CHAP. XXX.
SOME OF THE FRENCH CAPTAINS CROSS THE THE RIVER SOMME, AND OVERRUN ARTOIS.
In the beginning of December, captain Blanchefort, sir Anthony de Chabannes, the lord de Longueval, sir Carados Desquesnes, and others of king Charles's party, assembled about eight hundred or a thousand combatants near Breteuil, and thence marched to cross the river Somme at Capy. They advanced during the night for Dourlens, whither they had sent spies to learn if they could not win it by scalado: but the lord de Humieres, having had notice of their intentions, sent in all haste to inform the mayor and magistrates, that the French were marching to attack their town.
Upon this, they made every preparation for a good defence, and sent a messenger to the castle of Beauval, to make the garrison acquainted with the above intelligence. The messenger was met just before day-break, a quarter of a league from the town by the french scouts, by whom he was taken and examined, and they soon learned from him his errand. They returned to their main body, which was close in the rear, who, hearing what the messenger had said, found their enterprise had failed, and returned to the town of Beauquesne. When they had fully refreshed themselves, they re-crossed the Somme, and marched back to their garrisons with great numbers of prisoners and a rich pillage.