CHAP. XCIX.
A LARGE BODY OF ENGLISH AND BURGUNDIANS, ON THEIR MARCH TO BESIEGE GUERBIGNY, ARE ATTACKED AND CONQUERED BY THE FRENCH.
DUKE Philip of Burgundy was in Brabant when he heard that the French had forced his men to raise the siege of Compiègne. He was much troubled thereat, as well for the loss of his troops in killed and wounded as for the great sums of money he had expended on this siege. He, however, made preparations to return to Artois with all the men at arms he had with him, and summoned his nobles to assemble as large a force as they possibly could.
The duke advanced to Peronne, and sent forward sir Thomas Kiriel, an Englishman, James de Helly, sir Daviod de Poix, Anthony de Vienne, and other captains, with five or six hundred combatants, by way of vanguard, to post themselves at Lihons in Santerre. The duke, in the mean time, was preparing to follow them, having intentions to lodge at Guerbigny, to wait for the arrival of the main body of his men; for the French had possession of the castle, whence they much annoyed the country.
It happened that these captains whom the duke had sent in advance, dislodged one morning from their quarters at Lihons, and took the road toward Guerbigny, in separate bodies, without keeping any order on their march, or sending scouts forward, as experienced men at arms always do, more especially when near their adversaries.
Gerard bastard de Brimeu, the governor of Roye, now joined them with about forty combatants, and they advanced together to a town called Bouchoire. On their march, they put up many hares, which they pursued with much hooting and hallowing, for their captains were very inattentive in not preserving better order,—and many of them had not even put on their armour, for which neglect they suffered severely, as you shall hear.
This same day, Poton de Saintrailles had arrived very early at Guerbigny, and taking the garrison with him, advanced into the open country. He had altogether full twelve hundred fighting men, the greater part well experienced in war, whom he led toward Lihons in Santerre, and prudently sent his scouts before him. These, on approaching Bouchoire, heard the shoutings, and saw the state of the enemy, and returned with all haste to give an account of what they had seen and heard.
Poton, on learning this, ordered his men instantly to prepare themselves, and led them straight to the enemy, admonishing them to do their duty well against adversaries no way in a state for the combat.
Poton and his men advancing thus suddenly, and with a great noise, charged the enemy, and soon threw them into confusion: most part of them were unhorsed by the lances of the French. The leaders, however, and some others, rallied under the banner of sir Thomas Kiriel, and made a gallant defence; but it was in vain, for their men were so scattered and confused that most of them saved themselves by flight as well as they could.
Those who had stood their ground were either killed or taken: in the number of the first were James de Helly and Anthony de Vienne, with fifty or sixty Burgundians and English. From four score to a hundred were made prisoners, the chief of whom were sir Thomas Kiriel and two of his kinsmen, valiant men at arms, Robert and William Courouan, sir Daviod de Poix, l'Aigle de Saincts, knight, l'Hermite de Beauval and others, to the numbers aforesaid.
Sir Gerard de Brimeu attempted to escape, after the defeat, to Roye, whence he had come; but, the trappings of his horse being very brilliant with silversmith's work, he was closely pursued, and carried away prisoner with the others.
When the business was over, Poton, having collected his men, led his prisoners to Guerbigny, but not before they had stripped the dead, among whom were not more than four or five of the French. He and his men refreshed themselves that day and night at Guerbigny, and on the morrow he departed with his whole force, leaving the castle in charge with the townsmen. In like manner, he dislodged the garrison of La Boissiere, and set it on fire. He went to Ressons sur Mas, and thence to Compiègne, with his prisoners, where he was joyfully received, on account of the victory he had gained over the enemy. James de Helly was interred in the church, with a few others of the dead: the rest were buried in the church-yard near to the place where they had been slain.