Late Medieval Books, Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 6

Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 6 is in Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet.

Late Medieval Books, Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 6 Chapter 20

The Duke of Bedford marches a large army to keep his appointment before Ivry.—That town and castle surrender to him.

History relates, that about the 8th day of August in this year, the duke of Bedford assembled a considerable force of men-at-arms and archers, under the command of the earls of Salisbury and of Suffolk, the lord Willoughby, and several other captains, as well from Normandy as elsewhere, to the amount of eighteen hundred men-at-arms and eight thousand archers. He marched them to be present at the surrender of Ivry, of which mention has been made, and arrived before that place on the eve of the Assumption of our Lady.

That whole day he remained in battle array, expecting his enemies, who were very numerous, and but three leagues distant, and amounting to eighteen thousand combatants, under the command of the duke d'Alençon, the counts d'Aumale, de Yentadour, de Tonnerre, the earls of Douglas, Buchan, and Murray, the viscount de Narbonne, the lord de la Fayette, and many other lords and princes of great renown. They sent off forty of their most expert and best mounted men, to reconnoitre the enemy, — who, having observed the duke of Bedford's army in such handsome array, hastened back, but not without being closely pursued by the English, to relate what they had seen. The French lords, finding they had not any way the advantage, turned about, and marched in a body to the town of Verneuil in Perche, which was in the possession of the English, and gave the inhabitants to understand that they had completely defeated the English army, and forced the regent to fly with a very few attendants. On hearing this the garrison opened the gates of Yerneuil, and showed them all obedience in the name of king Charles. After the surrender of the place, passports were granted, according to the stipulations of the treaty, to the English within it who were sent with their baggage to the duke of Bedford.

Gerard de la Pailliere, governor of Ivry, seeing the hour for hie relief was passed, waited on the duke, who was in the front of his army expecting the enemy, and presented to him the keys of the castle, demanding at the same time, in conformity to the articles, passports for himself and his men, which were instantly granted. The duke, in the presence of Gerard, pulled out some letters, and, showing them to him, said, "I perceive that eighteen great barons attached to my lord king Henry, have this day failed in their promises of bringing me succour." Their seals were affixed to these letters; and immediately afterwards, four gentlemen of Gerard's friends were put in confinement as security for them.

The duke of Bedford now ordered that the French should be pursued by a body of men,j under the command of the earl of Suffolk, to the amount of sixteen hundred combatants. The earl marched to Damville, and thence to Breteuil in Perche, within two leagues of Yerneuil, where the whole of the French force was. The duke went with the remainder 6i his army to Evreux, whither the earl of Suffolk sent him information that the whole of thej French army was in Yerneuil. The duke, on hearing this, advanced with his force to join the earl of Suffolk, and offer them combat. Yerneuil had belonged to the English, — but, as I have before said, the French gained it by the false information of their having defeated the English. This battle took place on the 16th day of August, in the manner you shall now hear.

Late Medieval Books, Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 6 Chapter 21

Battle of Verneuil

the Duke of Bedford combats the French before Verneuil.

When the duke of Bedford had gained the town and castle of Ivry, he appointed a knight of Wales, renowned in arms, governor, with a sufficient garrison to defend them. He detached the earl of Suffolk in pursuit of the French, who had advanced to within three leagues for its relief, and went with the rest of his army to Evreux. He there received intelligence that the French had won Yerneuil by stratagem, and were with their whole force within it. He instantly dislodged, and marched for Yerneuil; but the French, having had information thereof, made all haste to prepare for his reception, and drew their men up in battle array without the town, ready for the combat. They only formed one grand division, without any advanced guard, — and ordered the Lombards, with others, to remain on horseback, xuider the command of the borgne Oamwan, du Rousin, Poton, and La Hire, to break the ranks of the enemy on their flanks and rear. The grand battalion of the French was on foot, — which being observed by the duke of Bedford, he ordered his army to be formed in the same manner, without any vanguard, and not having any party on horseback. The archers were posted in front, each having a sharp-pointed stake stuck in the ground before him; and the stoutest of these men were placed at the two ends of the battalion, by way of wings. Behind the men-at-arms were the pages, the horses, and such as were unfit for the combat. The archers tied the horses together by their collar pieces and tails, that the enemy might not surprise and carry them off. The duke of Bedford ordered two thousand archers to guard them and the baggage.

