Battle of Verneuil

Chronicle of Jean de Waurin. 17th August 1424. Now then to return to our narrative, the duke of Bedford and his princes seeing their enemies who were there quietly waiting for them all arranged in one body rode a little forward; then when they were near enough in the opinion of the leaders of the expedition, it was ordered on the part of the lord regent, upon pain of death, that every one should dismount, and that all archers should be furnished with sharpened stakes to set before them, according to the English fashion when it should come to the attack and conflict, which command was accomplished as it was ordered; then it was proclaimed on the part of the king of France and England that all the horses should be coupled and fastened together, with the pages and varlets on their backs, and the waggons somewhat toward the flank, notwithstanding that there were scarcely any except those which were loaded with victuals, and some little artillery; and there were appointed to guard the baggage and horses two thousand archers, in order that their army might not be attacked in the rear or thrown into any confusion; then after these regulations were thus made, the English, raising a great shout, began to march and go forward in good order, the archers on the two wings. And on the other side the French, who had been aware since the evening before that they would be fought on the morrow, when the day had come and they knew in truth that the English were drawing near them, whom they perceived from afar by the dust raised by the men and horses; and also were assured thereof by their spies and skirmishers, whom they had on the plains; immediately and without delay put themselves in order for fighting without forming vanguard or rearguard, but placed themselves all together in one large body, except that they appointed a certain number of horsemen, the greater part of whom were Lombards and the others Gascons, whose guides and leaders were Le Borgne Quaquetan, sir Theaulde de Valpergue, and some other Gascon captains, such as La Hire, Pothon, and others, and this for the purpose of dashing into their enemies in the rear, either right through them or otherwise, so as to their greatest advantage they might be able to do them damage; and the rest, all on foot, arranged themselves, as has been said, in a single body; then they began to march very proudly against their enemies, their lances lowered; which attitude being seen by the English, they rushed very vigorously upon them. At the onset there was a great noise and great shouting with tumultuous sounds of the trumpets and clarions; the one side cried, " Saint Denis! " and the others " Saint George! " And so horrible was the shouting that there was no man so brave or confident that he was not in fear of death; they began to strike with axes and to thrust with lances, then they put their hands to their swords, with which they gave each other great blows and deadly strokes; the archers of England and the Scots who were with the French began to shoot one against the other so murderously that it was a horror to look upon them, for they carried death to those whom they struck with full force. After the shooting, the opponents attacked each othervery furiously, hand to hand; and this battle was on a Thursday, the seventeenth^ day of August, commencing about two hours after noon. But you should know that before the attack many new knights were made, both on the one side and on the other, who valiantly approved themselves that day. Many a capture and many a rescue was made there, and many a drop of blood shed, which was a great horror and irreparable pity to see Christian people so destroy one another, for during this pitiable and deadly battle mercy had no place there, so much did the parties hate each other: the blood of the slain stretched upon the ground, and that of the wounded, ran in great streams about the field. This battle lasted about three-quarters of an hour, very terrible and sanguinary, and it was not then in the memory of man to have seen two parties so mighty for such a space of time in like manner fight without being able to perceive to whom the loss or victory would turn. Thus the two parties fought with all their might, each striving to conquer his enemy. The French, who as I have said had been appointed before the battle to remain on horseback to attack the English in the rear, or in flank, in order to break their ranks and to throw them into disorder, came to attack at this part, thinking to enter there without resistance, making a very great uproar, but they found there barriers and opposition, that is to say, the waggons and the horses of their enemies coupled together by the halters and by the tails, and they also found there two thousand stalwart archers, who received them vigorously and put them to flight; and the said French made there no other profit than to snatch up what they were able to take, such as some baggage and horses, killing the pages and varlets who were mounted on them and guarded them. Just at this time the battle was very fell and bloody, so that there was no one wdio did not try to the utmost his valour and his strength; and I the author know truly that that day the earl of Salisbury sustained the greatest brunt, notwithstanding that he wavered greatly and had very much to do to maintain his position, and certainly if it had not been for the skill and great valour and conduct of his single person in the midst of the valiant men who fought under his banner after his example very vigorously, there is no doubt that the matter, which was in great uncertainty, would have gone very badly for the English, for never in all this war did the French fight more valiantly. Elsewhere, the duke of Bedford, as