Roxburghe Club

Roxburghe Club is in Late Medieval Books.

1346 Crossing of the Somme at Blanchetaque

Roxburghe Club 1842

181. We cannot better illustrate the progress of the army to Caen and the subsequent battle at Cressy, than by the following letter of Edward himself addressed to Thomas de Lucy, giving an account of his proceedings from the landing at La Hogue; the first part indeed agrees with that addressed to the Archbishop of York, printed in the Retrospective Review, New Series, vol. I. p. 120, whilst the rest agreeing much in substance with Northbury, p. 136, as is necessarily the case in relations of the same events, has yet many variations and is dated on the previous day, it ought not therefore I think to be here omitted.

Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland, to his dear and loyal knight, Thomas Lucy, greetings. Since we know well that you would gladly hear good news from us, we let you know that we arrived safely at La Hogue near Harfleur on the 12th day of July with all our people safe and sound—thanks be to God. There we stayed to disembark our men and horses and to supply our army with provisions until the following Tuesday. On that day we moved with our host toward Valognes, and we took both the castle and the town. Then, on our route, we had a bridge at the Ouve River rebuilt, as it had been broken by our enemies, and we crossed it and took the castle and town of Carentan. From there we continued directly toward the town of Saint-Lô and found the Pont-Hébert broken to hinder our passage. We immediately had it rebuilt and took the town the next day. We then went directly to Caen without stopping since we left La Hogue, and upon our arrival at Caen, our men began an assault on the town—which was very strong and well-stocked with around 1,600 men-at-arms and 30,000 armed and able townsfolk who defended it valiantly and fiercely. The battle was fierce and lasted long, but—praise be to God—we eventually took the city by force without losing any of our own men. Among the captured were the Count of Eu, Constable of France, and the Chamberlain of Tankerville, who had been appointed Marshal of France that very day, along with about 140 other bannerets and knights and many squires and wealthy burghers. Many noble knights and gentlemen, and a great number of commoners, were killed. Meanwhile, our fleet, which remained nearby, burned and destroyed the entire coastline from Harfleur to the fosse of Colleville near Caen. They burned the town of Cherbourg and the ships in its harbor, destroying around 100 great ships and other enemy vessels, either by us or by our people. We remained at Caen for four days to refresh and provision our host, and then, being informed that our adversary had come to Rouen, we set out directly toward him. Upon hearing of our approach, he had the bridge at Rouen broken so we could not pass. At that same time, two cardinals met us at the city of Lisieux and tried to detain us under the pretense of negotiating peace to delay our progress. But we quickly told them that we would not halt our journey for such a cause, though if reasonable terms were offered, we would give a fitting reply. Upon learning the bridge at Rouen was broken, we encamped on the Seine River toward Paris, very near the city, and continued to move along the river. We found every bridge either broken, fortified, or defended, so we could in no way cross toward our said adversary. Though it troubled us much, he would not approach us, even from day to day on the opposite side of the water. When we came to Poissy, near Paris, we found the bridge there also broken. At that time, our adversary was stationed with all his host and power in the city of Paris, and he even had the Saint-Cloud bridge destroyed so that we could not pass into Paris from our side of the river. So we remained at Poissy for three days, partly in hopes he would come to give us battle, and partly to repair the bridge. Meanwhile, a large enemy force came to the other side of the water to hinder the repairs, but before the bridge was even completed, some of our men crossed on a narrow plank and defeated them, killing a great number. When we saw that our enemy would not come to give battle, we burned and devastated the surrounding countryside. Our men skirmished daily with the enemy, and by God's grace, were always victorious. We passed the bridge with our host and, to draw our enemy further into battle, we turned toward Picardy, where our men had several fine encounters with the enemy.

Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.

Crossing of the Somme at Blanchetaque

                    [24th August 1346] When we came to the River Somme, we found the bridges destroyed, so we headed toward Saint-Valery to cross at a ford, where the sea ebbs and flows. Upon our arrival there, a great number of armed men and local forces met us to defend the crossing. But we forced our way through and, by God's grace, a thousand men crossed at the ford, where before barely three or four at a time could pass. Our whole host crossed safely within one day, and our enemies were defeated. Many were captured, and a great number slain, while we lost none of our men. That same day, soon after we had crossed, our said adversary suddenly appeared on the far side of the water with a great host of men. It was so sudden that we were scarcely prepared. Therefore, we stayed where we were, took position, and waited all that day and the next until the evening. At last, when we saw he would not cross there, but turned toward Abbeville, we marched to Crécy to confront him on the other side of the forest. 
                