17th August 1424. Very many new knights were now created on both sides; and when all was ready, these two powerful armies met in battle, about three o'clock in the afternoon, on the 16th [17th] day of August. The English, as usual, set up a grand shout as they advanced, which alarmed the French much; and the conflict raged with the utmost violence for three quarters of an hour; and it was not in the memory of man that such armies had been so long and warmly engaged without victory declaring for either of them. That division of the French which had been ordered to remain mounted to attack the rear of the English, while the combat was going on, came to the horses and baggage of the enemy, but could make no impression from the resistance of the guard of archers: they however seized some of the cavalry and baggage, with which they fled, leaving their army fighting on foot. The archers, then, finding themselves thus disembarrassed from the enemy, vrere fresh to join their companions in the front, which they did with loud shouts.

The French now began to fail; and the English, with great bravery, broke through their ranks in many places, and, taking advantage of their success, obtained the victory, but not without much effusion of blood on both sides; for it was afterward known by the kings-at arms, heralds, poursuivants, and from other persons worthy of belief, that there were slain of the French, and left on the field of battle, from four to five thousand, great part of whom were Scotsmen, and two hundred made prisoners.

On the part of the English sixteen hundred were killed, as well from England as from Normandy, — the 'principal persons of whom were two captains of the name of Dudley and Charleton. The following is a list of those of name who fell on the side of the French: — Jean count d'Aumale, the son of the count de Harcourt, the count de Tonnerre, the count de Ventadour, the earl of Douglas¹, sir James Douglas his son, the earl of Buchan, at that time constable to king Charles, the earl of Murray, the lord de Graville the elder, the lord de Montenay, sir Anthony Beausault, Hugh de Beausault his brother, the lord de Belloy² and his brother, the lord de Mauny, the lord de Combrest, the lord de Fontenay, the lord de Bruneil, the lord de Tumblet, the lord de Poissy. From Dauphiny, the lord de Mathe, the lord de Rambelle. From Languedoc and Scotland, sir Walter Lindsay, sir Gilles de Gamaches³, Godfrey de Malestroit, James Douglas, sir Charles de Boin, sir John de Vretassc, sir Gilles MarteL the son of Harpedame, sir Brunet d'Auvergne, sir Raoul de la Treille, Guy de Fourchonivere, sir Pochart de Vienne, sir John de Murat, the lord de Vertois, sir Charles de Gerammes, Dragon de la Salle, the lord de Rambouillet, the bastard de Langlan, the viscount de Narbonne, whose body, when found on the field, was quartered, and hung on a gibbet, because he had been an accomplice in the murder of the late duke of Burgundy; the lord de Guictry⁴, sir Francis de Gangeaux, sir Robert de Laire, sir Louis de Teyr, the lord de Foregny, Moraut de la Mothe, sir Charles d'Anibal and his brother Robinet d'Anibal, Pierre de Courreillcs, sir Aymery de Gresille, Andrew de Clermont, sir Tristan Coignon, Colinet de Vicomte, Guillaume Rem on, sir Louis de Champagne, Peron de Lippes, sir Louis de Bracquemont, the lord de Thionville, the lord de Rochebaron, sir Philip de la Tour, and Anselin de la Tour.

The principal prisoners were, the duke d'Alen9on, the bastard d'Alençon, the lord de la Fayette, the lord de Hormit, sir Pierre Herrison, sir Louis de Vaiicoiirt, Roger Brousset, Hucliet de St. Mare, and Yvon du Puys; but there were numbers of others whose names I cannot remember. When the duke of Bedford had gained this important victory at Yerneuil, he assembled his princes and captains around him, and with great humility, with uplifted hands and eyes, he returned thanks to the Creator for the great success he had given him. The dead were then stripped, and whatever was valuable taken away.

Note 1. Archibald, earl of Douglas, father-in-law to the earl of Buchan. Made duke of Touraine, and lieutenant-general of France, in order to give him precedence over his son-in-law the constable.

Note 2. Peter, lord of Bellay, &c., third son of Hugh VII who was killed at Azincourt.

Note 3. John de Renault, lord of Boismenard, father of Joachim de Ronault, marshal Gamaches, and son of Giles, lord of Boismenard, was killed at this battle.

Note 4. Charles de Chaumont en Vexin, son to William lord de Guictry, before mentionedde

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The duke encamped that night round Verneuil, and appointed a strong guard to prevent any surprise from the enemy. On the morrow, the French within the town and castle were summoned to surrender. They were so much terrified by the defeat and carnage of their army that they instantly obeyed, on condition that their lives and fortunes should be spared. The lord de Rambures, governor, was also permitted to depart. After the duke had re-garrisoned Verneuil and its castle, he marched his army into Normandy.

