THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY CROSSES THE RIVER OISE WITH HIS ARMY AT L'ISLE-ADAM.—HE BESIEGES AND CONQUERS BEAUMONT AND PONTOISE,—WHENCE HE REMOVES HIS QUARTERS TO L'ARBRE-SEC.
WHEN the duke of Burgundy had repaired the bridge at l'Isle-Adam, the greater part of his army passed over under the command of the lords de Fosseux, de Vergy, and de Salnoe, and were lodged in the open fields, and under hedges and bushes, within the distance of a league from where they had crossed the river. On the morrow they decamped, and marched in battle-array to Beaumont-sur-Oise, and quartered themselves in the town, and around the castle, in spite of the resistance made by those within it.
Sir Jennet de Poix, with four hundred combatants under his banner, advanced to a village a league further, and on the road toward Paris, which he fortified, and kept possession of until the whole army was dislodged. The duke of Burgundy was encamped on the other side of the river, and had his artillery pointed to batter the castle of Beaumont from across the Oise; and they kept up so brisk an attack that the castle was damaged in several places.
The besieged, seeing they were in danger of being taken by storm, surrendered to the will of the duke of Burgundy. Fifty two persons were found in the castle, nine of whom were beheaded, and their bodies hung by the arms to trees: the rest or the greater part, were set at liberty on paying a heavy ransom; and the lord de Vergy, marshal of the army, received, by right of his office, all the effects that were found in the castle.
The duke of Burgundy revictualled this castle, and gave the command of it to a burgundian gentleman called John de Torsenay. After this conquest, the duke ordered the van, which was on the opposite side of the river, to advance toward Paris, and to quarter themselves at the abbey of Morbuisson, and other places near to the town of Pontoise, while the duke should encamp on the side toward Beauvais, and by this means the town would be surrounded on all sides. On their arrival, the garrison made a sally, but were repulsed and driven back; and the duke soon after had his artillery pointed against the gates of Pontoise, making other preparations to subdue them.
When the townsmen noticed these things, they opened a parley, and, five days after, surrendered the place to the duke, on condition that their lives and fortunes should be spared. They also promised not to bear arms against him until Christmas-day ensuing; but this they did not keep, for on his arrival at Paris they continued their warfare against him as before.
There were within the town three captains having banners, namely, the bastard de S. Terre, Tromagon and Maurigon, natives of Gascony, who marched away together under the passport of the duke, and, crossing the bridge at Meulan, went to Paris. After their departure, the duke, with a few attendants, entered the town to examine it, and was well received by several of the townsmen, who had been long attached to him. When there, he issued a proclamation throughout the army, forbidding all persons to enter the town but such as were especially ordered so to do. To prevent the provisions within the place from being wasted or destroyed, he appointed, in the king's name, and in his own, the lord de l'Isle-Adam governor of it.
When these things were done, the duke marched away, taking the road to Meulan, from which place terms were offered him; for the men at arms who had been posted there by the constable had marched away, in company with those from Pontoise to Paris.
The duke ordered his whole army to be drawn up in battle-array between Pontoise and Meulan, that he might see it in order of battle, as if in the presence of the enemy. The spot where the soldiers were drawn up was a handsome plain at the foot of a hill; and it was a very agreeable sight to him, for there were a number of nobles and gentlemen handsomely equipped, and willing to serve him against all his opponents: the principal, and those of name, were as follows.
First, count Philip de St Pol, son to duke Anthony of Brabant, and nephew to the duke of Burgundy, sir John de Luxembourg, the lord d'Antoing, the lord de Fosseux and his three brothers, the vidame of Amiens, Anthony lord of Croy, the lord d'Auxi, sir Jenet de Poix, the lord d'Inchy, the lord de Humieres, sir Robinet de Mailly and two of his brothers, the lord de Rambures, sir John de Vaucourt and his brother Louis, the younger de Renty, the lord de Varigines, the lord de Cohem, sir Alliamus de Gappamus, sir Hue Burnel and his son sir Louis, Robert le Roux, Robert de Bournouville, sir Charles Disque, the lord de Fremeusent, the lord de Humbercourt bailiff of Amiens, sir Charles de Lens, the lord de Noyelle, the lord de Longueval, sir Payen de Beaufort, sir Pierre Kieret lord de Ramecourt, George la Personne, sir Hue de Launoy and his brother sir Guillebert, the lord de Briauté, sir David de Brimeu and his brother James, the lord de Saint-Leger and his son sir Mauroy, David de Bouflers, sir John de Courcelles, John de Flavy, sir Elyon de Jacqueville, the lord de Mesnil, Charlot de Dully, the bastard de Namur, sir Gastellain Vas, John de Guigny, John d'Aubigny, the bastard de Thian, Charles l'Abby, Matthew des Près, the lord de Jaucourt, Guerard bastard de Brimeu, Emard de la Riviere and his father Philip, Gadifer de Mazinqhen and his brother Thierry.
