CHAP. XCVIII.
THE MARSHAL DE BOUSAC LAYS SIEGE TO THE CASTLE OF CLERMONT IN THE BEAUVOISIS.
WHILE these things were passing, the marshal de Bousac collected a great part of the French who had raised the siege of Compiègne, and marched away, with cannon and other artillery, to lay siege to the castle of Clermont in the Beauvoisis, at the instigation of some of the townsmen of Beauvais, wherein he and his men were lodged.
The lord de Crevecoeur, his brother Jean de Barentin, the bastard Lamon, with about fifty combatants, were in the castle, and vigorously defended it against the French, who made many assaults, but in vain. Several of their men were killed and wounded: nevertheless, they continued the siege for about twelve days; at which time, Boort de Buyentin, with ten combatants and a trumpet, secretly entered the castle during the night, by a postern that opened to a vineyard, to assure the lord de Crevecoeur that he would very shortly be relieved.
This was true; for the earl of Huntingdon, who had lately retreated to Gournay in Normandy, again took the field, having with him sir John bastard of St Pol, and a thousand fighting men, with the intent to raise the siege. The French hearing of this, marched off one morning very early, leaving behind them the cannon they had brought from Compiègne. They returned to their garrisons, and with them many Burgundians from Clermont who had joined their party. The lord de Crevecoeur was well pleased at their departure.