into the town. They, however, fought well,-and great part saved themselves by leaping into the ditches, being forced thereto by the arrows of the English archers. Those who could not thus escape were put to death, or made prisoners; and the English became masters of the wall and of these two towers. At this attack, from fifty to sixty French, including

authorities.

those of the townsmen who had assisted them, were killed or taken; and several, in attempting to escape, destroyed themselves. A few saved themselves from the towers: others had their legs broken by their fall, and such as remained were inhumanly slaughtered; so that it was an abomination to see the torrents of blood that ran in streams from the two towers.

During this time, the kings of France and of Sicily arrived at Darnetal*; but when they saw that the attempt had failed, and that the citizens of Rouen were not unanimous to assist them, they returned, on the 16th day of October, to Pont-de-l'Arche. The army was quartered in the villages on the banks of the Seine, according to their former disposition. On the 17th day of October, sir Richard Merbury, the English knight before-mentioned, fulfilled his engagement, and delivered the town and castle of Gisors to the lord de Gaucourt, for the king of France. In consequence, his children were restored to him, and all the articles agreed on fulfilled; after which, he departed. He, however, sent away, previously to yielding up the place, an English captain called Regnéfort †, who had been his lieutenant in the command of the garrison, and in the guard of the castle.

At this period, the duke of Brittany left lower Normandy, where he had taken many places, on his return to besiege the town of Fougeres, held by sir Francis de Surienne, called the Arragonian. The French, at this time, won the town of Condé-sur-Noireau ‡ through neglect of the guard at the gate; and therein was taken the lady of sir Francis de Surienne, who had been driven from her lord's own residence, and forced to shelter herself in Condé. The French plundered everything within the town, and also carried away the English prisoners.

Darnetal,-a town very near to Rouen. + Regnéfort. Q. Rainford.

Condé-sur-Noireau.-in the valley of Noireau, dəcese of Bayeux.

CHAPTER XXIII.-THE ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN AND OTHERS OF THE CITIZENS NEGOTIATE TO SURRENDER THAT CITY TO THE KING OF FRANCE. THE KEYS ARE PRESENTED TO THE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, THE COUNT DE DUNOIS, WHO ENTERS THE TOWN WITH HIS ARMY.

On the 18th day of October, the inhabitants of the city of Rouen, being greatly frightened lest their town should be stormed by the French, and of course pillaged and destroyed, and also to avoid the further effusion of blood, assembled with one accord at the bishop's palace. They were much enraged at the deaths of their relatives and friends; and had they met the lord Talbot, it was generally supposed that they would have murdered him, as he had done their fellow-citizens and friends. They, however, saw the duke of Somerset, and plainly told him, that it was expedient that a treaty should be opened with the king of France, otherwise they would be ruined and starved; for it was upwards of six weeks since any corn, wood, meat or wine had entered the town. This language was not very agreeable to the duke; but looking round, and seeing that he had not more than fifty or sixty Englishmen with him, and that there were from eight hundred to a thousand of the townsmen, without including the remainder of the inhabitants who were under arms in the different streets, he began to be alarmed, and, addressing himself with much humility to the archbishop and people, said that he was ready to do whatever the inhabitants of the town should wish. To appease the populace, he went to the town-hall, where public meetings are usually held; and, after some discussion, it was resolved that the archbishop, with some English knights and citizens, should attend at the gate of St. Ouen, to confer with the king, or with a part of his great council, respecting the welfare and surrender of the city of Rouen. In consequence of this resolution, the official of the town was sent to the king at Pont-del'Arche to obtain a safe-conduct for certain persons therein named, to treat of peace,-which being granted, the official returned to the archbishop and the duke. The archbishop, and some knights and esquires on the part of the duke of Somerset, together with certain of the townsmen, were sent to Port St. Ouen*, within a league of Pont-de-l'Arche, where they met, on the part of the king of France, his lieutenant-general the count de Dunois, the chancellor of France, the seneschal of Poitou, sir William de Cousinot, and some others. They had a long conference, in which the deputies from Rouen insisted on a general amnesty being granted, and that such as chose might depart with the English, and all who preferred to stay should have the enjoyment of their fortunes unmolested. It was also stipulated, that the English and their party should have safe-conducts for themselves and their effects when they marched away. All these demands having been agreed to by the count de Dunois and the king's counsellors, the archbishop and his associates promised to deliver up the town to the king's obedience. The archbishop and his companions then departed to make their report to the English and the citizens of Rouen, but as they arrived in the night, they could not do it until the following day. On the 18th, therefore, the archbishop and the other deputies went very early to the town-hall, and related everything that had passed between them and the ministers from the king of France, which was very agreeable to the inhabitants but sorely displeasing to the English, who, when they saw the strong inclinations of the townsmen to turn to the French interest, were greatly astonished,-more especially the duke of Somerset and the lord Talbot. They therefore left the town-hall much discontented, and, instantly arming themselves, withdrew to the government palace, the bridges, and portals of the castle. The citizens, having observed their motions, began to take alarm, and armed themselves also. They, as well as the English, kept up a strong guard the whole of this Saturday, and likewise during the night; but the townsmen, anxious to expel the English for refusing to accept of the terms the deputies had agreed to, sent a messenger to Pont-de-l'Arche, who arrived there on Sunday by daybreak, to inform the king that if he would send a force to their relief it should have free entrance into the town.

