dauphin with the sole government of France, and to put king Charles in wardship to be managed by them.

In order to have aid to accomplish their plans, they summoned barons and gentlemen from divers countries, to whom they disclosed their intentions, and required them to make

oath that they would serve the dauphin against all who should attempt to injure him. In this number came the great lords of Auvergne, who on hearing the proposal, made answer by the mouth of the lord de Dampierre, that they would cheerfully serve him in everything excepting against the king his father; adding, that should the king come with an army into their country, and require their support, and a free entrance into their towns and castles, they would not dare to refuse him; and this those who made them the request must expect to see done, should the case happen. This answer was not agreeable to the dauphin, nor to the other lords, who now began to suspect they should fail in their enterprise, and that it would turn out badly for them. They had also received exact intelligence that the king was marching a great power against them, and had already entered the Bourbonnois, carrying on a severe war against the towns and castles of the duke of Bourbon and his adherents, and had reduced several to his obedience.

In the mean time, the dauphin and his advisers had sent messengers to the duke of Burgundy to know if he would receive them in his territories, and afford them assistance to carry on their plans. The duke, after he had consulted with his ministers, replied, that his

territories and fortune were at the disposal of the dauphin whenever he might please to come thither, but that upon no account would he afford him any assistance to carry on a war against the king his father; and would be at all times ready to aid him in the recovery of his father's affections. He added, that he advised him to take this step without loss of time; for the continuance of this warfare was disgraceful to those concerned in it, and would be the most effectual means of completely ruining the kingdom of France.

To put an end to this quarrel, the duke of Burgundy sent ambassadors to the king of France, who mediated between the parties; and a treaty of peace was concluded, on condition that the dauphin, the duke of Bourbon, and their adherents, should appear with all humility in the presence of the king, and beg pardon for their offences. However, before this could be accomplished, the greater part of the estates of the duke of Bourbon and of his partisans were totally destroyed by the warriors of the king, who had marched thither a large army.

On the 19th day of July, the king being at Cusset the dauphin and duke of Bourbon, accompanied by the lords de la Trémouille, de Chaumont, and de Prie, were on the road to present themselves before him; but when they were half a league off, a messenger from the king met them, and said, that the king would not promise them safety, and ordered them not to approach nearer to him. The dauphin on hearing this, turned round to the duke of Bourbon, and said, "My good friend, you could not have guessed how things would have turned out, or that my father would not have pardoned those of my household." He then swore a round oath, that he would not return to his father. The duke of Bourbon replied, "My lord, all will go well: do not doubt it: but you cannot go back, for the van of the king's army is on the road." He would, however, have attempted it, had not the count d'Eu, and other lords who had come from Cusset, to meet him, strongly remonstrated on the impropriety and danger of such proceedings.

The three lords aforesaid then went to Moulins; and the dauphin, with the duke of Bourbon, entered Cusset, and dismounted at the hotel of the king. On entering the king's apartment, they kneeled three times as they approached; and at the third they begged of him, with great humility, to be pleased to lay aside his anger. The king then addressed his son, and said, “Louis, you are welcome; you have been long absent. Go and repose yourself for to-day at your lodgings: to-morrow we will talk with you.”—After this, he conversed long and wisely with the duke of Bourbon, saying, "Fair cousin, we are much displeased at the fault you have committed against our majesty, and which has been repeated five different times," (mentioning when and where he had been guilty of it). "Were it not for the honour and love we bear to some persons, whom I will not name, I would have made you feel severely my displeasure. Take care, therefore, that you be not guilty of the like again."

After this conversation, the dauphin and the duke of Bourbon retired to their lodgings, where they remained until the morrow, and when the king's mass was ended, they again waited on him. In the presence of the members of the council, they again most humbly requested the king that he would have the goodness to pardon them and the lords de la Trémouille, de Chaumont, and de Prie. The king made answer, that he would do no such thing, but was satisfied that they should return to their houses and estates. The dauphin replied, "My lord, I must then go back to them, for such has been my promise." The king, displeased at this speech, instantly said, "Louis, the gates are open to you,-and should they not be wide enough, I will have thrown down sixteen or twenty fathoms of wall that you may have sufficient room to go whithersoever you please. You are my son, and cannot bind yourself under promises to any one without my leave and consent: but should you wish to go away, go,-for, under God's pleasure, we will find some of our blood who will assist us in the maintenance of our honour and power with more firmness than we have hitherto done." The king turned away from him on the conclusion of this speech, and went toward the duke of Bourbon, who instantly took the oath of allegiance to be true to him henceforward for ever. The king discharged all the officers of the household of the dauphin, except his confessor and cook.

* Cusset, a town in the Bourbonnois, near St. Gérond.

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 adversarics 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 Compiégne.

CHAPTER CCXLVII.-THE EARL OF SOMERSET BESIEGES HARFLEUR WITHI 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, Jolin 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 Ronvray, 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 Fécamp. Montivilliers, -a town in Normandy, in Caux, two leagues from Harfleur

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