I hear related, for I could not see or comprehend the whole since I was sufficiently occupied in defending myself, did that day wonderful feats of arms, and killed many a man, for with an axe which he held in his two hands he reached no one whom he did not punish,since he was large in body and stout in limb, wise and brave in arms; but he was very greatly harassed by the Scots, especially by the earl of Douglas and his troop, insomuch that one knew not what to think nor to imagine how the affair would terminate, for the French, who had more men by one-half than the English, fought only to conquer; and they applied themselves vigorously to the work, and I believe truly that if it had not been for the misfortune and ill adventure which was about to happen to them, the English would not have been able to withstand them or to endure so long; but according to what I can understand, and I have also since heard many of this opinion about it, the two thousand English archers, who as was said had repulsed the French cavalry whose chief was Le Borgne Kaquetan^ a Lombard knight, when they saw their enemies flee, gathered strength, and were a great cause of the victory; for seeing the conflict so decided, they, fresh and new as they were, raising a wonderful shout, came wheeling round and put themselves in the front before their army, where at their coming they began to inflict great chastisement on the French, who were much wearied with fighting, wherefore, much amazed at this new incident, they began a little to lose heart and to fall back; and on the contrary the English seeing that now was the time for it, exerted themselves, all at once recovering strength, and fought so well that in many places they broke through the line of the French with this onslaught, and thrust themselves in, crying aloud, " Saint George! " beginning to kill and cruelly put to death all those whom they were able to overtake, without having smy pity; which thing was not done without great effusion of blood. Then the French began to be dismayed, losing altogether the hope of victory which a little while before they thought was in their hands, but each one of them sought a place where YiQ could save himself, taking flight as best he might, and abandoning the rest; some drew towards the town and others took the fields; and the English, who pursued them with great difficulty, put to death especially those who took the road towards the town, for the French, who were within, would not open the gate for the fear they had lest the English, their enemies, should enter in with the fugitives; so there were many of them who threw themselves into the moats to save themselves, where there was a great slaughter of those who were striving to put themselves in safety. Finally, the English pursued the French so, that they obtained the complete victory on that day and gained the battle, but not without great effusion of their own blood. And it was known for certain by the officers of arms, heralds, pursuivants and other persons worthy of credence that there died there of the French party more than six thousand men, and the greater part men distinguished in arms, of whom there were a great number of Scots; and about two hundred [were] prisoners; and of the English party there died about sixteen hundred combatants, as well of the nation of England as of Normandy, the principal captains of whorn were named, the one Dudley, and the other Charlton. • And on the side of the French there were slain of men of note the following, that is to say, John count of Aumale son to the count of Harcourt; the count of Tonnoirre; the count of Ventadour; the earl of Douglas, a Scot, and sir James, his son; the earl of Buchan, who at that time was constable of France for king Charles; the count of Maroy; the old lord of Graville; the lord of Montenay; sir Anthony de Beausault and Hugh de Beausault, his brother, and the sire de Belloy, with one of his brothers; the lord of Mauny; the lord of Combrest; the lord of Fontenay; the lord of Brimeu; the lord of Thumble; the lord of Pressy in Dosme; the lord of Marche; the lord of Ramibelle in Languedoc; sir Walter Lindsay; sir Giles de Gamaches; Geoffrey de Mallestrem; James Douglas; sir Charles de Booini; sir John de Bretasse; Giles Martel; the younger Harpedaine; sir Brunet d'Auvergne; sir Ralph de la Treille; Guy de Fourchonniere; sir Pothard de Vyane; sir John Murat; the lord of Bertois; sir Charles de Gerasmes; Dragon de La Salle; the lord of Romboulet; the bastard of Langlam, the viscount of Narbonne who, lying dead among the others, by order and command of the duke of Bedford was taken and quartered, and his body hanged on the gibbet, for the treason that he had done in having been consenting to, and one of the actors in putting to death dul^e John of Burgundy, deceased; there died moreover Mondet de Narbonne; sir Francis de Gaugeaulz; sir Robert de Loirre; sir Louis de Troyes; the lord of Fourigny; Morant de la Motte; sir Carlot d'Amenat and Robinet, his brother; Peter de Courcelles; sir Andrew de la Greseille; sir Andrew de Clermont; Gabriel du Boscage; sir Tristran Coignon; Collinet Le Visconte; William Remon; sir Louis de Champaigne; Peron Du Lupel; sire Louis de Braquemont; the lord of Tygnonville; the lord of Rochebaron; sir Philip de la Tour; sir Antisselin de la Tour, and many others whose names I know not. And now, since I have spoken of the dead on the side of the French, I will mention a part of the prisoners who were taken in this battle, at least the principal ones: first, the duke of Alençon the bastard of Alen^on; the lord of La Fayette; the lord of Homet; sir Peter de Herison; sir Louis de Wancourt; the lord of Guitry; Rogelet Treset; Hugh de Saint Marc; Yvon du Puch, and many other noble men.

