was owing to a travelling merchant from Louviers observing, in his frequent crossing of Pont-de-l'Arche, that it was but slightly guarded, and giving information thereof to the before-mentioned friends of the duke of Brittany. He offered to take the place, if they would give him a sufficiency of men-at-arms; and having explained his plans, which seemed feasible, they fixed on a day to meet him at a tavern in the suburbs of that town.

On the day appointed, several of those who had been ordered on this expedition, came to the said tavern, one after another, to avoid suspicion; two of whom were dressed as carpenters, each with his hatchet swung round his neck. Shortly after, the carrier arrived, with his cart laden with provisions. About midnight they seized the tavern-keeper and his servants, and shut them up in a room, to prevent them from making any discovery, and then told their intentions, with which the master of the house seemed very well pleased, for he said he had been lately beaten by some of the garrison. During the night, the lord de Brésé came thither with some men on foot, whom he placed in ambush near to the gate of St. Ouen; he was followed by the bailiff of Evreux with four or five hundred horse, whom he posted in the wood on the side of Louviers.

When these measures had been taken, Jacques de Clermont and the carrier approached the drawbridge with his cart, and entreated the porter to let him pass, as he was in haste to get to Rouen, and return that night to Louviers, offering him, at the same time, a present for so doing. The two pretended carpenters were with him, and the carrier pledged himself for them. The porter, through avarice, called to him another Englishman, and let down the bridge. When the carrier had his cart on the first bridge, he took out of his purse two bretons and a placque*, to pay the Englishmen; but he let fall one breton to the ground, which the porter stooping to pick up, the carrier drew a dagger and stabbed him dead. In like manner, the two carpenters slew his companion on the second bridge. On a signal that this was done, the ambuscade of horse and foot sallied forth, and passing the bridges, entered the town, shouting, "St. Yves for Brittany!" All the English were asleep when this happened, and were made prisoners, to the amount of a hundred or six score; among whom was the lord Falconbridge, an English knight, who had only arrived the preceding day, and his ransom was worth twenty thousand crowns. He was carried to Louviers for greater safety, and the conquerors remained in the place for its guard, until other arrangements should be made.

On its

When the English heard of this capture, they were much troubled and enraged. being told to king Charles, as he was desirous of the welfare of his nephew the duke of Brittany, he consented, after many conferences at Louviers, that mutual restitutions should take place, namely, that Fougeres should be given back to the duke of Brittany, with sixteen hundred thousand crowns, according to the estimate of damage done, and Pont-de-l'Arche yielded up to the English, together with the lord Falconbridge, who had been there made prisoner. The English, however, peremptorily refused to agree to such terms, which was a most unreasonable conduct; and the king's commissioners employed apostolical and imperial notaries to draw up the offer they had made, and the English commissioners' refusal of it, that God and all the world might see how handsomely the king had acted, and that if a war should ensue, which God forbid! the blame could not fall on him. The English commissioners departed, on their return to the duke of Somerset, to relate what had been the result of these conferences.

The king of France, to proceed with greater security, sent the count de Dunois, and others with ample powers to his nephew of Brittany, whom he met at Rennes, where he had assembled the greater part of his connexions, prelates, barons and knights of the duchy. A treaty was concluded, by which the duke promised to serve the king in person against the English, by sea and land, and never to make peace or any alliance with them, but with the approbation of the king; in confirmation of which, he gave letters patent, signed with the hands and seals of himself and the barons of the duchy. The said relatives and barons also promised, by putting their hands within the hands of the count de Dunois, punctually to maintain all the articles contained in the above-mentioned letters-patent; and the count de Dunois engaged that the king should ratify the said treaty, which he afterwards did by

* Two bretons and a placque,-small coins of Brittany and France.

letters to the duke. In these he promised to make the quarrel his own, and not to conclude any treaty with the enemy without comprehending him and his duchy, nor until the English should have restored what they had taken from him. In case the English should not, before the end of the ensuing month of July, surrender to the duke the town and castle of Fougeres, with an adequate sum for the plunder, the king would openly declare war against them.

