CHAP. XCII.
THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON COMES TO THE AID OF THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY BEFORE COMPIÈGNE.
ABOUT this time, the earl of Huntingdon, de Robersac, and others, with a thousand archers from England, came to the assistance of the duke of Burgundy before Compiègne. They were quartered in the town of la Venette, where the duke had lodged before he had moved to the fort between Compiègne and Marigny: the duke's men were posted at Marigny, whence the governor, sir John de Luxembourg, and his people had dislodged and gone to Soissons, which, through some connexions he had in the town had surrendered to him, with other places in those parts.
On the arrival of the earl of Huntingdon, the lord Montgomery marched his English back to Normandy. The duke of Burgundy laboured diligently day and night, to destroy a rampart in front of the town-bridge, which much annoyed his men, and which had held out for upwards of two months. At length by an unexpected attack made at night it was won, and from eight to ten men taken in it, who made no great defence although well supplied with stores.
After its capture, the ditches were filled, and its batteries turned against the town, and manned by a strong force of men at arms. During the assault, some were drowned in the Oise from being in too great a hurry to escape.
The duke had a bridge thrown over the Oise near to la Venette, and well guarded, which the English and Burgundians frequently crossed in their excursions to skirmish with the French near to Pierrefons. The earl of Huntingdon one day passed this bridge with all the English, and advanced to Crespy in the Valois, and thence to Sainctrines, which submitted to his obedience. He then marched to quarter himself for the night at Verberie, and made a sharp attack on the church whither the peasants had retreated, who in the end were constrained to yield themselves to his mercy. He hanged one of them, called Jean de d'Ours, who was their leader, because he had refused to obey his first summons. The rest of the peasants escaped by paying ransoms, and losing all their effects. The earl then returned with what he had gained to his quarters before Compiègne.
During all this time, the lord de Crevecoeur and Robert de Saveuses remained with their men at Clermont in the Beauvoisis, to guard that frontier against the French in Creil and Beauvais, and to prevent the escorts with wine and other necessaries going to the duke's army, from being cut off.
The duchess of Burgundy had fixed her residence with her household at Noyon, whence she from time to time visited her lord the duke. The period for the surrender of Gournay now approached, and the duke marched his army thither to keep the appointment: he was accompanied by the duke of Norfolk and the earl of Huntingdon, with about a thousand combatants, to support him, should there be occasion; but when the day came, no one from the french king appeared: the governor, therefore, seeing no hope of succour, yielded the place into the hands of the duke of Burgundy, who made the lord de Crevecoeur governor of it.
The duke then returned to his siege of Compiègne with the earl of Huntingdon, having left a sufficiency of men at arms to keep the garrison in check, and to guard his camp. The duke of Norfolk went to Paris.