Liber Pluscardensis Chapter 129. 17th August 1424. With the French war thus arranged, the English also organized themselves into three similar battle lines: in the first was the Earl of Salisbury, in the second Duke John of Bedford (age 35), and in the third were the French, Burgundians, and foreigners. The Scots first attacked the vanguard of the English, where the Earl of Salisbury was, inflicted great slaughter on them, and astonishingly repelled them by capturing some, killing others, and dispersing others, forcing them to flee up to the second line or battle formation. Seeing this, the Lombards, Alemanni, and Gascons, who were armed both on horseback and in body, all being cavalrymen and unwilling to dismount, thinking that the victory was leaning towards the French, began to charge over the baggage behind the rearguard; because they were arranged like a flying wing, to come to the aid of others in times of need. And indeed, in the first assault, they charged the English archers and breaking their formation, with others coming upon them, made a way to enter; and proceeding to plunder afterwards, because of their fear, others turned to flight and regrouped at the battle of Duke Bedford. Thus, the English lords, reinvigorated by their arrival, calling for a new battle, gathered together into one mass and charged into the battle lines of the French and Scots, returning to those among them, as has been said before, who were wickedly divided and in their battle exposed.

Gallicorum bello sic ordinato, Anglici in tribus similiter aciebus bellicis se ordinaverunt: in quarum prima erat comes de Salisbery, in secunda dux Johannes Bedfordise, in tercia Gallici, Burgundienses et extranei. Scoti autem primo in wangardiam Anglorum, ubi erat comes de Salisbery, irruerunt, maximam stragem in eos fecerunt, ac de eisdem quosdam prsecip[it]ando, quosdam occidendo, quosdam fugando, mirabiliter repulserunt, et ad fugam compulserunt usque ad secundum bellum sive aciem belli. Quod videntes Longobardi et Allemanii et Gasconici, qui erant armati tam in equis quam in corporibus, qui omnes equestres erant, nolentes in pedibus discendere, putantes victoriam Gallicis cedere, super baggacium cœperunt infundere post reregardiam; quia ipsi tanquam ala volans, ad succurrendum in tempore necessitatis aliis, ordinati erant. Et de facto in primo impetu super Anglorum architenentes irruerunt, et eorum ordinem dirumpentes, aliis supervenientibus, locum intrandi fecerunt; et ad spolia postea procedentes, ob eorem timorem alii in fugam conversi ad bellum ducis Bedfordise se recolligentes ju[n]xerunt. Et sic domini Anglorum eorum adventu reanimati, ad novum bellum proclamantes, in unam massam congregati sunt, et in aciem belli Francorum et Scotorum irruerunt, revertentes qui inter eos, ut præmissum est, nequiter divisi erant et in eorum bellum fenestrati.

Chronicle of Charles VII of France Volume 1 Chapter 12. 17th August 1424. And on a Thursday morning, after mid-August, the said Duke of Alençon, Earl Douglas, and others previously named took to the fields, arranged themselves in formation and battle quite close to the town of Verneuil, and positioned cavalry on both sides of their lines. Soon after, the Duke of Bedford (age 35), the Earl of Salisbury, and the Earl of Suffolk, with a very large army, dismounted and formed up in battle before the said Duke of Alençon and other French forces, and the said two armies marched against each other; and when they were within archers' range of each other, the cavalry charged at the English, who were positioned on either side, as it was said, with four to five hundred lances of Lombards, who struck more at the baggage and wagons than at the archers, which was their principal target; and the other company on the other side, who were about two hundred lances, charged directly at the archers on their side, who were numbered at three thousand, along with two hundred lances, all of whom were routed by the said cavalry; and the cavalry believed that the entire battle was won for the French, because they had performed well and executed what they were charged with.