From the county of Flanders were the lord d'Estenu, the lord de Comines, the lord de Gruthuse, the lord de Roubaiz, Robert and Victor, bastards of Flanders, sir Victor de Rabbecque, Robert de Mauvignes, Henry de Disquemude, sir Roland de Velereque, Hector de Venront, the bastard de Collequent, and several others.
From Burgundy were the lord de Vergy marshal of Burgundy, sir Anthony de Vergy, Louis de Châlons son to the prince of Orange, the lord de Salines, sir John de la Trimouille lord de Souvelle, sir Regnier Pot, the lord de Montagu, the lord de Neuf-Châtel, the lord de Château-Vilain, the lord de Château-vieux, the lord de Rochefort, the lord de Thy, sir John de Cotte-brune, the lord d'Ancre, the lord de Toulongeon, sir William de Champdivers, the lord de Gastellus, sir John de Digonne, sir Anthony de Toulongeon and his brother Andrew, le veau de Bar, bailiff of Auxi, Henry de Champdivers, sir Gautier de Rupes, Andrew de Salines, Regnault de Moncouvin, Anthony de la Marche, sir James de Courtjambe lord of St Liebault, the lord de Rausse, Pierre de Digonne, sir Peter de Bauffremont, Emard de Viene, John and Clavin du Clau, with many other noblemen from various countries, who, with their men, were drawn up in most handsome array for two hours,—during which time the duke of Burgundy, attended by some of his most confidential advisers, rode along the ranks, bowing to each battalion as he passed, and thanking them most graciously for the honour and service they did him. In truth, it was a pleasant spectacle to see so many nobles with the flower of their men at arms thus handsomely drawn out.
When the review was over, he marched his army across the Seine, at the bridge of Meulan; and then John de Fosseux and Hector de Saveuses, with no more than two hundred combatants, advanced by Val-de-Galie to a castle called Bayne, that belonged to the abbot of Fécamp, who was within it. He made his peace with them by means of his relation Louis de Saint-Saulieu, who was with Hector; and it was agreed that a party of their men should remain in the castle, to guard it against others of the Burgundians,—and in consideration of a sum of money, they gave the abbot an agreement signed with their seals; but a few days afterward, by the consent of Hector de Saveuses, as reported, Philip de Saveuses, and others in his company carried off all the effects, and did much damage to it.
The duke of Burgundy continued the march of his army until he came to Mont-Rouge: whence Paris could be plainly seen. He there encamped himself and his army, and the number of tents was so great that they had the appearance of a considerable town. The duke ordered sir John de Luxembourg to march his men to St Cloud, who, having quartered them near to the bridge, made an attack on a small tower at the end of it, near the town: it was soon taken and set on fire, as well as the mills under the bridge, when some large bombards were pointed against the tower of St Cloud, which greatly damaged it in many places; but it was not taken, for continual reinforcements came from Paris to defend it.
When the duke of Burgundy had remained for eight days on Mont-Rouge, he decamped with his army, and advanced a league nearer to Paris, to a hill whereon was a withered tree, on which he fixed his standard, and thence was this encampment called 'the camp of the withered tree.' He remained here also for eight days; and as many of his men were quartered in the villages close to Paris, several skirmishes took place between them and the Parisians, although no great losses ensued on either side. The foragers from the duke's army scoured the country for eight leagues round, and brought to the camp great booties of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs, to the ruin of the poor peasantry.