to A

At this time, the town of Gerberoy*, in the Beauvoisis, was taken by scalado, by the lord de Mouy, governor of that country; and all the English within it, to the number of thirty, were put to the sword. Their captain was John Harper, who that day had gone Gournay +. Thus was the place reduced under the obedience of the king of France. short time after this, the town of Conches was won by Robert de Flocques, called Flocquet, bailiff of Evreux. About the same period, a Gascon gentleman called Verdun, by the advice and consent of the duke of Brittany, took by storm the towns of Coignac § and St. Maigrin||, under the command of an esquire, called Mondoch de Lansac, for the king of England. He himself was made prisoner, as he was coming from Bordeaux to Coignac, for he imagined that it was still under his command as before. In both towns many prisoners were taken. When the English heard of these towns being lost, the archbishop of Bordeaux and the magistrates sent a pursuivant-at-arms to the king of France at Chinon, to request that Coignac and St. Maigrin might be restored, and that he would send them passports, pretending that they would come to him; but nothing was done, for reasons known to the king and his council. In like manner, the duke of Somerset and lord Talbot sent to the king at Chinon, to require that the towns of Pont-de-l'Arche, Conches, Coignac and St. Maigrin should be restored; to which the king answered, that if they would restore to his nephew of Brittany his town of Fougeres, and the effects taken away from thence, he would exert his endeavours that the duke of Brittany should give back the places that had been won by him, or by those who had taken them on his advice. The English ambassadors said that they had no powers to interfere in the surrender of Fougeres, and therefore returned to the duke of Somerset at Rouen, without effecting anything.

Soon afterwards, another conference was holden at the abbey of Bonport ¶, when the commissioners from France made offer to those on the part of England, that if they would, on a day to be appointed, surrender, for the duke of Brittany, the town and castle of Fougeres into the hands of the king of France, and pay the sum of sixteen hundred thousand crowns, the estimated value of the damages, all places that had been taken from the English should be restored, and even the lord Falconbridge, who had been made prisoner at Pont-del'Arche, and that all hostilities should cease on both sides. This the English refused; and the French commissioners returned to their king as before.

King Charles, having heard the report of all that had passed, and examined the instruments drawn up by the apostolical notaries, stating the damages the English had done to his relative the duke of Brittany: that they had very frequently infringed the truce, without making any reparations or restitution of places or effects, and their peremptory refusal of all the offers he had made them for the preservation of peace and the satisfaction of his conscience, resolved, after mature deliberation, that having done his duty most loyally, and the English obstinately refusing all his offers for peace, he was fully justified in taking every proper step for the defence of his country and of his allies, as well as for the recovery of such places as had been conquered from him or from his predecessors, the possession of which the English had so long usurped. He was advised to declare war against them, which would be just in the eyes of God, of reason, and of his conscience, otherwise he would not do his duty. It was concluded that he should send ambassadors to the duke of Brittany to concert measures accordingly.

*Gerberoy,-a town in the Isle of France, four leagues from Beauvais,

+ Gournay, a town in the Isle of France, on the Marne, three leagues from Paris.

Conches, a market-town in Norinandy, four leagues from Evreux, sixteen from Rouen.

§ Coignac, a town of the Angoumois, on the Charente, seven leagues and a half from Saintes.

|| St. Maigrin, a town in Saintonge, near Grolle. Bonport, an abbey founded by Richard I., king of England, in the diocese of Evreux, in Normandy.

CHAPTER XII.—THE KING OF FRANCE, BEING SATISFIED THAT THE ENGLISH HAD BROKEN THE TRUCE, DECLARES WAR AGAINST THEM.VERNEUIL IS TAKEN BY A MILLER,

WHOM AN ENGLISHMAN HAD BEATEN.

THE king of France, having received full information of the warfare carried on by the English against Scotland, which was included in the truce, and of that against the Spaniards by sea, who were also included in it, as well as that on his own subjects of Dieppe, La Rochelle, and elsewhere, ever since the signing of the truce, without making any restitution whatever for the damages done by them, more especially in the capture of Fougeres from the duke of Brittany, for which they refused to make any reparation, although often summoned by the king so to do, as well by ambassadors to king Henry as to those who had the government of Normandy: having, therefore, maturely deliberated on all these grievances in his council, and knowing that he had fully acquitted himself of his duty in endeavouring to preserve peace, he declared war against England by sea and land.

During the truce, the English garrisons of Mantes, Verneuil, and Laigny, had gone on the high-roads between Orleans and Paris, and had robbed and murdered all passengers and merchants that fell in their way. In like manner did the English of Neufchâtel, Gournay, and Gerberoy, on the roads between Paris, Abbeville, and Amiens. They also made inroads over the country, seizing all they could lay hands on, and murdering gentlemen in their beds who had sworn allegiance to the king of France, such as the lord de Maillebois, the lord de St. Remy, Olivier de Noirequerque, and several more. On the other hand, such tradesmen and labouring farmers as had, on the faith of the truce, returned to their occupations, houses, and villages, were continually harassed and put to death by the English, who called them false Armagnac traitors. These were the fine exploits of the English during the existence of the truce. They were called Vizards, from wearing masks and frightful disguises over their other clothes when they went on any such expeditions, to prevent them being discovered.

To put an end to all these deceitful proceedings of the English, the king of France assembled a large body of men-at-arme, as did the duke of Brittany, on their frontiers. The garrison of Fougeres made a sally on these last,-but they were repulsed so valiantly that they lost upwards of six score in killed and taken.