Et ung jeusdi matin, après la my aoust, se mirent aux champs, les ditz duc d'Alençon et conte Duglatz et autres dessus nommez, et se mirent en ordonnance et en bataille assés près de la ville de Vernoil, et ordonnèrent gens à cheval aux deux costés de leurs batailles, et tantost après vint le duc de Bethefort, le conte de Sallebry, le conte de Suffort, à bien grant armée dessendre à pié, et se mirent en bataille devant icelluy duc d'Alençon et autres François, et marchèrent les dites aeux batailles les unes contre les autres; et quant ilz furent aprouchez du trait des archers les ungz des autres, les gens à cheval pour ferir sur les Angloiz, lesquelz estoient d'un costé et d'autre, ainssy c'om disoit, de quatre à cinq cens lances de Lombars, lesquelz férirent plus sur le baigaige et charroy qu'ilz ne firent sur les archers, qui estoit leur principalle charge; et l'autre compaignie de l'autre costé, qui estoient environ deux cens lances, férirent tout droit sur les archiers de leur costé, lesquelz archiers l'on nombroit à trois mille, avec deux cens lances, lesquelz furent tous desconfilz par iceulx gens à cheval; et cuidoient iceulx gens à cheval que toute la bataille fust gaignié pour les François, pour ce qu'ilz avoient bien fait et exécuté ce dont ilz avoient la charge.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. 17th August 1424. However, in the year —— of this king, there was a battle at Verneuil in Perche between John, Duke of Bedford (age 35), regent of France, and the French and Scots. With the said duke were the Earl of Salisbury (age 36), the Earl of Suffolk (age 27), Lord Willoughby, Lord Scales, Lord Poynings, and William Oldhall with the retinue of the Duke of Exeter, then infirm. In this battle on the French side, the Duke of Alençon was captured; the bastard of Alençon, the Count of Nevers, and the Count of Marle were indeed killed. On the Scottish side, Archibald, Earl of Douglas (age 52), the Earl of Buchan (age 43), the Earl of Mar, the Earl of Moray, James Douglas, son of the said earl, Sir Alexander Lindsay; William Douglas of Drumlanrig, Matthew Pork, Hugh Orth, knights, and many others, both French and Scots, were killed in that battle and in the flight, to the number of 7,000 and more. Later, in the ditches of the said town, it is said, 4,000 were found drowned. And for all these things, always give thanks to God.

Anno autem —— hujus regis fuit prelium apud Vernoll in Perche inter Johannem ducem Bedfordie regentem Francie et Francos ac Scottos. Ubi cum dicto duce fuerunt Comes Sarum, Comes Southfok, deminus Wylughby, dominus Scales, dominus Ponynges, Willelmus Oldale cum retinencia ducis Exonie tunc infirmi. Et in dicto bello ex parte Francorum captus est dux de Launson[..]; occisi vero sunt ibidem bastardus de Launson, Comes de Navern et Comes de Marrebon[..]. Ex parte autem Scottorum perempti sunt Archibaldus Comes de Douglasse, Comes de Boghan, Comes de Marre, Comes de Murrey, Jacobus Douglas filius dicti comitis, Alexander Lyndesey miles; Willelmus Douglas de Danlanryk, Matheus Pork, Hugo Orth, milites, et alii quam plures, tam de Francis quam de Scottis in ipso bello et fuga ad numerum vij ml et ultra. Postea vero in foveis dicte ville inventa sunt, ut dicitur, iiij ml submersa. Et super his omnibus semper Deo gratias.

