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displaying signs of love one to the other, the dauphin A.D. 1418, re-mounted his horse, and the duke held the stirrup, notwithstanding he he often begged him to desist. When the dauphin was on his horse the duke and the other lords mounted theirs, and they rode a while together, but at last took leave respectfully of each other, the dauphin, Duke of Touraine, going to Melun, and the Duke of Burgundy to Corbueil.

After this the two parties above mentioned caused charters and letters to be composed and written by their counsellors, to enjoin by solemn adjurations and oaths that the peace and union promised between the two princes should be firmly maintained, which oaths or promises were in no wise maintained, as hereafter you may hear briefly, but in the chronicles of France they are set forth at length. However, this peace was published in many places throughout the countries of France and Picardy.

The Duke of Burgundy after these conferences returned to the King and Queen of France at Pontoise, at which place there was great joy for the reconciliation of the two princes above named. From the town of Pontoise the Duke of Burgundy induced the whole court of France to remove to St. Denis, and leaving the Lord of Lisle-Adam to guard the frontier against the English, the king and all his household took their departure. And at this time many solemn processions and joyous festivals were held throughout the kingdom of France for the establishment of the peace above mentioned.

How the town of Pontoise was taken by the English.
CHAPTER XXVII.

Now it is time to return to the King of England, who, when he heard tidings of the peace and agree

A.D. 1418. ment which had been made between the dauphin and

Duke John of Burgundy, was not greatly rejoiced, and not without cause, for it appeared to him, and it was true, that the two joined together would be stronger than when they were disunited. However, notwithstanding all that might injure or vex him, he concluded and determined to continue his quarrel and bring his enterprise to an end, in spite of all his enemies. So it entered into his fancy what a good thing the town of Pontoise would be for him if he could get it; and upon this he summoned some of his most faithful captains, and also of those who had been inside that town during the embassies, of which mention has been made above. To these he declared his will, and they replied that in this and everything else that he pleased to command them they were ready to engage, not sparing their persons in any danger, difficulty, or labour they might have in doing it, and thereupon the king appointed those who were to have charge of this undertaking. They came right to one of the gates of Pontoise before daybreak on the last day of July, they might be about three thousand warriors, some of whom began quickly, by means of ladders they had brought with them, to scale the wall without being perceived by the watch. They then in fact opened this gate by which their companions immediately entered, shouting "St. George Town "won!" At this cry the town soon became all astir, and the Lord of Lisle-Adam, Marshal of France, awoke and without delay, and fully armed, mounted his horse and with some of his people went to see where the affray was, but when he understood that the English were within the city in such great numbers he returned hastily to his quarters, where he packed up his goods and money, with which, awaking many townspeople on his way, he went straight to the Paris gate which was still shut, but it was opened to

him. There set out in company with him more than A.D). 1418. ten thousand persons, men and women, very disconsolate, and carrying with them what they could of their best property, as gold and silver plate and jewellery. Of these one part took the road to Paris, and the other to Beauvais; but those who went towards Beauvais were despoiled by John de Guigny and John du Clau, captains of light troops, serving the Duke of Burgundy.

Then the English, without meeting any resistance, took and gained the town of Pontoise, where, according to the usual custom in conquered towns, they committed innumerable injuries, and they obtained. great spoil, for it was full of all kinds of goods. The principal commander of the English in this expedition was the Captal de Buch, brother of the Count of Foix.

About the capture of this town the French in the neighbourhood, especially towards Paris, were very uneasy, and many of the surrounding villages with the whole of the Isle of France were forsaken by the inhabitants. And when on the same day the tidings of it came to the King of France, who was at St. Denis, he, the Duke of Burgundy and all their court, departed thence very shortly and went to Troyes, by Provins, together with the queen, Lady Catherine, their daughter, and many other lords, leaving the Count de Saint Pol and the Chancellor of France to keep the city of Paris. And the said Lord of Lisle-Adam, marshal of France, who had just escaped from Pontoise, collected as quickly as he could a certain number of men-at-arms, with whom he placed himself in garrison within the town of Beauvais to hold the frontier and resist the aggressions which the English were daily making. However, this Lord of Lisle-Adam, though he took great pains to excuse himself, was much blamed in that he had thus negligently allowed the good town of Pon

A.D. 1418. toise to be lost for want of a good watch, and especially the governors of the dauphin were much displeased at it, but they could do nothing else in the

matter.

How the King of England sent his brother, the Duke of Clarence, to besiege the town of Gisors, which surrendered to the rule of the King of England. CHAPTER XXVIII

IMMEDIATELY after the capture of Pontoise the King of England, who day and night thought of nothing but how to accomplish his purpose, summoned his brothers, especially the Duke of Clarence, to whom with a great force of men-at-arms and archers he committed the charge of going to besiege the large town of Gisors; where Lyonnel de Bornoville was captain of the town, and David de Goy of the castle, against whom the English made so much way that at the end of three weeks from the beginning of the siege the town with the fortress surrendered to the Duke of Clarence, partly for want of provisions, and because of the condition that they should go out with all their men, safe in their persons and goods, and the inhabitants should remain subject to the King of England, swearing loyalty to him. And thus the captains and all who wished to go departed, and went to the Lord of Lisle-Adam at Beauvais.

Soon afterwards the fortress of St. Martin-le-Gaillart was besieged, within which were Rigault des Fontaines and Sir Carados des Quesnes, with some others that had always held by the party of the dauphin and Orleans; and a very valiant knight called Sir Philip

Lys was captain of the besieged. But notwithstanding A.D. 1418. the blockade being round the said fortress, the said Sir Carados left it secretly by night, and went to Compiegne to the Lord of Gamaches, who was captain there at the time, and whom he very earnestly requested to gather people to raise the aforesaid siege. Then the Lord of Gamaches made a great gathering, and summoned many gentlemen belonging to the dauphin's party and some of the Duke of Burgundy's, so that there were in all at least sixteen hundred good fighters, with whom he rode towards the said fortress of St. Martin and came about sunrise to the base of the said fortress. Then he placed his men in order, and appointed four hundred fighting men to go forward and take the barriers which the besiegers had made. Guarding these were found about sixty Englishmen who very sharply defended the position, but in the end they were taken and all killed, except some that saved themselves by flight. Then the said lord and his men, who were following at a short distance rushed into the town where the English were lodged; but the greater part of them were already, and their horses with them, in a large church within the town; and there they defended themselves valiantly. In conclusion, because the English might soon be assisted by people of theirs in these parts, the said Lord of Gamaches set fire to the fortress and brought out in safety those who were within.

After eight days, the Earl of Huntingdon, captain of Gournai, in Normandy, gathered in this district about two thousand fighting men, whom he led to a large village named Poix, where they lodged and did much damage; then they went thence to Breteuil, and delivered a vigorous assault on the fort of the abbey; and because at the said assault some of their men were killed, they burned the town, which was densely crowded. Then they drew towards Clermont, where

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