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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On the very day that this battle took place, a number of knights and esquires from Normandy and the adjacent parts deserted from the duke's army, although they had before sworn loyalty and obedience to him. For this offence, some of them were afterwards severely punished in their bodies by the duke, and all their estates and effects confiscated to the use of king Henry. In the number were, the lord de Choisy and the lord de Longueval.

bout this time the lord de Maucour was taken, who had been implicated by the lord de Longueval, and others accused before master Robert le Jeune, bailiff of Amiens; he was beheaded by orders from the council of king Henry, in the town of Amiens, his body hung on a gibbet, and his fortune confiscated to the king. In like manner was afterward taken Pierre de Recourt, implicated likewise with the above, by one named Raoul de Gaucourt, who sent him to sir John de Luxembourg; and sir John sent him to Paris, where his body was quartered, and parts of it hung up at the usual places.

Very soon was intelligence of this unfortunate battle carried to king Charles, who was sorely affected at the destruction of his princes and chivalry, and for a long time was mightily grieved, seeing that all his plans were now unsuccessful.

Late Medieval Books, Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 6, Chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet Volume 4 Chapter 52

How the count of Salisbury besieged the city of Orleans, where he was killed.

Comment le conte de Salseberi asséga la cité d'Orliens, où il fut occis.

Also, after the count of Salisbury had conquered and put under the obedience of King Henry of Lancaster Yenville, Meun, and several other towns and fortresses or surrounding lands, he prepared very diligently to go besiege the noble city of Orleans. And in fact, around the month of October, with all his power, he arrived before the said city. In which, those inside, a long time before, waiting for his arrival, had prepared their works, both fortifications, war equipment, as well as provisions, and selected and trained men in arms, to resist against the said count and his power and defend themselves. And likewise, in order that he might not lodge around it with his men at their ease, nor could they fortify themselves, those of Orleans had made to demolish and bring down all around in their suburbs good and notable buildings. Among which were destroyed and brought down up to twelve churches and more, of which were the four ordained of the Mendicants, and with them many other beautiful and solemn pleasure houses that the burghers of that city had. And so much did they continue in that work that in the suburbs and all around, one could fully see and throw cannons and other instruments of war, openly. However, it did not remain that the said count of Salisbury, with all his English, did not lodge quite close to the said city, even though those inside with all their power put themselves vigorously to defense, making several sallies, drawing cannons, culverins, and other artillery, killing and putting in trouble several Englishmen. Nevertheless, the said Englishmen, very valiantly and rudely drove them back, and approached several times, so that those defending had marvels at their bold and courageous enterprises. During which, the said count of Salisbury made the tower at the end of the bridge that crosses over the water of the Loire be assaulted. Which, in quite a short time, was taken by the English and conquered, along with a small bulwark that was quite close, notwithstanding the defense of the French.

Item, après ce que le conte de Salsebery eust conquis et mis en l'obéyssance du roy Henry de Lancastre Yenville, Meun et plusieurs autres villes et forteresces ou pays environ, il se disposa très diligamment pour aler asségier la noble cité d'Orliens. Et de fait, environ le mois d'octobre, à tout sa puissance, arriva devant ladicte cité. En laquelle, ceulx de dedens, long temps par avant, attendans sa venue, avoient préparé leurs besongnes, tant de fortificacions, habillemens de guerre, comme de vivres, et de gens esleuz exercités et excités en armes, pour résister contre ledit conte et sa puissance et eulx deffendre. Et meismement, adfin qu'il ne se peuyst loger autour d'ycelle lui et ses gens à leur aise, ne eulx fortifier, yceulx d'Orliens avoient fait abbatre et démolir à tous costés en. leurs faulxbourgs bons et notables édifices. Entre lesquelz furent destruis et abatus jusques à douze églises et au dessus, esquelles estoient les quatre ordonnées des Mendians, et avec ce moult d'autres belles et sollempneles maisons de plaisance que avoient les bourgois d'ycelle ville. Et tant en ycelle oeuvre continuèrent, que és faulxbourgs et tout à l'environ on povoit plainement veoir et jetter de canons et autres instrumens de guerre, tout à plain. Toutefois ne demoura mie que ledit conte de Salsebéry, à tout ses Anglois, ne se logast assez près de ladicte ville, jà soit ce que ceulx de dedens de tout leur povoir se meyssent viguereusement à deffense, en faisant plusieurs saillies, en traiant de canons, coulevrines et autres artilleries, occiant et metant à meschief plusieurs Anglois. Nient mains lesditz Anglois, très vaillamment et radement les reboutèrent, et approchèrent par plusieurs fois, tant que yceulx deffendans avoient merveilles de leurs hardies et courageuses entreprinses. Durant lesquelles, ledit conte de Salsebéry fist assaillir la tour du bout du pont qui passe par dessus l'yaue de Loire. Laquelle, en assez brief temps, fut prinse par les Anglois et conquise, avec un petit bolevert qui estoit assez près, non obstant la deffence des François.

