CHAP. LXXXIX.
AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE MAID, THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY ENCAMPS HIS ARMY BEFORE COMPIÈGNE.
ON the morrow of the feast of the Ascension, the duke of Burgundy changed his quarters from Coudun to La Venette, where he was lodged in the abbey, and his men in the town and near to it. Sir John de Luxembourg was quartered at Marigny. They had soon erected an earthen bulwark within a bow-shot from the outworks of Compiègne, and huts of wood and earth were built still nearer to the ramparts, in which men at arms kept guard day and night. They had a deep ditch of communication sunk from the bulwark to these huts, so that the guard could safely pass and repass, without fear of the guns from the walls, which were continually firing.
The duke had some large engines pointed against the gates of the town, which, by the huge stones they cast, did great damage to the gates, bridges and mills: some of the last were rendered quite useless, to the great distress of the inhabitants. Among other mischiefs done by these machines, a young gentleman of twenty-two years old, called Louis de Flavy, son to sir William de Flavy governor of Compiègne, was struck dead. All present were much grieved at this accident on account of sir William, who, although he was much affected, concealed his feelings, to avoid discouraging his men, and soon after, by way of heartening them, caused his minstrels to sound before him as usual; and ordered the ramparts to be more diligently defended notwithstanding they had been greatly damaged by these engines.
There had been constructed within the ditch small wooden huts, in which the guard were sheltered from danger. Some mines were also begun on by orders of sir John de Luxembourg, which, though very deep and well concealed, were of little service, but had cost much.
While these different measures were pursuing, many skirmishes took place, in which the besiegers had numbers killed and wounded. The principal persons among the dead were sir John de Belles, knight, Alain d'Escaussines, Thibault de Caitigines, and many others, as well Burgundians as English.