On this same Sunday, the 19th day of October, about eight o'clock in the morning, the St. Ouen seems to be within a league of Elbeuf, which iz near to Pont-de-l'Arche.

* St. Ouen. I believe there must be some mistake, for there is no St. Ouen near to Pont-de-l'Arche but a

whole of the inhabitants were under arms and on their guard against any attempts of the English, when they attacked all of that nation whom they found in the streets so sharply that it was with difficulty that they could join their companions on the bridge, and in the palace and castle. In the pursuit, from seven to eight English were killed, and the townsmen gained possession, in the interim, of the principal gates of the town. The count de Dunois lost no time in hastening to the relief of Rouen, but instantly mounted his horse, attended by a large company of men-at-arms. In the number was Flocquet, bailiff of Evreux; but in his hurry he forgot to put his greaves on, and was so badly kicked by one of the horses of his troop that his leg was broken, and he was carried back to be cured at Pont-de-l'Arche, after he had given the command of his men to the lord de Maulny. On the arrival of this force before Rouen, those within St. Catherine's were summoned to surrender the place to the king of France, who had, during the summons, set out from Pontde-l'Arche, grandly accompanied by men-at-arms and archers, to appear personally before the walls of Rouen. He had ordered his artillery to be charged, for an immediate attack on his arrival at St. Catherine's, although there was no necessity,-for the governor of the place, having six-score English under his orders, seeing so noble a company, and knowing that the king was on the road, fearful also of the event if he made any resistance, surrendered it to the count de Dunois, and he and his garrison marched away whither they pleased. The bailiff of Evreux was appointed governor until the king should otherwise dispose of it. A herald was sent with the English garrison of St. Catherine's, to answer for their safety, and to conduct them to Port St. Ouen. On their march they met the king, who bade them take nothing from the poor people without paying for it; but as they said they had no money, he gave them the sum of one hundred francs to defray the expenses,-and then they continued their march with their baggage, of which, indeed, they had little, to Honfleur, or wherever else they pleased. The king took up his quarters that night at St. Catherine's, with the intent to accomplish his enterprise.

To gain the city of Rouen, the count de Dunois, the count de Nevers, the lord d'Orval, the lord de Blainville, and the lord de Maulny, advanced with all their men, with the king's banners displayed, before that gate of Rouen called Martinville, and drew up in battle-array near to the bulwark of the gate. The citizens came out with the keys of the gates and presented them to the count de Dunois, at the same time pressing him to enter the town with as many of his men as he pleased. The count replied, that he would act as should be most agreeable to them, when, after some further conversation respecting the welfare of the city, sir Pierre de Brézé, seneschal of Poitou, was ordered to enter with one hundred lances and his archers, the lord de Maulny with the same number of lances, and the archers of Robert de Flocques, and one hundred lances and archers from the men of the count de Dunois. They posted themselves as near to the English as they could, namely the men of the count de Dunois in front of the government-palace, in which were the duke of Somerset and lord Talbot, with twelve hundred English, the lord de Maulny between the palace and the castle, and the seneschal of Poitou facing the castle. The other captains were encamped in the fields and posted in the villages on the side toward the countries of Caux and Beauvoisis. The king's army was a fine sight; for never, in the memory of man, had the king so grand or so numerous an assembly of lords, barons, knights, and esquires, with common men, as were now under his orders.