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And the said count made several of his men lodge inside the said tower, so that those of the city could not sally forth against his host. And on the other hand, he and his captains lodged with all his men quite near the city in some old houses there, in which, as those English are accustomed, they made several lodgings within the land, shelters, and other war equipment, to avoid the shots from those of the city, from which they were very well served. During this time, the said count of Salisbury, on the third day after he had come before the said city, entered into the above-mentioned tower of the bridge where his men were lodged, and there within it went up high, to the second story, and positioned himself at a window facing the city, watching very attentively the movements around it, to see and imagine how and in what manner he could take and subjugate the city.

Et fist ycelui conte dedens ladicte tour loger plusieurs de ses gens, adfin que ceulx de la ville ne peussent par là saillir sur son ost. Et d'autre part se loga, lui et ses capitaines avec tous les siens, assez près de la ville en aucunes vièses masures là estans, ès quelles, comme ont acoustumé yceulx Anglois, firent plusieurs logis dedens terre, taudis, et autres habillemens de guerre, pour eschever le trait de ceulx de la ville, dont ils estoient très largement servis. Ouquel terme ledit conte de Salsebéry, le troisiesme jour qu'il estoit venu devant ladicte cité, entra en la dessusdicte tour du pont où estoient logez ses gens, et là dedens ycelle monta hault, ou second estage, et se mist à une fenestre vers la ville, regardant moult ententivement les marches autour d'ycelle, pour veoir et ymaginer comment et quelle manière il pourroit prendre et subjuguer ycelle cité.

Siege of Orléans

[3rd November 1428]. And then, while he [Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury (age 40)] was at the said window, suddenly from the said city, with a rush, came the stone of a cannon¹, which struck the window where the said count was, who, already withdrawing inside from the noise of the shot, nevertheless was struck very grievously and mortally by the said stone, and had a large part of his face carried away completely, and a gentleman who was nearby was killed outright by the same shot. For which wound of the said count, all his men generally had great sadness in their hearts, for he was greatly esteemed and loved by them, and they held him to be the most subtle, experienced, and fortunate in arms of all the other princes and captains of the kingdom of England. However, he, thus wounded, lived the space of eight days, and after he had summoned all his captains and admonished them on behalf of the King of England that they should continue to bring the city of Orleans into obedience without any dissimulation, he had himself carried to Meun, and there died after eight days from the said wound.

Et lors, luy estant à ladicte fenestre, vint soudainement de ladite cité, à volant, la pierre d'ung veuglaire¹, qui féri la fenestre où estoit ledit conte, lequel, desjà pour le bruit du cop se retiroit dedens, nient mains il fut aconsuy très griefment et mortellement de ladicte fenestre, et eut grant partie de son visage emporté tout jus, et ung gentil homme qui estoit d'alès luy fut d'ycelui cop tué tout mort. Pour laquelle bléceure dudit conte, tous ses gens généralment eurent au cuer grand tristesce, car d'eulx il estoit moult crému et amé, et le tenoit pour le plus subtil, expert et eureux en armes de tous les autres princes et capitaines du royaume d'Angleterre. Toutefois, il, ainsy blécié, vesqui l'espace de huit jours, et après ce qu'il eust mandé tous ses capitaines et à yceulx admonesté de par le roy d'Angleterre qu'ilz continuassent à mettre en obéyssance ycelle ville d'Orliens sans quelque dissimulacion, il se fist porter à Meun, et là morut au bout de huit jours de sadicte bléceure.

Note 1. veuglaire i.e. cannon. The Veuglaire, after a gun manufacturer named Vögler, was a wrought iron cannon, and part of the artillery of France in the Middle Ages.