At this time a miller in the town of Verneuil was beaten by an Englishman going the rounds. In revenge, he went to the bailiff of Evreux, and promised, on certain conditions, to admit him and his men into the town. In consequence of this, sir Pierre de Brésé, seneschal of Poitou, the said bailiff of Evreux, Jacques de Clermont, and others, collected their men with all haste and appeared before the walls of Verneuil by break of day on the 29th day of July. The miller was on guard this night, and dismissed the watch sooner than usual because it was Sunday, that they might attend mass and then breakfast. The French, by the aid of the miller, fixed their ladders to his mill, and by this means entered the town without any one knowing or even suspecting it. Six score English were in garrison, some of whom were killed or made prisoners, and the rest fled in haste to the castle.

On the morrow the miller drew off most part of the water from the ditches of the castle, which was then vigorously attacked and defended, but at last it was taken by storm. Many gallant deeds were done, particularly by the seneschal, who acquired greater renown than any other, although all fought well, for they had not any heavy artillery,—and numbers of the English were killed, wounded, and taken. The remainder took shelter in the tour grise, which was impregnable so long as provisions did not fail, being very thick and high, and detached from the castle, surrounded with ditches full of water. Notwithstanding its strength, the French attacked it on all sides; and while they were thus engaged, the count de Dunois arrived with the lord de Culant, and many other knights and esquires. The first had been lately appointed lieutenant-general of the armies of the king of France, and the lord de Culant had been made grand-master of the householdt. Having ther of the marshal de Jaloignes, was appointed grandmaster of France in 1449.

Verneuil,- -a town in Normandy, diocese of Evreux. † Charles lord de Culant and Chateauneuf, elder bro

had information that Lord Talbot was on his march to relieve his countrymen in the tower, and was arrived at Breteuil*, they soon departed, leaving sir Florent Dilliers, who remained to manage the siege with about eight hundred combatants+.

The count de Dunois kept advancing until he met Lord Talbot near to Harcourt, who, when he perceived the French, fortified himself so strongly with stakes and the baggagecarts which carried his stores, that they could no way injure him. At nightfall he retreated in haste to Harcourt. All the ensuing day the French were drawn up in battle array in the expectation of an engagement, but Talbot would not quit the town. The following knights were this day created :—the lord de Herbault, sir John de Bar lord of Baugey, and John Daulon, equerry of the king's stables; and the French, finding that Talbot would not come out of Harcourt, withdrew that evening to Evreux.

On the sixth day of August in this year, the king of France advanced toward Amboise, to cross the river Loire, and march his army into Normandy to support the besiegers of Verneuil. The count de Dunois and his company remained two days in Evreux.

CHAPTER XIII.-THE COUNT DE ST. POL APPEARS BEFORE NOGENT, WHICH SURRENDERS TO HIM.-THE CAPTURE OF PONT-AUDEMER.

On Friday the 8th day of August in this year, the count de St. Pol, with about four hundred§ horse, came before the castle of Nogent, of whom twenty or thirty of the most valiant of the van, at the first shock, forced their way into the lower court and gained the barriers. Fearing the cannon of the English, they instantly retreated to wait for their companions,—but not before the portcullis had been rapidly let down, and inclosed two of their number, who were made prisoners. On the approach of the main army, the place was courageously attacked on the side toward the fields, when many were killed and wounded on each side. The governor for king Henry was called Jean le Fevre, born near to Louviers, who had with him about thirty companions in arms. On the Saturday the place surrendered between eleven and twelve o'clock, on condition that the garrison should march away in safety unarmed, except the governor, who was to wear his sword. They deposited all their effects in the church of St. Peter, whence they afterward came to seek and carry them away whither they pleased. The conquerors, perceiving on the Sunday that the place was not tenable, decamped, but not before they had set fire to it and burned it to the ground.

The same Friday the count de Dunois marched from Evreux with a large company of knights and esquires, and two thousand five hundred combatants. Two days after, the counts d'Eu and de St. Pol, the lords de Saveuses, de Roye, de Moy, de Rambures, and others, to the number of three hundred lances, and from fourteen to fifteen hundred archers, passed Pont-de-l'Arche, and continued their march until they formed a junction, on the 12th, before Pont Audemer, with the count de Dunois and his army. The count de Dunois was posted on the side toward Rouen, and the counts d'Eu and de St. Pol nearer to Honfleur on the other side of the river Rille, which runs by the town,--and each lord drew up his men to the attack of the place. That part of it near to the quarters of the count de St. Pol was so courageously attacked that it was carried by storm, notwithstanding the very gallant defence of the English. Many brilliant acts were done by the count de Dunois' men, who entered the place at the same time with the others, crossing the ditches with water up to their necks.