Polydore Vergil. 17th August 1424. 5. At this time Charles (age 21) was staying at Tours, and aware of this business from the start, did not appear to be much concerned. Rather, relying partly on the nature of the place, and partly on the strength of his followers, he only gathered sufficient forces to fight the enemy on equal terms. Therefore, when he had assembled a larger army, he sent Duke John of Alençon (age 15) to assist his subjects, and he ordered him not to shrink from a battle, should the situation require it. The Duke departed quickly, and before approaching the place he learned of the castle's surrender, and then, obliged by necessity to change his route, he went to Verneuil and stormed it, killing a goodly part of the English garrison. And he was soon given this town, defended by great works, because he had long insisted it should be part of his domain. When this was reported to Bedford (age 35), with no hesitation he marched to Verneuil in battle array, and in the same way approached the enemy camp. For a very little while the French were terrified by their enemies' approach, and debated what should be done. Almost all were of the opinion that they should wait in the camp until the enemy's intention was clearer. For they were mindful of all the times they had previously been defeated whenever they engaged the English, and so were not unwilling to delay coming to blows. But when they saw the enemy battle-line drawing closer and closer, their spirits surged and, howling and chanting as was their habit, they took up arms and stationed themselves before the camp. The battle was begun with missiles, but they immediately abandoned these and came together, drawing their swords and running at each other with a great shout. They fought strenuously and continually, and on such even terms that one could not easily tell which way the battle was inclining, with many men falling on both sides. Their outcries were similar, as also the manner of their fighting. Wherever danger threatened the most. there they more earnestly strove to resist and repel, and so the fight dragged on for more than four hours, and the outcome was still uncertain. Meanwhile the Duke of Alençon did not desist in both beseeching and exhorting his soldiers not to flag, nor to allow the enemy, now falling back, to conquer. And Bedford himself also went around everywhere, exhorted, renewed the fight at every point. And when in the end he appreciated that the French were exhausted by their effort and heat (for it is the nature of the French, that they cannot tolerate the effort of a long battle, because for the sake of inspiring fear they expend more of their strength at the beginning of a fight, but cannot maintain it thereafter) and were pressing less than usual, then at length he attacked the enemy with might and main, and those who followed him assaulted with such an onslaught that they first budged the enemy from his place, and then drove them headlong. In that battle 5,000 Frenchmen died, together with Buchan (age 43) the Marshal of France and the Scotsman John Stuart (age 44), whom I have shown above to have come in aid of Charles, and more than ten French captains About 200 were captured, including Duke John of Alençon. On the English side 2,000 died, partly foot and partly horse. This defeat was suffered by the French in the year of human salvation 1424, the third year of Henry's reign.

Journal d'un Bourgeois de Paris. 17th August 1424. Then there was no more discussion, the two armies came against each other, [and began to strike and hammer each other] with all manner of war armaments imaginable, whether projectiles or otherwise. There you would have heard so many sorrowful cries and complaints, so many men falling to the ground, never to rise again, one chasing, another fleeing, one dead on top, another lying on the ground gaping, so much Christian blood spilled, who had never seen each other alive before, and yet they came to kill each other over a little bit of money they expected to gain. The battle was very cruel, and it was not clear who had the upper hand. The Armagnacs had great trust in the Lombards they had arranged to come from behind to break the regent of France's line, but they never dared to do so when they saw the barrier of horses behind. It mattered little to them who won or lost, as long as they got some loot; they killed the poor squires and pages who were on the horses, and lost heart to assist their men, and took all the good horses and everything that was packed on them, and thus they fled never to return to their country; thus they left shamefully like cowards and covetous men.

405. Le régent tout asseuré leur manda que tant de foys avoient leur foy mentie, que jamais on ne les devoit croire, et que bien sceussent que à lui jamais n'auroient traicté ne paix, tant qu'il les eust combatus. Adonq il n'y ot plus parlé, les deux osts vindrent l'un contre l'autre, [et commencèrent à frapper et mallier l'un sur l'autre] de toutes manières d'armeures" de guerre que on peust pancer, de traict ou d'autre chose. Là eussiez ouy tant doloreux criz et plaintes, tant hommes cheoir à terre, que puis n'en relevèrent, l'un chacer, l'autre fouir, l'un mort sus, l'autre gésir à terre gueulle baiée, tant sanc espandu de chrestiens, qui oncques n'avoieni veu en leur vivant Pun l'autre, et si venoient ainsi tuer l'un l'autre pour ung pou de pecune qu'ilz en attendoient à avoir. La bataille fut moult cruelle, que on nesavoit qui en avoit le meilleur. Les Arminalx avoient grant fiance aux Lombars qu'ilz avoient ordonnez [de] venir par derrière rompre la bataille du régent de France, lesquelx n'osèrent oncques ce faire quant ilz virent la haye des chevaulx qui par derrière estoit. Si ne leur fut à gueres qui gaignast ou perdist, mais qu'ilz eussent du pillaige; si tuèrent les pouvres varletz et paiges qui dessus les chevaulx estoient, et orent le cueur failli de aider à leur gent, et prindrent tous les bons chevaulx et tout ce qui dessus estoit troussé, et ainsi s'en fouirent sans plus revenir vers leur pais; ainsi s'en allèrent honteusement comme couars et convoiteus.

