JOHN OF BAVARIA MAKES WAR ON THE DUCHESS HIS NIECE IN HOLLAND.—THE CONQUESTS OF HENRY KING OF ENGLAND IN NORMANDY.
DURING these tribulations, John of Bavaria was carrying on a severe warfare against his niece the duchess Jacquelina, and his men had conquered the town of Gorcum, with the exception of some towers that held out for the duchess. So soon as she heard of this, she assembled a considerable body of men at arms, and accompanied by the countess of Hainault her mother, carried them by sea to the town of Gorcum, as it is situated on the coast.
By the assistance of her garrisons, she gained admittance into these towers, and shortly after gave battle to the troops of John of Bavaria with such success that they were totally routed, and from five to six hundred were slain or made prisoners: among the last, the principal was the damoiseau Derke. The only one of note that was killed on the side of the duchess was Videran de Brederode, a man well skilled in war, and commander in chief of her forces, whose loss gave her great pain. She caused several of her prisoners to be beheaded for their disloyal conduct towards her.
After this event, Philip count de Charolois, eldest son to the duke of Burgundy, was sent to Holland to appease this quarrel. He took much pains with both of the parties, his uncle and cousin-german; but as he found he could not succeed to establish peace between them, he returned to Flanders.
At this time, the king of England had a large army in Normandy, and conquered many towns and castles: indeed, there were few that made any resistance,—for the several garrisons had been ordered by the constable to Paris, and to the adjacent parts, to oppose the duke of Burgundy, as has been before stated.
King Henry came before the town of Caen, which was very strong and populous, and made many attacks on it, but with the loss of numbers of his men. At length, by continued assaults, he took it by storm, and slew six hundred of the besieged. The castle held out for about three weeks,—in which were the lord de la Fayette, the lord de Montenay, and sir John Bigot, who surrendered it on condition that the king would promise that they should march out with their baggage and persons in security.
After this conquest, the king of England caused the strong town and castle of Cherbourg to be besieged by his brother the duke of Gloucester; it was the strongest place in all Normandy, and the best supplied with stores and provision. This siege lasted for ten weeks, when sir John d'Engennes, the governor, surrendered on condition of receiving a certain sum of money for so doing, and a sufficient passport for him to go whithersoever he pleased.
He went thence to the city of Rouen after it had been taken by the English, and, on the faith of some english lords that his passport should be renewed, remained there until the term was expired; but in the end he was deceived, and king Henry caused him to be beheaded,—at which the French greatly rejoiced, as he had surrendered Cherbourg, to the prejudice of the king of France, through avarice.