                    Edward par la grace de Dieu roy Dangleterre et de France et Sieur Dirland a son chier et feal chevalier Thomas Lucy, salus. Pour ceo qe nous savoms bien qe vous orret; volunters bones novelles de nous, nous fesóns savoir qe nous arrivams a la Hoge pres Harflus le dosisme jour de Juyll' darreyn passe avec touts nos gents seyns et saufs, loue en soit Dieux: et illeoqes demurasmes sur le deskippere de nos gents et chivaulx, et le vitailler de nos gents tantqe le Marsdi procheyn ensuant en quel iour nous movasmes avec notre host devers Valonges, et preims le chastel et la ville; et puys sur notre chymyn fesoms faire le pount de Ove qestoit debrise per nos enemys; et le passams, et preyms le Chastell et la ville de Carentyne. Et de illeokes nous tenismes le droit chemyn devers la vile de Saint Leo et trovasmes  le pount Herbert prez cele ville rumpu pour avoir desturbe notre passage; et nous le feismes maintenaunt refaire: et lendemayn preismes la ville; et nous adresceasmes droitment a Caen, sans nulle iour soiourner del houre qe nous departismes del Hoge tantqe a notre venu illeoqes et mayntenaunt sur nostre herbergere a Caen nos gents comencerent de doner assault a la ville qestoit mout afforce et estuffe des gents darmes environ Mill 'et sis cents, et comunes armes et defensables et aisme trent Mill, qe se defenderent moult bien et apertement si qe le melle fust trefort et longe durant, mes loue soit Dieux la ville estoit prigns par force au derreine, sauns perdre de nous gent; et y furent pris le count de Ewe conestable de Fraunce; le chamberleyne Tankervill', qestoit a la iourne escries Mareschal' de Fraunce, et des aultres banerettes et chivalers environ cent et qaraunt et des esquiers et riches Burgesses grant foison: et sont morts tou pleyn de nobles chivalers et gentils hommes, et dez communes grant noumbre. Et notre navie qest demurre devers nous a ars et destruit tout la cost de la mere de Harflue iousquez a la fosse de Coluille prez Caen; et si ount y ars la ville de Shirburgh et lez niefs en la haven et sount ars dez grant neefs et aultres veasseals des enemys, qe par nous qe par nous gens C. ou plus. Et puis demorasmes quatre jours a Caen pour vitailler et frecssher notre hoste, et de illocques, pur ce que nous esteims certifies que notre adversaire fust venu a Roen, nous prims notre chemin droitement devers lui, et maintenant quaunt il savoit il fist rumper le pount de Roen que nous ney poyms passer, et en le mesme temps nous encounterent deux cardinalx a la cite de Lyseux et safforcerount de nous tenir per coleur de traitie pour nous desturber de notre voiage; mes nous les rendismes briefment qe nous ne levroms nulle journe pour tiel cause, mez quel hour qe raison nos serroit offert nous ferroms response covenable, et, quant nos estoms enformes qe le dit pount de Roen fust rumpu, nous nous logams sur la river, devers Pariz de Sayn bien prez le dicte ville, et ainsi tenismes notre chemyn auant sur la dicte riuer et trovams tous les pounts rumpuz ou afforces et defendus, sy qe en nulle maner ne povams passer devers notre dit adversaire; ne ile que nous costea de jour en aultre de lautre parte de leau ne vouloit au nous approchier, dount ile nous peisa moulte; et quaunt nos venismes a Poscy pre; de Parys nous trovams le pount rumpue, et a doncqe notre dicte adversaire estoiet plante; ou tout son host et pouaire en la cite de Paris et sy fist baser le pount de saint Olo, qe nous ne pouems passer a Paris de celui part de leawe ou nous estoims: pour quoy nous demouraims a Posey trei; jours, taunt pour attendre notre dit adversaire en caas quil vouloit a nous doner bataille, come pour refraire le dicte pount: et endeintres que le dit pount fust en reparilant, veint ung graunt povair des ennemies de lautre part leawe pour disturber le reparailler dudicte pount, mes devant qe le dicte pount fuist refait achuns dez nos gents y passerent au paser ung plaunke et les disconfirent et occirent graunt nombre. Et, quaunt nous veismes qe notre ennemiz ne vouloit venir pour doner bataille, sy fismes arder et gaster le paiz environ. Et chan jour nous gent; affair avec les ennemis et tout fois aiant le victoire, louez ensoit Dieu, et passams le pount avec notre hoste, et pour plus attraire notre ennemie a la bataille nous nous traiams devers Picardie, ou nos gent; aiant plusers belles journes sour nous ennemis, 
                
