could. Among the prisoners were, the lord d'Assigny, Louis de Beuil, and many other gentlemen. The earl of Somerset now dislodged from before Pouencé and took the castle of Beaumont le Vicomte §. Having posted garrisons along the frontier, he returned to Rouen.

CHAPTER CCLXIX.-SOME KNIGHTS AND GENTLEMEN OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY'S COURT HOLD A TOURNAMENT NEAR TO DIJON.

DURING the duke of Burgundy's residence in that duchy, several gentlemen of his household, with his permission, and for his amusement, had it proclaimed throughout Burgundy, and in other countries, that if there were any men of name desirous of gaining honour and renown by deeds of arms, there were gentlemen, whose names shall be presently declared, who offered to receive and furnish them with arms suitable for the enterprise. The challenges shall likewise be mentioned that were dispersed through divers countries for this purpose, by sir Pierre de Bauffremont lord of Chargny, who was the chief of the enterprise.

CHAPTER CCLXX. THE CHALLENGES FOR THIS TOURNAMENT AND THE NAMES OF THE CHAMPIONS.

"In honour of our Lord, and of his most glorious mother, of my lady Sainte Anne, and of my lord St. George, I, Pierre de Bauffremont lord of Chargny, of Monliet and of Montfort, knight, counsellor and chamberlain, to the most high, most puissant and excellent prince the duke of Burgundy, make known to all princes, barons, knights and esquires, without reproach, with the exception of those of the kingdom of France and of the countries in alliance, or subjects to my said sovereign lord, that for the augmentation and extension of the most noble profession and exercise of arms, my will and intention is, in conjunction with twelve knights, esquires and gentlemen, of four quarterings, whose names follow,-Thibault lord of Rougemont and Mussy, sir William de Bresremont lord of Sees and of Sonnegnon, William de Brene lord of Mombis and of Gilly, John lord of Valengon, John lord of Rap and of Tirecourt, William de Champdivers lord of Chevigny, John de Chiron lord Rancheineres, Antony de Vaudray, lord of Aille, William de Vaudray lord of Collaon, James de Challant lord of Ainville, sir Amey lord of Espirey, and John de Chavigny,-to guard and defend a pass d'armes, situated on the great road leading from Dijon toward Exonne, at the end of the

* John earl of Somerset succeeded to the earldom of Somerset in 1443: he was created duke of Somerset and earl of Kendal, &c. in the 21st year of Henry VI. Dying without male issue, he was succeeded by his brother Edmund, earl of Mortain, in Normandy, and marquis of Dorset. He was slain at the battle of St. Albans. See Collins' Peerage, Scudamore Beaufort,-and also VOL. II.

sir William Paston's letters, wherein are many curious
particulars relating to him. Sir William married into that
family.

† La Guerche, a town in Brittany, near Vitré.
Ponsay, Pouencé.-Du CANGE.

§ Beaumont-le-Vicomte, -a town in Maine, near Fresnay.

K

causeway from the said town of Dijon, at a great tree called the Hermit's Tree, in the form and manner following.

"In the first place, two shields (one black besprinkled with tears of gold,—the other violet, having tears of sable), shall be suspended on the tree of the Hermit, and all those who shall, by a king at arms or pursuivant, touch the first shield, shall be bounden to perform twelve courses on horseback with me, or with one of my aforesaid knights or esquires, with blunted lances.-Item, if either of the champions, during their twelve courses, be unhorsed by a direct blow with the lance on his armour, such person, thus unhorsed, shall present to his adversary a diamond of whatever value he please.-Item, the champions may arm themselves according to their pleasure, double or single, but without any wicked intentions, having their rest similar to the usual custom in war.-Item, each person shall make provision of lances, but the rondelle, which lies on the hands, shall be only four fingers broad, and no more *.—Item, the lances shall be all of similar length, from the point to the rest.—Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms on horseback, I will supply all who may come without lances, precisely like to my own and to those of my companions.— Item, these deeds of arms on horseback shall be performed à la toillet, which shall be six feet high."

CHAPTER CCLXXI.-HERE FOLLOW THE ARTICLES FOR THE DEEDS OF ARMS ON FOOT.

"THOSE princes, barons, knights, and esquires, of the rank before-mentioned, who shall rather take their pleasure in performing feats of arms on foot, shall touch the violet shield, and shall perform fifteen courses with battles-axes or swords, 'as may be most agreeable to them. "Item, if, during these courses, any champion shall touch the ground. with his hand or knees, he shall be bounden to present his adversary with a ruby of whatever value he please. Item, each champion shall be armed with the accustomed armour for combating in lists.—Item, should any person be unprovided with battle-axe or sword, I will furnish him with the same, similar to my own or to those of my companions. These axes and swords are not to have anything extraordinary in their make,but such as are usual in these kind of combats. "Item, he that shall have engaged himself to fight with me, or either of us, and shall throw the other to the ground, the person so thrown shall be obliged to surrender himself a prisoner whithersoever the conqueror shall order him.-Item, the person thus made prisoner shall pay for his immediate ransom, to whomsoever the conqueror shall direct, any sum above five hundred crowns.

"Item, foreigners need not seek for particulars from me, or from my companions, for they will find persons ready to deliver such at the usual hours and places.—Item, no stranger will be permitted to enter the lists with me or with any one of my companions, for more than one course at arms, namely, once on horseback and once on foot, and no one can require more of any of us during the present undertaking.

“Item, the aforesaid feats of arms, on horseback and on foot, shall be performed on the following days: those on horseback on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays,-those on foot, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.-Item, this pass d'armes shall commence on the first day of July, in the year 1443, and shall last forty days, exclusive of feast-days and Sundays, and the feasts commanded to be kept by the court of Rome.

"Item, no prince, baron, knight, or esquire, shall pass within a quarter of a league of the spot assigned for these combats without entering the lists and taking part, or otherwise leaving as pledges his sword or spurs, according to his pleasure.

"Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms, as well on horseback as on foot,

This article I do not understand. In the original it is tondelle,-altered by Du Cange to rondelle, which is translated by Cotgrave, "a sinal target;" but four fingers wide would be too insignificant for any defence. I have, therefore, left it for better antiquaries to explain.

[By the rondelle, which is strictly speaking a small target, the butt of the tilting spear, which formed a defence to the

hand, and was sometimes enlarged to extravagant dimensions, appears to be here indicated.- ED.]

That is to say, that barriers dividing the combatants should be erected in the lists. It is worthy of remark, that that this is the first instance in the annals of Froissart or Monstrelet where mention is made of this invention for preventing in some degree the dangers attendant on these warlike games.-ED.