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In his place, the general captain of the besieging English remained, the count of Suffolk, and below him the lords of Escailles and Thalabot, Lanselot of Lille, Classedas, and some others. They, notwithstanding the loss they had suffered from the above-mentioned count of Salisbury, who, as has been said, was their chief and sovereign constable, regained vigor, and by common agreement, with all diligence, prepared by all possible means to continue their siege and what they had begun. And in fact, they made bastions and fortifications in several places, within which they lodged themselves, so that they could not be surprised or invaded by their enemies.

On lieu duquel demoura général capitaine des Anglois asségans, le conte de Suffort, et au desoubz de luy les seigneurs d'Escailles et de Thalabot, Lanselot de Lille, Classedas et aulcuns autres. Lesquelx, non obstant la perte qu'ilz avoient faite du dessusdit conte de Salsebéry, qui, comme dit est, estoit leur chief et souverain connestable, reprinrent en eulx vigueur, et d'un commun accord, en toute diligence, se disposèrent par toutes voies et manières à eulx possibles de continuer leur siège, et ce qu'ilz avoient encoinmencé. Et de fait firent en plusieurs lieux bastilles et fortificacions, dedens lesquelles ilz se logèrent, adfin que de leurs ennemis ne peussent estre souspris ne envays.

Also, King Charles of France, knowing that the English, his old enemies and adversaries, wanted to subjugate and put the very noble city of Orléans in their obedience, had concluded with those of his council, before their arrival, that with all his power he would defend that city, believing that if it were placed in the hands of his enemies, it would be the total destruction of his marches and lands, and of him as well. And for that reason, he sent a large part of his best and most trustworthy captains, namely Boussac and the lord of....¹ and with them the bastard of Orléans, knight, the lords of Gaucourt and Granville, the lord of Wilan, Pothon de Sainte Treille, La Hire, sir Theolde de Walerghe, sir Loys de Waucourt and several other very valiant men renowned in arms and of great authority. With whom there were daily from twelve to fourteen hundred combatants, chosen men well experienced in arms. It often happened that there was once more, at another time less. For the siege was never closed so that those besieged could not refresh themselves with men and provisions and go about their business when it seemed good to them and they had the will to do so. During this siege, several skirmishes and sorties of those besieged against the besiegers were made. To recount each of which, who suffered loss or gain, would be too long and tiresome to write.

Item, le roy Charles de France, sachant que les Anglois, ses anciens ennemis et adversaires, vouloient subjuguer et mettre en leur obéyssance la très noble cité d'Orliens, s'estoit conclud avec ceulx de son conseil, avant la venue d'yceulx, que de tout son povoir il deffenderoit ycelle ville, créant que se elle estoit mise entre les mains de ses ennemis, ce seroit la destruction totale de ses marches et pays, et de luy aussy. Et pour tant, il envoia grand partie de ses meilleurs et plus féables capitaines, est assavoir Boussac et le seigneur de....¹ et avec eulx le bastard d'Orliens, chevalier, les seigneurs de Gaucourt et Granville, le seigneur de Wilan, Pothon de Sainte Treille, La Hire, messire Theolde de Walerghe, messire Loys de Waucourt et plusieurs autres très vaillans hommes renommés en armes et de grande auctorité. Avec lesquelz estoient journèlement de douze à quatorze cens combatans, gens d'eslite bien esprouvés en armes. Si advenoit souvent qu'il en y avoit une fois plus, l'autre fois mains. Car le siège ne fut oncques fermé pår quoy yceulx asségiés ne se peussent rafraischir de gens et de vivres et aler en leurs besongnes, quand bon leur sambloit et ilz avoient voulenté de ce faire. Durant lequel siège furent faites plusieurs escarmuches et saillies d'yceulx asségiés sur les asségans. Desquelles racompter chascune à par luy, qui y fist perte ou gaing, seroient trop longues et ennuyables à escripre.

Note 1. Here a word in blank in the manuscript 8346. Vérard puts the lord of Eu.

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But for the reports that have been made to me by some notable persons from both parties, I have not known that the said besieged in all those sorties inflicted great damage on their enemies, except by the cannons and other engines throwing from their city. Of which engines, in one of those skirmishes, a very valiant English knight and renowned in arms, named sir Lanselot de Lille, was killed.

Mais pour les rappors qui m'en ont esté fais d'aucuns notables des deux parties, n'ay point sceu que lesdiz asségiés en toutes ycelles saillies feyssent à leurs ennemis grand dommage, sinon par les canons et autres engiens getans de leur ville. Desquelx engiens, à une d'ycelles escarmuches, fut occis ung très vaillant chevalier anglois et renommé en armes, nommé messire Lanselot de Lille.