                     ... et quaunt nous venismes a la River de Some nous ytrovasmes les pount; rumpu; per quoi nous nous traiams devers Sayn Walleri pour passer a ung gene, ou la mere foule et refoule; et a notre venu illoqes graunt nombre de; gent; desarmes et des communes nous vindrent a lencontre pour nous defendre le passage, mes nous preignons maintenant le passage sur eux a force et parmi la grace de Dieu si passerent bien mille persons a frount ou avant cez houres a payn souloient passer trois au quatre, sy que nous et tout nre host passavems savement et en ung hour de jour et nous ennemis yfurent discomfi; et plusiers pris, et sy avoit il graunt nombre des ennemiz occis a la journe saun; perdre de nous gents; et mesme le jour bien tost aprez ce que nous estoms passer le eawe se monstra del autre part leau notre dicte adversaire ou graunt povair des gents si soudainement, qe nous nescoms de rien garnes pour quoy nous ydemouraims et preins notre place et attendans tout le jour et lendemain tantqe al hour de vespre, et au darain quant nous voiams qil ne vouloit illoques passer mes se tourna devers Abbevill, nous nous traams devers Crescy pour lui en contrer de lautre parte de la fforest,

Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.

Battle of Crécy

Saturday, the 26th of August [1346], when we reached Crécy, our enemy appeared very near us around the third hour, with a great number of men—more than 12,000 men-at-arms, including 8,000 knights and squires of noble birth. We formed our battle lines and waited on foot until just before vespers, when the armies engaged on open ground. The battle was fierce and long, lasting from just before vespers until nightfall. The enemy fought nobly and reformed many times. But—thanks be to God—they were defeated, and our adversary fled. Among the dead were: the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, the Duke of Lorraine, the Archbishop of Rouen, the Bishop of Noyon, the High Prior of the Hospital in France, the Abbot of Corbeil, the Count of Alençon, the Count of Flanders, the Count of Blois, the Count of Harcourt and his son, the Count of Sancerre, the Count of Montbéliard, the Count of Grandpré, the Viscount of Melun, the Viscount of Coucy, the Lord of Risenberg, the Lord of Morel, the Lord of Cayeux, the Lord of Savenay, and many other counts, barons, and great lords, too numerous to name. More than 1,500 knights and squires were killed in the initial clash alone, not to mention others killed throughout the field. After the battle, we remained there all night rejoicing, without food or drink. The next morning, the pursuit continued, during which around 4,000 more enemy troops were killed—including knights, nobles, and other men-at-arms. Our said adversary, after his defeat, withdrew to Amiens, where he had many of his own generals killed, saying they had betrayed him. It is said he is now gathering a new army to engage us again, but we firmly trust in God's grace, which has helped us thus far. We have now moved toward the sea to be refreshed with reinforcements from England, including men-at-arms, artillery, and other necessary things. For this campaign we have waged has been long and constant, yet we do not intend to depart from the kingdom of France until we have, with God's help, brought this war to a conclusion. Given under our privy seal before Calais, the 3rd day of September [1346], in the 20th year of our reign in England.

et le Samady le xxvj. jour Daugust a notre venu a Cresci notre ennemi se monstra bien pres de nous a hour de tirce ou grant nombre de gents, car il avoit plus de xij mille des hommes darmes, desquelx viij mille furent de gentil gent; chevaliers et eschuiers; et maintenaunt nous arraimez nos batailles et ensi attendimes au pee tantque un pou devant hour de vespere, a quel hour lez batailles se assemblerent en plain champ: et estoient le bataillez trop fort et longement duraunt quar il deurra de deuant hour de vespre tantqe a soire, et les ennemis se porterount moult noblement, et moult sovent se relierent, ayez loiez en soit dieux ils furent discomfis et notre adversaire se mist au fuite et yfurent morts le roy de Beame, Le roy de Maylocre, Le duc de Lorraigne, Larchevesqe de Jaunx, l'Evesqe de Noron, Le hault Priour del Hospital de ffraunce, l'Abbe de Corbell, le counte de Alounzone, le counte de Flaundres, le counte de Bloys, le counte de Harcourt et son ffits, le counte de Saumes, le counte Danser, le count de Mutbiliart, le count de Grauntpree, le viscount de Meloigne, le viscount de Coarci, le sieur de Risenbergh, le sieur de Morel, le sieur de Kayen, le sieur de Savenant, et tut playn des aultres Comites et Barons et aultrez graunt sieurs, dont homme ne puest savoir les nomes encore; et morerent en ung petit place ou la primer assemble estoiet plus de mille et v. chivalers et esquiers estre tout plaine des aultres si que mourrerent apres de tout pars du champ. Et apres la discomfiture nous y demourrames tout le nut joien saunz boire et mangier, et le demain matin fust le chace fait, en quel furent occiz bien iiij. mille qe de gent; darmes qe de genereiz et aultres gents darmes. Et notre dit adversaire apres la discomfiture se trait devers Amyas ou il fait tuer grant nombre de ses genenors, et dit quilz lui traierent a sa besoigne. Et homme dit quil a fait assembler son povair de nouel pour nous doner autrefois bataille, et si fioms bien en dieu q'il continuera deuers nos sa grace en maner comme il a fait tantqe enca. Et si soums ore trait devers la mere pour estre refresshe hors Dangleterre, si bien des gent; darmes comme d'artillery et aultres choses besoignables, car le journee qe nos avons faite a este bien loigne et continuel; mez toutefois nous ne pensoms a departier du royaume de ffraunce tantqe eyoms fait fyne de notre gerr en laide de Dieu. Dom sobs nre prive seel devant Calais, le iij Jour, de Sept. lan de nre reigned Dangletiere vintisme & c.

Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.

                    The following copy of a letter from Sir Bartholomew Burghersh to Sir John Montagu upon the result of the action at Poitiers, from a MS. written but a very few years after the battle, is valuable as throwing great light on those lists already furnished by the Black Prince himself, printed by Sir Harris Nicolas at the end of the Chronicle of London, and Robert of Avesbury: 
                
                    It is to be remembered that the Prince departed from Bordeaux the day after the feast of Saint John (i.e., June 25), in the year of our Lord 1356. He passed through Agenais, Limousin, Auvergne, and Berry, and came to the Loire River near Nevers, which marks the entrance to Berrichon [territory], with the aim of crossing into France. But most of the bridges were broken, so he could not cross. And throughout the whole route he found no resistance in advance, until he came to a castle called Romorantin, which lies in Berry. Before arriving there, he had already taken six score (120) men-at-arms. Inside that castle were the Lord of Craon—one of the great lords of France—and Monsieur de Boucicaut, with fifty men-at-arms. The Prince laid siege to the castle for eight days, and on the first day took the entire lower part of the fortress except for one large tower. He also captured forty men-at-arms, and the Lord of Craon and Boucicaut took refuge inside the tower. By means of fire, mining, and siege engines, they were compelled to surrender as prisoners. Later, the Prince came before the city of Tours, where was found the Count of Poitiers, son of the King of France, along with a great force of men. The Prince remained there for four days, and no one from the city dared to come out. On the following Saturday, the Prince arrived at a castle called Chauvigny in Poitou, where the King of France had slept the night before. There were taken the Count of Auxerre, the Count of Joinville, and the Marshal of Burgundy, who had come to join the French host. At that place, 240 men-at-arms were killed or captured. On the following Monday, the 19th of September, the two armies assembled near Poitiers, about a league apart. In that battle were taken: the King of France, Monsieur Philip, his younger son, Count of Poitiers, the Count of Pontieux, Monsieur James de Bourbon, the Count of Eu, the Count of Aubervilliers, the Count of Tankerville, the Count of Ventadour, the Count of Sancerre, the Count of Vendôme and his brother, the Count of Roucy, the Count of Vendremes, the Count of Donmartin, the Count of Nevers, the Archbishop of Sens, the Châtelain of Compiègne, the Marshal of Audenham, Monsieur Guichard d'Angle, Monsieur Maurice Maugnet, captain of Poitiers, the Lord of la Tour, the Lord of Derval, the Lord of Creux and his brother, the Lord of Villehernault, the Lord of Maungeler, Monsieur Arnaud de Montverain, Monsieur Jean de Blanque, the Lord of Daubeney, the Lord of Sully, the Count of Dainseur, the Viscount of Narbonne. In total, 2,500 people were taken prisoner, among whom 2,000 were men-at-arms. Of the Dead: at that same battle, the following were slain: the Duke of Bourbon, Monsieur Robert de Duras, of the royal blood of France, the Duke of Athens, Constable of France, the Archbishop of Châlons, the Marshal of Clermont, the Viscount of Bourges, the Viscount of Rochechouart, Monsieur Renaud de Pons, Monsieur Geoffrey de Charny, Monsieur Geoffrey de Mathas. And besides them, 2,800 men were killed, among whom 2,000 were men-at-arms. Also among the dead and the living were 1,000 knights who bore banners and pennons. Army Numbers: The King of France had with him that day 8,000 men-at-arms and 3,000 foot soldiers. The Prince of Wales had that day 3,000 men-at-arms, 2,000 archers, and 1,000 servants. 
                