This evening the English surrendered the bridge, the guard of which was given to the lord de Herunville, and on the morrow the gates of the town were thrown open for all to enter or go out as they pleased. The duke of Somerset was afflicted at heart to see the great army the king had brought against him, and demanded a conference with him. On this being told the king, he was well pleased to agree to it. In consequence, the duke of Somerset set out, on the fifth day afterward, from the palace, accompanied by a certain number of persons and by some of the king's heralds, who escorted him to St. Catherine's on the mount of Rouen, where the king received him, attended by the king of Sicily, the count de Dunois, and others of his council and blood. The patriarch of Antioch, the archbishop of Rouen, and other prelates, were likewise present. After the usual salutations, and when the duke had paid his respects to the king, he requested that his majesty would

be pleased to allow him and lord Talbot, with the men under their command, to march away with their baggage in safety, according to the terms of the general amnesty which had been agreed to by the lords of his council.

The king deliberately and prudently replied that his request was unreasonable, because they had refused to accept or adhere to the terms of the amnesty, but in contempt of it had held, and now did hold, the palace and castle contrary to his will, and had also done everything in their power to prevent the inhabitants of Rouen from surrendering their town. The amnesty had, therefore, been annulled by their own conduct; and before they were suffered to leave the palace, Honfleur, Harfleur, and all places in the country of Caux, now in the hands of the king of England, must be given up to him. The duke of Somerset, on receiving this answer, took leave of the king and returned to the palace, and saw every one, in all the streets he passed through, wearing the white cross, which did not tend to raise his spirits. He was escorted back by the counts of Eu and of Clermont.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE KING OF

FRANCE

BESIEGES THE DUKE OF SOMERSET, LORD

TALBOT, AND THEIR MEN, IN THE GOVERNMENT-PALACE OF ROUEN.—THEY SURRENDER,
ON CONDITION OF BEING ALLOWED TO MARCH AWAY ON YIELDING UP THE CASTLE
OF ARQUES, AND OTHER PLACES MENTIONED.

On Wednesday the 22d of October, the king of France commanded the government-palace and the castle of Rouen to be besieged at the same time. Eight hundred lances, with the archers, were ordered on this service, who made deep trenches round the palace, as well in the town as in the fields. Bombards and cannon were pointed against the gates that opened to the country and town. All these preparations greatly dismayed the duke of Somerset. Having considered that there was very little provision or stores within the palace, and a great many men, and that there was not a possibility of his being relieved, he requested, on the 28th of the same month, that the king would permit him to speak with him, which the king kindly granted. The duke left the palace accompanied by about forty of his principal knights and esquires: he was dressed in a long robe of blue figured velvet, lined with sables, having on his head a crimson-velvet bonnet, trimmed also with sables. The king's heralds escorted him through the tower to the sallyport leading to St. Catherine's, where he was met by the count de Clermont, eldest son to the duke of Bourbon, and other knights and esquires, who conducted him to St. Catherine's, where the king received him very kindly in an apartment most richly decorated.

all.

The king had with him at this audience the king of Sicily, the counts of Maine, of Dunois, of Nevers, of Clermont, of St. Pol, of Castres, of Tancarville, the viscount of Loumaigne, and so many great lords and knights, that it would be tiresome to name them When the duke had saluted the king, he requested that his majesty would be pleased to grant to him, and the English in the palace and castle, the same capitulation he had granted to the town. The king replied aloud, and in handsome terms, that the same capitulation had been granted them at the conference at St. Ouen, but that neither himself nor his countrymen, like ill-advised persons, would accept of it: his request was therefore so unreasonable, that he could not grant it. The duke then took his leave of the king, and returned, with those who had accompanied him, to the palace, escorted, for his security, by the counts of Clermont, of Eu, and of Castres.

