A.D. 1422. Le Begue de Lannoy, Anthony de Rebempre, Jacques de Vimeu, Robert Frete, Giles de Hardecourt, Matthew de Ladas, and several others. Meanwhile there took place some skirmishes amongst the vanguards, and some very fine passages of arms on one side as well as the other, so that on both sides there were men thrown on the ground killed and wounded.

The Burgundians and English, hoping to fight with their enemies, all got on foot, but the dauphinists did not dismount, and when they saw the action of their enemies they left the field and rode in good order towards Compiegne. The said English and Burgundians seeing this sent the Lord of Saveuses with a certain number of men after them so as not to lose sight of them, and the other captains followed vigorously with the rest. Nevertheless, the dauphinists. went on, and being seized with fear, fled from the field without any loss, except seven or eight who fell in the skirmishes, among whom was a very valiant

man-at-arms named Brunel de Gamaches. Thus the said dauphinists retreated to Compiegne. On the side of the Burgundians an old road captain, called Le Breton d'Aily, was killed; and after these things had happened they returned to Sir [John] of Luxembourg at the camp before Araines.

Then the besieged within Araines being informed of the return and repulse of their succours, who had thus gone back without performing any other exploit, and despairing of any other, began to negotiate, and so managed that, saving their persons and property, having safe conduct to go where it seemed good to them, they surrendered the fortresses of Araines well stored with provisions to Sir John of Luxembourg who quickly had them thrown down and demolished. During the siege of Meaux several raids were made through the country, and many fortresses were

1 Brimeu, H.

destroyed by each party in the kingdom of France A.D. 1422. for all was tribulation and fighting. To-day a stronghold was taken and to-morrow it was recovered, and whoever would set forth all at length in writing would greatly [extend] the present chronicle and delay the principal matter. So to accomplish my work, which is to carry forward the chronicles of France and England together, I take only the most prominent facts and those which best serve my design, leaving to the history of France alone what belongs thereto, where anyone can find it at length. So I will now return to the siege of Meaux.

How those in the market-place surrendered to the King of England, and of the bargain or treaty which they got. CHAPTER XXIII.

You have well before heard how the King of England maintained his siege powerfully before the good town and market-place of Meaux-en-Brie, of which he had already taken the town by assault, so it remained only to conquer the market-place, before which he continued his siege with great labour, and where he so pressed the besieged that at last a great portion of their walls were rent, and in various places broken down. So the king summoned them to surrender themselves freely to the pleasure of himself and the King of France on a certain day, or if they would not do this he would deliver against them the most marvellous assault they had ever known. To which summons they would by no means listen this time, but replied that the hour of surrender had not yet come. And when the king had heard their reply without saying more to them about it he commenced a powerful assault,

U 17967.

A A

A.D. 1422. which lasted from seven to eight hours, and in which many men were killed and wounded on one side as well as the other; but notwithstanding that the besieged had hard work to resist the power of the King of England which was very great, nevertheless they defended themselves so bravely and fought with so much vigour, that they had no whole lances left within the said market-place, except a very small number that were not quite broken in the aforesaid defence. But instead of lances they fought a long time with iron spits, and strove so hard that this time they drove the English out of their trenches, and greatly rejoiced thereat. Among the other defenders Guichat de Sissay behaved very valiantly, and showed so much courage and prudence that after the surrender the King of England offered to do great things for him if he would join his party, and make oath to him; to which he would not consent, but ever remained a dauphinist.

At this assault several new knights were created by the King of England, among whom were, John de Guigny, a Savoyard, and the Bastard of Thyan, who formerly in the lifetime of Duke John of Burgundy had been great captains of companies of men. On the other hand there were with the King of England at this siege the Lords of Chastillon and Jenly, with several other noblemen of the marches of France and Burgundy, to whom the besieged were speaking continually night and day with much reviling till they had lost hope of relief, when they abstained from it. Among other insults they placed an ass on their walls, and made it bray by the force of the blows which they gave it, mocking the English, and saying that this was their King Henry, and that they ought to come and help him; for which thing and several others the King of England was very indignant against them. There was likewise killed before

this town by the firing of a cannon, the son of the A.D. 1422. Lord of Cornwall, who was a young, handsome, and valiant knight, cousin german of the king; which death caused great displeasure to him and likewise to all the great nobles of England, by whom he was much beloved; for though he was still young in years he was old in conversation and prudence.

Now then, after all the diligent perseverance aforesaid, about the end of April the besieged, who had no more hope, as we have said, of having any help from the Dauphin their lord, knowing also that they could not long hold out or defend themselves against the great assaults and power of the King of England, began to parley about having a treaty. For this there were commissioned on the part of the king his uncle the Duke of Exeter, the Earls of Warwick and Conversan, and with them Sir Walter Hungerford; and on the part of the besieged Sir Philip Mallet, Peron de Luppel, John d'Annay, Smador de Jerasmes, Le Borgne de Coucy, John de Lespinasse, and William de Fosseux. These parties met together on several days, and at last came to an agreement in the way hereinafter set forth :

First, it was decided that on the following sixth of May the market-place of Meaux should be surrendered by the said besieged and delivered over to the authority of the Kings of France and England.

Item, that Sir Louis Gast, the bastard of Vaurus Denis de Vaurus, John de Rouveres, Tromago, Bernard de Menreville, and one Oraces, who had played on a cornet during the siege, should be surrendered and delivered to the will of the said kings, and should submit to the justice which should be administered to them.

Item, Guichat de Sissay, Peron de Luppel, Maitre Robert de Jerasmes, Philip de Gamaches, and John d'Annay should remain at the will of the said kings,

A.D. 1422. till they should have restored or caused to be restored into the hands of the said kings all the strongholds which they and their relatives were holding against them throughout the Kingdom of France, and after they should have surrendered them their lives should be saved.

Item, all those within the said market-place, namely, English, Welsh, Zeelanders, Irish or Scotch, and others who had formerly been subject to the King of England should remain at the will of the said kings.

Item, all others, as men-at-arms, and the inhabitants and burgesses, should remain at the will of the said kings, saving their lives.

Item, the Count of Conversan to be acquitted, as to money, towards Peron de Luppel or any other whom it might concern, he promising to hold him for ever quit, without any fraud or evil design.

Item, within the eight days when the besieged were to give up the town, they should put, or cause to be put all their goods generally in certain places where they could be clearly seen and fully known, without destroying them, cutting or injuring them, and should deliver inventories of them to the commissioners of the said kings.

Item, that they should put, and cause to be put the relics, books, ornaments, and other church property in a certain safe place as above.

Item, that they should surrender acquitted and liberated, all prisoners that they were keeping, as well in the said market-place as in [other] places or fortresses under their authority, and should acquit them of their oaths and promises.

Item, that during the days aforesaid they should not suffer any man of whatsoever condition, to be removed out of the said market-place, likewise they should not allow any to enter it, unless they were commissioned on the part of the two kings.