                    This is the full copy of the letter that Monsieur Bartholomew Burghersh sent to Monsieur John Beauchamp, by Sir John de Colunsbergh, prisoner of the said Bartholomew.
                
                    At the battle, the Prince was not accompanied by a full army but by only sixty men, of whom forty were men-at-arms.
                
                    Fait a remembre qe le Prince se parti de Burdeux lendemayn de saynt Johan en Auguste, lan de nostre Seignur MCCCLVI, chiuacha par Agenes Limosyn, Aluern et Beryn et sur la riuer de Leyre de Niuers qest lentre de Beryndun, parce tanqe a la cite de Tours pur passer en Fraunce, mestouts les pountz furent rumputs issuit qil ne poit passer. Et tut le chymyn il ne troua reste auance, tanqe il vient a vne chastelle appellis Reuerentyne, qest en Birun, et deuaunt ceo qil vient illoqes si auoit pris VI.XX. hommes darmes, et deyns le dit chastelle furent le seignoures de Crone, vn de graunt seignoures de Fraunce, et mons. Bussigande oue L. hommes darmes; et monsieur le Prince ad sege le dit chastel per VIIJ jours et li primer jour prit tote le force du dit chastel fors pris vn grose tour et auxi prist XL hommes darmes, et le dit seignour de Crone et Bussigande se mysterent deyns le dit tour et per force de feu et demyne et dengyne il se renderent prisoners. Item le Prince demorra deuaunt le dit cite de Tours ou fuist le count de Poyters, filt; a roi de Fraunce, ou lagraunt power de gents par IIIJ joures et nule de la dit cite nosast isser. Item le samadi procheyn ensuaunt vient le dit Prince a vn chastelle appellis Chabutorie en Peytowe, la ou le roy de Fraunce auoit cuche le nut deuaunt, et la furent priste count de Assure lecounte de Junye e le marschalle de Burgoyne, qe veignent al host le roi du Fraunce e la furent morts et pris CCXL hommes darmes. Item le lundi prochein ensuaunt le XIX jour de Septembre li assemblerent les baitalls dun part e dautre de cost Poiters a un di leu, e la furent pris le roi de Fraunce; monsieur Philippe son fitz puisne count de Payters; le count de Pountif; mons. Jakes de Burbonnie; le count de Ewe; le count de Aubeville; le count de Tankerville; le count de Ventadourun; le count de Salbirys; le count de Vendoue et son frer; le count de Russi; le count de Vendemende; le count de lan martyn; le count de Nesson; lersceuesqe de Seynes; le chastelayne de Compost; le marschal de Oudenham; mons. Quichard de Arats; mons. Morir Maynet captayne de Poyters; le seignour de la Toure; le seignour Derualle; le seignour de Crew, e son frer; le seign. Vilehernalde; le seign. de Maugeler; mons. Arnald de Mounteuerye; mons. Johan de Blaunk; le seign. Daubeney; le seign. de Sully; le count Dansor; le viscount de Nerboun; et outre ceo furent pris IJ mille VC persones des queux furent IJ mille hommes darmes. Des morts. Item a mesme le bataille furent morts le duke de Burboun, mons. Robert Durasce, del Saunt de France; le duk Dathenes, conestable de Fraunce; Lercevesqe de Chalouns; le marschal de Clermound; le viscount de Boures; le viscount de Richohardus; mons. Raynald de Pount; mons. Geffray Charny; mons. Geffrey Matas; et outre ceo furent mort; IJ mille et VIIJ cent persones, des queux furent IJ milles hommes darmes. Item des auant dit; morts et viuetz fuerent mille chiualers qe porters baners et poynouns. Item le roy de Fraunce auoit ala journe VIIJ mille hommes darmes et IIJ milles hommes a pie, et le Prince auoit a la dit journe IIJ mille hommes darmes IJ milles archers et mille seruaunce. Item ceste tote le copie de la letter qe mons. Berthilmew Burwas enuoia a mons. Johanne Beauchamp, par sir John de Collandesbergh prison a dite Bertilmew. Item le dit Prince ne paroit a la journe de toet maner de gents mes LX persones des queus furent IIJJ hommes darmes.

Become a Member via our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to read complete text.