Four hundred and twenty English retreated into a strong house at the end of the town under their captains, Montfort, treasurer of Normandy, and Foucques Ebon, who surrendered themselves prisoners to the counts de Dunois and de St. Pol. Twenty-two new knights

Breteuil,-a town in Normandy near Conches, Florent, lord d'Illiers d'Entragues, was distinguished for valour, and for his great retinue at the siege of Orleans, and on several subsequent occasions. His father Geoffrey lord d'Illiers, was grandson of Philip, one of the sons of Bouchard lord of Vendôme, who married the heiress of

the ancient house of Illiers, and assumed his wife's family name on account of a stipulation in the marriage contract. Harcourt, a town in Normandy, election of Conches, ten leagues from Rouen.

§ Four hundred. In the original it is four thousand but this number appeared to me too great.

were made on this occasion, such as the lord de Moy, the son of the vidame of Amiens, the son of the lord de Rambures, and others. Thus was Pont Audemer replaced under the obedience of the king of France.

King Charles came to Vendôme on this day, the 12th, and remained there until the 18th day of August, when he marched for Chartres, and arrived there on the 22d.

CHAPTER XIV. THE ENGLISH INVADE SCOTLAND TWICE, AND ARE AS MANY TIMES * REPULSED -THE TOWER OF VERNEUIL SURRENDERS TO THE KING OF FRANCE.

OTHER MATTERS

It was evident that Heaven was against the English,-and they were deserving of it; for it is a fact that they have always encroached on their Christian neighbours, as well in the kingdom of France as in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and elsewhere. Many violences have most unjustly been done by them, by reason of their not having the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ before their eyes,- -"Render unto Cæsar the things that be Cæsar's, and unto God the things that be God's."

Among their various plans of annoyance to their neighbours, they carried one about this time into effect, namely, an invasion of Scotland. The earl of Salisbury sent two lords of great renown, natives of England, sir Thomas de Hanton, knight, and the lord Percy, son to the earl of Northumberland, to wage war against Scotland. They had with them fifteen thousand combatants, and a numerous body of peasants, and, crossing the river Solway, entered Scotland, where they remained three days, having advanced six miles of that country, equal to three French leagues. When the earl of Douglas heard of this inroad, he collected, without delay, six thousand Scots, and attacked the English on the plain in open day. The battle was well fought on both sides, and many were killed and wounded ; but it was won by the Scots, who kept the field, and made many prisoners: in the number were sir Thomas de Hanton and Percy: the rest escaped as quickly as they could, to carry the melancholy news to Lord Salisbury. He was very much grieved, and not without cause, but not cast down; for he instantly raised a greater army than before, consisting of sixty thousand men, thinking to destroy the whole kingdom of Scotland.

When the earls of Murray and of Ormond heard of the English having crossed the Solway with a large army, they, having the fear of God before their eyes, and finding the English determined thus conjunctly to destroy their country, took measures to oppose them; for it is perfectly lawful that every one should fight for his country. They soon, with the aid of other Scots lords, assembled a force of thirty-two thousand able warriors, and, falling upon the English camp unawares, put them to the rout, with great slaughter, and loss in prisoners and wounded. They were pursued as far as the Solway, wherein many were drowned. The English lost in these two invasions from twenty to twenty-four thousand men in killed and prisoners. The Scots gave all the merit of this signal defeat to God, and not to human force, for which they celebrated a thanksgiving; and to prevent the English from being in future so eager to invade their country, they resolved to continue the pursuit into England. Having crossed the Solway, they destroyed the country, full twenty leagues in length, and six in breadth, as far as the strong town of Newcastle, without leaving a town or house on their road unburned. On this expedition a knight of great power in Scotland was slain,

Under the years 1446, 47, 48, 49, 50, in Andrews' History of Great Britain, &c." An invasion of Scotland is attempted by the English, led by the earl of Northumberland and Magnus Reidman. They are defeated at Sark, (a river in Scotland formed of two branches, the White and Black, falling into the Eden four miles below Carlisle,) by the Scots, under the command of the lord Douglas and bis brother the earl of Ormond."

I see from Douglas's Peerage that it ought to be Archibald earl of Murray, (and not Lord Douglas), third son to James VII. earl of Douglas. The earl of Ormond was his next brother.

The following extract is from Hutchinson's History of Northumberland, page 233, vol. ii.-"Henry earl of Northumberland, in the 14th Henry VI. made an unsuccessful irruption into Scotland, and at Piperden was defeated by the earl of Angus, with the loss of 1500 men. In the 29th of the same reign he entered Scotland again, and engaged, near the river Sark, a large body of Scots under the command of sir William Wallace of Craigey, where he again had a defeat, and narrowly escaped being made prisoner his son choosing to throw himself into the hands of the enemy to save his father."