A.D. 1417. how the people of Rouen should be assisted, but they could not devise any means, because of the dissensions that existed between the Duke of Burgundy and the dauphin, besides that the King of England was so powerfully supported. The king therefore summoned people from all parts where he expected to levy them and the people of Tournay came in crowds. ; During the time that the King of France and his council were staying at Beauvais, there were sent thither by the common consent of all the besieged within Rouen, four gentlemen and four burgesses, to lay before them the pitiful condition in which they were within the town, and the evils they were suffering and had long suffered. For they said there to the king personally before the Duke of Burgundy and the great council, how that many thousands of people inside were already dead from hunger; and that since the beginning of October they had been obliged to eat horses, dogs, cats, rats, and other vile things, not lawful for human beings; and that they had already thrust out of the town more than sixteen thousand helpless persons, of whom the greater part had died miserably within the trenches of the town. And good people had drawn over the wall many of the new-born children of women who gave birth to them there, and they were sent up in panniers in order to have them baptized, and then returned to their mothers; but plenty of them died without being christened; which things were very sad, and pitiable even to hear related. Then they said to the king: "Sire, and you noble Duke of Burgundy, "the good people of Rouen have many times signified "to you and made known the great necessity and "distress which they suffer through their love to you, "for which [necessity] you have not provided as you "promised; therefore this last time we have been "sent to your presence, to announce to you that if " within a few days they are not relieved, they will "surrender to the King of England; and from this A.D. 1417. time if you do not this they will renounce the fealty, oath, loyalty, and homage which they now yield to you." To whom it was graciously answered that as yet there was not a force great enough for raising the siege of Rouen; for which the king and his whole council were very sorry; but if it pleased God they would shortly be relieved. And they asked within what time? To which the Duke of Burgundy replied that it would be within fourteen days after Christmas. Upon which answer the eight men returned to the town of Rouen the best way they could, which was not without great doubt and fear, and with good cause, for it was at [the peril of] their lives. Notwithstanding this, however, they re-entered within the town, very glad to have thus escaped from the said journey without peril or misfortune. When they got back there, they related to their people all that they had done; so the said besieged were from bad to worse; and it is difficult to believe the hardships which the people suffered within; for, as it has since been veritably known, there perished, of famine especially, during the said siege above the number of fifty thousand persons. And it was so that some when they saw food carried through the streets, ran as in desperation to take it, in doing which they suffered being beaten and cruelly hurt; for during three months there were no provisions whatever sold in the market, but people sold them secretly; and that which before the siege sold for one denier of the country, then sold for twenty, thirty, forty deniers; and at last the poor people could not procure food for any money. Therefore, as has been said, there were during the siege such tribulations as tribulations as would be too long to describe. It was about mid-December when the abovenamed ambassadors returned from the King of France A.D. 1417. and the Duke of Burgundy, and during the tribulations Sir Jacques de Harcourt and the Lord of Moreul gathered two thousand men, whom they led to [within about two leagues of] the camp of the King of England, with the intention of doing something against them that should be remembered. And in fact they halted in two places quite near to each other, to see their enemies approach; then they appointed their scouts, at least six score meu-at-arms, who went and pushed into a village pretty near the camp, where they found some English, who were soon killed or taken prisoners, except some who through having good horses got away, and fled to their camp raising a loud alarm, saying that they had seen the French in great numbers. Then the King of England and his marshals ordered their people to arm themselves, and the king commanded the Lord of Cornwall to mount his horse, taking with him six hundred fighting men, and to go to find out what these people were. The Lord of Cornwall obeyed the command and order of the king, and very sharply left the camp with those who were given him, and some of those who had brought the tidings. They soon found the French scouts, who, seeing the English to be too numerous for them, turned very quickly, and made for their ambuscade, whom they told that the English were coming. The said Lord of Cornwall rode quickly and in good order after them, and approached so near that they could see each other plainly. Then the French placed some men in order to meet the English, and the others, indeed the greater part, turned their backs and took to flight; wherefore the said English with great courage rushed on the remainder, whom they routed and shamefully put to flight. And this very day there were killed or taken twelve score French men-at-arms, among whom were made prisoners the two captains above named, 1 These words are supplied by H. with Butor, bastard of Croy, and many other noble A.D. 1417. men. For which victory the Lord of Cornwall returned to the camp very joyful, with little loss of his men, bringing his prisoners, and making good cheer for his happy fortune; for which King Henry and all those of the army made great jubilation. Of the manner in which the good town of Rouen surrendered to the King of England. CHAPTER XXIV. But MEANWHILE the King of France, the queen, the Duke After the decisions above mentioned, the King of France, the queen, and Duke John of Burgundy, attended by some armed Burgundians, and a good number of others, went from Beauvais to Provins by Cruel and Lagny-sur-Marne, at which departure many people were greatly surprised. And the tidings were soon carried to the people of Rouen, to whom word was secretly sent by the Duke of Burgundy to treat with the King of England for their safety the best way they could, and that otherwise there was no remedy. A.D. 1417. When the news above mentioned was spread through the town of Rouen, it need not be asked whether there was great mourning, for in truth all the inhabitants generally were filled with such sadness of heart, that they could bear no more; and certainly there was cause. But as for most of the men-atarms they were wondering how they could sally out of their present danger. Some of the captains however, and with them the most notable people of the town, comforted them as well as they could; and soon afterwards met in the town hall to take counsel with each other as to how they should conduct themselves towards the King of England. At the close of which council it was concluded and determined, that since they had lost hope of relief from the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy, and besides that they had no more food to support themselves, it was matter of necessity that they should treat with their enemies somehow, So by common consent they sent a herald to king Henry in order to procure a safeconduct for six men only to go to him; and this was sent. Two ecclesiastics, two gentlemen, and two burgesses, all wise and prudent, were appointed to fulfil this embassy, and they were going straight towards the king's tent; but they were conducted to the quarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who, with the Earl of Warwick, was charged with the negotiations with them on behalf of the king. When the above-named were assembled, there were many matters discussed, to find out what conclusion they could arrive at; but this time they could obtain no terms except that all the men in the town should place themselves absolutely at the disposal of the king. Upon this the said ambassadors returned into the town, where they brought together anew a great number of the most distinguished people, with some of the commons, to whom they made their report, |