THE EARL OF DORSET, GOVERNOR OF HARFLEUR, MAKES AN INCURSION INTO THE COUNTRY OF CAUX, AND IS COMBATED BY THE FRENCH.—THE EMPEROR CREATES THE COUNT OF SAVOY A DUKE.
AT this same time, the earl of Dorset, who commanded in Harfleur, one day marched three thousand english combatants toward Rouen, and thence made a circuit through the country of Caux, where he remained three days, doing great mischief with fire and sword. In the mean time, the garrisons and nobles of those parts collected together under the lord de Villequier, to the amount of three thousand men also, and met the English near to Valmont, who instantly attacked them; but the French defended themselves so valiantly, the English were defeated, and eight hundred left on the field of battle. The remainder retreated with the earl into a garden, surrounded by a strong hedge of thorns, and therein continued the rest of the day, without the French being able to gain further advantage over them, although they took much pains.
In the evening, the French retired to a village hard by, to refresh themselves; but the earl of Dorset, doubtful of the event on the morrow, marched out of the garden with his men about day-break, and pushed forward to Harfleur. The French, perceiving this, pursued them, and overtook them in the marshes, about two leagues from that town, when they renewed the battle; but, as the French were not all come up, they were defeated, and two hundred slain,—among whom was their commander, the lord de Villequier, and other nobles of that country.
The emperor of Germany, on his return home, passed through Lyons, where he was desirous of creating Amadeus count of Savoy a duke,—but the king of France's officers would not permit it. He was very indignant at this, and went to a small castle called Moulnet, that belongs to the empire, and he there created him a duke. On his coming to France, through the interference of duke Louis of Bavaria, brother to the queen of France, and others of the Orleans faction, he had been of the opposite party to the duke of Burgundy; but on his return, he had changed his sentiments, and liked better the Burgundy faction than that of Orleans.