Hall's Chronicle. 17th August 1424. This army royal approched within, ii. miles of Yury and sent. xl. light horsmen to view and espy both the nomber and conduit of the Englishmen. These spyes came very nere to the siege and wer espied and chased to their companions againe, and declared all what they had seen and perceiued. The duke of Alanson seyng that he could not gette any auantage of the Englishemen (although the Dolphyn had geuen hym in straight commaundement to fight with the-regent) whether his heart fayled or he thought to wayte a more fortunate season for his purpose and enterprise, retired backe with his whole army to the toune of Vernoyle in Perche whiche belonged to the kyng of England, & sent word to the garison of that toune that they had discomfited & slaine al the Englishe army and that the regent with a small nomber by swyftnes of his horse had saued him selfe. The inhabitantes of Vernoyle geuyng to light credit to the Frenche fablers, receiued the duke of Alanson with al his army into the toune & submitted themselues to him. Whiche toune he desyred to haue of the gift of the dolphin as his owne inheritance & lawful patrimony. Now approched the day of rescous of Yury, which was the day of our Lady the Assumpcion, at which day no rescous appeared to sir Gerrard de la Pallier captain of the castle, whiche beyng in dispayre of all ayde and comforte, presented the keys to the duke of Bedford (age 35) & shewed him a letter signed & sealed with the handes of xviii. great lordes which the day before promised to geue the duke battaile and to dissolue the siege and raise the assault: Well sayd the duke, if their heartes would haue serued, their puissaunce was sufficient ones to haue profered or to haue performed this faithful promise. But syth they disdaine to seke me, God and saint George willyng I shal not desist to folowe the tractes of their horses tyl one part of vs be by battail ouerthrowen: and so he gaue a safe conduyte to the capitaine and other which wold depart, but many of the Britons within the castle of Yury seyng the faint heartes and the false promises of the flatteryng Frenchmen submitted them selues to the lorde regent and sware to be true to the kyng and him, whom he gentely accepted and put them in wages. Then he furnished the castle and toune with a newe garrison, and incotinent he sent the earle of Suffolke with. vi. C. [600] horses to espy wher the Frenchemen were lodged, whiche passed by Dampeuile, and came to Bretnel wher he beared newes that the Frenchmen had taken Vernoile in Perche & were there yet abidyng, wherof with all diligent celerite he sent worde to the duke of Bedford, which not mindyng to lese his long desired pray set forward in great hast toward his enemies. The Frenchmen hearyng of his comyng set their people in array and made all one maine battaile without forwarder rereward, & appointed certaine Lubardes and horsmen to breake the array of the Englishemen either behynd or at the sides, wherof was capitaine sir Stephyn Venoylcs called the hire. The duke of Bedford not ignorant howe to ordre his men, made likewise oneentier battaile & suffered no man to be on horsebacke, and set the archers (euery one hauyng a sharpe stake) bothe in the front of the battaile and on the sydes like wynges, and behvnd the battaile were the pages with the chariottes and cariages, and all the horses were tyed together either with the reines of their bridles or by the tayles, to thentent that their enemies should not sodainely surprise or disturbe them on the backe behynd: and for to defend the carriages wer appointed two thousand archers. The Frenchmen at the fyrst sight remembryng how often times in piched feldes they had bene ouercome and vanquished of the Englishe nacion, began somewhat to feare, but when they sawe no remedy but to fight, they toke good courage to the and set softely forwarde. In whiche marchyng the Duke of Alaunson, sittyng on horsebacke saied to his capitaines.