The king ordered the count de Dunois to push forward his approaches to the palace with the greatest vigour, on the side toward the country as well as on that toward the town. The lieutenant-general obeyed this order with so much activity, valour, and prudence, that the English were completely blockaded in both the castle and the palace. The English now demanded a parley with the count de Dunois, and a truce was concluded between them. The bailiff of Evreux, the marshal de la Fayette, and others of the king's council, were called in to the conference, when the truce was prolonged from day to day, for the space of twelve days, because the English would not leave the lord Talbot as a hostage for the performance

* Arques, two leagues from Dieppe.

of the treaty. After many discussions, it was at length agreed that the duke of Somerset, lieutenant of the king of England, his lady, children, and all the English within the palace and castle should depart in safety with their effects, whithersoever they pleased, leaving behind the prisoners and heavy artillery. They were bound to pay the king of France the sum of fifty thousand crowns within the twelvemonth, and to those who had concluded this treaty six thousand. They also promised faithfully to pay everything they owed to the innkeepers, townsmen, tradesmen, and others of Rouen.

The duke of Somerset and his companions were besides bounden to deliver up the castle of Arques, the town of Caudebec, the castle of Tancarville and Lillebonne, the towns of Honfleur and Monstierville, to the king of France, or to such commissioners as he should appoint to receive them. For the fulfilment of these engagements the duke of Somerset gave written promises, and also left, as hostages for their performance, lord Talbot, the sons of lord Abergavenny, of lord Roos, and of the duchess of Somerset, of the earl of Ormond in Ireland, and two other English noblemen.

On the conclusion of this treaty, the duke of Somerset and the English departed from the palace on the 4th day of November, and went straight to the town of Harfleur,-some by water, others by land. The hostages remained under the care of the king's commissaries in Rouen. The duke of Somerset, before his departure, had directed sir Thomas Hou and Fulk Hou* to restore to the king of France the places mentioned in the treaty; which was done, excepting Honfleur; for the governor, called master Thomas Courson†, refused to surrender it, and the lord Talbot, therefore, remained prisoner to the king. On Monday, the 10th of November, the eve of the feast of St. Martin, the count de Dunois and the bailiff of Rouen had the king's banner displayed from the castle, palace, and walls of the city, by one of the king's heralds, and in the presence of the principal inhabitants.

CHAPTER XXV. THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES A GRAND ENTRY INTO ROUEN. HE IS SUMPTUOUSLY RECEIVED. THE ENGLISH RESTORE TO THE KING THE CASTLES OF ARQUES, CAUDEBEC, TANCARVILLE, MONSTIERVILLE, ETC.

WHILE the negotiations were carrying on with the English, the king of France celebrated the feast of All-saints in St. Catherine's with the utmost joy, on seeing his enemies fall before him; and he returned thanks to God for the good fortune that was daily pouring in upon him. The count de Dunois having restored good government in the town of Rouen, the king prepared to make his solemn entry into it. He set out from St. Catherine's on this same Monday, about one o'clock after mid-day, attended by the king of Sicily, and several great princes, as well of his blood as otherwise, with his army drawn out in handsome array. First marched his archers, the leaders of whom were dressed in striped jackets of red, white, green, covered with embroidery. After these came the archers of the king of Sicily, of the count du Maine, and of other great lords, to the number of six hundred, well mounted and all armed with plate armour, under jackets of various colours, having greaves, swords, daggers, and helmets, richly ornamented with silver. The king appointed the lords de Preuilly and de Cléré, sir Theaulde de Valperge, and a few more, to command them, who had their horses covered with satin housings of different forms and colours.

and

After the archers came the heralds of the king of France, the king of Sicily, and the other princes in company with the king, all dressed in their tabards of arms; and with them were some pursuivants. Then came the trumpeters and clarions, who sounded so loudly, that it was very melodious, and gave much delight to hear them: the king's trumpeters were clothed in crimson, having their sleeves covered with embroidery. Next came sir William Juvenal des Ursins, knight, lord of Trainel, and chancellor of France +, dressed in his robes of ceremony, namely, a robe, mantle, and hood of scarlet, trimmed with minever, and on each

*Sir Thomas Hou, &c. Q. Howe? Berry changes the names into Heu and Heston. See Hollingshed, &c. See also ch. xv. p. 156 of this volume.

+ Thomas Curzon, captain of Harfleur.-STOWE.

Afterwards also Viscount of Troyes. He was chancellor from 1445 to 1461, and again from 1465 to 1472, when he died.